Knowing How to Know Him

The last weeks have been tough mentally and spiritually and emotionally for me. So obviously I have been feeling really drained and on top of that being really busy and not getting much sleep. During this time I have found the desire stronger, to want to cuddle up on my Heavenly Father's lap and to just be. In Him. But I struggle to know how to do that. I want to know how to know Him.

This is not an encouragement post. Or an insightful post. Its a post rather to record and 'jot down' the beginning of the realization of a journey that begun when I was born, knowing how to know Him. Knowing how sit on His lap and cuddle. And as I glean from Him and the people He has placed around me, the wisdom and advice of 'knowing how to know Him' I will try to 'jot it down' here.

This morning was so beautiful. I woke up and the Lord instructed me to go to Psalms 31 so I grabbed my Bible from the desk and flipped to Psalms while still lying in bed and began to read. In it, David was describing the exact same things my heart and soul had been struggling through (maybe in a not so physical way but definitely spiritually). David was crying out to God and putting his trust in Him. He knew God would answer. I got to verse 19 where David's situation began to change and he began to physically see God's hand at work and began to praise Him and write of the things that the Lord had shown Him during His tProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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als. (i.e vs. 21"Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city..."). But in vs 19
though, "How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you." The Father whispered to my heart and showed me that this was a promise to me from Him as well. It completely breathed life into the scripture and I knew how much he cared for me and He was not ignorant to the turmoil in my heart, He heard and He was answering. And He had just given me a bunch of key's in His Word to unlock the Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
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ors to victory and peace in my mind and heart through Him. What a perfect start to yet another day to experience His goodness and live for Him.

Psalms 31:19-20 NIV
¹⁹ How great is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you,
which you bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in you.

²⁰ In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from the intrigues of men;
in your dwelling you keep them safe
from accusing tongues.

The Love Factor

People get angry when someone else sees God in a different way than to what they see Him. I suppose it is the arrogance of man to take pity on another who does not see eye to eye with us, who is 'blinded' by his own idea or interpretation of who God is and how He acts.
I know I personally get caught up in the web of feeling that there is somehow a form of a void in a potential friendship or relationship with another human being if we do not share the same interpretation of God. Truth be told, we are all made in His image, in the likeness of Him. God is never ending. Wouldn't it be dull if his never 'endingness' was all the same flavour constantly? What if he were, for eternity, just like me? Or just like you? No thanks! He is endless, His ways are indescribable. He is unique. Every person on this earth has a different part of God in them. Should we not therefore instead celebrate that unique DNA of God in each person and get beyond the theological right and wrong game and instead reach out in love and embrace each other and the image of God that is placed in each of us?
If we could all join together we will end up having the complete picture of who God really is. Ultimately it's all about love. Like He said in 1 Corinthians 13:8 & 1 Corinthians 13:12-13.

What would happen if you attempted to cook a cake but all the ingredients had a mind of their own and wouldn't come together because they didn't like what the other ingredients looked like, tasted like or smelled like? Well the obvious outcome is that the cake would never be completed. And if someone attempted to eat a single ingredient by itself, they would most likely find it very bland and boring, not at all tasty. This is the way I believe it has become in the body of Christ. Satan, has tried to keep us all apart through division, theology, hate, religion, strife and every evil thing [James 3:16] for so long. I know that if we all came together sharing one single vision of "completing that cake" then we would see who The Father truly is and the aroma and the attraction of his beauty, and His love would be wafting all over the place and would attract people of all kinds, even people who might not like raw butter on its own may find that they really do quite enjoy it in the cake, or they might not even notice that its in there, instead they are simply enjoying the deliciousness of the completed, baked cake.

We are His children. Free to grow in each of our own little characteristics and traits but ultimately we should remember that we share the same Father and that love should circulate through us all from the Father. Lets move beyond petty religion and theology. Lets see God for who He really is and who He's really all about. Love.

What do you think are some major issues that Satan has divided God's people over?
Do you think these dissagreements can be put aside all in the name of God's love?
Do you think this is how we were created to live?
Do you have any testimony's of seeing beyond dissagreements and walking in true love that you'd like to share?

True Purity. Have I been faithful?

There is something I cannot begin to place a finger on. That something is buzzing in my heart and spirit. It is a feeling of missing, of perhaps great longing. For what, I do not as of yet know. But I believe [as cliche as it sounds] it has something to do with waiting for my future husband. Yes, I am technically pure on the outside, but if my heart were to become visible on the outside would people be shocked, disgusted, disappointed? If God looks at the heart to judge purity and holiness as He states in Matthew 5:28 then am I truly pure? Or only in the natural? Am I really pure on the inside, the place where it matters the most? The place where God alone judges? [1 Samuel 16:7] . Honestly I cannot say that I am. I suppose that longing in my heart is for change. To turn my heart around and prepare it for the Lord and the man He has chosen for me. How can I be so critical and lay such a standard on him to remain pure in every way when I myself are not reaching my own standard? Perhaps this pain I feel in my soul is that of remorse and conviction.
I just now watched Rebecca St James "Wait For Me Song" which I have known for a long time and I was convicted as tears rolled down my cheeks. Romance is something beautiful to be treasured and well worth waiting for. Oh the pure joy of being able to give my heart over whole and in one perfect piece to the man of my dreams. I want to do the best job I can at waiting. Tears run down my face even now as I type. Even if my heart has been torn and cut the blood of Jesus is able to cleanse and mend all the damage my sinful ways have wrought. Praise Him!

The answer to keeping a pure heart? Keep the Word of God in you're heart. The Lord through King David revealed the key to keeping a pure heart in Psalms 119:11 "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you". [NIV]

So I suppose the big question I challenge you to today is. Have you been faithful with you're heart? Lets examine ourselves honestly and make changes where we see the need and also ask Holy Spirit to reveal to us the things we don't notice that need adjusting.

