So this afternoon I have been doing an inductive bible study on the book of Hebrews, which has little to do with what I am about to write about other than to note why I am in the bible today. So, I am thumbing back into Psalms and run across a message which says: Fred, " Do not fear, for I have redeemed you: I have called you by name, you are mine." Isaiah 43: 1
I am not sure how that got in there, but I am sure that an angel disguised as a friend gave this to me for such a time as this. The thoughts of insignificance and lack of faith in the abilities God has placed in me sometimes gets a bit overwhelming, today being one of those times. I am not an academic person.
I am now, God called me to seminary and called me to be a pastor. he would not have done it if He was not going to see me through it. He never called the israelites into a battle and then left them for dead. When they were actively pursuing Him and true to His word, He was always there for them.
When Joseph was sold into slavery, when Daniel was in the Lions Den. When the Israelites marched around Jericho and then shouted and blew horns. The point is the tif God truly does being you to it, He can and will bring you through it.
God changed Abram's name to Abraham, He changed the names of many of His beloved. He has changed my name as well, not that I might be a great and well written biblical scholar, but that I might be able to walk into the calling He has placed upon my life.
Sometimes a new perspective is the best as well as exactly what we need. He is GOOD and his love endures forever. I need to walk out in to the newness that was brought upon Christ's death upon the cross. He did it for you and for me. Change your name if it helps you to recognize that the old is dead and the new lives. Live out the destiny that God created you for, even upon creation and Christ paid for it upon Calvary.
If we do this thing righteously, we just night get out of here alive!
Monday, September 26, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
relationships that change the Shame game for His glory
Christ tells us as Christians that we will face persecution as believers. That we won't be recognized in our home towns. Never in the bible does it say that we will life a life free from persecution or that we will have an easy life.
Too often we act as though we expect to get through this life without battle scares and sorrows. That is not the promise at all. It sucks somedays to be quite honest. It would be a lot easier if Christ would have made that promise to us and subsequently we would not suffer, but He didn't.
An unfortunate consequence is that we go through life almost alone sometimes, it is the rare friendship that is true enough to listen and understand everything. i.e. we don't have a real place to take our issues. Most of us are unaware of our responses to things, as in we don't know why we act the way that we do.
I recently went through a class on shame and grace. What an amazing experience. Rev. Robert Walter taught it at The Masters Institute in Minneapolis Minnesota. We were taught such great things as identifying some of the things from our childhood, times when we were shamed, or guilted into certain things. Those play a part in our childhood and how we felt with things as well as our adult lives and how we still do things.
As we learn how to recognize those symptoms and how to deal with them, we can then start the healing process. Learning how to forgive and break the chains that bind will without a doubt break the chains that bind. In my life there have been so many different things that have brought shame, but I thought that I forgiven those things and those people that caused the shame. I thought that I had forgiven myself for the things that I have done to myself and others. I had stated that I forgave and found that for what ever reason I am holding onto some of those things.
We (my seminary class) got an amazing opportunity - we got to do some Theophostic prayer. An amazing time that involves some of those ingrained memories and thoughts. Recognizing the belief as well as the feeling and then asking Jesus what He might think about it. The amazing part is seeing for yourself that He cares for us, He cares for me and for you. We worship a great God and I am thankful for Jesus and His sacrifice. By my own effort I am not worthy, by His economy, I am made worthy.
Learning to be real with each other and being there for one another, is a great beginning. I pray for God's strength to continue the therapy with Christ and the healing that I know He wants for me. Phillipians 3:20-21-"20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." I continue to grow in Christ and continue to flesh out what the word relationship means. He has laid this on my heart and as well as a genuine love for people. His healing will aid me in being the same person in all circumstances. To be able to Love all His kids, not just the ones that I agree with.
I praise God for His goodness and long for His spirit to dwell so richly in me and for me to be able to walk with Him in all that I do.
If we do this thing in His will, we may just get out of here alive!
Too often we act as though we expect to get through this life without battle scares and sorrows. That is not the promise at all. It sucks somedays to be quite honest. It would be a lot easier if Christ would have made that promise to us and subsequently we would not suffer, but He didn't.
An unfortunate consequence is that we go through life almost alone sometimes, it is the rare friendship that is true enough to listen and understand everything. i.e. we don't have a real place to take our issues. Most of us are unaware of our responses to things, as in we don't know why we act the way that we do.
