This is a collection of jumbled thought that kind of - spewed out onto my computer... I do apologize if it gets a little messy!
Over the past few weeks God has continually been reminding me how very much I need him every moment, of every day…
I mean, I am NOTHING without his love, grace, guidance & forgiveness!
Recently I have been reading through the book The Deity Formerly Known As God by Jarrett Stevens from Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago.
This book is based on the 1952 classic, Your God Is Too Small by J.B. Phillips… Throughout the book Stevens tackles the distorted and destructive images of God that have been formed over the years, and then he explores constructive views that Jesus used of God.
So, while reading through this book - and having a couple incredible “God encounters” over the past few days, a couple of questions were raised:
WHY do I doubt God?
WHY do I limit the Creator of the cosmos?
WHY do I think I know better than HIM?
I have come to the realization that - I'm selfish!
Huge shock I know... :o)
I had never really thought about the fact that my limiting God was an act of selfishness... I mean - He is the creator of this vast universe... and STILL he cares so much about me that he sent his own son to die for me, much less, know the number of hairs I have on my head...
Jesus is the prime example of complete selflessness... Well, he IS after all the Son of God... He was sent here to earth to save us from our sin (one of which is selfishness), but he also gives us a great model for life in general...
Now - back to the greatness of God:
He gathers the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
He puts the deeps in storage places.
Let all the earth fear the Lord [revere and worship Him];
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people He has chosen as His heritage.
The Lord looks from heaven, He beholds all the sons of men;
From His dwelling place He looks [intently] upon all the inhabitants of the earth--
He Who fashions the hearts of them all,
Who considers all their doings.
Over the past few weeks God has continually been reminding me how very much I need him every moment, of every day…
I mean, I am NOTHING without his love, grace, guidance & forgiveness!
Recently I have been reading through the book The Deity Formerly Known As God by Jarrett Stevens from Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago.
This book is based on the 1952 classic, Your God Is Too Small by J.B. Phillips… Throughout the book Stevens tackles the distorted and destructive images of God that have been formed over the years, and then he explores constructive views that Jesus used of God.
So, while reading through this book - and having a couple incredible “God encounters” over the past few days, a couple of questions were raised:
WHY do I doubt God?
WHY do I limit the Creator of the cosmos?
WHY do I think I know better than HIM?
I have come to the realization that - I'm selfish!
Huge shock I know... :o)
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways,
take up your cross daily, and follow me.
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.
But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my message,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory
and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.
I tell you the truth, some standing here right now
will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”
take up your cross daily, and follow me.
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it.
But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?
If anyone is ashamed of me and my message,
the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory
and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.
I tell you the truth, some standing here right now
will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”
~ Luke 9:23b-27 (NLT)
I had never really thought about the fact that my limiting God was an act of selfishness... I mean - He is the creator of this vast universe... and STILL he cares so much about me that he sent his own son to die for me, much less, know the number of hairs I have on my head...
Jesus is the prime example of complete selflessness... Well, he IS after all the Son of God... He was sent here to earth to save us from our sin (one of which is selfishness), but he also gives us a great model for life in general...
Now - back to the greatness of God:
By the word of the Lord were the heavens made,
and all their host by the breath of His mouth.
He gathers the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
He puts the deeps in storage places.
Let all the earth fear the Lord [revere and worship Him];
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the Lord,
the people He has chosen as His heritage.
The Lord looks from heaven, He beholds all the sons of men;
From His dwelling place He looks [intently] upon all the inhabitants of the earth--
He Who fashions the hearts of them all,
Who considers all their doings.
Behold, the Lord's eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe],
who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness,
Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord;
He is our Help and our Shield.
For in Him does our heart rejoice,
because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name.
Let Your mercy and loving-kindness,
O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.
who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness,
Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord;
He is our Help and our Shield.
For in Him does our heart rejoice,
because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name.
Let Your mercy and loving-kindness,
O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.
~ Psalm 33:6-22 (AMP - emphasis my own)
Okay... I don't really have anything to follow that up with... But while you chew on that verse - here is a fantastic song that was recently written by one of our team members:
Give me eyes to see more of who You are
May what I behold still my anxious heart
Take what I have known and break it all apart
You my God are greater still
No sky contains
No doubt restrains
All You are The greatness of our God
No sky contains
No doubt restrains
All You are The greatness of our God
I spend my life to know
and I'm far from close
To all You are
the greatness of our God
Give me grace to see beyond this moment here
To believe that there is nothing left to fear
That You alone are high above it all
You my God are greater still
And there is nothing that could ever separate us
And there is nothing that could ever separate us
There is nothing that could ever
Separate us from Your love
Separate us from Your love
No life no death of this I am convinced
You my God are greater still
No words could say or song convey
All You are The greatness of our God
No words could say or song convey
All You are The greatness of our God
I spend my life to know
and I'm far from close
To all You are
the greatness of our God
(c) Hillsong Music 2009
