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Category Archives: Characteristics of God

Jill Richard’s Musings on the Characteristics of God based on verses in the Bible

My God is…Wise Romans 11:33

01 Mar

Romans 11:33: “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!”

Hindsight is 20/20

Hindsight is 20/20

This wasn’t how things were supposed to turn out.
When I was young, I wanted to be a teacher. I think it was mainly because my Dad was a teacher, and a really good one. I had my eye on the prize. And I did become a teacher. I had great students, parents and the other teachers were wonderful. But after a year and a half, my husband and I were sent to England with his job in the military. In England I would have had to take a year of classes to even teach there, and we were only staying for three, so I didn’t pursue it any further. It didn’t really work out the way I expected. I actually thought about teaching more years than I taught.

But in retrospect

Hindsight is 20/20 they say, and while I wouldn’t say we always get the reasons clearly revealed to us, I would say that the Lord has certainly used my short stint as a teacher for my best. You see as a trained church teacher, I was sent to Idaho. Now this girl was not even thinking about going to Idaho. But if that’s where God wanted me, I was willing to go. While I was there (for that whole year and a half). I met my husband. He’s 8 years older than me, and if I had met him before this time, I wouldn’t have been old enough to really be considered as someone he would want to date. But now I was a young woman. I had a career, and loved my job. These are things he found attractive about me (maybe not the only things).

Again God did things differently than I expected

My husband had been stationed in Idaho for 8 years when I met him. He thought they had forgotten about him. Our plan was to stay and have me teach there for as long as we could. As soon as we got engaged (a mere nine months after meeting) he got orders to England. Amazing. I had always hoped to go overseas, but until meeting my husband, I didn’t have any reason to think I would get there. Now I was going to live there. Amazing.  But that also meant leaving a place I had grown to love in a very short time. But it did feel like God was moving us along, not really our own will.

Some things we may never understand (until we get to heaven)

Shortly after we were married, we found out that we were pregnant. It was quick. I was so worn out, and feeling sick. I didn’t know what was going on with me. I could hardly stay awake at staff devotions (this is when the pastor and his wife knew I was pregnant). A week or so later, I took the test. We were shocked. We really hadn’t expected to start a family so quickly, but if that was God’s will we were going to go with it. Unfortunately a few weeks later I suffered a miscarriage. I was only seven weeks along, and some would say it’s not even a baby yet, but we were in love with our little one already. I don’t know if I’ll ever know why we didn’t get to meet that little one, but God knows, and though I don’t understand, I know He is wiser and more understanding than I ever could be and I can trust He can use it to work for my good.

What have you understood more looking back?

Is there anything that became clearer for you with the 20/20 hindsight view? Have you seen the Lord’s work after the fact? Maybe you’re going through something now. Hopefully the verse above will bring you some comfort knowing that the Lord is wise and that it’s natural for us not to understand his ways sometimes. That doesn’t mean we don’t necessarily have to stop believing when His ways don’t make sense to us.

 
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Posted by on March 1, 2012 in God is Wise

 

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My God is…Compassionate Nehemiah 9:16-21

29 Feb

Wandering around in the desertNehemiah 9:16-21 – “But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands. They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies.

“Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.

Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness.

Have you ever felt abandoned? Was it true? I know that for me there was a time when I felt abandoned. It was around October and November of 2001. Just after the tragedy of September 11. My husband was overseas, and I was home in Tucson (thousands of miles away from my parents and sister), with my twin 2 1/2-year-old boys. The boys wouldn’t sleep. I was worn out. The events in September had drained the country, and I was no different. I was sure the country would go to war quickly, meaning my husband wouldn’t be coming home on time, and I would be stuck with these boys who never sleep. Then it happened. I began to have the symptoms I would later find out were from Multiple Sclerosis. I felt like I was abandoned in the desert. I felt like my husband wasn’t there when I needed him, and my family too was far away. I felt like I was going it alone. Those who should be there for me weren’t. But during that time, the Lord revealed himself to me, and helped me to see I needed to rely on Him, not my husband or family. He sent me great friends who helped me through that time (Kara and Sharon). I believe now, the time in the desert was a truly transforming time for me. Drawing me closer not further away from God.