I recently went through a class on shame and grace. What an amazing experience. Rev. Robert Walter taught it at The Masters Institute in Minneapolis Minnesota. We were taught such great things as identifying some of the things from our childhood, times when we were shamed, or guilted into certain things. Those play a part in our childhood and how we felt with things as well as our adult lives and how we still do things.
As we learn how to recognize those symptoms and how to deal with them, we can then start the healing process. Learning how to forgive and break the chains that bind will without a doubt break the chains that bind. In my life there have been so many different things that have brought shame, but I thought that I forgiven those things and those people that caused the shame. I thought that I had forgiven myself for the things that I have done to myself and others. I had stated that I forgave and found that for what ever reason I am holding onto some of those things.
We (my seminary class) got an amazing opportunity - we got to do some Theophostic prayer. An amazing time that involves some of those ingrained memories and thoughts. Recognizing the belief as well as the feeling and then asking Jesus what He might think about it. The amazing part is seeing for yourself that He cares for us, He cares for me and for you. We worship a great God and I am thankful for Jesus and His sacrifice. By my own effort I am not worthy, by His economy, I am made worthy.
Learning to be real with each other and being there for one another, is a great beginning. I pray for God's strength to continue the therapy with Christ and the healing that I know He wants for me. Phillipians 3:20-21-"20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." I continue to grow in Christ and continue to flesh out what the word relationship means. He has laid this on my heart and as well as a genuine love for people. His healing will aid me in being the same person in all circumstances. To be able to Love all His kids, not just the ones that I agree with.
I praise God for His goodness and long for His spirit to dwell so richly in me and for me to be able to walk with Him in all that I do.
If we do this thing in His will, we may just get out of here alive!
Friday, August 26, 2011
under attack
Off I go. It is the first week of Seminary and already under heavy attack. I have been praying that I could afford school without working. I want more than anything to do a great job for the Lord. I want to be all that Jesus died for me to be. I want to be able to go to school and not work, outside the 15 hours a week internship.
The enemy is hitting me so very hard that I am feeling terrible. I am having times where I feel as though I should not even be here. That is a lie, in the name and blood of Jesus I cast that lie out of my life. This vessel is for the Lord.
I know all the right things to do to cast these thoughts out of my head and heart. I know that they have no place in me, and yet they come. These thoughts invade my sleep and take over when I am not even looking. Taking away the joy of the Lord from my very soul, from my heart. I don't feel like even going to school. I am under attack.
Turn to the word of God Fred, turn to the word of God. So I am praying and praying and God tells me to open up the book. So I open the book and what do I see? Ezekial 15 - Jerusalem, a useless Vine. great God are you telling me I am worthless? Of course He isn't. I am an heir to the thrown, I am a Prince in the Most Royal Family. I Frederick J. Schumacher am Jesus' little brother. I am not worthless. I am worthy of this inheritance. I am worthy of what God Himself has called me to. I am "I Am's" boy. While Ezekial 15 talks about a worthless vine, Ezekial 16 talks about God's love and provision. It talks about how much God loves us. Although on the day of your birth you were not even washed, you lay there in your blood, God saw you and had more for you. 16:6 says"And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood,'LIVE!' " I made you flourish like a plant of the field.
This passage goes on to talk about all the provision of God. When it seems as though you are not enough as Jerusalem surely felt, repent from you worldly views and flourish in God's gifts. He loves you and you can't do anything about that. When the enemy is telling you that you are not enough, tell him to kindly go back to hell where he belongs. Tell him that he has no place in the son or daughter of the Most High God.
God's love endures forever. Do not turn back into the ways of the world. Do not turn to jewels or rely on your own beauty as it talks about in the rest of the chapter. Stay in Daddies arms. Stay where the Son is so nice and warm on your heart, that your skin even feels warm.
Please grab a friend when the enemy is attacking, you may very well be on the brink of something wonderful for the Kingdom. Be encouraged that you are under attack, that means that you are worth it.
If we do this thing right, we might just get out of here alive!
The enemy is hitting me so very hard that I am feeling terrible. I am having times where I feel as though I should not even be here. That is a lie, in the name and blood of Jesus I cast that lie out of my life. This vessel is for the Lord.
I know all the right things to do to cast these thoughts out of my head and heart. I know that they have no place in me, and yet they come. These thoughts invade my sleep and take over when I am not even looking. Taking away the joy of the Lord from my very soul, from my heart. I don't feel like even going to school. I am under attack.
