From the book I just finished, "I became a Christian and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"
1. Do I often find myself in dangerous places? - Jesus led his followers into dangerous places.
2. Are sinful people drawn to me, or are they put off by my so-called righteousness?
3. Are people's lives changed by knowing me? - When people were in contact with Jesus and his followers...their lives were drastically changed.
4. Do I have sinful habits that I can't seem to shake?
5. Do I read the Bible and pray because I can't wait to spend time with God or because it's what I'm supposed to do?
6. Am I living my life in a Christian bubble?
7. Do I serve because I get to, or because I have to?
These are some awesome questions to keep in mind...how would you answer them?
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Great quote to think on...
I have added it to my great quotes list on the side but wanted to share it in a post as well...
"There can be true faith without perfect knowledge; but true faith must be ready to act on the basis of the knowledge that it has." John P. Milton - God's Covenant of Blessing
I think that sums up so many truths about how we want things to be and how they actually are. I would love to have 100% of the information, 100% of the time...but that is not, nor will it ever be reality. Whether in business, life or anything else, we will have to act on circumstances based on the information we have. In certain cases, that will mean we make bad choices...I think that is a given...however, God has given us enough information to act on trusting that He is real and should be feared and trusted...so, while it may not be 100% of what I would like to have...the question is everyday...will I act upon it?
"There can be true faith without perfect knowledge; but true faith must be ready to act on the basis of the knowledge that it has." John P. Milton - God's Covenant of Blessing
I think that sums up so many truths about how we want things to be and how they actually are. I would love to have 100% of the information, 100% of the time...but that is not, nor will it ever be reality. Whether in business, life or anything else, we will have to act on circumstances based on the information we have. In certain cases, that will mean we make bad choices...I think that is a given...however, God has given us enough information to act on trusting that He is real and should be feared and trusted...so, while it may not be 100% of what I would like to have...the question is everyday...will I act upon it?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Thoughts for the new year...
From Mark Batterson....
Postcompletion Error
Have you ever left your gas cap at a gas station after filling up? Or what about leaving your bank card at ATM machine after making a withdrawal? I know. Most cars come equipped with an attached gas cap so you can't forget. And most ATM machines beep when the card is ejected. But that phenomenon of forgetting is something psychologists call a postcompletion error. It is the tendency, after completing a task, to forget the steps that got you there.
I think the postcompletion error is one of the dangers we face going into a new year. Let me put it this way. I know lots of people who have been Christians for twenty-five years. But they don't have twenty-five years of experience. They have one year of experience repeated twenty-five times. Why? Because God has to re-teach them the same lessons over and over and over again.
What lessons has God taught you this past year? Let's not forget the old lessons so God can teach us new lessons next year.
I think a huge part of discipleship is overcoming this postcompletion error. If you've overcome an addiction, don't forget the steps you took. If your marriage has been reconciled, don't forget the steps. If you've experienced success in business, don't forget the steps. Share the steps with others. That's called discipleship.
Anything you need to double-back on? Hopefully so, as that would be a successful year. I know that I am thinking about this heading into the new year.
Postcompletion Error
Have you ever left your gas cap at a gas station after filling up? Or what about leaving your bank card at ATM machine after making a withdrawal? I know. Most cars come equipped with an attached gas cap so you can't forget. And most ATM machines beep when the card is ejected. But that phenomenon of forgetting is something psychologists call a postcompletion error. It is the tendency, after completing a task, to forget the steps that got you there.
I think the postcompletion error is one of the dangers we face going into a new year. Let me put it this way. I know lots of people who have been Christians for twenty-five years. But they don't have twenty-five years of experience. They have one year of experience repeated twenty-five times. Why? Because God has to re-teach them the same lessons over and over and over again.
What lessons has God taught you this past year? Let's not forget the old lessons so God can teach us new lessons next year.
I think a huge part of discipleship is overcoming this postcompletion error. If you've overcome an addiction, don't forget the steps you took. If your marriage has been reconciled, don't forget the steps. If you've experienced success in business, don't forget the steps. Share the steps with others. That's called discipleship.
Anything you need to double-back on? Hopefully so, as that would be a successful year. I know that I am thinking about this heading into the new year.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Neat article on thankfulness
From Live It!, a free newsletter from Crosswalk.com
Giving Thanks (not for, but) in Everything
Kelley Mathews
The tooth fairy visited our house last night, for the gazillionth time. Okay, so it's been only seven. Still, each time my son grins at me with a new gap between his teeth, I wonder what on earth that original "tooth fairy" was thinking to offer cash in exchange for a jagged-edged, vaguely nauseating DNA sample. I just don't get it.
Typically, my son leaves his offering in a pocket sewn into a tiny pillow made just for the occasion. This time around--and I have it on good authority that it has never happened before--the tooth fairy discovered a note alongside the pillow.
"Read after get tooth... How much? _____? Please 20 cents? Please?? THANK YOU!!!!"
My husband and I had a good chuckle at his low-ball plea. Twenty cents? Our son raked in five bucks for his first tooth when he lost it at Grandma's house (her tooth fairy has deeper pockets). The other teeth had been averaging 50 cents to a dollar. But he's only eight, so his concept of money might be skewed.
The more I reflected on the note, the more I focused on the ending. "Thank you!" He thought to include a "thank you" even before he knew the amount he would receive. Sure, he mentioned what he hoped to get, but he didn't have any guarantees.
Good manners? Maybe. I think it was more of an expectant gratitude, an attitude that said "I don't know what I'll get, but any amount is more than I had before. It will be a gift, and I'm grateful for whatever I'm given."
