Silence is something that I see that is very undervalued in your culture. There is more mental clutter and endless noise before each of you, that it is any wonder so many struggle with decision making, moral issues and just a certain stability. Silence is undervalued until I am accused of being silent. Then people take two varied positions; one is glad that they can’t hear me and the other is desperate for my voice. From my vantage point (which is pretty clear) I see that both groups are quite desperate to hear from me.
What is so wrong with me being silent? Why should I bend to speak to you folks? Because you want me to speak, or that your need me to speak? Is it that you have a passionate desire to hear from me, or that you are just carnal enough to be curious as to what I might say?
Silence could be considered not an issue with my speaking; but moreover an issue with your hearing, would you not agree? You humans call it, “selective hearing”, right? Meaning, that you only hear what you want to hear. That would certainly reduce accountability! Right?
I am going to let you in on something:
When I am silent:
-Do not assume I am inactive
-Do not assume I am distant
-Do not assume I am powerless
-Do not assume I am disinterested
-Do realize that I have your best interest at heart.
-Do realize every event in life is at my disposal to be used to impact not only you, but others.
-Do realize that I am more concerned with your character and eternal impact than your pleasure and comfort.
-Do realize that you are not the center of the universe.
-Do realize that when you think I am silent; my silence may be the loudest voice I want to use.
-Do realize that I do not have to speak in order to communicate.
-Do realize that my “silence” may have more to do with your willingness to obey than my willingness to speak!
-Do realize that my “assumed” silence may be your greatest opportunity to stay close to me.
Here is my advice:
WHEN I AM “SILENT”:
TRUST ME
SEEK ME
HANG WITH ME!
If you are looking for references try the following:
Joseph (Genesis) 13 years in silence
Moses (Exodus) 40 years in silence
Friday, April 24, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Some Things You Need To Know About Me - God (part 2)
I know human tendency is to transpose images from one person to another in order to make comparison, to draw parallels, and conclusions, but let me shed some light on one comparison that is often made with the following statement: I AM NOT LIKE YOUR FATHER! In fact, the ultimate question is whether he is LIKE me? Experience has shown me that humanity is ripe with blame; especially when they are disappointed by one another and often that blame is affixed to me through the question: Why would God allow…?
When a person decides that I have been the reason for their pain, by and/or through another human, walls go up, resistant grows, and in most cases I am considered non-existent, or disengaged. I understand disappointment, in fact, I understand it very well. Several times, I have made it very clear that my expectations for a group of people has left me more than disappointed. Remarkably, when I have been disappointed the most was actually when I was visibly engaged in unmistakable ways. I parted oceans of water, I fed millions miraculously daily and the next thing they do is create some outrageous image of me as if I am like a cow?
What has transpired throughout human history is that man, wants to shape the image of the god(s) they worship. It takes on all forms of images. It is quite amazing to be compared to something that I myself have created. They want a God that they can not only understand, but that they can manipulate… and in thus doing they themselves unconsciously become god to themselves. Then the god they created becomes just another trinket used to sharpen their personal image.
Man wants a god to be like him except when the chips are down and desperation sets in, then they want me (God) to inject all that I am into the messes that they have made or that others have made for them. What about the natural consequences of a persons actions cause them to suddenly reach out to me desiring that I superimpose my power over the laws that I have created, just so they can avoid grief or possibly shame? This is the point where many either come to understand my ways or make a conscious decision to reject me through willful unbelief.
My objective has never been to be made in the image of man, but that man be remade into my image. No I am not like your father. I never will be. Again, the real question is: Your Father, is he being renewed and recreated in my image? I certainly do not ask for my sake, but that you would consider that even at his worst or best I able to work to bring good from it, and like an artist take something that appears rough and crude and through skill and patience make something wonderful.
There is any number of misunderstandings about me and my ways that have permeated cultures. People get all bogged down in those and easily trust the multitude of voices and miss the opportunity that is ever present to simply, with honest and open heart… SEEK ME.
No I am not like your father… But he is my son.
