HE IS GOD OF THE UNIVERSE - YET I CALL HIM "FATHER"

Last night while attending a presentation of the story of "Cinderella" performed by Spiritual Twist Productions - Christian Youth Theater http://www.spiritualtwist.com  my heart was so stirred at a song sung by the King concerning his son the prince.  

Although I do not know the words exactly - the King was referring to how hard it was to be a King - yet be a Father.  How hard it was to rule a Kingdom - yet lead the heart of his son.  

I could not help but my mind turn to thoughts of my Heavenly Father.  He is "GOD OF THE UNIVERSE" - yet I have the honor of calling Him "FATHER"!  He rules the world - yet has time to guide my everyday life.  He has no limits and cannot be contained - yet dwells within my heart.

There are times I think that I must view God as if He were like "the old woman who lived in a shoe... had so many children she didn't know what to do!"  Then I am reminded of my Father's attributes:  Omnipotent... Omnipresent.... Omniscient. 

Beloved Father, I am so happy to be Your child. I can hardly believe that You, the mighty King of the universe, have chosen me as your own! You lift me up, You hold me close, You comfort me.... Thank you for your amazing love which not only protects, heals and comforts, but also disciplines and molds me into a child fit for the marvelous inheritance you have prepared for me.  Amen

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
Romans 8:15-17

 

We were so blessed with a wonderful 
"earthly Father" who is now with 
our/his "Heavenly Father!"

Miss you daddy!

"THE HOLE I KEEP FALLING IN"

This little story was from the first session of the Bible Study, "One in a Million" by Priscilla Shirer.  She quotes a lady named Portia Nelson in her own book "A Jewel in His Crown"

It goes something like this - - -

Chapter 1
"I walked down the street there is a deep hole in the sidewalk I fall in, I'm lost, I'm helpless, it's not my fault though, it takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 2
I walk down the same street there is a deep hole in the sidewalk; I pretend I don't see it; I fall in; I can't believe I am in the same place; but it's not my fault; it takes a LONG time to get out;

Chapter 3
I walk down the same street there is a deep hole in the sidewalk; I see it there I fall in; It is a habit my eyes are open I know where I am it is my fault; I get out immediately;

Chapter 4
I walk down the same street there is a deep hole in the sidewalk; I walk around it;

Chapter 5
I walk down a different street."

This narrative, although ever so simple; contained such a "life lesson."  I cannot do what I have always done and see different results.  There are many times in our lives that we just need to "walk down a different street."  We must make a conscious decision to avoid the "pit-falls" that have trapped us in the past... and avoid getting ourselves in those situations for "old habits" and "temptations" to consume us. 

"It's so easy to let life make a habit of us and we just go along."

Quote by Goldie Pack Gwinn

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."  (Galatians 5:1)

MORE OF THE PROCESS - "Sufficiency"

In my Bible Study this morning, the Lord gave me this realization... thus I wrote it in a quote to share with each of you:

"Some days I find myself longing and searching - - - in others and for others - - - to be ENOUGH... only to find that I have set both of us up for ultimate disappointment and failure."

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;" 2 Corinthians 3:5

SO THANKFUL THAT "HE" IS ENOUGH, AND "SUFFICIENCY" LIES WITHIN "HIM" AND THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH "HIM"!

"THE PROCESS OF GOD WORKING IN OUR LIVES"

This morning as I sat in my big comfy recliner, my Bible and Bible Study book resting in my lap, I read these words:

"Relationships are difficult and can be devastating.  But I've found that wrestling my pain out before God is the only healing salve for my brokenness.  I believe the Lord has allowed me to go through some immensely painful relationships for the greater good of drawing me deeper into Him.  I've gotten to know Him more richly in my losses.  And I've learned to love people more deeply in the process."  Kelly Minter in "No Other Gods"

As I read this over and over I wept.  I recalled a very dark time in my life only about 5 months ago when I sat at this computer musing of my feelings and the agony of "friendships lost" (posted below).  I am so often amazed at the "process of God working in our lives."  I look back over these last months and realize that I have been on a "God appointed" journey to lead me to this day and beyond.  

I have a tendency in my life to be very selective in who I allow to get really close to me.  If I do let you in, I am tempted to "possess and cling."  I am also a "people pleaser."  God wants to be "GOD" in my life... not looking for "life" or "approval/affirmation" from others.  He wants me to realize that HE is all that I need and the relationships that He brings into my life are only there to enrich... not fulfill.  My "clinging" needs to be... to HIM!

I am sure that at times I will still get my feelings hurt, feel left out and rejected by others, but hopefully through this journey and process... I have learned that HE IS ENOUGH - "HE'S ALL I NEED!" 

 
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FRIENDSHIPS LOST
Some of the greatest hurts in this life.... Are those rendered by one you once called "friend".

My heart is heavy tonight for friends I've lost. And after spending hours looking at scripture, pictures, websites, and wiping my tears, I'm hoping my heart will find solace with some words...

When we recently walked away from our church of 19 years – friends walked away from us.

Some, I think, simply didn't know what to say, so they chose to say nothing. And they still say nothing.  Some, I think, felt uncomfortable because of their continued attendance at the church.  As if it had to be a choice between, us or church... one or the other.  Some, I think, made assumptions rather than ask questions. So they passed judgments about us, our character, and our heart.  Some... I don't know that I'll ever understand what happened or why. They're just... gone. And for that I mourn.  Deeply.

Tonight I let myself feel it. I let the tears come for friendships lost... For histories that seem to be washed away by futures that will never be... For not knowing if the missing is mutual... For what was... For what is... that I can't change...  It's a painful thing to realize that you cared for... much more than you were cared about.

Tonight I talked to God about it—about them—for maybe the first time. And I asked Him to help me trust Him with this, even though—or maybe, because—I don't understand it.

Tonight I'm "trying"... no "choosing" to "rejoice with those who rejoice".   Tonight my heart is letting go... And saying goodbye to those I never got a chance to.

And I pray I never stop loving. Stop letting people in. Stop trusting. Stop showing my heart.

Because I know love isn't love if there's no risk involved.
* * * * * * * * * * * *



The Kingsmen - He's All I Need

"WINDSHIELD WIPER CHRISTIAN"

In doing my Bible Study  again the subject of the Children of Israel and how they had a history of turning to God during seasons of punishment but forgetting Him during seasons of prosperity.  After contemplating this God gave me one of those "light-bulb" moments.

I too have the tendency to turn to God during trials and forsake Him when times are good. Now to turn the light on to how the Lord spoke to me through this. My mind was turned to "windshield wipers" LOL! Really I laugh but it is truly not funny. I seem to turn God on HIGH during the storms in my life. When rain is pelting me on every side, the thunder is crashing round, and the lightning has me in the sights of it's flashes. Then turn God down to
MEDIUM when it's still raining pretty intensely but the storm has passed. Then turn to  INTERMITTENT when it's just a slow steady drizzle with everyday frustrations and anxieties. When the sun begins to shine and all is bright in "my world" I seem to turn Him  OFF... only to turn Him back on occasionally for a quick clean up of an obvious sin I've committed or when some "bug" of a little obstacle has come into my path.

I know this is probably a crazy illustration... but when I was reading and feeling the convicting presence of the Holy Spirit and thinking on how I seem to operate my relationship with the Lord... the words "LIKE A WINDSHIELD WIPER" popped into my head.

I am certainly not meaning to tarnish my image :-) but just being honest with God, myself, and you. God's still working on me!  Oh, that I would make sure that HE is on HIGH at all times in my life... whether the rain is falling or the sun shining - my life never becoming too dry for Him to move, because of the Holy Spirit reigning consistently in my heart.