There's nothing like the words of a child to smite a mother's hard heart. How often do I fail to give thanks until after I've been presented the gift? After the fact I already know what loot I've taken home, what blessings I've received, what kind words have been spoken about me. It's easy to say "thank you" to all that. I have what I asked for, got what I wanted, enjoyed what makes me feel good.
And while there's nothing wrong with being grateful for gifts given, God's Word shows us a more excellent way:
"Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:16--18).
Yikes! "In everything"? Give thanks in hard times? When my kids are sick, when my husband's job is in danger, when our bottom line seems to be bottoming out? Be thankful during holidays that bring sorrow to my widowed mother's eyes? Be thankful in my prayers even before I know the answers to them? This is God's will for me?
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul elaborates: "Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God" (Phil. 4:6).
An attitude of gratitude should envelop our prayers and petitions, which the Lord expects us to bring to Him.
Don't skip the prepositions here -- "in everything give thanks"... "with thanksgiving..." -- what we don't see is "be thankful for everything." The difference is profound. While we may never be grateful for certain painful experiences, we can still be grateful during them. We can still pray with a thankful heart.
Why? Because our hope is not in the potential answers to our prayers. Our hope is in the God to whom we pray! In Him we trust. He has given us life itself -- freedom, salvation, grace, mercy. He chose us to be his children. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God" (1 John 3:1). Who can't be thankful for that?
Thanks and hope work in tandem. We wait expectantly, with hope, believing that He will keep His promises to see us through the hard times, to provide all we need, to make us more like Him. We are grateful to love and be loved by the God of the universe, our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Father, Comforter, Savior.
This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for my son's example. He was thrilled with the 50 cents he found on his little pillow. "It's more than I asked for!" he said, beaming his gap-toothed grin the next morning.
To an even greater degree, our Lord delights to give us more than we could ever ask or imagine. So pray. Even if you've asked him for the same thing a gazillion times, keep seeking His face. And don't forget to give thanks to Him in everything.
Kelley Mathews, Th.M. (Dallas Theological Seminary), married and blessed with three young children, spends her spare time freelancing as a writer and editor. She served several years as the Women's Ministry Director at Rowlett Bible Fellowship. Her newest book release is Mixed Ministry: Working Together as Brothers and Sisters in an Oversexed Culture, which can be found on her web site www.newdoors.info.
Giving Thanks (not for, but) in Everything
Kelley Mathews
The tooth fairy visited our house last night, for the gazillionth time. Okay, so it's been only seven. Still, each time my son grins at me with a new gap between his teeth, I wonder what on earth that original "tooth fairy" was thinking to offer cash in exchange for a jagged-edged, vaguely nauseating DNA sample. I just don't get it.
Typically, my son leaves his offering in a pocket sewn into a tiny pillow made just for the occasion. This time around--and I have it on good authority that it has never happened before--the tooth fairy discovered a note alongside the pillow.
"Read after get tooth... How much? _____? Please 20 cents? Please?? THANK YOU!!!!"
My husband and I had a good chuckle at his low-ball plea. Twenty cents? Our son raked in five bucks for his first tooth when he lost it at Grandma's house (her tooth fairy has deeper pockets). The other teeth had been averaging 50 cents to a dollar. But he's only eight, so his concept of money might be skewed.
The more I reflected on the note, the more I focused on the ending. "Thank you!" He thought to include a "thank you" even before he knew the amount he would receive. Sure, he mentioned what he hoped to get, but he didn't have any guarantees.
Good manners? Maybe. I think it was more of an expectant gratitude, an attitude that said "I don't know what I'll get, but any amount is more than I had before. It will be a gift, and I'm grateful for whatever I'm given."
There's nothing like the words of a child to smite a mother's hard heart. How often do I fail to give thanks until after I've been presented the gift? After the fact I already know what loot I've taken home, what blessings I've received, what kind words have been spoken about me. It's easy to say "thank you" to all that. I have what I asked for, got what I wanted, enjoyed what makes me feel good.
And while there's nothing wrong with being grateful for gifts given, God's Word shows us a more excellent way:
"Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:16--18).
Yikes! "In everything"? Give thanks in hard times? When my kids are sick, when my husband's job is in danger, when our bottom line seems to be bottoming out? Be thankful during holidays that bring sorrow to my widowed mother's eyes? Be thankful in my prayers even before I know the answers to them? This is God's will for me?
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul elaborates: "Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God" (Phil. 4:6).
An attitude of gratitude should envelop our prayers and petitions, which the Lord expects us to bring to Him.
Don't skip the prepositions here -- "in everything give thanks"... "with thanksgiving..." -- what we don't see is "be thankful for everything." The difference is profound. While we may never be grateful for certain painful experiences, we can still be grateful during them. We can still pray with a thankful heart.
Why? Because our hope is not in the potential answers to our prayers. Our hope is in the God to whom we pray! In Him we trust. He has given us life itself -- freedom, salvation, grace, mercy. He chose us to be his children. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God" (1 John 3:1). Who can't be thankful for that?
Thanks and hope work in tandem. We wait expectantly, with hope, believing that He will keep His promises to see us through the hard times, to provide all we need, to make us more like Him. We are grateful to love and be loved by the God of the universe, our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, Father, Comforter, Savior.
This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for my son's example. He was thrilled with the 50 cents he found on his little pillow. "It's more than I asked for!" he said, beaming his gap-toothed grin the next morning.