But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands.

When you are a Stiff Necked person, you are said to be arrogant or stubborn. I also see it as not being able to change your ways or be flexible. I can think of a lot of times in my life where I was being stubborn or arrogant. I may have thought I didn’t have as many sins as someone else, or that the Lord blessed me more, because of something I did, or didn’t do, but the truth is we’re all stiff-necked at times. Denying the Lord and what he has done for us. We think we know better than God and ask like the Israelites to go back into captivity. We romanticized the past and think that if only we could go back to high school or college. Those were the days. But the truth is all of our problems would follow us through space and time, because they are part of who we are. But God doesn’t hold our stiff-necked ways against us. He is compassionate and slow to anger.

Last night in our Bible Study, we were looking at Nehemiah 8-10, and discussed this portion for quite some time. One of the things we heard from a commentary was that we can not escape God’s discipline, but we also can not exhaust God’s Patience. I found that to be a truly comforting statement. That yes sometimes I get myself into a mess of trouble. That sometimes I find myself wandering around in the desert, seemingly going around in circles. But God is still there. He’s still ready to help me, console me and save me from my sins.

You gave your good Spirit to instruct them.

Lord, You have given me so much. I have been blessed even when I didn’t recognize it at the time. It is true that you have our best interest at heart, and that you will bring us through whatever desert we’re crossing. You’ll provide what we need. Lord send your Spirit to guide me and instruct me as I go forward in life trying to serve you.

Are you stiff-necked?

 
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Posted by on February 29, 2012 in My God is Compassionate

 

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My God is … A Revealer Daniel 2:19-23

23 Feb

Daniel 2:19-23 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:

Nick Vujicic

Nick Vujicic

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

Praying for my boys

This morning, I attended my weekly moms prayer group. We get together and pray for our children and their school. Today’s topic of praise to God and prayer for the Children was God as a Revealer. My boys are in middle school, and they’re amazing. They’re super smart, kind and good-looking (I know it hardly counts, cause I’m their mamma!). But I don’t know if they understand the amazing gifts God has given them.

We can’t be perfect

I have often tried to be perfect. Actually that’s probably not totally accurate. I think I actually avoided being imperfect. What’s the difference? The difference is that if you’re going to make a mistake, or there’s even a chance, you don’t take that chance. When I was in high school and college, I got decent grades. I had mostly B’s with a couple of C’s and a few A’s thrown in. Not bad. Exactly not bad, but I could have done really well. I could have…studied. But I was afraid that if I did more than the minimum, the secret that I wasn’t perfect would get out. Other people might realize that I didn’t know everything before I came in the class. Sadly I believe I have passed down that trait to my boys.

I didn’t feel like doing it

Last week my son and I were going over his assignments online, and I noticed he had an F – in our house an F stands for mom FREAKING out! My son explained that he had forgotten to turn in some of the work. Then I noticed 3 Warm up exercises that had zeros as well. I asked him what happened there (knowing they do these in class). He simply said, “I didn’t feel like doing it.” WHAT!!! I don’t know where he got the idea school work was optional, but we’re working hard to nip that one in the bud. I’m afraid that it may stem from that perfectionist attitude. Afraid to fail? Don’t Try.

Attitude is Altitude

So as part of the consequences of having this bad grade, my son and I spent some time together reading a book I love called “Pivot“. I may have mentioned it before. We read the first chapter together, and started talking about how a small change in our attitude can really help us do better in life. As we were pondering the idea that successful people have a positive attitude as a character trait, my son pontificates that even if he had his legs amputated below the knee, he thought he would be able to go on and make something of himself. I immediately thought of Nick Vujicic. If you’ve never heard of Nick, please take a minute to watch this video. You’ll be amazed, possible motivated and I’m sure moved.

