Category Archives: Who is God?
Day 2 – KNOW God
It’s day 2 of the 10 Day Diet Challenge. And you made it back! Great job! Read Day 1′s welcome for more information. And remember, every comment counts (even you facebook friends)!
Today’s Diet Dose: —>Read Colossians 1: 15 – 23 in NIV and The Message or use this resource—>(comparing the 2 translations line by line)
Thoughtful insight from Knowing God by J.I. Packer:
If I know God then (more importantly) He Knows Me
I am graven on the palms of His hand
I am never out of His mind
He knew me first
He knows me as a friend
He loves me
His eye never leaves me
There is no moment when His care falters
Pursuing the Holy One is an amazing, daunting task. But one to strive for nonetheless. We may never completely succeed, but we will gain much in the pursuit.
Looking at our selected verses for today, we get a picture of Christ supreme.
- He is the image of our invisible God
- the rightful heir of eternal life
- Jesus is the Word which spoke life into creation
- He is Sovereign – holding all things together
- Christ is our salvation
Verse 19 sums it up this way:
God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him [Jesus]
Knowing Christ is knowing the Lord of All. Jesus said it this way in John 14:6-11:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
To know Jesus is to know the prince of the kingdom.
To know Jesus is to know the One who created you.
To know Jesus is to know who sustains you.
To know Jesus is to know the One who rescues you.
To know Jesus is to know who cherishes you.
Day 2 Challenge: What happens in you life when you KNOW? Looking honestly at your life, what needs to change in light of the knowledge of the Holy One? What can you do today to KNOW Jesus more?
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For further consideration:
It was over a year ago that I began this blog. On my mind was this exact topic “Who is God?” Read the posts below to see how the knowledge of the Holy changed my walk with God.
Do you have 15 minutes?
I heard a couple REALLY great Christian radio programs today in the car.
This one titled “Get right with God, Part B” is probably the best sermon I’ve listened to about the basics of a relationship with God. And the bottom line is not so basic!
The other one is called “God: As He Longs for You to See Him – The Holiness of God, Part 2.” I loved how Chip describes our sinful life verses God’s Holiness. After viewing his website today, it looks like there are other messages I am going to be checking out (I crave learning about the character of God).
Let me know if you listen!
Weekend Warrior Edition
Here’s your mission, should you choose to accept it…
- Get ready for next week’s What’s On Your Mind ’09 by reviewing Karen’s posts on writing your own psalm.
- I’m preparing a message on the true character of God. When your vision of God is off base, what do you picture Him to be (example: a judge, a distance relative, someone who doesn’t care, etc…)? Please leave me a note in the comment section.
- This is the last weekend for the Hair Dare. Make sure your vote counts! Results will be displayed Wednesday!
- Finally, if you have any prayer requests this weekend, please offer them in a comment below.
The name of God a noun or a verb?
Exodus 3:11-15: But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”
Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob-has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.”
I came across a very interesting thought in my bible study yesterday.
The author, Catherine Martin, quotes from her own book “Trusting in the Names of God 30-day Journey” explaining God’s name Yahweh:
When God revealed His name, I AM…He spoke His using Hebrew verbs, not nouns. The verb forms [used] are imperfect tense, implying continuing, unfinished action.
www.allwords.com define imperfect tense as:
A tense used to describe a past action that is ongoing, incomplete or continuous…
God could have used any word he wanted to describe Himself. Words like awesome, powerful, forever, sovereign. Yet he uses a verb, telling His people I am everything you will ever need, today and always.
I was studying this awesome thought yesterday as the tick, tick, tick… clanged on above my head. I am so happy to tell you that the TMS is working! I am starting to feel more like myself. And I am so thankful to have a God who is constantly at work around me. Even if I don’t feel Him.
It feels so good to be “back.” I despise living as a shell of a human being void of life. Walking, surviving, just getting by. For whatever reason I find it extremely hard to study God’s Word when I’m feeling off. Yet, it’s the very thing that I need. Even more reason for me to be incredibly grateful that God defines Himself as a verb, not a noun or a thing of the past.
What verb defines what you need from God today?
- giving
- leading
- forgiving
- comforting
- filling
- ________
he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
Thank you for your prayers,
Failing Mother, Loving Father
(Make sure to submit your comments by Thursday on Darlene’s interview for your chance at a free book!)
The transition from full time teacher to full time mother was not easy for me. I often blame my post partum depression that occurred with baby number 1 more than 7 years ago. But I still find myself constantly struggling to find my place, my role, as a mother.
Motherhood doesn’t come easy for me. I’m not a neat and tidy person. I don’t like cleaning. And I can be very disorganized. I’m a mess! So, when it comes to being the keeper of the house, I often fall short of the mark of a “true” homemaker.
Lately I’ve been struggling with a resurgence in my depression. The doctor prescribed a routine of healthy behaviors which I’ve been faithful to do – but the results are showing yet.
So, when the daily demands of being a mother kick into gear I feel as if I’m being crushed under the pressure. I’m annoyed, irritated, short fused, frustrated and just don’t want to be bothered! All these characteristics lead up to Mother-of-the-Year, don’t they?!
I know it wasn’t a coincidence that my morning devotion time was focused on El Roi – the God who sees. In my study, it gave 2 different Old Testament examples of El Roi. Exodus 3:7-10 when God talks to Moses through the burning bush and the story of Hagar (Sarai’s slave) in Genesis 16. In both situations God reveals Himself as someone who sees the suffering of his prized possession.
Genesis 16:13 She [Hagar] gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
Exodus 3:7 The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.”
Now, I am not claiming that my husband or my children are like slave drivers. They certainly aren’t oppressing me, like the characters were being oppressed in the Bible. The point here is that God sees, God cares, and He is working in your life to help remedy your circumstance. He may find a way out for you. He may find a way for you to be changed. No matter what the outcome, we can be assured that He Sees.
A song comes to mind by Lindsey Kane called He Knows. Listen to her words today, and see if they don’t speak directly to your heart.
Songs of Sewage and Soul
It’s hard to sing when your soul is sinking.
This weekend as Hurricane Ike was hitting the south hard, the Chicagoland clouds held their own rain party. Many areas are under water. Nothing, of course, to compare to the devastation down south. But significant enough to do deep damage. Read the rest of this entry
Prayer, who needs it?
*If you haven’t entered your name for the 3:16 giveaway do it today! Winner will be posted on Wednesday!*
Why do you pray? Really, what do you hope to gain from praying? What’s the purpose? (If you have a ready answer, click on the word “comments” under the title above or scroll down to enter your response prior to reading the rest of this post.)
This summer I have studied the very nature of God. Read the rest of this entry
The Holy Wild
The more I know, the less I understand.
I’m glad I’m in a place right now where I can study. A place where I’m craving more. God has answered my prayer by granting me the desire to read and learn. I need to eat it up now. Because what I know about my life – things are gonna get rocky – really soon. Read the rest of this entry
The lights are out.
Tonight, the electricity went out after a brief rain shower. The lights were out for about an hour or so. Right around bed time. So my girls were treated to books in bed with daddy and flashlights. What could be better?
Unfortunately, for those who suffer with depression, there are no flashlights to illuminate our heavenly Daddy sitting along side your bed stroking your hair, singing you to sleep. Read the rest of this entry
Amen to Larry King!
Did you know that Larry King sings?
Well, maybe not. But, he did through the voice of Steven Curtis Chapman and his family. The show aired Thursday night live across America and beyond. And the hope of eternity was shared to all who watched. Read the rest of this entry