To an even greater degree, our Lord delights to give us more than we could ever ask or imagine. So pray. Even if you've asked him for the same thing a gazillion times, keep seeking His face. And don't forget to give thanks to Him in everything.
Kelley Mathews, Th.M. (Dallas Theological Seminary), married and blessed with three young children, spends her spare time freelancing as a writer and editor. She served several years as the Women's Ministry Director at Rowlett Bible Fellowship. Her newest book release is Mixed Ministry: Working Together as Brothers and Sisters in an Oversexed Culture, which can be found on her web site www.newdoors.info.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Money, Money, Money, Money.......Money!
Money is one of the most frequent topics in the Bible and it was the subject of this week's Bible study with my Thursday night group. We stayed strictly in Proverbs and only on the verses outlined from the study sheet from our pastor and had a lively discussion that was quite engaging.
(The thing I love about this group is that, thus far anyway, everyone feels free to speak up and talk about their opinion and even ask questions. I think it sets a great tone for everyone to be able to learn from each other and hopefully learn more about the Bible and the truths therein.)
The main take-aways were:
1. How we perceive others due to money or the lack thereof based upon the culture and generally our own first take vs how we should perceive others based on how God values them
2. If we put ourselves in a place where money can control our lives, it will.
3. Money is so intertwined in all parts of our lives the it is probably one of the strongest reflections of our true selves that we have. The way we live our life with our money, how we use it and value it is one of the strongest "tells" of who we really are as a Christian.
(The thing I love about this group is that, thus far anyway, everyone feels free to speak up and talk about their opinion and even ask questions. I think it sets a great tone for everyone to be able to learn from each other and hopefully learn more about the Bible and the truths therein.)
The main take-aways were:
1. How we perceive others due to money or the lack thereof based upon the culture and generally our own first take vs how we should perceive others based on how God values them
2. If we put ourselves in a place where money can control our lives, it will.
3. Money is so intertwined in all parts of our lives the it is probably one of the strongest reflections of our true selves that we have. The way we live our life with our money, how we use it and value it is one of the strongest "tells" of who we really are as a Christian.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Interesting conversation
I happened to be speaking with some acquaintances, Beth and Therrin, at Jaden's soccer practice / game awhile back and the conversation turned to school. Since Kristen was going back, they asked themselves..."What would you go back to school for?" After asking the question of themselves, they turned and asked me, to which I replied..."I would go to seminary."
"For theology, or to be a pastor?" They pressed...
"To be a pastor, I think..." I continued. To which Beth calmly inquired:
"So, God is calling you into his service and you are ignoring the call?"
I just stared at her. Her husband, Therrin, said "Honey, we don't know him well enough for you to say things like that!" :)
It was light-hearted, we all laughed a little and it both before and after we had great conversations, but it was also one of those moments where you end up wondering if that was truth being unmasked for a moment. We even joked about the fact that you never know when God is using someone to speak into your life. The fact that it hasn't left me over the last two weeks further presses on that point.
I don't know what that means for me at this point, as I don't really feel that I am supposed to be making a life change at the moment, but, I do think that I have to keep my eyes open to see if God is opening up my life to other possibilities. Who knows what 1 year, 3 years or 5 years from now may look like?
"For theology, or to be a pastor?" They pressed...
"To be a pastor, I think..." I continued. To which Beth calmly inquired:
"So, God is calling you into his service and you are ignoring the call?"
I just stared at her. Her husband, Therrin, said "Honey, we don't know him well enough for you to say things like that!" :)
It was light-hearted, we all laughed a little and it both before and after we had great conversations, but it was also one of those moments where you end up wondering if that was truth being unmasked for a moment. We even joked about the fact that you never know when God is using someone to speak into your life. The fact that it hasn't left me over the last two weeks further presses on that point.
I don't know what that means for me at this point, as I don't really feel that I am supposed to be making a life change at the moment, but, I do think that I have to keep my eyes open to see if God is opening up my life to other possibilities. Who knows what 1 year, 3 years or 5 years from now may look like?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Our view of God
I read this article in the October issue of Fast Company that got me thinking about how we experience and view God. This article was an adaptation of a book called Iconoclast that was looking at some of the most creative people in the business world. The article is entitled "Rewiring the Creative Mind" and it looks at what neuroscience is saying about how people think and come up with new ideas.
According to neuroscience these days, our brain is essentially a "lazy piece of meat". "Neuroscientists have observed that while an entire network of neurons might process a stimulus initially by about the sixth presentation, the heavy lifting is performed by only a subset of neurons." Essentially, our brain has become efficient at processing this stimulus and helps jump to the end...thus, what seems to be the same, will be viewed as the same because your brain will process it down that path.
This really got me thinking about God and they way I think about Him and have perceived Him in my life. I started forming 'neural connections' about God WAY back when I was a kid. Those connections have essentially created a highway down which my thoughts want to race to get to the conclusion...or the way I see and think, recognize and understand God. It is effectively programmed in me to analyze stimuli that way.Anyway...if this is how the brain reacts...how difficult is it for every person to see God in a way that is different than the first way we experienced God? The way we first talked with and to others about God, the way we first experienced worship or our first 'spiritual' moment were the initial stimulus as we formed our neural highways. Our 'understanding of God was already mapped out.
Can you imagine how varied those experiences are for everyone in the world? No wonder it is so difficult sometimes for each of us to understand how differently each other person can relate to that understanding of God...when our synapses are streamlined and efficiently getting us to our "answer" about God?
So, now you must be wondering where am I going with this? Am I saying that we are doomed based on the way we initially hear about God, or that our brains have trapped us into always thinking the same thoughts? No, of course not.
