Okay, God, it’s just me and you now, finally…oh, and my blackberry, and of course, I’m sitting here typing on my laptop computer with the Internet very close at hand. And, you know, if the Internet is accessible, so is email and FaceBook and the ever-present, Solitaire.
But, I’m here, God, totally focused on you.
Hold on a second, I just got a txt message on my blackberry. LOL! You don’t mind, do you? It’s a client from work. He’s wanting a current price on the deal I offered him a few weeks back, now that he’s almost ready to actually go through with it.
You wouldn’t mind helping me out on that, would you? I really need that sale, and after all, I am talking to you right now at the exact same time I’m talking to him. That must be some sort of divine sign, right? Anyway, if you wouldn’t mind helping him choose to use me and my company over any of my competitors, that would be greatly appreciated.
So, where was I? Oh yeah, just me and you, God. Okay, so I’ve been really contemplating what you want from me in life, and I’ve set out several times today to pray to you. Well, actually, I started praying a few times today as you know and for some reason, I’ve just stopped, like I’ve been blocked by something or for some reason. I can’t really explain it…
Wait, I’m getting another txt message…this time it’s a friend of mine. He just wants to know what I’m up to. Should I tell him I’m trying to talk to God? That would be weird, wouldn’t it? I don’t even know if he’s a Christian. I know he doesn’t go to church, and we’ve only had tangential spiritual discussions in the past. I don’t know, I guess I’ll just take a moment to respond. I’ll make up something. Maybe I’ll tell him I’m reading a book or something.
There, done!! He’s none the wiser.
Anyway, back to me and my life. So, God , I’ve really been trying to talk to you all day, and for some reason, I just feel blocked. Why do I feel this? It’s like I start talking to you, get out a few words, maybe the “Dear God” or “Dear Heavenly Father” or whatever it is I say that particular time, then I say something like, “I’m really feeling tired” or “I need your help” or “I’m really struggling here” and then it just stops. I can’t go on. Or, something happens that gets in the way, like an email, or phone call, or txt message, or a song comes on the radio, or something. JUST SOMETHING!! ANYTHING!!
Ugh, hold on, I’m getting a phone call. Yes, God, I know this is absurd. But, it’s no joke. I’m really getting a phone call. Let me see who it is. Oh, it’s my wife. God, if it was anybody else, I’d ignore it, especially since I’m in the middle of talking to you. You understand, don’t you?
Okay, I’m back. She hasn’t been feeling great lately, as you know, possibly battling Lupus, although we aren’t sure. I guess you probably know for sure, right? Could you let me in on that little secret, so we don’t have to wait a month for the next blood test? Oh, and while you’re at it, would you mind just healing her? Anyway, she’s trying to change her diet as a result to be much more naturally inclined – you know, veggies, fruits, nuts, seeds, etc. It’s a great start in the right direction. Well, she wanted to know if I would check to see if they sold raw sunflower seeds at this organic grocery down near where I work. And, of course, then we discussed the arrangement of picking up Andrew, our son, from summer camp. So, see, it was an important phone call from the most important person in my life. You don’t mind, do you? I’m still talking to you, and I’m back now, fully focused.
Oh, and by the way, we are both going to bible study tonight at our church. I’m going to pick Andrew up, get him some dinner, and then head back to church for my men’s study, and she’s going to go to her women’s study. Doesn’t this make up at all for all these little interruptions?
We’re both on the right track, right?
Hold on, my blackberry is vibrating. It’s an email. One second.
SPAM!!! God, get this…this is the subject line of this email: LOAN OFFICER MAKES SHAMELESS BRIBE.
I’m a loan officer, God. You know this, right? Well, my business has flat-out stunk lately. I need some help here!! I need some deals, some home-buyers, some loans!! I need something. Please, God, I’m begging you. And, I haven’t stooped to ridiculous SPAM in order to drum up business. Surely, I deserve a few good deals over this guy, right?
Hold on, someone is approaching me. I’ll be right back.
Wireless internet. WI-FI. This guy wanted to know how I got on the Internet, how to access the wireless at this location. I guess he couldn’t tell that I was talking to God. He apparently couldn’t discern by my closed eyes, solemn look, furrowed brow, steady breathing, and oh, my very fast typing that I was in deep communion with my God, my Creator, my Heavenly Father. How rude!!
Of course, I helped him. Wouldn’t you have wanted me to? Didn’t Jesus heal on the Sabbath? Surely this couldn’t have been that much different.
Okay, so where was I? Oh yeah, we were discussing the apparent block I am feeling in my communication with you. Lord, I need some guidance here, some wisdom, some assistance. I want to be able to talk to you fully, all the time, without hindrance, without fear, without shame. I know you love me unconditionally. I know your mercy and grace are sufficient for all of my failings, and I know when you look at me, you only see your wonderful creation. You only see a saint!!
I know I am no longer a sinner. I know your Son paid the price for me a long, long time ago, and all this guilt, shame, and fear that I feel is only a lie, and I know that it is what is keeping me from being truly open, honest, and frank with you. I know this, and yet, for some reason, I keep getting hung up on lies.