Turn to the word of God Fred, turn to the word of God. So I am praying and praying and God tells me to open up the book. So I open the book and what do I see? Ezekial 15 - Jerusalem, a useless Vine. great God are you telling me I am worthless? Of course He isn't. I am an heir to the thrown, I am a Prince in the Most Royal Family. I Frederick J. Schumacher am Jesus' little brother. I am not worthless. I am worthy of this inheritance. I am worthy of what God Himself has called me to. I am "I Am's" boy. While Ezekial 15 talks about a worthless vine, Ezekial 16 talks about God's love and provision. It talks about how much God loves us. Although on the day of your birth you were not even washed, you lay there in your blood, God saw you and had more for you. 16:6 says"And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood,'LIVE!' " I made you flourish like a plant of the field.
This passage goes on to talk about all the provision of God. When it seems as though you are not enough as Jerusalem surely felt, repent from you worldly views and flourish in God's gifts. He loves you and you can't do anything about that. When the enemy is telling you that you are not enough, tell him to kindly go back to hell where he belongs. Tell him that he has no place in the son or daughter of the Most High God.
God's love endures forever. Do not turn back into the ways of the world. Do not turn to jewels or rely on your own beauty as it talks about in the rest of the chapter. Stay in Daddies arms. Stay where the Son is so nice and warm on your heart, that your skin even feels warm.
Please grab a friend when the enemy is attacking, you may very well be on the brink of something wonderful for the Kingdom. Be encouraged that you are under attack, that means that you are worth it.
If we do this thing right, we might just get out of here alive!
Monday, August 15, 2011
time of need
It is so amazing how, when you think that you couldn't possibly get any more in need of people or reliant upon friends, God shows you another situation. When yo think that you might have a firm grasp on what humility is, think again. God will allow you to learn even more about it.
I have been laid up for a little over a month. I blew my back out the week of Easter. ( It is quite ironic that on the week of easter, I find out the true weight of the cross, or at least enough to get an understanding if only a little bit). I can't carry a five pound bag of potatoes, and yet I need to move in the next few days or so.
Having to rely completely on others for everything is so very humbling. I am moving and for the first time in my life my body is incapable doing any of it or of working as a carpenter. It is time to put my words from the pulpit in to action in my life. When the bible says to rely fully on God and not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough to worry about on it's own. I need to believe that God will in fact provide for me and the journey that He has for me. Seminary is tough enough without all the worries of my inability to provide for myself, not being able to focus and concentrate for any amount of time.
The Proverbs speak of our trust in God: Proverbs 3: 21-26 "My child, do not let these escape from your sight: Keep sound wisdom and prudence, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. If you sit down," your ill not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the storm that strikes the wicked: for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
God I love you and I have to admit, I don't doubt you, it is me. Sometimes I doubt my ability to listen and follow through with what it is that you will do for me. I need You Lord!
I have to say thanks to God for getting me through the sermon on Sunday. Lord you showed up in the writing and the delivery of the message. You gave me the courage to share my life with the congregation. You gave excellent scripture verses that tied with my life so well. You gave me strength to stand for 30 minutes. Lord you have provided everything that I need, now please let forth the victory chant that tells me we are going to make it. Lord show me how to fight from the victory of the cross. How do I not let the enemy into my life at this stage. God you name dreams of victory - You are Glory! You are Victory! Jesus, the price you paid on the cross is more the enough! Help me walk that in all that I do, help me get rid of doubt.
Dear Lord, help me get out of this thing alive!
I have been laid up for a little over a month. I blew my back out the week of Easter. ( It is quite ironic that on the week of easter, I find out the true weight of the cross, or at least enough to get an understanding if only a little bit). I can't carry a five pound bag of potatoes, and yet I need to move in the next few days or so.
Having to rely completely on others for everything is so very humbling. I am moving and for the first time in my life my body is incapable doing any of it or of working as a carpenter. It is time to put my words from the pulpit in to action in my life. When the bible says to rely fully on God and not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough to worry about on it's own. I need to believe that God will in fact provide for me and the journey that He has for me. Seminary is tough enough without all the worries of my inability to provide for myself, not being able to focus and concentrate for any amount of time.
