I’m just finishing up the first week of homework from Jennifer Rothschild’s Fingerprints of God, and the last day was just so good that I need to blog about it so I can find it and reference it again when I need it.
We’ve been exploring that God’s fingerprints are all over us through His creation of us. In the garden, He gave us authority and dominion over the earth. With sin we gave away the glory and authority God had given to us as His beloved creation. In return we received death and allowed Satan to use our defaulted authority to attempt to counterfeit God’s authority over the earth.
We were helpless to regain our lost position, glory and authority. The only price to be paid was death. From this, our insecurities and loss of sense of value and worth spring forth. Only the original giver of the authority, the Father Himself, could reclaim that authority. Because He is just, the price must still be paid, if not with our deaths, then someone of even more worth.
So, at the cross the price was paid. When Jesus said “It is finished” and the angel declared “He is not here, He is risen!” the price was paid and the authority and glory reclaimed. We were bought, redeemed and purchased with His very own blood. We must now simply choose to receive our place of authority again.
A couple of things come to mind when I ponder the significance of this. When I feel unimportant, insignificant or unloved, I have lost sight of the cross. God could have easily said “Let her die”, but He placed too high of a value on me to let that happen. The life of His Own Son was not too high a price to pay for me, just simple little me. When I throw myself a pity party in the future, I want to remember to come here and read this again. I must have great value to be worth such a great cost.
Second, we often take comfort in that “someday” Satan will finally be vanquished and banished to the fiery lake forever. But we let ourselves be confused that until then Satan is still in charge. Oh no, not so. At the cross it was paid, it was finished, including Satan’s rule. Any rule he currently enjoys is only that which we have ceded to him. At the cross all authority is returned to us, through the authority given to Jesus and the power in the fulfilling price of His shed blood. When we reclaim that power, Satan is subject to us. He only wins when we let him. That doesn’t mean it is always easy. Yes, he is sly and crafty and deceptive. Lies are his native language. So, we simply sharpen our swords (know the Word of God), use them to discern truth, claim our position, and cut down in his tracks. We don’t have to wait until “someday” for the victory, it is already ours right now.
I can’t help but praise such a loving God, who has such a perfect plan for our benefit. To borrow a line from my son, Wow God, just wow!
Choose Joy!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
In Pursuit
Today is short and sweet, to the point, a lesson to myself, maybe you’d like to hear it too.
If you are looking for God, it is because God is trying to get your attention. With the most amazing love, He is pursuing you. He has seen you and wants to catch your eye. It doesn’t matter where you are or what your opinion is, He has chosen to pursue you. He wants you, but He’s waiting on you to accept His offer. Maybe you have questions, but if you are thinking about God, He wants your attention, and He has answers.
If you are looking for God, it is because God is trying to get your attention. With the most amazing love, He is pursuing you. He has seen you and wants to catch your eye. It doesn’t matter where you are or what your opinion is, He has chosen to pursue you. He wants you, but He’s waiting on you to accept His offer. Maybe you have questions, but if you are thinking about God, He wants your attention, and He has answers.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Knowing God’s Name
I’ve been studying Knowing God by Name by Mary Kassian this fall. As I write this, I have not finished it, yet it has already far exceeded my hopes and expectations for knowing God more intimately. While I am enjoying all the topics of this study, there is one concept that keeps running though my mind. While God indeed knows us by name, He also wants us to know Him by name, and I find that concept captivating.
Moses asked God what His name was in Exodus 3:13-15(NIV) –
Ex 3:13 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?”
Ex 3:14 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.’ ”
Ex 3:15 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.
In these verses we learn that God has a name that He wants us to know. This Hebrew word sounds like “I AM” and is translated that way in verse 14. However, in verse 15 we see the more usual reference to God’s name as LORD (the word lord in all capital letters). This came about due to the fact that the Israelites considered this name too holy to even say aloud, so whenever it was encountered in scripture, the word for Lord was substituted. This carried forward into our English translations with the difference between the two underlying Hebrew words marked by the capital letters. While the Israelite had the correct Hebrew word in front of them to remind them of God’s Holy Name, I have sometimes lost sight of this by seeing only the word LORD.
