After having, what I thought was, a meaningful conversation about God with several of our kids a couple nights ago - our 5 year old said to us very seriously - "Mom . . . can you stop talking about God all the time? It is making me sick!"
I have to admit - my husband and I laughed. My daughter didn't find it funny. She also didn't see our point of view - to put herself in God's shoes . . . what if we said the same thing about her? . . . "Honey - can you please stop talking about our daughter. It's making me sick!" How would that make her feel? (To her defense - she was quite tired and cranky and needed to go to bed. She has always been our prayer warrior - the first one to always want to pray - and to pray awesome prayers for everyone she can think of!).
But it got me thinking . . .
Are you sick of hearing about God? Let me ask you again . . . are you sick of hearing "about" God?
Does your spiritual life resemble a relationship with God, or just a bunch of knowledge "about" God?
Do you wish your spiritual life was different? Do you feel like something is missing? Are you tired of hearing about God, but not really seeing, knowing or feeling God in your life?
Let me ask you this. . . . How much do you know about your dad (or mom, or husband, etc . . .someone you love and are close to)? How do you know all this information about them? Did you read some books or letters on them - what they are like - look like, feel like, smell like . . . what their hobbies are, what makes them laugh or cry, their favorite foods, music, etc. How did you attain all this information? Did someone who knows them tell you all about them? Maybe in the beginning. But to really get to know them - what did you have to do?
Yes . . . you're right . . . you had to have a relationship with them! You walked and talked with them - laughed and cried with them - ate, drank and worked alongside them. It was in all this time spent with them that you gained so much information about them. But more than that - you also gained love - a loving relationship! You knew they loved you - and you loved them. You would do anything for them out of that love - because you knew they loved you too.
God is no different. He's not a big, mean ruler off in a distant land or spiritual realm. He is here. Right beside you now. He watches all you do. He hears and knows all your thoughts. He knows every hair on your head, legs, arms and yes - even your back! He knows everything about you - even things YOU don't know about you! And best of all . . . He loves you unconditionally despite (because) of it all! :) All He really wants - is a relationship with you. That's it! And I can guarantee - when you start to enjoy that relationship, and fully accept His love for you - it will stir up a love in you that will bring about desires to please Him (through obedience, praise and worship and more) - not just because you "have" to!
So - if you are "sick of hearing 'about' God" . . . Good for you! Stop hearing about Him - and starting spending time with Him! Talk to Him - and especially, listen to Him! He's got so much to say to you . . . the most important thing is . . . . "I love YOU!"
Dive deep(er) into a relationship today!
L :)
There’s a well nearby. You’ve probably seen it. It’s in a dusty abandoned town. You wonder who used to live here and why they all left.
Many people have traveled by this well on their journeys through life, but either didn’t notice it, decided not to check it out, or tried it but left for some reason. It doesn’t appear that the well has been used in a long time. You are not even sure if the water is good. The top of the water looks unappetizing . . . . disgusting actually – covered in dust, dirt, germs, bugs and grime. Who would even want to use this well or drink its water? You dip your finger in to just taste it anyways as you realize how thirsty you are, but you only taste the stuff on top. Yuck. You’re not drinking that! But your thirst remains.
You decide to move on. . . . to find something more appealing . . . more appetizing . . . more eye-catching and tasty. You heard there was something better down the road. So you turn your back to the well and head off.
I urge you to come back.
Things are not always what they seem.
There is more to this well than the casual observer and wanderer will ever know.
Let me help you draw up the DEEP water from the well. That is where the best water resides – where the cooler, refreshing, life-giving water is. It is not tainted by the dirt, dust, germs or bugs on top of the water. Nothing has touched this deep water except the bucket and cisterns that are allowed to draw deep into it.
Are you that kind of cistern or vessel?
Are you ready to go deep?
Many people have traveled by this well on their journeys through life, but either didn’t notice it, decided not to check it out, or tried it but left for some reason. It doesn’t appear that the well has been used in a long time. You are not even sure if the water is good. The top of the water looks unappetizing . . . . disgusting actually – covered in dust, dirt, germs, bugs and grime. Who would even want to use this well or drink its water? You dip your finger in to just taste it anyways as you realize how thirsty you are, but you only taste the stuff on top. Yuck. You’re not drinking that! But your thirst remains.
You decide to move on. . . . to find something more appealing . . . more appetizing . . . more eye-catching and tasty. You heard there was something better down the road. So you turn your back to the well and head off.
I urge you to come back.
Things are not always what they seem.
There is more to this well than the casual observer and wanderer will ever know.
Let me help you draw up the DEEP water from the well. That is where the best water resides – where the cooler, refreshing, life-giving water is. It is not tainted by the dirt, dust, germs or bugs on top of the water. Nothing has touched this deep water except the bucket and cisterns that are allowed to draw deep into it.
Are you that kind of cistern or vessel?
Are you ready to go deep?
Sunday, December 13, 2009
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