The Proverbs speak of our trust in God: Proverbs 3: 21-26 "My child, do not let these escape from your sight: Keep sound wisdom and prudence, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble. If you sit down," your ill not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the storm that strikes the wicked: for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
God I love you and I have to admit, I don't doubt you, it is me. Sometimes I doubt my ability to listen and follow through with what it is that you will do for me. I need You Lord!
I have to say thanks to God for getting me through the sermon on Sunday. Lord you showed up in the writing and the delivery of the message. You gave me the courage to share my life with the congregation. You gave excellent scripture verses that tied with my life so well. You gave me strength to stand for 30 minutes. Lord you have provided everything that I need, now please let forth the victory chant that tells me we are going to make it. Lord show me how to fight from the victory of the cross. How do I not let the enemy into my life at this stage. God you name dreams of victory - You are Glory! You are Victory! Jesus, the price you paid on the cross is more the enough! Help me walk that in all that I do, help me get rid of doubt.
Dear Lord, help me get out of this thing alive!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
A rant if you will
The point between Love and Law
This is the point where my Lord dwells
His home is between judgment and righteousness
Between Ego and humility
Where the love pours out like wine, on both the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong, the smart and the "ignorant"
Lord how do we enter into this place that you have prepared for us Lord
The place where love is the law
The place that following you Lord is the place we desire to be
To be in constance fellowship with you Lord
How is it that we have gone so far on your grace,
and have yet to walk on our own with you
Lord I feel as though I fail you more than I champion for you
What is this allusive point that I hunt for,
that place between my head and my heart where I seem to get lost more than I am found
To love you to the point of ridicule
To love you to the point of persecution
God my God how is it that you still love me in spite of me
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
It can happen at the drive up?
So, if your anything like me. You, from a young age have found yourself noticing that some people do more than others and you in fact are most often that one that does more.
Most times I try to blow it off and say that I don't mind. I will be honest right now, eventually it will rub on me and I will build resentment about it. Why do I have to do so much more than that person and we either receive the same or frequently they will make more? Why am I busting my back when they are loafing or doing so little?
I bring this up today as I read through 2nd Corinthians 8:12-15- 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
This is really working on me about equality and the whole idea behind this blog - Relationally how do we get through this thing alive? How will we come together if we are always judging "fairness".
We get out alive by not building up resentments and loving one another! We do this by caring for others more than we care for ourselves. you all know that the first shall be last and the last shall be first right, so?
I, and hopefully I am not alone on this one. I seem to have a keen ability assess value to what others do in their days. I can tell you without question whether or not you work hard or not. I can tell you whether you are pulling your weight or not. I have been blessed with the ability to tell if someone is doing all that they can do or not. Hopefully you can read the scarcasm in that.
As I read this passage today it really hit me that I have to reevaluate what or how I look at others and their commitments to this thing called life. Have you ever been blessed by a beautiful steak dinner? How about a small little flower growing out of a crack somewhere that you would never suspect it to be? Has any one ever told you a story or said something nice to you in just the smallest and almost unnoticeable way? Have you ever got a chuckle or a smile out of the old guy driving his farm truck 20 miles and hour under the speed limit?
One day, about 20 years ago, I was driving around Madison Wi. and I was having the absolute worse day of my life. I was on the verge of tears all day. Everything sucked and I mean everything. I am sure that I had contemplated my reason for even being on this earth. I know that it did not matter to me at that time if I was here or not, it would not matter to anyone especially me. I pulled into a McDonald's of all places. I drive up to the menu and I hear this young kid ask how I was doing and if I knew what I wanted and if there was any way that he could help me. This young man sounded as if He knew why he was there. He was just doing his seemingly insignificant job. He delighted in what he was doing though. I could hear hope and joy and love in his voice. I instantly began weeping. I was weeping because a kid that was probably only making 3.50 an hour was doing his job. This kid did not find his job insignificant and neither did I after hearing him. I knew that things would be ok. I knew it from kid at McDonald's. I knew that it would be ok,from that kid's attitude about his "stupid little job.
I look back at it now and I would like to say that God sent a not so insignificant angel for me. I gave the kid a 5.00 tip and said thanks and told him that he may never know how much he just changed my life and my day and drove away. So, while this "kid" made his .30 for his less than five minutes with me, he made a difference in my entire life. So as this "kid went from there to wherever he went after work, and maybe he didn't have an abundance of money,(that is not the real point) he did more than money could ever buy, he helped to save my life that day. He gave from his "little"and gave me a lot.