The article actually continued to talk about these creative people who are essentially good at not allowing themselves to jump to those conclusions. They speak about the way to 'reprogram' your brain by deploying your attention differently and in new environments with new information that will re-stimulate your brain into making new associations, firing new neuron connections and allowing you to see things in ways you would not have before.
I think that is pretty fascinating stuff and yet it essentially gets down to some tried and true things that people have known for a long time: A pastor down in Washington DC puts it this way "A change in place + a change of pace = change in perception"
1 - If you keep doing what you have been doing, your going to get the same answer
To me, if we all stay cocooned talking to the same people about the same things, we are not really firing up new synapses and engaging those neurons to make new connections. We will get bored! And no one wants to be boring or in a place that is boring. We have to constantly be feeding ourselves new information that will challenge us to see things in a new way and put ourselves into new environments that will make us a little uneasy. That is when the growth happens.
2 - Walk a mile in their shoes
This really means to not stay where we are and declare judgment, but to get out to those who don't think like we do and engage them where they are...they are in a place similar to #1 and won't 'get a new perspective' on anything if something new doesn't come along that will actually get their neurons firing.
So...for me, I know that I need to go out and find new ways to perceive the things and ways of God that get more synapses firing and literally blow my mind up so that my vision of God gets bigger. Maybe something along the way struck you as well...maybe not. But, it may help you understand why someone you have been praying for has yet to 'see' things differently. So, don't give up! We absolutely have to keep reaching out to people who haven't seen God yet...because if we don't reach out to them and get them to look at things a little differently than they do now, they may NEVER see God...their brains will continue to perceive those things of God as abstract data that gets tossed (their hearts are hardened) because it doesn't align with how the brain processes things and they will be missed for what they truly are.
According to neuroscience these days, our brain is essentially a "lazy piece of meat". "Neuroscientists have observed that while an entire network of neurons might process a stimulus initially by about the sixth presentation, the heavy lifting is performed by only a subset of neurons." Essentially, our brain has become efficient at processing this stimulus and helps jump to the end...thus, what seems to be the same, will be viewed as the same because your brain will process it down that path.
This really got me thinking about God and they way I think about Him and have perceived Him in my life. I started forming 'neural connections' about God WAY back when I was a kid. Those connections have essentially created a highway down which my thoughts want to race to get to the conclusion...or the way I see and think, recognize and understand God. It is effectively programmed in me to analyze stimuli that way.Anyway...if this is how the brain reacts...how difficult is it for every person to see God in a way that is different than the first way we experienced God? The way we first talked with and to others about God, the way we first experienced worship or our first 'spiritual' moment were the initial stimulus as we formed our neural highways. Our 'understanding of God was already mapped out.
Can you imagine how varied those experiences are for everyone in the world? No wonder it is so difficult sometimes for each of us to understand how differently each other person can relate to that understanding of God...when our synapses are streamlined and efficiently getting us to our "answer" about God?
So, now you must be wondering where am I going with this? Am I saying that we are doomed based on the way we initially hear about God, or that our brains have trapped us into always thinking the same thoughts? No, of course not.
The article actually continued to talk about these creative people who are essentially good at not allowing themselves to jump to those conclusions. They speak about the way to 'reprogram' your brain by deploying your attention differently and in new environments with new information that will re-stimulate your brain into making new associations, firing new neuron connections and allowing you to see things in ways you would not have before.
I think that is pretty fascinating stuff and yet it essentially gets down to some tried and true things that people have known for a long time: A pastor down in Washington DC puts it this way "A change in place + a change of pace = change in perception"
1 - If you keep doing what you have been doing, your going to get the same answer
To me, if we all stay cocooned talking to the same people about the same things, we are not really firing up new synapses and engaging those neurons to make new connections. We will get bored! And no one wants to be boring or in a place that is boring. We have to constantly be feeding ourselves new information that will challenge us to see things in a new way and put ourselves into new environments that will make us a little uneasy. That is when the growth happens.
2 - Walk a mile in their shoes
This really means to not stay where we are and declare judgment, but to get out to those who don't think like we do and engage them where they are...they are in a place similar to #1 and won't 'get a new perspective' on anything if something new doesn't come along that will actually get their neurons firing.
So...for me, I know that I need to go out and find new ways to perceive the things and ways of God that get more synapses firing and literally blow my mind up so that my vision of God gets bigger. Maybe something along the way struck you as well...maybe not. But, it may help you understand why someone you have been praying for has yet to 'see' things differently. So, don't give up! We absolutely have to keep reaching out to people who haven't seen God yet...because if we don't reach out to them and get them to look at things a little differently than they do now, they may NEVER see God...their brains will continue to perceive those things of God as abstract data that gets tossed (their hearts are hardened) because it doesn't align with how the brain processes things and they will be missed for what they truly are.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Reaching for the Invisible God
Yancy speaks of our growth as maturation from child to adult to parent.
within being an adult, he talks about training...
"For twenty years I have run, biked, or done other aerobic conditioning at least three times a week. I do so not because someone forces me, and surely not because it feels good - it seldom does - but rather because of what it allows me to enjoy. I can climb mountains and ski the Rockies without gasping for breath or pulling muscles. That is the reward for physical discipline."
Obviously, he leads then into a need for spiritual discipline and the analogies to running a race that Paul describes in the New Testament.
Do you have spiritual discipline so that you can enjoy the fruits of that effort? Do you pray, read the bible, go to church, small group, etc? Do you do these things regularly?
