Knowing God through His Word — Part 20
Words about Jesus bounce off many people. I’ve a friend who seems deaf to my kind of faith in God. She is a “good” person—moral, honest and caring. She truly does her best. She is confident of her place with God;. But I’m not as confident. Hoping I don’t judge, I continue to wonder . . .
Knowing God through His Word — Part 19
I grew up in churches where the congregation repeatedly sang the haunting hymn, Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, . . . I loved the melody and the friendly thought of Jesus calling me to come, but I didn’t understand it. In the depths of my spirit, I always sensed that He was calling us into His arms of love. But on more practical, concrete levels. . .
Knowing God through His Word — Part 18
When prayers go unanswered, asking “Why?” may bring insight, but more often it erodes peace and disrupts abiding in God’s love. Most believers already know all the pat religious reasons why God doesn’t give us what we pray for. Usually, the first is doubt . . .
Knowing God through His Word — Part 17
I once heard that humility is the perfume of a rose when it is stepped on. I like that, but I’m no rose. I’ve been known to squeal when stepped on. So, I seek humility. According to the Bible, humility is a vital for Christians. All God’s trusted friends and servants, all who do His exploits, are humble.
Knowing God through His Word — Part 16
The words obey and obedience can trigger balkiness in adults who grew up with threats like “You’d better obey me—or else.” For them, the word obedience smacks of unwilling submission to the demands of a superior power or authority—no matter what.
The Hebrew idea behind obedience has nothing to do with kowtowing . . .
Knowing God through His Word — Part 15
The acronym for the word obey, openly being eternally yoked,* looks pretty simple on the outside, but taking it apart reveals profound truths about the Christian life.
Knowing God through His Word — Part 14
Belief is the key to Jesus heart. If you are seeking to know if Jesus is real or if you don’t believe and want to, then you can honestly inquire with words as simple as, “If you are real, Lord, show me. Help me to believe.”
If you kind-of sort-of believe, but are hindered by doubts, simply ask Him, “Lord, take my unbelief.”
Knowing God through His Word — Part 13
It’s late Saturday night, but I feel strongly impelled to finish this and upload it. I can’t shake the thought that someone somewhere needs to read it. I wonder who it is.
Knowing God through His Word — Part 12
A conversation with God? It may sound simplistic, even anthropomorphic, to say that we come to know God through His Word just as we get to know people through our conversation with them, but it is true. Despite learned theological and philosophical discussions about the hiddenness of God, God talks with us. He does not hide from any who truly seek Him.
Knowing God through His Word — Part 11
This essay is about hearing from God. While writing it I felt like a grandma eager to pass on insights and experience.
Human language alone cannot communicate the glorious depths and riches of God’s Word. The Holy Bible is a wild book: its record of how the Holy Spirit has progressively revealed God and His plan is full of adventure, drama and surprise. It is as full of life today as when it was written. But only the author Himself, the indwelling Holy Spirit, can open it up to readers.
Knowing God through His Word — Part 10
Let’s reflect on the seed power in God’s Word. Seeds are amazing. Perhaps that’s why Jesus used the metaphor. Seeds carry life within themselves. They are actually plant embryos designed to survive within in a protective covering. Each seed develops after its own kind. There are good seeds and bad seeds.
Knowing God through His Word — Part 9
Do unwanted thoughts pester you, like unwelcome visitors inside your head? At times they bother me. The other night I was channel flipping and stopped at what looked like a fascinating human-interest movie. Before the plot unexpectedly turned macabre, I was hooked into the fine acting and complex characters. As it became darker and more violent, I changed the channel, but not soon enough. Falling asleep that night, my thoughts became nightmarish. Half asleep, I began drifting into ugly lies. As soon as I whispered, “Lord?” familiar scriptures filtered light into my mind—