I am not sure how his day went from that point on or even before hand, but this line of work is often looked down upon by many, it is menial and trivial and matters very little in the grand scheme of things. I guess what I am saying is that while some appear to not do there part, think about it. Do you really know what there part is? Have you been given divine insight to see what they were meant to do today?
Even if they did nothing today or as long as you've known them, maybe it is because you are not giving of your abundance first. Maybe you need to pour out into them. Maybe you can ask them in a genuinely pleasant way today - How may I help you?
While we don't know what each other is suppose to do from moment to moment, it is my argument that we know what we are suppose to do.
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF!
Do not worry about what others are or aren't doing, worry about what Christ is doing in and through you!
If we do this correctly, we just might get out of this thing alive!
Most times I try to blow it off and say that I don't mind. I will be honest right now, eventually it will rub on me and I will build resentment about it. Why do I have to do so much more than that person and we either receive the same or frequently they will make more? Why am I busting my back when they are loafing or doing so little?
I bring this up today as I read through 2nd Corinthians 8:12-15- 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
This is really working on me about equality and the whole idea behind this blog - Relationally how do we get through this thing alive? How will we come together if we are always judging "fairness".
We get out alive by not building up resentments and loving one another! We do this by caring for others more than we care for ourselves. you all know that the first shall be last and the last shall be first right, so?
I, and hopefully I am not alone on this one. I seem to have a keen ability assess value to what others do in their days. I can tell you without question whether or not you work hard or not. I can tell you whether you are pulling your weight or not. I have been blessed with the ability to tell if someone is doing all that they can do or not. Hopefully you can read the scarcasm in that.
As I read this passage today it really hit me that I have to reevaluate what or how I look at others and their commitments to this thing called life. Have you ever been blessed by a beautiful steak dinner? How about a small little flower growing out of a crack somewhere that you would never suspect it to be? Has any one ever told you a story or said something nice to you in just the smallest and almost unnoticeable way? Have you ever got a chuckle or a smile out of the old guy driving his farm truck 20 miles and hour under the speed limit?
One day, about 20 years ago, I was driving around Madison Wi. and I was having the absolute worse day of my life. I was on the verge of tears all day. Everything sucked and I mean everything. I am sure that I had contemplated my reason for even being on this earth. I know that it did not matter to me at that time if I was here or not, it would not matter to anyone especially me. I pulled into a McDonald's of all places. I drive up to the menu and I hear this young kid ask how I was doing and if I knew what I wanted and if there was any way that he could help me. This young man sounded as if He knew why he was there. He was just doing his seemingly insignificant job. He delighted in what he was doing though. I could hear hope and joy and love in his voice. I instantly began weeping. I was weeping because a kid that was probably only making 3.50 an hour was doing his job. This kid did not find his job insignificant and neither did I after hearing him. I knew that things would be ok. I knew it from kid at McDonald's. I knew that it would be ok,from that kid's attitude about his "stupid little job.
I look back at it now and I would like to say that God sent a not so insignificant angel for me. I gave the kid a 5.00 tip and said thanks and told him that he may never know how much he just changed my life and my day and drove away. So, while this "kid" made his .30 for his less than five minutes with me, he made a difference in my entire life. So as this "kid went from there to wherever he went after work, and maybe he didn't have an abundance of money,(that is not the real point) he did more than money could ever buy, he helped to save my life that day. He gave from his "little"and gave me a lot.
I am not sure how his day went from that point on or even before hand, but this line of work is often looked down upon by many, it is menial and trivial and matters very little in the grand scheme of things. I guess what I am saying is that while some appear to not do there part, think about it. Do you really know what there part is? Have you been given divine insight to see what they were meant to do today?
Even if they did nothing today or as long as you've known them, maybe it is because you are not giving of your abundance first. Maybe you need to pour out into them. Maybe you can ask them in a genuinely pleasant way today - How may I help you?
While we don't know what each other is suppose to do from moment to moment, it is my argument that we know what we are suppose to do.
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF!
Do not worry about what others are or aren't doing, worry about what Christ is doing in and through you!
If we do this correctly, we just might get out of this thing alive!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
way of the warrior
A wonderful book entitled qualities of a spiritual warrior has been so revitalizing. Graham Cooke wrote the book in 2008 as a way to help people realize the power they have in Christ.