I know my exercise routine over the last several years has been really poor. And that I stop and start and stop and start and then do it again. Each time I start...it is a bear to get going. It is always easy to quit. But, I haven't been sticking it out long enough to reap the rewards...I haven't established a discipline in my routine so that I will continue and I haven't done it long enough to see the rewards that will show up elsewhere.
Likewise with bible reading, prayer or anything else...start and stop and you will not see the benefits that you will once you have established discipline in your walk.
within being an adult, he talks about training...
"For twenty years I have run, biked, or done other aerobic conditioning at least three times a week. I do so not because someone forces me, and surely not because it feels good - it seldom does - but rather because of what it allows me to enjoy. I can climb mountains and ski the Rockies without gasping for breath or pulling muscles. That is the reward for physical discipline."
Obviously, he leads then into a need for spiritual discipline and the analogies to running a race that Paul describes in the New Testament.
Do you have spiritual discipline so that you can enjoy the fruits of that effort? Do you pray, read the bible, go to church, small group, etc? Do you do these things regularly?
I know my exercise routine over the last several years has been really poor. And that I stop and start and stop and start and then do it again. Each time I start...it is a bear to get going. It is always easy to quit. But, I haven't been sticking it out long enough to reap the rewards...I haven't established a discipline in my routine so that I will continue and I haven't done it long enough to see the rewards that will show up elsewhere.
Likewise with bible reading, prayer or anything else...start and stop and you will not see the benefits that you will once you have established discipline in your walk.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Reaching for the Invisible God
"Love tend to decrease as power increases...The same power that repeatedly overwhelmed the Israelites made it difficult for them to perceive God's love."
Does that stop you in your tracks as a parent? As a boss? Does it resonate at all?
I certainly see some truth to that statement. I know that if I stand over my kids that they have to look WAY up to see me and that I am WAY bigger than they are. I intimidate them from that stance. Are they really seeing my love at that point?
I also pull back though and think of this from a different perspective that tells me that God knew that the Israelites would have this difficulty. And yet He still chose to engage them in this manner.
1. It is effective. How many times directly after God showing himself, His wrath, etc do the Israelites repent and turn towards God?
2. God needed to show us all of His character...the tough side and the loving side
Think about it...just like with two parents at home, kids know that one is easier than the other and gravitate towards the easy one to get out of the punishment. If the parents are not united in their efforts, the kids will divide and conquer.
If God just showed us forgiveness through Jesus Christ without the just anger and the consequences that are exhibited in the Old Testament would it mean as much? Or would we take it for granted? We really need to see both sides to understand and God was gracious enough to give us both views in His Word.
Does that stop you in your tracks as a parent? As a boss? Does it resonate at all?
I certainly see some truth to that statement. I know that if I stand over my kids that they have to look WAY up to see me and that I am WAY bigger than they are. I intimidate them from that stance. Are they really seeing my love at that point?
I also pull back though and think of this from a different perspective that tells me that God knew that the Israelites would have this difficulty. And yet He still chose to engage them in this manner.
1. It is effective. How many times directly after God showing himself, His wrath, etc do the Israelites repent and turn towards God?
2. God needed to show us all of His character...the tough side and the loving side
Think about it...just like with two parents at home, kids know that one is easier than the other and gravitate towards the easy one to get out of the punishment. If the parents are not united in their efforts, the kids will divide and conquer.
If God just showed us forgiveness through Jesus Christ without the just anger and the consequences that are exhibited in the Old Testament would it mean as much? Or would we take it for granted? We really need to see both sides to understand and God was gracious enough to give us both views in His Word.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Reaching for the Invisible God
Yancey has a quote from Ron Hansen in this book...
"God gives us just enough to seek him, and never enough to fully find him. To do more would inhibit our freedom, and our freedom is very dear to God."
What do you think of that quote?
I get the freedom part and I completely agree that freedom is a dear privalege that God bestows on us. Without free will / freedom, there is no real love.
And I understand that there is an element of faith to our relationship with God, thus the "never enough to fully find him" thing as well...
however...the part about "giving us just enough to seek him" WITH "and never enough to fully find him" strikes me as too "gamey". Like we are in a cosmic game of hide and seek. It's probably just me being too tired but that was the thought that just came to me anyway.
I don't think God plays hide and seek and really think that our sinful nature makes us turn away from what is fully apparent. It might not be God standing in a white robe with his foot resting across the entire breadth of the US just to make sure we realize He is there...cause I do think God wants us to seek Him...but, I don't think that he is cloaking Himself to us.
Wait you will say, you are being foolish cause God is invisible, so of course He is hiding himself. However, I would just as easily give you this example.
I had a college roommate that was a morning person and did crew. He would be up at a silly hour in the morning and go to bed very early. He had the top bunk, so I couldn't always see if he was in his bed or not. There could be weeks or more where we would not see each other at all, however, that never changed my belief that he existed. There was order to his stuff. There were changes that came about in the room and other signs that told me he had been around, even if I didn't physically see him. He wasn't hiding, I just didn't see him.
That is how I think of my ability to see God. I may not physically see Him, but I have no doubt that He is around.
"God gives us just enough to seek him, and never enough to fully find him. To do more would inhibit our freedom, and our freedom is very dear to God."
What do you think of that quote?
I get the freedom part and I completely agree that freedom is a dear privalege that God bestows on us. Without free will / freedom, there is no real love.