 

We are not limited by our circumstances

Though we are not limited by our circumstances, I think it is important that we pray to God – the Great Revealer to help us to see our way through the hard times, so that we might persevere. Push through and use the gifts the Lord has given us for His good. I watched that video of Nick with my boys, and they were inspired. My son with the bad grade has been working hard, and encouraged our family to see if we could find people on tv and in the news who had positive attitudes. We can also look to our Bibles. Jesus, kept his eyes firmly fixed on His Father in heaven, and though frustrated, tired, and beaten was able to see things through to the end. When He made it so we don’t have to be perfectionists, because He was. He makes us look perfect in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. So now we’re free to have a positive attitude, move beyond mistakes, using them as learning opportunities. I pray that the Lord will Reveal to you this day what you’re called to do, and that you will have a positive attitude toward it and keep your eyes on our Lord and Savior. Then jump in and see where the one with all the wisdom and knowledge of the world will take you.

This is the prayer I prayed for my son today. Who will you pray it for?

May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give (Insert name here) the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that he/she may know You better. From Ephesians 1:17

 

 
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Posted by on February 23, 2012 in God is a Revealer

 

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My God is… a Servant – Matthew 20:25-28

16 Feb

Matthew 20:25-28 – Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mom, when I grow up, I want to be a servant

Ok, that’s not quite what I said to my parents, but my plan as a child was to become a Lutheran School Teacher (like my dad and mom). I wanted to be like my father who seemed to always be willing to help anyone in need (as long as my mom told him about it – he wasn’t so good at picking up on some of the clues that people needed help). If my father had any thought that someone needed help moving, a ride, painting a room, delivering something or almost anything else, my father would almost always be quick to volunteer.

Called to be a servant

My dad is gifted with a servant’s heart, but we’re all called to be servants. In the verse above from Matthew, Jesus himself tells us that whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave. That’s some pretty powerful words. The funny thing is my father, when he does nice things for others, serving them with love, he doesn’t look for a thank you or pat on the back, but they come. People admire my father’s kindness. They are drawn to him, respect him and trust him. That’s an amazing thing to be able to say about your father.

Follow the example

I have been truly blessed to have a father (and a mother) who have lived their lives as servants. They want to help, and try to help as much as they can. But even without their example, we can all live by the example of Jesus Christ. Here he is the son of God, washing the feet of his disciples. He stopped, healed and talked with those no one else cared about. Ultimately he not only gave of His time, but He gave of His life. He was a Servant who was willing to give up His life that all of the stuff I had done that wasn’t so good would be washed away and forgotten. That I might have eternal life with Him in heaven. I understand that some might die for a great man, but my God died for me. Even though I continually make mistakes and treat those I love with unkindness, and those I don’t love even worse. I pray that I too may become more of a servant. That I might serve others and my Lord, not to get me into heaven, but so I might reflect the awesomeness of my Lord to all those I know. If they ask me why, I will be blessed to say it is because of the example Jesus set for me, and my earthly father who also followed Jesus example.

Whose servant are you?

 
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Posted by on February 16, 2012 in Matthew, My God is a servant

 

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My God is…Holy 1 Peter 1:15-16

08 Feb

 1 Peter 1:15-16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you’ll know I’m a fan of the dictionary. I like to look words up. Today let’s take a look at the word Holy.

Definition of HOLY

1: exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness
2: divine <for the Lord our God is holy — Psalms 99:9(Authorized Version)>
3: devoted entirely to the deity or the work of the deity <aholy temple> <holy prophets>
4a : having a divine quality <holy love>
 b : venerated as or as if sacred <holy scripture> <a holyrelic>
5—used as an intensive <this is a holy mess> <he was a holyterror when he drank — Thomas Wolfe> ; often used in combination as a mild oath <holy smoke>
God is Holy
God is Holy. He is Holy with a capital “H”. That means that He is the completion of Holiness. It doesn’t get more Holy than God. He is perfect and without blemish. He is perfect in goodness and righteousness.
How are we supposed to be holy?
I don’t know about you, but this verse seems a bit daunting to me. I read it and think, “Um, Impossible”. But we know that all things are possible with God. I decided I needed to look at this verse more closely in its context.
Be Holy 1 Peter 1:13-23

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

We are called to be holy

We are called to be holy, not as a way to get to heaven, but as a part of our sanctification. Moving closer to being like our Lord. I won’t get it right this side of heaven, but because of the grace given to me by my Lord Jesus Christ, I am freed to try. I am freed to be sober-minded putting my hope in the grace I will receive at the second coming of Christ. When he comes again I will be assured of my place in heaven, because as it says in the reading above, I have been redeemed.