One of the struggles I have always had in my life has been being reactionary. I frequently react to circumstances that need my tending to. This could be someone picking on the under privileged or maybe something not quite so hero - esk. If it was not an action type situation such as the previously mentioned, it could be my getting upset when things did not go quite right for me or someone said something to me that was upsetting. How about road rage or being tested in the realm of patients.
Reacting to situations is something I am quite good at - if you will. This book talks about those things as well as helps you to get through them. Seeing scripturally how God has made provision for us. He has us covered, He already thought of it. He talks about how much God loves us. We know from scripture that God delights in us, but Graham describes this as God bubbling in enthusiasm for us. That certainly puts a great big smile on my face.
These descriptions help me to keep up the fight. To continue to run the race, to endure in what He has called me to do. If God so desires a relationship with me that He bubbles in enthusiasm for me, it is my blessing to do the same in return. This brings up a question for me, how do I love Him the way that He loves me? It is necessary to be genuine in our pursuit of Him. To ask Him truthfully what is in our hearts. If we are able to be real with God, won't that show in all that we do? It should show in our relationships with others, and that is the catch for me. That is something that truly draws me in, draws me deeper into a relationship with Him and others.
Many times the church is it's own worst enemy. We rely on our own abilities to understand and relate to people we only see on Sundays ( most of the time). Remember when I talked about judging people and their walk with Christ. It is easy to see that I have been relying on my own understanding of God and what He would want from me.
Graham has an amazing quote in this book.
"This is the land of the religious and the Pharisee, where men make God in their own image; and intellectual study governs our thinking. We have no internal perception of God's true reality, and our logic based faith is so reasonable we cannot achieve anything with it."
If we only fix our eyes on what we learn from a book, we can never fix our eyes on what He is showing us - how much He loves us and how much we are to Love others. We can never get fixated on peoples performances or the way that we think they should be that we forget to Love them where they are at, the way that Christ took us - as is - damaged goods - He bubbles with enthusiasm for us!
Can we take from example - What He has shown us - can we be the difference that changes the world? Can we show a love that is undeniable to those who know no love like this?
It is my recommendation that everyone who has an interest in knowing God more intimately - read this one! it is simply amazing!
If we do these things correctly or with a true heart, we might just get out of this thing alive!
One of the struggles I have always had in my life has been being reactionary. I frequently react to circumstances that need my tending to. This could be someone picking on the under privileged or maybe something not quite so hero - esk. If it was not an action type situation such as the previously mentioned, it could be my getting upset when things did not go quite right for me or someone said something to me that was upsetting. How about road rage or being tested in the realm of patients.
Reacting to situations is something I am quite good at - if you will. This book talks about those things as well as helps you to get through them. Seeing scripturally how God has made provision for us. He has us covered, He already thought of it. He talks about how much God loves us. We know from scripture that God delights in us, but Graham describes this as God bubbling in enthusiasm for us. That certainly puts a great big smile on my face.
These descriptions help me to keep up the fight. To continue to run the race, to endure in what He has called me to do. If God so desires a relationship with me that He bubbles in enthusiasm for me, it is my blessing to do the same in return. This brings up a question for me, how do I love Him the way that He loves me? It is necessary to be genuine in our pursuit of Him. To ask Him truthfully what is in our hearts. If we are able to be real with God, won't that show in all that we do? It should show in our relationships with others, and that is the catch for me. That is something that truly draws me in, draws me deeper into a relationship with Him and others.
Many times the church is it's own worst enemy. We rely on our own abilities to understand and relate to people we only see on Sundays ( most of the time). Remember when I talked about judging people and their walk with Christ. It is easy to see that I have been relying on my own understanding of God and what He would want from me.
Graham has an amazing quote in this book.
"This is the land of the religious and the Pharisee, where men make God in their own image; and intellectual study governs our thinking. We have no internal perception of God's true reality, and our logic based faith is so reasonable we cannot achieve anything with it."
If we only fix our eyes on what we learn from a book, we can never fix our eyes on what He is showing us - how much He loves us and how much we are to Love others. We can never get fixated on peoples performances or the way that we think they should be that we forget to Love them where they are at, the way that Christ took us - as is - damaged goods - He bubbles with enthusiasm for us!
Can we take from example - What He has shown us - can we be the difference that changes the world? Can we show a love that is undeniable to those who know no love like this?
It is my recommendation that everyone who has an interest in knowing God more intimately - read this one! it is simply amazing!
If we do these things correctly or with a true heart, we might just get out of this thing alive!
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