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.

Who is God

Who is God part 2

Who is God part 3

You may not have liked it, but I did!

Last year when I started this blog, I noticed a lot of people talking about the book The Shack.  I had never heard of it before but was surprised with the controversy surrounding the book.  Shortly after a friend from church shared that she really enjoyed reading it for her book club.  So I went out and bought it.  It’s been sitting on my shelf for months.  Until my evening bible study gal pals suggested reading it for our June assignment.  Last night we met and we all loved it!  Here are some reasons why…

 

• The main character in the book Mack asks God the Father why He left His son, Jesus on the cross.  Mack quotes Jesus’ words “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  God the Father comforts Mack by saying He never left Jesus and asks Mack to “consider this: when all you can see is your pain, perhaps then you lose sight of me.”  He also reminds Mack that the story doesn’t end with Jesus’ suffering.

 

• God the Father tries to correct Mack’s understanding regarding the essence of God.  “You see pain and death as ultimate evils and God as the ultimate betrayer… [and] untrustworthy… The real underlying flaw in your life is that you don’t think I am good.”

 

• Jesus explains the power of releasing our pain to Mack by saying “The darkness hides the true size of fears and lies and regrets.  The truth is they are more shadow than reality, so they seem bigger in the dark.  When the light shines into the places where they live inside you, you start to see them for what they are.”

 

• One of my very favorite parts occurs when the Holy Spirit tells Mack “my very essence is a verb.  I am more attuned to verbs than nouns.  Verbs like …living, loving, responding, growing… Humans, on the other hand, have a knack for taking a verb that is alive and full of grace and turning it into a dead noun or principle that reeks of rules….”  (Read more about “I Am”)

 

• I love how Jesus explains to Mack that God doesn’t want to be on our priority list instead God wants “to be at the center of everything.  When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you.”

 

As any work of fiction, we have to keep in mind this book is the work of an author – not holy inspired truth!  However, the book ultimately brought my relationship with God to a whole new level.  And that, I believe, is the art of a successful book.

Have you read the book?  What insights did you gain?  If you didn’t like the book why?  Did you find any controversy in the book that led you away from the truth?

Thanks again bible study gal pals!

Do you have a book that has changed the way you look at God?  Is there a book that has inspired you to write?  Have you read something that you couldn’t put down or just had to talk about it with someone?  Come back on Tuesday 6/30/09 for What’s on Your Mind and share your thoughts!

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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,

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How’s your eyesight?

For those of us “blessed” with poor eye sight, we generally fall into two categories.  One being far sighted; those who can see clear far away but need aid seeing things close up.  And the other being near sighted; people who can see good close but need help seeing things far away.

I was reminded this weekend that these same concepts can be true in our spiritual life as well.

When you view your current life situation, are you overwhelmed with the details that surround your every move?  Or do you take your situation in with a heavenly perspective?

I am not only near sighted in eyesight, but also in my current spiritual life.  I’m having a hard time seeing past my ugly self.  My depression is clouding my view of life.  I’ve become stuck in a constant state of irritability with my children and my husband, which spills over to all other relationships.

As children of God, we can choose to be far sighted creatures.  We can view our life through the lens of heaven.  As we gaze upon the Holy, He can give us a perspective that is beyond our selves.

It’s interesting to me that my doctor and I have been examining all different areas in my life to find help solutions in diagnosing my current situation.  We’ve observed my exercise, diet, sun intake, relationships, etc…  But one thing I haven’t checked out lately is my spiritual health.  It has been absolutely dry.  Why haven’t I pressed into Christ when I’ve needed Him the most?

One of the passages sited in today’s sermon was Revelation 4: 6-11.  This scripture gives us a beautiful picture of what heaven may be like. (Take note at the reference to eyes.)

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Oh, to have that kind of perspective on life today.

Lord, you are Holy.  I pray Father that You would give me a heavenly perspective on life.  Please turn my eyes away from my self and find a clear focus on You.  Guide my days that I would crave a constant connection to You, my source of pure happiness.

How’s your eyesight today?

Want to hear the entire message?  Go to Saint Paul’s home page and scroll down to hear this week’s message.  (It’s my hubby!  He shares two really funny stories from our life together.  You’ll enjoy it!)

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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.

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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. 

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.

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.

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.