Through him you believe in God
Because God sent his son Jesus, and God rose Jesus from the dead, I can now believe that I too will be raised from the dead to spend eternal life with him and my fellow believers in Heaven. My faith and my hope are in God.
Freedom is…freeing
Because I am no longer damned because of my sins (falling short or not measuring up), I am free to try to measure up. I’m free to know that even though I will never measure up on this side of heaven, I can work towards sanctification (being made holy). I can keep putting my hope and faith in God. I can be sober-minded, and not get distracted by my addictions, vices and bad habits. I can keep my focus on God more, reaping the benefits of having a relationship with a God who is all-powerful. God is in my corner, and that makes me able to be confident in all things. Knowing my God is with me and I am with Him.
Who’s in your corner?
 
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Posted by on February 8, 2012 in 1 Peter, My God is Holy

 

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My God is a Miracle Worker – John 21:25

25 Jan

John 21:25 – Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

The whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

Isn’t that the truth. I think about my own life and the amazing things the Lord has done for me, and I’m pretty sure my book of God’s Miracles would be pretty long too – even if all I did was list them. Sometimes when I’m going through something I feel like the Lord isn’t there, and it becomes hard for me to believe that Jesus would perform a miracle for little old me. Sometimes I’m too busy controlling the situation to hand it over to God and let His will be done. But when I have, amazing things have happened.

My son was born with Tetralogy of Fallot

When my son was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot, we had never heard of it. The Doctor explained to us that our newborn would have to have open heart bi-pass surgery within the first year of his life. We were shocked. In the office we took the news calmly, but when we got home I broke down. I was really freaking out. Around 9 months old he had the surgery. The thing I remember most is handing him over to the surgical team. They stood there with a mask to administer something to put him to sleep. Five of them looking at me, one with his arms outstretched to take my baby from me. They were going to cut his heart open. I had been calm the whole day leading up to the surgery, but in that moment, I new I had to surrender his care to the doctors and to God, because I truly couldn’t fix this problem for him.

Years later, during a choir rehearsal at church, a man stood up to give a devotion. He began telling the story of how his son had Tetralogy of Fallot. But his story was different. His son had to have multiple surgeries. He was twelve at the time and had over 5 surgeries already. I started to cry. I was overwhelmed knowing how the Lord had given our son a full recovery. The doctors had said he would never have to have heart surgery for Tetralogy again. That was when I knew the fullness of the miracle that had occurred. My son was healthy and amazed all the heart doctors he has seen since.

God has healed my heart

Another miraculous event in my life has happened more recently. I have an amazing husband. He has always been kind and considerate, but sometimes I still felt I wanted more love from him. I felt needy, and I could tell he felt I was needy too. We didn’t fight often, but when we did – watch out! I felt like he thought, I told you I love you, and that’s the truth until further notice, and that he didn’t really need to tell me again, unless something changed. Well, I’m a girl, and this was hard for me. I didn’t know how to make it better. There really wasn’t much to complain about, and when I did, I couldn’t put my finger on the real problem.

I had heard about a book called, “Love and Respect” on the radio. It talked about how women need love and men need respect. It was surprising to me, and I was pretty sure wrong. I thought, my husband needs love more than respect. I decided to find out. When my husband came downstairs, I asked him which was more important to him, love or respect, and without another breath he said, “Respect!”. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind. I could see I hadn’t been approaching him with that in mind, and I ordered the book (actually I accidentally ordered the second one, but that works too). I read through about half of it and got distracted. Then a few months ago, my counselor recommended it to me. I said I had already read most of it.