And I understand that there is an element of faith to our relationship with God, thus the "never enough to fully find him" thing as well...
however...the part about "giving us just enough to seek him" WITH "and never enough to fully find him" strikes me as too "gamey". Like we are in a cosmic game of hide and seek. It's probably just me being too tired but that was the thought that just came to me anyway.
I don't think God plays hide and seek and really think that our sinful nature makes us turn away from what is fully apparent. It might not be God standing in a white robe with his foot resting across the entire breadth of the US just to make sure we realize He is there...cause I do think God wants us to seek Him...but, I don't think that he is cloaking Himself to us.
Wait you will say, you are being foolish cause God is invisible, so of course He is hiding himself. However, I would just as easily give you this example.
I had a college roommate that was a morning person and did crew. He would be up at a silly hour in the morning and go to bed very early. He had the top bunk, so I couldn't always see if he was in his bed or not. There could be weeks or more where we would not see each other at all, however, that never changed my belief that he existed. There was order to his stuff. There were changes that came about in the room and other signs that told me he had been around, even if I didn't physically see him. He wasn't hiding, I just didn't see him.
That is how I think of my ability to see God. I may not physically see Him, but I have no doubt that He is around.
Reaching for the Invisible God
'"I have many successful relationships with other people. I can see them, touch them, hear them. But when I try to relate to an invisible God, nothing happens. I never have that sense that God is even there" I do not discount such an objection, because at times in my life I have wondered the same thing. Even now, my relationship with God rests or falls on faith...'
He then goes on to draw the analogy of our relationship to God as that of man to a dog, also saying that it is kind to humans in comparison.
While I understand the reason he says that...after all an infinite and all-powerful God versus us, tells us that it is a somewhat kind analogy, however, isn't it awfully detrimental as well to us since He says we are made in His image?
Anyway, based on these comments, does it make you think that a close, personal relationship with God is possible in the same way as with a person?
Since He is invisible and doesn't relate to us in the same way...?
I certainly know that a relationship with God is different...it is with God and even if he was right in front of me physically, it would be different. However, it does raise interesting questions on how we engage with God and how we know that we are knowing God better, getting closer to Him and so forth...
How do you gauge your relationship with God?
He then goes on to draw the analogy of our relationship to God as that of man to a dog, also saying that it is kind to humans in comparison.
While I understand the reason he says that...after all an infinite and all-powerful God versus us, tells us that it is a somewhat kind analogy, however, isn't it awfully detrimental as well to us since He says we are made in His image?
Anyway, based on these comments, does it make you think that a close, personal relationship with God is possible in the same way as with a person?
Since He is invisible and doesn't relate to us in the same way...?
I certainly know that a relationship with God is different...it is with God and even if he was right in front of me physically, it would be different. However, it does raise interesting questions on how we engage with God and how we know that we are knowing God better, getting closer to Him and so forth...
How do you gauge your relationship with God?
Monday, May 26, 2008
Reaching for the Invisible God
Section 1 - Thirst: Our Longing for God
This was a quote Phil received from a friend when asked how a seeking person could understand that a Christian life was different than a moral one...this from a national radio host well known in Christian circles...
"I have no trouble believing God is good. My question is more, What good is he? I heard awhile back that Billy Graham's daughter was undergoing marriage problems, so the Grahams and the in-laws flew back to Europe to meet with them and pray for the couple. They ended up getting divorced anyway. If Billy Graham's prayers don't get answered, what's the use of my praying? I look at my life - the health problems, my own daughter's struggles, my marriage. I cry out for God to help, and it's hard to know just how he answers. Really, what can we count on God for?"
That is a pretty strong statement from a Christian...but hits a point that I think many of us understand. Prayer is difficult and seems worthless sometimes. Do we even know if our prayers are ever answered?
My thought, right or wrong, is that prayer is more about us wanting to communicate with God...about us setting aside time to engage with him on the things going on in our lives than about tallying the requests and the answers that we can discern. To be honest, I may never know that God answered a single prayer, and even if he didn't would that be a reason to not pray? If the reality of life is that we only have vision to the smallest areas of God's plan, what would make me think that he didn't answer it, just not in a way that I would ever recognize? More so, in the process of my prayers, I see myself changing and that, in and of itself, could be the very reason for prayer or the answer to my prayers...
This was a quote Phil received from a friend when asked how a seeking person could understand that a Christian life was different than a moral one...this from a national radio host well known in Christian circles...
"I have no trouble believing God is good. My question is more, What good is he? I heard awhile back that Billy Graham's daughter was undergoing marriage problems, so the Grahams and the in-laws flew back to Europe to meet with them and pray for the couple. They ended up getting divorced anyway. If Billy Graham's prayers don't get answered, what's the use of my praying? I look at my life - the health problems, my own daughter's struggles, my marriage. I cry out for God to help, and it's hard to know just how he answers. Really, what can we count on God for?"
That is a pretty strong statement from a Christian...but hits a point that I think many of us understand. Prayer is difficult and seems worthless sometimes. Do we even know if our prayers are ever answered?
My thought, right or wrong, is that prayer is more about us wanting to communicate with God...about us setting aside time to engage with him on the things going on in our lives than about tallying the requests and the answers that we can discern. To be honest, I may never know that God answered a single prayer, and even if he didn't would that be a reason to not pray? If the reality of life is that we only have vision to the smallest areas of God's plan, what would make me think that he didn't answer it, just not in a way that I would ever recognize? More so, in the process of my prayers, I see myself changing and that, in and of itself, could be the very reason for prayer or the answer to my prayers...
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Reaching for the Invisible God - 1
There was a ton of interesting stuff in this book...so, I figured I will take one or two things from each section in order to help me remember and maybe it will whet some other people's appetites.
