In the pre-dawn hours as I am still stuck somewhere between floating in peaceful bliss, and awakening to the demands of a new day, I am jolted into reality by the sound of coffee beans being ground into a much needed fuel to jump start my morning. I then hear the familiar sound of tiny feet rhythmically slapping against the tile floors. The tapping pauses and I know what the next request will be ---- “I need a boppy”. For those of you that are not fluent in Aubry-nese that is what he calls his sippy cup. I lay still in bed listening to the exchange between Father and Son, anticipating what the dialogue will be. With boppy and silky (his blanket) in tow, Aubry will grab his Dad's hand and guide him to his chair, saying “Sit down Daddy, hold me”. Scott will sit down, and Aubry will climb into his lap, clutching “boppy”, in the same manner I will be clutching a coffee mug in a few minutes. He will fully recline into Dad's chest and snuggle into the most comfortable position possible. As I stumble out of the bedroom I see both Father and Son with looks of complete contentment, just enjoying that moment together.
Many of us have forgotten that God is our Father. Not a father with imperfections, and flaws, but a perfect Father. He desires to spend time with us, but “religion” has depicted God as sitting on a throne, waiting for us to mess up so he can hurl lightening bolts down at us. If your Dad was non existent in your life, or worse yet, your Dad was abusive, then your view of fatherhood is probably skewed. Even if you had a great Dad, you are still seeing a Dad with flaws, and imperfections. We serve a God that is our Father; a perfect Father, and he wants to spend time with us just being with Him, not “doing” anything. Do not confuse doing with being. We were created to be human beings, not human doings.
John 15:7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Romans 8:15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
The word Abba is much deeper than Father, the word Abba is a very intimate word, that is translated Daddy. God has a deep love for us, and a desire for us to abide in Him. Going to church, and serving is great and is required in scripture, but it is no replacement for quiet time with the Father. It is in these intimate moments that we learn about His character and we build a trust relationship. These are the times that we need to be enjoying with our heavenly Father.
So at the onset of each new day, grab Abba Father by the hand, climb up in His arms and just sit quietly with Him for a while.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Fill'er Up
As a small girl, I remember my grandparents pulling into the gas station and the attendant coming around to papaw's window and asking him what he would have. Papaw would reply "fill'er up", and the attendant would proceed with pumping the gas, checking the oil, and washing the windshield.
We have come a long way from those day. Things were so simple then. The simplicity was not just imagined or seen through a child's eyes. Things were genuinely simple, from sitting on the porch while friends, family, and neighbors would visit and pick music until way into the night. Things were slower, conversation was an art, and life was savored. The simple pleasures of life were not missed. People were not so self involved.
God created us with a need to be loved and to love. He created us to draw to him for our true fulfillment. The problem is in our fast paced "progressive" lives we fail to see the things that truly matter. Our focus tends to be inward, but we were created for our focus to be on God and then others.
Matthew 12
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Look at this for a moment, if our focus is on HIM, we do not have time to “nurse” our own selfish ambitions. And Jesus goes one step further to command that we love others as ourselves. The truth is that it is a rarity these days for anyone to look beyond themselves. This is why divorce is rampant, suicides, addiction, depression...and the list goes on. If we would prefer others, and place their needs first, our dissatisfaction becomes obsolete.
We all need to be fulfilled, but what is filling you up? Are you looking to another outside of your marriage, are you numbing yourself with drugs, alcohol, pornography, sex, or food? Are you diving so deeply into your career that the busyness masks the loneliness?
It is not up to our spouses or families to fulfill us. Fulfillment will never be found at the bottom of a bottle...True fulfillment will only be found in obedience to this the greatest command. And if we love God with an unbridled passion, we will desire to seek Him and to spend time with him. As we reject the temptation of placing ourselves before God and others, we will find the true satisfaction that we all crave.
So pull on up to the pump, roll down the window and smile. When God asks "what do you need?" allow Him to “fill'er up”.
We have come a long way from those day. Things were so simple then. The simplicity was not just imagined or seen through a child's eyes. Things were genuinely simple, from sitting on the porch while friends, family, and neighbors would visit and pick music until way into the night. Things were slower, conversation was an art, and life was savored. The simple pleasures of life were not missed. People were not so self involved.
God created us with a need to be loved and to love. He created us to draw to him for our true fulfillment. The problem is in our fast paced "progressive" lives we fail to see the things that truly matter. Our focus tends to be inward, but we were created for our focus to be on God and then others.