When I got home, I talked to my husband and he agreed to read it with me. This is when the miracle happened. By reading Ephesians 5:33 : “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” and the book, he realized that God made me to need love. It’s not that I’m needy because of some personal deficiency, but that God intended it that way. He got it.

How has life changed because of this miracle?

We’re not finished reading the book, but already things are so much better. Remember, I said I had a good marriage before, but this is truly wonderful. Now my husband, of his own doing is showing me love in all the ways I had hoped he would. When we’re at a function, he crosses the room to talk to me. He’ll compliment me in front of others. He tells me its a joy to see my smile. These things are not that different from what he did before, but it’s also the attitude behind it. He assumes I want to bless him with respect, and I assume the things that used to annoy me are not things he’s doing to irritate me. We have more patience with each other, and are really enjoying a new lease on life. My counselor said she thought it was a very powerful book, and I have to agree. It get’s its power by being focused on the truths in God’s word.

Do you need love, or respect?

 
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Posted by on January 25, 2012 in God is a Miracle Worker, John

 

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My God is …the God of Power and Might II Chronicles 20:6

19 Jan

2 Chronicles 20:6

LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.

The God of our ancestors

This is something that I have been thinking about a lot lately. The blessing of having ancestors who have gone before me in this Christian walk. My Grandparents, on both sides, were strong Christian people. They raised my parents keeping Christ at the center of all they did. My parents raised us similarly, and I pray that my children, future grandchildren and great-grandchildren will also follow Christ.

Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon

So this verse is sort of plucked out of a chapter that is about the fight between Jehoshaphat and the Moabites and the Ammonites. In this verse they’re crying out to God for his power and might, hoping that God will help them to defeat these nations. Later in the chapter, God tells them not to worry it’s His battle not theirs. Then he goes on to tell them how he’s going to help them defeat these people.

Flattery, wishful thinking or the truth

When my boys are talking to me and asking me for something, sometimes they butter me up. Saying things like I love the way you cook or you’re the best mom ever. Some of the things that they’re saying in this verse sound almost like they’re trying to butter God up. Or maybe it’s wishful thinking, maybe they’re desperate and calling out not sure if God will answer. Hoping, with a bit of doubt. But I think it’s more that they knew, had heard and seen the power and might of God before, so they knew the truth. They knew He was the God of Power and Might, and that there wasn’t anything He couldn’t do.

Do you trust the God of Power and Might?

The entire town came to the temple to call out to God. They all came together asking for help from the Lord. Their prayer was clearly answered when their enemies were defeated. If God can defeat armies, doesn’t it make sense then that his Power and Might would be enough to help you conqueror the much smaller battles we face each day. Sometimes I act like being married, raising kids and getting along with others is such a hard thing to do that I’m not sure God could help me do it. I’m pretty sure it’s easier than beating an army. But it doesn’t matter easy or hard. God can do all things. He can be our strength, power and might.

Are you mighty powerful?

 
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Posted by on January 19, 2012 in 2 Corinthians, God is my Mighty Rock, God is My Strength

 

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My God is … My Provider – Romans 8:32

14 Jan

Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Graciously give us all things

If God the Father with Jesus is going to give us all things, how come I don’t have a bigger house? A nicer car? More money? Or a maid!

I think we have to look at what this verse is really saying. Is it saying the Lord will provide everything we want? It doesn’t say that, does it. In my study Bible it says, “If God Gave the supreme gift of his Son to save us, he will certainly also give whatever is necessary to bring to fulfillment the work begun at the cross.”

To bring to fulfillment the work begun at the cross

I believe this verse is to give us hope for the sustaining of our faith. That we can be assured that what the Lord has begun on the cross for us, sealed to us in our baptism will continue to grow in us until the day we are brought home to be with him. We know when our day comes, the Lord will bring everything to completion in Him.

He Provides

He provides the people, the places and opportunities to hear about Him and have our faith strengthened. He promises to be with us and that’s an amazing thing. My God is with me all the time. By my side, supporting and encouraging me. God is there giving me strength when I don’t have any of my own.