So, a couple of things occur to me, that help me widen my thinking. First, when I see the word LORD in all caps, I need to remember, this is the Name of God, not just a generic reference to a lord. It’s kind of like the difference between saying “the Queen of England” versus “Queen Elizabeth of England”. There is a personal reference there. I should remember that the author was making sure we knew exactly which God he was referencing. This is not someone else’s god, but the one true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He is being referenced by name.
Second, I am fascinated by the notion that God bothers to give us His Name. The sharing of names, takes us from strangers and the impersonal, to the overtures of relationship and personal knowledge. When you meet someone, one of the first things we do is share our names. It helps us to make a connection. Strong’s notes that God’s Hebrew name is often used in conjunction with covenant and personal relationship. I’ve often been told “LORD” is a reference to the God of Covenant. That makes sense, since when we enter a covenant or contract relationship, we give our name or signature as part of the pledge to honor the commitment. God has shared His Name with me to invite me into a relationship with Him, to know Him intimately as He already knows me. The tenderness of this gesture simply overwhelms me when I stop to think about it.
So, next time I read LORD in my Bible, I want to think of more than just Lord, I want to remember it is God, being called by name, so I will know who He is.
Choose Joy!
Moses asked God what His name was in Exodus 3:13-15(NIV) –
Ex 3:13 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?”
Ex 3:14 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.’ ”
Ex 3:15 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.
In these verses we learn that God has a name that He wants us to know. This Hebrew word sounds like “I AM” and is translated that way in verse 14. However, in verse 15 we see the more usual reference to God’s name as LORD (the word lord in all capital letters). This came about due to the fact that the Israelites considered this name too holy to even say aloud, so whenever it was encountered in scripture, the word for Lord was substituted. This carried forward into our English translations with the difference between the two underlying Hebrew words marked by the capital letters. While the Israelite had the correct Hebrew word in front of them to remind them of God’s Holy Name, I have sometimes lost sight of this by seeing only the word LORD.
So, a couple of things occur to me, that help me widen my thinking. First, when I see the word LORD in all caps, I need to remember, this is the Name of God, not just a generic reference to a lord. It’s kind of like the difference between saying “the Queen of England” versus “Queen Elizabeth of England”. There is a personal reference there. I should remember that the author was making sure we knew exactly which God he was referencing. This is not someone else’s god, but the one true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and He is being referenced by name.
Second, I am fascinated by the notion that God bothers to give us His Name. The sharing of names, takes us from strangers and the impersonal, to the overtures of relationship and personal knowledge. When you meet someone, one of the first things we do is share our names. It helps us to make a connection. Strong’s notes that God’s Hebrew name is often used in conjunction with covenant and personal relationship. I’ve often been told “LORD” is a reference to the God of Covenant. That makes sense, since when we enter a covenant or contract relationship, we give our name or signature as part of the pledge to honor the commitment. God has shared His Name with me to invite me into a relationship with Him, to know Him intimately as He already knows me. The tenderness of this gesture simply overwhelms me when I stop to think about it.
So, next time I read LORD in my Bible, I want to think of more than just Lord, I want to remember it is God, being called by name, so I will know who He is.
Choose Joy!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Feeling Relief
It’s been about a month since God rescued us from the semi (see previous post) and since then, I have often found the event in my thoughts. It took a few days to get beyond the sheer shock of the event and I’ve been amazed by the myriad of directions my mind has taken.
One of the first things I noticed was how much easier it was to believe God and have faith in Him. I have lost track of how many times I have thought, “If God can save us from a semi, this is a piece of cake!” Our human nature wants proof that someone is trustworthy. God was so mighty in His demonstration of His protection, I can easily find my faith to trust Him to handle the next thing I’m facing. I have delighted in the opportunities to testify of his faithfulness in this event, maybe even too enthusiastically, but He is so amazing, it’s just hard to resist!
One of the other things I noticed was the sense of relief I’ve felt. This one has caused me to stop and question what I’m feeling. I’m finding that relief exists on many levels. First, I’ll be real honest. I am a pain weenie. So, I am relieved beyond words that God spared me the pain of an automobile accident that day. I know He would have been with me during all the pain, but I’m extremely relieved and grateful that I was spared. Then I think about Ken and Alex, and my gratitude that they were spared pain goes even further.
Next, I realized I was realized in thinking about Alex and Ken, it would have been very difficult if only part of us had survived an accident. God made us for eternal relationship with Him, and our human relationships share that DNA. We don’t like separation and endings. We want permanence in our relationships. Whoever was left here was going to have to deal with the separation from those that went home. That’s even more pain, this time the emotional kind. So again, my relief and gratitude soar.