When a person decides that I have been the reason for their pain, by and/or through another human, walls go up, resistant grows, and in most cases I am considered non-existent, or disengaged. I understand disappointment, in fact, I understand it very well. Several times, I have made it very clear that my expectations for a group of people has left me more than disappointed. Remarkably, when I have been disappointed the most was actually when I was visibly engaged in unmistakable ways. I parted oceans of water, I fed millions miraculously daily and the next thing they do is create some outrageous image of me as if I am like a cow?
What has transpired throughout human history is that man, wants to shape the image of the god(s) they worship. It takes on all forms of images. It is quite amazing to be compared to something that I myself have created. They want a God that they can not only understand, but that they can manipulate… and in thus doing they themselves unconsciously become god to themselves. Then the god they created becomes just another trinket used to sharpen their personal image.
Man wants a god to be like him except when the chips are down and desperation sets in, then they want me (God) to inject all that I am into the messes that they have made or that others have made for them. What about the natural consequences of a persons actions cause them to suddenly reach out to me desiring that I superimpose my power over the laws that I have created, just so they can avoid grief or possibly shame? This is the point where many either come to understand my ways or make a conscious decision to reject me through willful unbelief.
My objective has never been to be made in the image of man, but that man be remade into my image. No I am not like your father. I never will be. Again, the real question is: Your Father, is he being renewed and recreated in my image? I certainly do not ask for my sake, but that you would consider that even at his worst or best I able to work to bring good from it, and like an artist take something that appears rough and crude and through skill and patience make something wonderful.
There is any number of misunderstandings about me and my ways that have permeated cultures. People get all bogged down in those and easily trust the multitude of voices and miss the opportunity that is ever present to simply, with honest and open heart… SEEK ME.
No I am not like your father… But he is my son.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Some Things You Need to Know About Me - God (Part 1)
I hate “To Do” List, and I especially Hate “Don’t Do List”. (Let that statement soak in)
Sounds confusing I know, but let me explain. When it comes to a relationship with me I am not about creating an agenda for my people where they have a false sense of acceptance due to what they “do” or “don’t do”. If you read my word, you will understand that one of the greatest frustrations that I have is when my people, for whatever practical reason they may have, develop a list whereby they measure themselves and others. I guess, it is human nature to want some kind of instrument for this purpose. What happens is this; people become bound by their list and before they know it they have me bound by it too. Well, I am not bound, but they have deceived themselves into thinking it is my list. It’s not my list. As you know, I did create a “list”; you know it by “the ten commandments”. That’s my one and only list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts”, but each of those were never intended to be used as a measuring instrument for how well or not so well you are relating to me.
If you are at all interested in relating to me in a manner that puts a smile on both our faces let me make it simple: TRUST ME! Plain and simple (Heb 11:6). Now, I know from your perspective that may be easier said than done. But, TRUST is the beginning point with me. It begins with you trusting that I am who I say that I am… not what you hear or see through all the voices in your culture. Some of those voices are dead on.. But even those voices don’t or can’t know everything about me. Finite explaining Infinite has a way of being problematic. The “does” and the “don’ts” will take care of themselves once your take the first steps toward trusting me. Let’s start with trust. OK?
Sounds confusing I know, but let me explain. When it comes to a relationship with me I am not about creating an agenda for my people where they have a false sense of acceptance due to what they “do” or “don’t do”. If you read my word, you will understand that one of the greatest frustrations that I have is when my people, for whatever practical reason they may have, develop a list whereby they measure themselves and others. I guess, it is human nature to want some kind of instrument for this purpose. What happens is this; people become bound by their list and before they know it they have me bound by it too. Well, I am not bound, but they have deceived themselves into thinking it is my list. It’s not my list. As you know, I did create a “list”; you know it by “the ten commandments”. That’s my one and only list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts”, but each of those were never intended to be used as a measuring instrument for how well or not so well you are relating to me.
If you are at all interested in relating to me in a manner that puts a smile on both our faces let me make it simple: TRUST ME! Plain and simple (Heb 11:6). Now, I know from your perspective that may be easier said than done. But, TRUST is the beginning point with me. It begins with you trusting that I am who I say that I am… not what you hear or see through all the voices in your culture. Some of those voices are dead on.. But even those voices don’t or can’t know everything about me. Finite explaining Infinite has a way of being problematic. The “does” and the “don’ts” will take care of themselves once your take the first steps toward trusting me. Let’s start with trust. OK?
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