He provides us knowledge of Him through word and sacraments. He allows us to know Him more fully every time we engage with Him in prayer. He’s providing us with a relationship with Him.

He also Blesses

I know that the Lord provides all that we need to bring to fulfillment the work He began on the cross, but our God doesn’t stop with that (though that is more than any of us deserve). He also blesses us through so many things He has given us. Family, friends, house, home and all that we have comes from the Lord.

What has been provided for you?

 
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Posted by on January 14, 2012 in God is my Provider

 

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My God is … Love 1 John 3:1

10 Jan

1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

See what great love the Father has lavished on us. 

Love is mentioned a lot in the Bible. We’re told we’re to love one another (almost 20 times). Husbands are told to love their wives. But one of the best ways (in my humble opinion) the word love is used is to describe the wonderful and unconditional love the “Father has lavished on us”

Because God first loved us we’re able to show love to others. Even if they don’t deserve it. That can be really hard, but it can also be really rewarding. People are changed by love. Imagine the young student who has never felt very smart in school is shown some loving patience and encouragement from a teacher. That can be very inspiring to the student.

Have you ever been shown love when you didn’t deserve it. Besides from God. Has anyone ever been nice to you even though you were being a jerk? What would happen if you get upset in a grocery store? You lose it and start getting a bit loud with the person checking you out. The manager comes over and lovingly finds out what is wrong and helps you solve the problem. Are you still yelling? No. The manager, with an act of love and respect changed your behavior.

Are you spoiled?

When I was a kid (I’m sure it still is said today), people would say, “Don’t give her that – you’re going to spoil that child.” There are people who are spoiled. Who can never get enough or don’t appreciate the gifts they’ve been given. In the verse above, we see that God has lavished love on us. We are children of the King, the Lord of lords. How could we need anything else? But often I find myself complaining about what I do not have.

I always want more. God is lavishing His love on me and I want more. Lavishing isn’t just getting, it’s getting in abundance. More than I need. He’s giving me more love than I need. What joy that should bring to my heart. It does bring joy, but a somber reality that some times I act like a spoiled brat instead of someone who has all the love a person could ever want.

Lavishing love on others

To lavish love on someone who doesn’t deserve it is contrary to what this world is about, but aren’t we as Christians supposed to be different (in a good way). Wouldn’t it stand out if while someone was yelling at you for the way you parked, you waited patiently until they were done yelling to move your car. What if your spouse says something unkind. Can you stand out and lavish love by not retaliating? How about when your child comes in and confesses to putting a big scratch on your car? Can we lavish the love we’ve been given even then. Only with the strength give to us by Christ could we even try.

Because He first loved us we can lavish love on others. I’m going to challenge myself to find ways to lavish love on people. In my family and community. I’m going to pray for opportunities to show people I love them even when they may not deserve it. That’s scary (may mean I’m going to encounter some real winners over the next few days). But I truly want to understand the amazing love that has been lavished on me. I certainly don’t deserve it.

Are you spoiled? Are you Lavishing love on someone?

 
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Posted by on January 10, 2012 in 1 John, God is Love

 

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God is … Author and Perfecter of my faith Hebrews 12:1-2

02 Jan

Hebrews 12: 1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Fix our eyes

There is a song I absolutely love by Dave Horn called Fix our Eyes. I think one of the reasons this song is so powerful is its strong use of actual scripture. Nothing touches the heart like the word of the Lord. Dave sets a beautiful verse from Hebrews 12 to music. Dave led our church service this week at our church, and it’s always such a blessing when he and his wife Sabra come to visit. They have such a love for the Lord and an ability with fun and joking to make scripture come alive and connect (at least for me) in a whole new way. Whenever I read the scripture above – especially Hebrews 12:2, I think of Dave’s song. The beauty is, I have that verse memorized now because of his song. I suggest you listen to it, maybe even download it.

I love the idea of fixing our eyes on Jesus. It is only when we get distracted by the world and our own sinful desires that we get ourselves into true trouble. When we start to put our focus on things that are temporary and not eternal, we can lose site of what is important.

