God is...

good.
Sometimes this is really hard to believe. I don't think there's anyone who hasn't questioned the goodness of God. We live in a world full of not good. Natural disasters that destroy homes and towns and people. Evil people who behave in horrible ways hurting others. Accidents that leave children without parents and parents without children. Wars, famines, earthquakes, pandemics...the list is infinite. Evil surrounds us. Everywhere.
And where exactly is this good God?, you ask (and I have asked on occasion) How can a good God just watch this and do nothing?

Nahum 1:7 - The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust him.

The world was once good. Back in the beginning, God looked at everything He had created and said it was good. Everything was good, just like He, the creator, was good. And it stayed good, until we messed things up, disobeying God and ushering in evil onto the good earth. And although we turned the world from good to not good, we did not change God. He remained (& still remains) good.

So, where is He exactly, this good God?, you ask. While we're hurting and crying and weeping with pain and suffering all around us. Where is He? 

The words of Nahum 1:7 say it best.  He is close. He is a strong refuge. He is good and is waiting for you to run to Him, trusting in His goodness to see you through the troubles that surround you. Run to Him...He is good!

too comfortable?

It seems to me that the older I get the more I enjoy routine.  Change gets more and more difficult with each passing year.  Our first move when I was an oh, so young 22 year old was much (MUCH) easier than our 7th move at the age of 32.  Seems that in that decade I had accumulated "baggage" that made it harder to make changes.  I would rather at times just stay unchanged and keep the same course.

Because, of course, that path is comfortable, familiar, routine and change is uncomfortable, unfamiliar, unknown.  And I would prefer to "know".  

But what if that comfortable, familiar path is not the right one for me to be on?  What if I'm comfortably journeying down the wrong way.  No one can ever be assured that comfortable is correct.  Sometimes we must be made uncomfortable to see God, to discover His strength, to be amazed by Him. 

explained life

***it's been a while.  i'll call it writer's block.  but, i'm back****

"Live a life that demands an explanation."  by Francis Chan

Demands an explanation?  There are really two ways to go with this.  One, reminds me of an American icon who passed recently.  His life, on display for anyone caring to watch, definitely could be unique enough to demand an explanation.  Definitely.

The other brings me back to Revelation chapter 3.  A life devoted solely to the will of God. This kind of life would, in this world at least, be so different it would stand out like, well Michael Jackson.  And it would require an explanation.  Demand it, in fact.  

This life, demanding a reason for it's behavior, would be hot.  Hot!  Nothing lukewarm ever needs to be explained.  Lukewarm is blendy, normal, routine, run-of-the-mill.  Oh, it might have it's slightly "good" qualities.  Deeds enough to show anyone interested that it's not pagan.  But is that what we're after?  Are we called to do a bunch of good deeds in the name impressing all we tell?   In Revelation 3 the church is scolded not because it doesn't do any deeds, but because it's not hot.  I'm sure there were plenty of people serving and "doing".  Checking their box, marking off their time, showing others how much they could contribute to the church.  But hot, not so much, Jesus tells them.  And their good deeds?  Well, the King of Kings was not impressed. And isn't that who we should be caring about?

It's a tough line to walk on.  To read this quote by Francis Chan, I could easily conclude that in order for others to wonder "what's up with her?" I need to "do", "serve", "hang out at the church" and show others that I'm different.  But I think Jesus clears that up in a single short section of scripture in Revelation 3.  He's not looking for our deeds, aimed more at impressing our neighbors than our Lord.  He's looking for us.  He simply wants me.  He wants you.  And when we are talking to Him, listening to Him, devoted to Him, the outpour will inevitably be hot.  And this heat will not be understandable to others.  It may not even be seen in full by others.  For if I'm doing and serving my King, my Lord, my God, why would I need to tell anyone else what I'm doing?  Why would they need to know about the evenings I've spent at the church, the time I've spent serving a needy family, the money I've contributed to causes?  Only the one I serve, my Savior, would ever need to know that.  

The explanation that would be demanded to explain my life would then be the result of my contentment, my joy, my peace, my faith in any circumstance or situation I'm handed.  The explanation cannot be the result of the deeds I make sure everyone knows I'm performing, but in the peace that passes all understanding that radiates from my life. 

friendship

Who do you think of when you think of God?  What images fill your mind?  What is He like?  Who is He?  What does the word 'God' feel like in your gut?  Does it make you smile?  Squirm? 

I am fairly certain that your picture of God and my picture of God are not the same.  I don't mean picture, of course, in the literal visual sense.  I am not speaking of what we envision God actually looking like.  I, rather mean how we think of him being.  His character, what makes him - him.  God.  

For me, this has been the question on my mind for several weeks now.  How do I see God?  Because, I'm pretty sure, how I see him will affect how I serve him.  Wait, let me say that again.  The way I envision God, his character, his purpose, his very being, will directly impact the manner in which I live out my commitment to serve him.

With that thought filling every ounce of space in my brain (& there's likely plenty of open air there), I set out to discover God.  I'm guessing that the majority of what I think I know about God and who he is, is based on not-much-more than Sunday School lessons from years ago, a few adult Bible studies, worship music lyrics and tales (aka testimonies)  told by friends, family, acquaintances & complete strangers.  All excellent ways to learn bits and pieces about God, but lacking in one major area - personally getting to know him.  

But, is that even possible?  He is, of course, God.  It's not like I can make an appointment to meet and chat with him over coffee at Starbucks.  He is God.  

And yet, it is clear that we can know him.  Which is so much better than just knowing about him.  He has left us his words, as written and expressed by various authors throughout history in the Bible.  2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is God-breathed…"  So what it says about him is what he says about himself.  And he says that we can know him-know him.  Personally.  Like a close friend.

Job 29:4 - "Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house,…"

James 2:23 - "And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,' and he was called God's friend."

Scripture is clear.  You and I can be God's friend, we can have an intimate friendship with God.  With God.  That should blow us away.  Friendship with God.