Section 1 - Thirst: Our Longing for God
Phil's discussion group each wrote an open letter to God that they then shared with the group. Phil's letter began with "Do I act as if you are alive?" and then later came to a conclusion that included "I find it easier to believe in the impossible - to believe in the parting of the Red Sea...than to believe in what should seem more possible: the slow, steady dawning of your life in people like me..."
His group was taken aback because they were surprised at the content of the letter...at how it portrayed his relationship with God and perhaps the lack of closeness that it exhibited.
In fact, Phil calls himself "septic with doubt" and yet he a well known Christian author. Perhaps one of the reasons why is that he is honest enough to write about and work through the feelings he has that include doubt and the distance he feels from God at times?
My first thought on this passage is that if anyone has been in relationship with ANYONE, let alone God, and has not gone through periods where that relationship has had ebbs and flows, times of closeness and periods where it seemed that you weren't connecting, then you haven't really been in much of a relationship. Why would a relationship with God be any different...especially since we are the same in a relationship with Him as we are with anyone else.
The other thing that struck me about this passage is how often we let others dictate how we feel about where we are in our walk. Unless you have a TON of confidence, a comment like that from a group member could totally take you down and cause insecurity in your relationship with God..."Why is it that I don't feel like they feel?" "I thought I was a mature Christian, but maybe not...after all, why would God not be speaking to me now?" And on and on it could go....are you letting others dictate how you feel about your relationship with God?
Section 1 - Thirst: Our Longing for God
Phil's discussion group each wrote an open letter to God that they then shared with the group. Phil's letter began with "Do I act as if you are alive?" and then later came to a conclusion that included "I find it easier to believe in the impossible - to believe in the parting of the Red Sea...than to believe in what should seem more possible: the slow, steady dawning of your life in people like me..."
His group was taken aback because they were surprised at the content of the letter...at how it portrayed his relationship with God and perhaps the lack of closeness that it exhibited.
In fact, Phil calls himself "septic with doubt" and yet he a well known Christian author. Perhaps one of the reasons why is that he is honest enough to write about and work through the feelings he has that include doubt and the distance he feels from God at times?
My first thought on this passage is that if anyone has been in relationship with ANYONE, let alone God, and has not gone through periods where that relationship has had ebbs and flows, times of closeness and periods where it seemed that you weren't connecting, then you haven't really been in much of a relationship. Why would a relationship with God be any different...especially since we are the same in a relationship with Him as we are with anyone else.
The other thing that struck me about this passage is how often we let others dictate how we feel about where we are in our walk. Unless you have a TON of confidence, a comment like that from a group member could totally take you down and cause insecurity in your relationship with God..."Why is it that I don't feel like they feel?" "I thought I was a mature Christian, but maybe not...after all, why would God not be speaking to me now?" And on and on it could go....are you letting others dictate how you feel about your relationship with God?
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Bring the Rain
I am a huge MercyMe fan. I was doing my bible study and had one of their CD's playing quietly in the background. One of the songs I love just made me stop and pull out the lyrics and I thought I would share them:
Bring me joy
Bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings you glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise you
Jesus bring the rain
What an awesome thought. I know that my life is pretty comfortable most of the time. I have made some good decisions and been blessed with good opportunities, so to invite in difficulties into my life? To joyfully say to God...hey, if that is what needs to happen for you to get the glory, for your will to be done, for me to ultimately have the best, closest walk with you that I can have....bring the rain. That's a huge statement to make. Are you really prepared for that to happen? Wouldn't it be scary if God took you up on it? But how awesome it would be to persevere and then have that closeness to God.
If that's what it takes to praise you, Jesus bring the rain.
Bring me joy
Bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings you glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise you
Jesus bring the rain
What an awesome thought. I know that my life is pretty comfortable most of the time. I have made some good decisions and been blessed with good opportunities, so to invite in difficulties into my life? To joyfully say to God...hey, if that is what needs to happen for you to get the glory, for your will to be done, for me to ultimately have the best, closest walk with you that I can have....bring the rain. That's a huge statement to make. Are you really prepared for that to happen? Wouldn't it be scary if God took you up on it? But how awesome it would be to persevere and then have that closeness to God.
If that's what it takes to praise you, Jesus bring the rain.
Monday, April 21, 2008
5 year old email
Yes, I got this email 5 years ago and still had it. I always thought it was a good one, so I thought I would share it here and then finally delete it from my inbox :)
Sometimes, we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Well here is an explanation.
A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong. She's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her mother is baking a cake. She asks her daughter if she would like a snack.
The daughter says, "Absolutely Mom! I love your cake!"
"Here, have some cooking oil," her mother offers.
"Yuck" says the daughter.
"How about a couple of raw eggs?"
"Gross Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe some baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good. We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful."
God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He will listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
Sometimes, we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Well here is an explanation.
A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong. She's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her mother is baking a cake. She asks her daughter if she would like a snack.
The daughter says, "Absolutely Mom! I love your cake!"
"Here, have some cooking oil," her mother offers.
"Yuck" says the daughter.
"How about a couple of raw eggs?"
"Gross Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe some baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good. We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful."
God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He will listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Security
Jacob was taking a nap the other day while everyone else was up and about. He woke and was distraught to find no one around him when he came to the door of his room.
Now, compare this with his usual routine of being bleary eyed at the door and saying "I'm awake!" and being almost immediately picked up and cuddled...you can see why things were different.