Finally, we didn’t die. I felt relief, but soon realized that meant I didn’t go home. I feel this wisp of longing go through my soul when I think about that. Was it wrong for me to feel relief about still being alive? As a mere human, I cling to the known and am apprehensive about the unknown. God placed into us the desire to live and an instinct for self-preservation. So, I think it is normal to feel this way. I know I don’t want to feel like someone I knew years ago, that so badly wanted to go home to heaven, that being here on earth was almost depressing. They were hard to be around sometimes. I don’t think that’s what God wants for us, to live here, miserable and waiting to go home. We are here for a purpose, which gives me my big reason that I think it is ok to be relieved to still be alive. God still has things for me to do. I have a purpose to fulfill for the kingdom. God loves me enough to allow me to participate in His plans. I don’t just have to sit by and watch Him do His thing. He values me enough to allow me to jump in and get messy doing the work of the kingdom, a very good reason to be alive indeed.
So, occasionally, I’ll feel that wisp of longing, wondering what it might be like to be home with Jesus, but then I’ll return to the business of living. Right now I have some assignments to work on, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, writer of this blog, and shortly after our rescue, I found out I get to teach again this fall. God is good, all the time. Period. Amen.
One of the first things I noticed was how much easier it was to believe God and have faith in Him. I have lost track of how many times I have thought, “If God can save us from a semi, this is a piece of cake!” Our human nature wants proof that someone is trustworthy. God was so mighty in His demonstration of His protection, I can easily find my faith to trust Him to handle the next thing I’m facing. I have delighted in the opportunities to testify of his faithfulness in this event, maybe even too enthusiastically, but He is so amazing, it’s just hard to resist!
One of the other things I noticed was the sense of relief I’ve felt. This one has caused me to stop and question what I’m feeling. I’m finding that relief exists on many levels. First, I’ll be real honest. I am a pain weenie. So, I am relieved beyond words that God spared me the pain of an automobile accident that day. I know He would have been with me during all the pain, but I’m extremely relieved and grateful that I was spared. Then I think about Ken and Alex, and my gratitude that they were spared pain goes even further.
Next, I realized I was realized in thinking about Alex and Ken, it would have been very difficult if only part of us had survived an accident. God made us for eternal relationship with Him, and our human relationships share that DNA. We don’t like separation and endings. We want permanence in our relationships. Whoever was left here was going to have to deal with the separation from those that went home. That’s even more pain, this time the emotional kind. So again, my relief and gratitude soar.
Finally, we didn’t die. I felt relief, but soon realized that meant I didn’t go home. I feel this wisp of longing go through my soul when I think about that. Was it wrong for me to feel relief about still being alive? As a mere human, I cling to the known and am apprehensive about the unknown. God placed into us the desire to live and an instinct for self-preservation. So, I think it is normal to feel this way. I know I don’t want to feel like someone I knew years ago, that so badly wanted to go home to heaven, that being here on earth was almost depressing. They were hard to be around sometimes. I don’t think that’s what God wants for us, to live here, miserable and waiting to go home. We are here for a purpose, which gives me my big reason that I think it is ok to be relieved to still be alive. God still has things for me to do. I have a purpose to fulfill for the kingdom. God loves me enough to allow me to participate in His plans. I don’t just have to sit by and watch Him do His thing. He values me enough to allow me to jump in and get messy doing the work of the kingdom, a very good reason to be alive indeed.
So, occasionally, I’ll feel that wisp of longing, wondering what it might be like to be home with Jesus, but then I’ll return to the business of living. Right now I have some assignments to work on, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, writer of this blog, and shortly after our rescue, I found out I get to teach again this fall. God is good, all the time. Period. Amen.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Not Today
This blog’s purpose is to declare God’s praises, and today I have some serious praises to declare.
Ken, Alex and I left around lunch time on Saturday for a vacation to Atlanta around a visit to the Georgia Tech campus. It was overcast all day and we drove in and out of light rain all afternoon. We were right at exit 154 on I-85 south in Georgia, less than an hour from Atlanta, in a light rain, when as we cleared a hill, we saw cars coming to a stop quickly and Ken managed to get our car to a stop safely at the end of the line.