Matthew 12
29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Look at this for a moment, if our focus is on HIM, we do not have time to “nurse” our own selfish ambitions. And Jesus goes one step further to command that we love others as ourselves. The truth is that it is a rarity these days for anyone to look beyond themselves. This is why divorce is rampant, suicides, addiction, depression...and the list goes on. If we would prefer others, and place their needs first, our dissatisfaction becomes obsolete.
We all need to be fulfilled, but what is filling you up? Are you looking to another outside of your marriage, are you numbing yourself with drugs, alcohol, pornography, sex, or food? Are you diving so deeply into your career that the busyness masks the loneliness?
It is not up to our spouses or families to fulfill us. Fulfillment will never be found at the bottom of a bottle...True fulfillment will only be found in obedience to this the greatest command. And if we love God with an unbridled passion, we will desire to seek Him and to spend time with him. As we reject the temptation of placing ourselves before God and others, we will find the true satisfaction that we all crave.
So pull on up to the pump, roll down the window and smile. When God asks "what do you need?" allow Him to “fill'er up”.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Enlightenment...Created for what?
Welcome, this is my first blog. I love to write and figure that blogging is a good outlet for my creative compulsion.
As I watch people in this chaotic, crazy world I try to make sense of it all. I would like to say that I have it all figured out, but I don't...Not even close. I do know that we were all created for a purpose. I wonder if we give much thought to that purpose, or do we just "exist" making through each day. Making it through a day is not an accomplishment, it is a sad existence.
Going back to the beginning is a good place to start finding enlightenment on this subject. Imagine walking at noon day, the warmth of the sun resting on your shoulder, and the smell of sweet honeysuckle filling the air. You close your eyes and take a deep breath, drinking in all that is around you, and then to look over and see the creator of all things coming to spend time with you. In that moment all is right with the world, you were created for this; to spend time with God. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were able to walk and talk with God. We were created for that same purpose. Because of sinfulness we separated ourselves from the very thing that would "complete" us. Even though we (humanity) messed up, God made a blood covenant with us, and He made a way for us to walk with Him again (which is another discussion for another day).
Walking in that noonday sun and drinking in His presence is not just a beautiful picture of what could be, but it is a reality for those of us who know Him. But do we? I am not questioning whether those who do NOT profess Jesus walk and talk with God on a daily basis. There is a sadness that comes in knowing that most Christians do not walk and talk daily with God even though they could. Why would we not want to spend time with the one who desires to spend time with us, who holds our very purpose in His hands. Bowing heads, reciting cold repetative words strung together with precision, is not what I'm talking about. I am referring to pouring out your deepest thoughts, highest joys, and heart wrenching fears to someone who genuinely cares for you. Spending time getting to know the one that loves us unconditionally. I want to propose a challenge to you...spend one week speaking to God everyday, but make sure you pause to listen for what He is saying to you. He will speak to you if you will listen.
As I watch people in this chaotic, crazy world I try to make sense of it all. I would like to say that I have it all figured out, but I don't...Not even close. I do know that we were all created for a purpose. I wonder if we give much thought to that purpose, or do we just "exist" making through each day. Making it through a day is not an accomplishment, it is a sad existence.
Going back to the beginning is a good place to start finding enlightenment on this subject. Imagine walking at noon day, the warmth of the sun resting on your shoulder, and the smell of sweet honeysuckle filling the air. You close your eyes and take a deep breath, drinking in all that is around you, and then to look over and see the creator of all things coming to spend time with you. In that moment all is right with the world, you were created for this; to spend time with God. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were able to walk and talk with God. We were created for that same purpose. Because of sinfulness we separated ourselves from the very thing that would "complete" us. Even though we (humanity) messed up, God made a blood covenant with us, and He made a way for us to walk with Him again (which is another discussion for another day).
Walking in that noonday sun and drinking in His presence is not just a beautiful picture of what could be, but it is a reality for those of us who know Him. But do we? I am not questioning whether those who do NOT profess Jesus walk and talk with God on a daily basis. There is a sadness that comes in knowing that most Christians do not walk and talk daily with God even though they could. Why would we not want to spend time with the one who desires to spend time with us, who holds our very purpose in His hands. Bowing heads, reciting cold repetative words strung together with precision, is not what I'm talking about. I am referring to pouring out your deepest thoughts, highest joys, and heart wrenching fears to someone who genuinely cares for you. Spending time getting to know the one that loves us unconditionally. I want to propose a challenge to you...spend one week speaking to God everyday, but make sure you pause to listen for what He is saying to you. He will speak to you if you will listen.
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