After wandering for a moment, he started to cry and Mom immediately came and found him. You see, we weren't where he expected us to be and he got scared. His security was threatened. It didn't matter that he was safe and that Mom was only steps away. She wasn't where he wanted her to be. How often is that the way we are too?
We think we see things clearly, but most likely we are bleary eyed, if not blind.
We expect God to be "here" to answer our prayers, but we don't see him.
We get scared the moment things aren't the way we expect them to be.
Jacob told Mom that he was looking for her, so at least he decided to take action.
Are you seeking God if you are not finding Him where you expected Him to be?
Now, compare this with his usual routine of being bleary eyed at the door and saying "I'm awake!" and being almost immediately picked up and cuddled...you can see why things were different.
After wandering for a moment, he started to cry and Mom immediately came and found him. You see, we weren't where he expected us to be and he got scared. His security was threatened. It didn't matter that he was safe and that Mom was only steps away. She wasn't where he wanted her to be. How often is that the way we are too?
We think we see things clearly, but most likely we are bleary eyed, if not blind.
We expect God to be "here" to answer our prayers, but we don't see him.
We get scared the moment things aren't the way we expect them to be.
Jacob told Mom that he was looking for her, so at least he decided to take action.
Are you seeking God if you are not finding Him where you expected Him to be?
Friday, April 11, 2008
The Martyr's Song
Well, I have to say thank you again to Emily and Linda for turning me on to Ted Dekker's writing. I picked this book up on Sunday from the church library and consumed it in one evening (last night). It was a short book, but powerful message. It is so powerful to me when reading about the passion that people have for their faith. Not giving away too much to say that someone dies in the book, since it is called 'The Martyr's Song'...but to have the fortitude, faith and a perspective on this life that enables anyone to give up their life for ther faith is just awe inspiring. Whether it was the disciples, missionaries or whomever, what an example to have been set by living and ultimately dying for their love of Jesus. I aspire to have that kind of faith.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Spiritual Warfare
Do you believe in spiritual warfare? If you read the Bible and believe it to be truth, then certainly you know that it exists...but do you believe that it exists in your everyday life? I just finished a book called the Invisible War that was very good and brought me some clarity around this subject and simply made me more aware of the realities of spiritual warfare. I know that I tend to place little emphasis on the impact that evil can have in my life, at least most of the time, and don't prepare myself well enough against an enemy as crafty as the devil to minimize that impact. We are called to be aware of the devil and his tactics, but not preoccupied with them. To put on the armor of God, not just as a checklist of things to do in the morning and think that you are good to go, but as a way of life that will prepare us against the inevitable attacks that come our way.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Living "In the Black"
I read an article this morning that included this passage:
"In 2 Corinthians 9:7 Paul says we should give what we decide in our hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. This verse is often applied to financial giving, but I believe it applies to any resource we give away—our time, or energy, or skills. I recognized that during a season of over-extension, most of my "gives" had been reluctant or under compulsion. I felt I had to help, had to serve, or had to solve the problem. But when we attempt to give what we do not have, we cross a boundary. We trespass into joylessness.
God loves a cheerful giver, but that does not mean we should give what we do not possess to gain his approval or anyone else's. It does mean, when the balance on our account is in the black, and we write the check, or make the phone call, or lead the team, God gets a kick out of it. We need to minister "in the black" so we have something to give. Giving "in the red," giving what we do not possess, means we are living in duplicity. We are not loving God or others authentically because we're not being honest. "
I know that I struggle with saying yes to things at times out of some sort of obligation. I think this is an important point. If our hearts are right, then we can and should say yes to those things we can do. We really have to be honest enough with ourselves and others to say yes or to say no.
"In 2 Corinthians 9:7 Paul says we should give what we decide in our hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. This verse is often applied to financial giving, but I believe it applies to any resource we give away—our time, or energy, or skills. I recognized that during a season of over-extension, most of my "gives" had been reluctant or under compulsion. I felt I had to help, had to serve, or had to solve the problem. But when we attempt to give what we do not have, we cross a boundary. We trespass into joylessness.
God loves a cheerful giver, but that does not mean we should give what we do not possess to gain his approval or anyone else's. It does mean, when the balance on our account is in the black, and we write the check, or make the phone call, or lead the team, God gets a kick out of it. We need to minister "in the black" so we have something to give. Giving "in the red," giving what we do not possess, means we are living in duplicity. We are not loving God or others authentically because we're not being honest. "
I know that I struggle with saying yes to things at times out of some sort of obligation. I think this is an important point. If our hearts are right, then we can and should say yes to those things we can do. We really have to be honest enough with ourselves and others to say yes or to say no.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Confidence
"Recession proof jobs"
"Housing woes crunching retirement"
These and other headlines have been the topic du jour of late. I can understand why, as we have all been impacted in some fashion by our stalled economy. However, it emphasizes that much more the difference between those of us that trust in the Lord and those that do not. He will provide. I may have lost value in my home and my 401k is going in the wrong direction...not great things...and even worse with three young kids and a wife at home. But I will not just endure; I will prevail as long as I keep focused on the right metric, which is how closely I am walking with God.
"Housing woes crunching retirement"
These and other headlines have been the topic du jour of late. I can understand why, as we have all been impacted in some fashion by our stalled economy. However, it emphasizes that much more the difference between those of us that trust in the Lord and those that do not. He will provide. I may have lost value in my home and my 401k is going in the wrong direction...not great things...and even worse with three young kids and a wife at home. But I will not just endure; I will prevail as long as I keep focused on the right metric, which is how closely I am walking with God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)