Hunger for God
Here’s an excerpt from a letter I wrote last April; the first paragraphs explain why I’m posting it now. Last Sunday I visited a grand old church.
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.”
Reasons to Praise
Today I longed to praise God our loud. When no words came, I began to list personal answers to prayer like, “I will praise You because of ____ and____ and ___. ” Once started, my list grew. It is still growing, but here, without order or plan, are some of my own reasons to praise a “God from Whom all blessings flow.”
Father, Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit, I will praise You because
You give words, language and books. You must like talking, reading and writing. So do I.
You give music and tell us to make music and sing.
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.
Hebrews 5:1-3
Last week a small group of friends and I spent an afternoon talking about Hebrews 5:1-3. We laughed. At our slow pace we might not live long enough to finish studying the book.
We realized there were depths to the passage we did not touch and saw anew that 1) Jesus is our high priest. 2) The sacrifice He offered to God was Himself; He was a perfect sacrifice; His death bridged the distance between us and His Holy Father. 3) He compassionately understands our ignorance, and weaknesses, our falling short of His holiness.
Holy Week Thoughts
Tonight is Maundy Thursday. On Tuesday, while housecleaning, a friend found an original manuscript of Meet Me at the Cross. Because God touched her through it, she inspired me to revisit the book. I was surprised to see Jesus in new ways on pages I’d written long ago. I felt His Spirit wanting me to revise and share these short excerpts with my friends during Passion Week.
Hebrews 4:14
Jesus does not consummate or fulfill a believer’s natural humanity: he brings the death of it. As the first born from the dead, He initiated the eon of resurrection life. In both this life and the life after death, we must die to live.
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.
America
This poem is a heartfelt plea for America. It’s not crafted for poetry kudos; it rambles through generalities of hope and pain. Sadly, it reflects today’s media negativity more than the down to earth goodness, strength and stability of our nation. That is another poem. May these words speak to believing friends with differing viewpoints. If you like the message, please share it on your FB page or pass it on.
Comments on St. Seraphim
The first thing to strike me about St. Seraphim was his lovely heart to seek God so assiduously for a long, long time. But my heart hurt because His journey was so arduous. I thought, “Poor fellow.” How he suffered to find the fullness of Jesus.
Taking Inventory
Feeling quite uncertain and unusually self-protective before a difficult meeting, I asked the Lord for help. The thought to read Psalm 51-64 popped into my head. While reading, David’s vivid words about his enemies, and about fear, trembling, betrayal, and trusting in God prompted these heart-searching questions.