Author of my faith

Did God write my faith? That’s not the kind of authorship scripture is talking about here. One of the definitions of Author is “An originator or creator of something, esp. a plan or idea”. He is the one who came up with the idea to give me faith. To allow me to know Him and trust in Him. He had a plan for me – that I would have faith in Him, and come to know Him as my Lord and Savior.

Perfecter of my faith

The word Perfect (the root word of perfecter) is defined in many ways, and many of the definitions listed enlighten what this idea of Jesus being the perfecter of my faith might mean.

per·fect (pûrfkt) adj.

1. Lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind.
2. Being without defect or blemish: a perfect specimen.
3. Thoroughly skilled or talented in a certain field or area; proficient.
4. Completely suited for a particular purpose or situation: She was the perfect actress for the part.

5.

  • Completely corresponding to a description, standard, or type: a perfect circle; a perfect gentleman.
  • Accurately reproducing an original: a perfect copy of the painting.
6. Complete; thorough; utter: a perfect fool.
7. Pure; undiluted; unmixed: perfect red.
8. Excellent and delightful in all respects: a perfect day.
Lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind.
When Christ Jesus is the perfecter of my faith, He makes my faith complete, not withholding anything I would need.
Being without defect or blemish: a perfect specimen.
My faith, if it were my own creation would be tainted by my very sinful nature. It would not be trustworthy, but because Jesus is the author of it, it can be a perfect specimen (if I don’t get in the way).
Thoroughly skilled or talented in a certain field or area; proficient.
Jesus skillfully creates our faith, knowing the troubles and tribulations that will face us throughout our lives here on earth, he makes sure our faith is complete.
Completely suited for a particular purpose or situation
Jesus makes our faith perfect for the situations we will face. Whether it is that we don’t get into the college we want or that we have had to grow up with abusive parents or family members. No matter what the situation we find ourselves in, Jesus has provided us with a faith He is responsible for making perfect. He created it, He’ll make it work in our lives, no matter what the situation.
Accurately reproducing an original
As Christ works this perfecting in our faith, we can find ourselves becoming a more true reproduction of the one who created us. We were created in His image, and only through the perfecting of our faith through Jesus Christ do we have the opportunity to find out what that really means. If not fully realized here on earth, then in heaven when we meet Him face to face and our faith reaches its ultimate perfection.
Complete; thorough; utter
Only Jesus can make our faith complete. If we try to be the author of our faith, we’re going to find our faith is short-lived. If we try to will ourselves to believe, it just won’t work. Faith is only made complete, fully realized through Christ Jesus.
Pure; undiluted; unmixed
Our faith, if we created it or tried to make it perfect would be completely clouded by our sin. Everything we would try to make better would be watered down by self-seeking behaviors, selfishness, pride and more. It is only through Christ who is perfect and the perfecter can we have a faith that is pure, not messed up with our sins.
Excellent and delightful in all respects
Have you ever known people who feel like their faith is a burden, keeping them from having fun and enjoying all this world has to offer? Jesus’ promises are not of this world, and they’re eternal. Only Jesus can create faith in us that is excellent and delightful in all respects. He is the one who transforms what feels like restrictions into blessings and challenges into growth.
Come Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
Like a horse with blinders on I want to keep my eyes on Jesus so that I might know Him more fully and not get distracted with all the things of this world the devil tries to use to get me off course. With my eyes fixed on Jesus, I will be able to run with endurance the path Christ has laid out for me.
Who for the joy set before Him
One of the things that I think Dave Horn does so well is opening up scripture so that I see more of what is there. When he performs this song, he makes sure to point out that the “joy” set before Jesus is us – You and me. We are the Joy set before him. The reason He endured the cross despising its shame. You’re the reason He went on the cross. Not to point out your sin, but to save you from your sin that would otherwise block you from the beauty of the Son of God, and the relationship God wants to have with you.
What do you have your eyes fixed on? What are you looking at?

 
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Posted by on January 2, 2012 in God is the Author and Perfecter of My Faith, Hebrews

 

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