A quick look in my side mirror saw a passenger truck coming up much too fast and I worried they wouldn’t be able to stop in time. They were not, but the driver had the presence of mind to move to our right into the emergency lane and avoid hitting anybody as they came to a stop about a car length beyond us. We all had a good scare.
Sigh of relief, until I look back again and this time see a semi coming at us way too fast. I’m not sure what to expect when all of a sudden Ken begins to pull the car to the left and forward as quickly and as far as he can as he blurts out, “We’re going to get hit.” What I hadn’t seen at this point was that the semi trailer was fishtailing in the rain and was jack knifing and was coming straight at us.
All I can think is “this is it” and am bracing for impact and I call out “Oh Lord’ and before I can say “help us” the semi blows by us on the right in the emergency lane, very very close to us. The trailer is following getting closer and closer, and I mean mere inches at this point. I’m sure we’re at least going to get our side clipped pretty badly. Amazingly, we are not hit at all. The semi continued barreling by the van in front of us that was probably not expecting anything and hit only their right side mirror, before coming to a stop several car lengths further down the road. I think the first thing I said was, an astonished “we didn’t get hit”, moving into shock with “we could have died”, immediately followed by “God saved us today”. He gave my husband the presence of mind to get the car as far left as possible, those 2-3 feet were the difference we needed, and he gave the semi driver the skill to get his truck straight before reaching us, even though he had to let up on the break to do so, and he was wise enough to try to avoid us to the right. Personally I think God had to lend a hand straightening that truck up that quickly, it just doesn’t normally happen that way.
It turns out just about 30-40 cars in front of us an accident had happened with several cars and semis involved, probably much like we were able to avoid. We had to sit for quite a while with traffic completely stopped while emergency personnel continued to pour in. We finally went up the exit ramp to take a detour, since they had shut down 85 at that point. On our lovely Georgia country back road detour, we passed a church with a sign that said “Jesus Saves” out front. I had to laugh in my still state of shock and say, “Yes He does! Today He saved us!” I truly thought it was my time to meet Jesus face to face. Only God’s decree “Not Today” could have saved us.
God is so good. That morning while we were leaving our neighborhood I did my usual prayer for our safety on our trip. This morning for some reason I did it aloud for Ken and Alex to hear, praying for our safety and specifically that we not have an accident. Ken added his agreement to our prayer. God heard, God answered. He could have called us home, but “Not Today”.
Glory to God Most High. He alone is worthy of all praise and adoration. He holds my life in His hands, and cherishes me as His prized possession. His love for me is unfailing. He is good, He is wise. He is the one true God. I love you Lord, more than I can say, and while I long to see you face to face, it looks like I still have some thing to do for you. Make me usable and a delight to you. Thank you for your protection over me and my family. You are good all the time, all the time You are good. You are God, and I am yours.
Ken, Alex and I left around lunch time on Saturday for a vacation to Atlanta around a visit to the Georgia Tech campus. It was overcast all day and we drove in and out of light rain all afternoon. We were right at exit 154 on I-85 south in Georgia, less than an hour from Atlanta, in a light rain, when as we cleared a hill, we saw cars coming to a stop quickly and Ken managed to get our car to a stop safely at the end of the line.
A quick look in my side mirror saw a passenger truck coming up much too fast and I worried they wouldn’t be able to stop in time. They were not, but the driver had the presence of mind to move to our right into the emergency lane and avoid hitting anybody as they came to a stop about a car length beyond us. We all had a good scare.
Sigh of relief, until I look back again and this time see a semi coming at us way too fast. I’m not sure what to expect when all of a sudden Ken begins to pull the car to the left and forward as quickly and as far as he can as he blurts out, “We’re going to get hit.” What I hadn’t seen at this point was that the semi trailer was fishtailing in the rain and was jack knifing and was coming straight at us.
All I can think is “this is it” and am bracing for impact and I call out “Oh Lord’ and before I can say “help us” the semi blows by us on the right in the emergency lane, very very close to us. The trailer is following getting closer and closer, and I mean mere inches at this point. I’m sure we’re at least going to get our side clipped pretty badly. Amazingly, we are not hit at all. The semi continued barreling by the van in front of us that was probably not expecting anything and hit only their right side mirror, before coming to a stop several car lengths further down the road. I think the first thing I said was, an astonished “we didn’t get hit”, moving into shock with “we could have died”, immediately followed by “God saved us today”. He gave my husband the presence of mind to get the car as far left as possible, those 2-3 feet were the difference we needed, and he gave the semi driver the skill to get his truck straight before reaching us, even though he had to let up on the break to do so, and he was wise enough to try to avoid us to the right. Personally I think God had to lend a hand straightening that truck up that quickly, it just doesn’t normally happen that way.