Marks Of A Wasted Life

The Rebelution's blog "Marks Of A Wasted Life" updates have been SPOT ON. These guys are truly in sync with the Holy Spirit and just life in general. They write so well also. Two big thumbs up.
And it's amazing because what they are discussing is exactly the subject matter on which I need some slapping around the ears and a wake up call about.
More later.

The Rebelution email/blog update. A Lukewarm Attitude of Complacency

So this really impacted me when I read it a few days ago. Wow so true! God has really been speaking to me on this subject and now this comes along. Spot on. I should listen.

The Rebelution: Email Update

A Lukewarm Attitude of Complacency

Posted: 21 Feb 2009 10:52 AM CST

The fourth installment of our Not Too Young to Die series has been a long-time in coming, but I’m happy to announce that we are now back on track. If you haven’t read the first three installments, use the links at the bottom of this post to catch up.

In our last installment, Your Life Story, we discussed three marks of a tragically wasted life. Today’s post looks at the first: a lukewarm attitude of complacency. Here is one of the best descriptions of complacency that I’ve come across:

“Complacency is a blight that saps energy, dulls attitudes, and causes a drain on the brain. The first symptom is satisfaction with things as they are. The second is rejection of things as they might be. ‘Good enough’ becomes today’s watchword and tomorrow’s standard. Complacency makes people fear the unknown, mistrust the untried, and abhor the new. Like water, complacent people follow the easiest course — downhill. They draw false strength from looking back.”

For Christians this often reveals itself when we become satisfied avoiding evil, but not pursuing good. Psalm 1 tells us that “blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, no stands in the way of sinners, no sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on His law he meditates day and night.”

Charles Spurgeon comments, “Perhaps some of you can claim a sort of negative purity, because you do not walk in the way of the ungodly; but let me ask you — is your delight in the law of God? Do you study God’s Word? Do you make it the man of your right hand, your best companion and hourly guide? If not, the blessing of Psalm 1 does not belong to you.”

This is important, because we’re often tempted to sign-up for a less “extreme” version of the Christian life. Instead of the Platinum “Jim Elliot” Membership, we like the sound of the Bronze “Joe Christian” Membership. Less benefits, but less effort. Sounds good, right? But Scripture doesn’t leave that option open to us.

Writes C.S. Lewis: “It is hard; but the sort of compromise we’re hankering after is harder — in fact, it is impossible. We are like eggs at present. And we cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.”

In other words, we can’t just go on being ordinary, decent Christians, giving God part of our lives while holding back the rest. Either we are hatched and learn to fly or we are a dud that will soon start to stink.

The first mark of a tragically wasted life is complacency.

Some questions for discussion:

• Read the description of complacency above. What “symptoms” of complacency do you see in your own life?
• Are you known for what you don’t do, or for what you do? Why do you think it’s easier to just avoid evil than to pursue righteousness? [Note: Tasha has posted an excellent response to this question. Check it out!]
• In the words of C.S. Lewis, are you trying to just be an ordinary, decent egg? What would it take for you to “hatch and learn to fly?”
• Katie’s “Bonus” Question from the Comment Section: What is the difference between contentment and complacency?

Part One / Part Two / Part Three / Part Four / Part Five
Part Six / Part Seven / Part Eight / Part Nine / Part Ten

< <> । . . Lazy Procrastination >>

More than a devotional relationship.

This morning as I groggily rolled out of bed, the thought came to my head; "Must read devotional, to start the day". It was sort of like a ritual, not a real "I'm going to do this because I love Jesus", it was more like a "I have to. It's the right thing to do. I'll be successful if I do this ." (Which is true but it shouldn't be the only reason we choose to spend time with our Lord). As I picked up my Bible and my "Faith to Faith" devotional I sensed the Spirit of the Lord say; "I don't want a devotional relationship with you." That really hit hard. He wants so much more than a ritual, run-of-the-mill relationship with us. He wants a love relationship. I want that too, but my flesh screams at me when I feel the tug on my heart to come away and spend quality time with Jesus throughout the day and to really abandon all for just an hour. I have to break through this first step that seems so tough to experiencing a fulfilling love relationship with Christ. Because it's so worth it. Oh so worth it.

19yrs

This, my 19th year on this earth I have looked forward to this year more than any year. Most of my other teenage birthday's I was mellow, wistful, lonely, sad and wanting more in life. This year I am instead excited about turning a year older and fulfilling all the plans God has for me this year. I don't want to sit on the sidelines and watch. I want to be involved in what the Spirit of God is doing. Yes, my foe, 'fear' is screaming at me but how long will I continue to listen to him and stay locked in the cage I've put myself in?
It is an uncomfortable illusion of comfort this prison. I used to think that one day someone or something would supernaturally come and break me out, but I have realized that the door is pretty much already open (I have the key) and the Lord is gently calling me out. I want to follow, desperately.

Well today is Febuary 1. How January flew.
There is more I want to write but I must get ready for church.
The Lord IS my Shepherd. He is a GOOD father. I will trust in Him.

All my Love Elizabeth

To own it.

This is just a start but today is the beginning of God stirring up my heart to become more hungry for Him. To actually seek Him out.
I only just realized today after doing a lot of internet researching and a debate [a good one] with my Dad, that I have a great desire to know God's word, actually know it and know why I believe what I believe. What is the foundation for my faith? etc etc. The time has come.
"God, fuel this fire that you've begun in me. I want to burn for you. "

A question:
Do you know why you believe what you believe or are you still 'living off' your parents' faith and beliefs. Do you own it yourself?