It turns out just about 30-40 cars in front of us an accident had happened with several cars and semis involved, probably much like we were able to avoid. We had to sit for quite a while with traffic completely stopped while emergency personnel continued to pour in. We finally went up the exit ramp to take a detour, since they had shut down 85 at that point. On our lovely Georgia country back road detour, we passed a church with a sign that said “Jesus Saves” out front. I had to laugh in my still state of shock and say, “Yes He does! Today He saved us!” I truly thought it was my time to meet Jesus face to face. Only God’s decree “Not Today” could have saved us.
God is so good. That morning while we were leaving our neighborhood I did my usual prayer for our safety on our trip. This morning for some reason I did it aloud for Ken and Alex to hear, praying for our safety and specifically that we not have an accident. Ken added his agreement to our prayer. God heard, God answered. He could have called us home, but “Not Today”.
Glory to God Most High. He alone is worthy of all praise and adoration. He holds my life in His hands, and cherishes me as His prized possession. His love for me is unfailing. He is good, He is wise. He is the one true God. I love you Lord, more than I can say, and while I long to see you face to face, it looks like I still have some thing to do for you. Make me usable and a delight to you. Thank you for your protection over me and my family. You are good all the time, all the time You are good. You are God, and I am yours.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Listening and Obeying
I’ve been studying and meditating in Ephesians lately, and today felt lead to read chapter 2 in another translation than my default NIV. So I opened my copy of the Message and its wording of verse two just seemed to jump out at me.
Ephesians 2:2 (The Message)
“You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.”
This sounds just a bit too much like how I’ve often lived my life. How many times have I listened to advice from a bad source, wallowed in my unbelief in God’s ability or desire to work in my life and acted in disobedience? How many times have I just gone with the flow because it is what everyone does?
I like to think that these days I try to look for more Godly and wise sources of advice and pause to question my unbelief. Honesty says that consistency in acting this way is not where should be, so this seems a call for me to stop and look hard for things where I’m letting the world guide me, and remind myself to believe God, not just in Him, but believe what He says when He says He has the plan for my life and has it under control.
Control seems to be a buzz word for me recently. Lately, it seems I’ve been so busy that all I do is talk at (maybe not even to) God, but seldom take the time to stop and listen to Him and really have a conversation with Him. Why do I always fall away from what works and go back to worldly ways I know don’t work? By finally taking some time to slow down and listen today, He’s even reminding me that’s exactly what He wants me to do. I want to follow His advice and plan, then I need to do a better job at listening to Him. In Him, I always find sustenance and peace, the things I need most when it gets busy.
I suspect this verse might hit a nerve with many of us, but maybe it’s a different nerve for you. Is there anything you need to take a closer look at today?
Choose Joy!
Ephesians 2:2 (The Message)
“You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.”
This sounds just a bit too much like how I’ve often lived my life. How many times have I listened to advice from a bad source, wallowed in my unbelief in God’s ability or desire to work in my life and acted in disobedience? How many times have I just gone with the flow because it is what everyone does?
I like to think that these days I try to look for more Godly and wise sources of advice and pause to question my unbelief. Honesty says that consistency in acting this way is not where should be, so this seems a call for me to stop and look hard for things where I’m letting the world guide me, and remind myself to believe God, not just in Him, but believe what He says when He says He has the plan for my life and has it under control.
Control seems to be a buzz word for me recently. Lately, it seems I’ve been so busy that all I do is talk at (maybe not even to) God, but seldom take the time to stop and listen to Him and really have a conversation with Him. Why do I always fall away from what works and go back to worldly ways I know don’t work? By finally taking some time to slow down and listen today, He’s even reminding me that’s exactly what He wants me to do. I want to follow His advice and plan, then I need to do a better job at listening to Him. In Him, I always find sustenance and peace, the things I need most when it gets busy.
I suspect this verse might hit a nerve with many of us, but maybe it’s a different nerve for you. Is there anything you need to take a closer look at today?
Choose Joy!
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