I know it’s as simple as reading your Word and seeing who I am from your eyes and ridding myself of all these destructive thoughts and images about myself.
Sure, so I screw up from time to time. No, make that ALL THE TIME.
Christ has already taken care of that. It’s okay. You love me anyway. You love me despite the times I don’t give Tracy the attention and love she deserves. You love me despite the times I’m a rotten father. You love me despite the times I choose myself over you.
How you do this, I have no clue. In fact, I can’t really even fathom it as possible, yet intellectually, I know it is. How do you love someone like me?
How, God? I’m a failure, I’m a loser, I’m a sinner.
How, God?
How?
I don’t deserve you, and I don’t deserve your love.
God, how?
God, I need an answer. I want an answer. Your answer will change everything.
How? How can you love someone like me?
I’m waiting God. I’ll wait as long as you want me to wait. But, please tell me.
God, my blackberry is vibrating. I’m not going to look at it. I’m waiting on you instead. I’m focusing on you. Just you.
Vibrating still.
What is it, God? How? How can you love a complete failure like me?
God, I’m ignoring this call. This one time, God, I’m ignoring it. I need you, God. I need an answer.
I missed the call, God. It’s just me and you. I let it go, because I need you, I so desperately need you, God.
So, I’m just sitting here, God. And, you know what? I don’t have the answer as to how. But, I feel good knowing I let the call go. I didn’t have to answer that call at that particular moment, nor really any call at any particular moment. I was talking to you. I was waiting on you. I was listening for you. And, that is way more important than any phone call, or txt, or any distraction.
How you are able to love me isn’t really important? I don’t have to understand the how. I just need to know that you do. I just need to trust your love as true.
And, God, I do.
1 John 4:8
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Sunday, November 30, 2008
The Lord's Servant
Please read this first!!
At this time of year, so many things pull at us from all directions--traffic, commercial advertising, lists upon lists of gifts, coordinating a million family gatherings, exorbitant amounts of food, tension, busyness, pressure, time constraints, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. Heck, we even have to battle odd, anti-Christ boycotts by some of our favorite retailers.
If we aren't careful, it's pretty darn easy to lose Christ during the Christ-mas season.
At the same time, there are still so many things that are just downright special and inspiring about this time of year. Wonderful music, an extra focus on charity/giving, joy, peace, beautiful lights, an emphasis on Christ, and a whole host of other enjoyable things.
So, where is the balance? How do we, as believers, maintain the true Christ-focus at our Lord & Savior's birth "season?" How do we become lights shining in the dark world of commercialism, hustle and bustle, and busyness?
I think we need look not too much farther than Christ's very own mother and her amazingly humble response to finding out the most astounding news any human has probably ever been given.
"You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." (v. 31-32)
The angel Gabriel delivers this message. Paraphrased, "You will be the mother of God's son."
"The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." (v. 32-33)
Again, paraphrased, "He will be Lord of all, forever. You will be the mother of the Lord and Savior of the world."
Wow!!! Does it get any more powerful than that?
A lowly servant girl. A mere child. Young, naive, innocent. And, here she is, receiving potentially the most unbelievable news anyone has ever been given.
And, her response is simply, "How can this be?"
Some argue that Mary's words indicate doubt, a lack of faith, but I totally disagree. If you compare/contrast them with Zechariah's words in response to a very similar message from the very same angel, Gabriel, just 16 verses earlier in the very same Chapter of the Gospel of Luke, you see a distinct difference.
READ ZECHARIAH'S RESPONSE HERE
"How can I be sure of this?" Zechariah asked, clearly indicating a need of tangible proof. He wants to see actual evidence before he will let his heart believe this Heavenly being. In addition, this doubt comes from a man who is versed in scripture. He's a religious man, and he's been praying for this very miracle. Yet, he still doubts. And, if we need any additional confirmation of Zechariah's doubt, we need only read Gabriel's forthcoming punishment.
"And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time." (v. 20)
As you can see, there is a stark contrast between Zechariah's words and Mary's. Personally, I believe Mary's words didn't express doubt, but more a sense of wonderment at how what God was revealing to her through the angel was actually going to come to pass. A mere questioning of the mechanics of the whole thing. After all, she was a virgin. It must have all seemed so odd to her.
Yet, after Gabriel explains to her that the Holy Spirit was going to come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, she says what I believe are some of the most powerful words in all of scripture:
"I am the Lord's servant."
It didn't matter that she was poor, that she was just a girl, that she was a virgin, and that she really didn't understand how it could be possible. She simply set herself out there to be used by God.
A servant.
So, what can we learn from this response? And, what can we take from it that we can use to be better Christian witnesses at this time of year? Amidst all the Christmas craziness bustling around us, what can we do to set ourselves part so that family, friends, co-workers, and yes, even strangers can actually see the Christ in Christ-mas?
I suggest and encourage you to simply approach the coming season as Mary approached becoming the mother of the Savior of the world.
As a servant!!
At your fourth Christmas party, serve others. As you buy gifts for the 99th person on your list, maintain a servant's heart. As you wait in long lines at your last department store after four hours at the mall, remember that you are an outcropping of the body of Christ.
Over in Chapter 2 of the book of Luke, there is a lot of description of the shepherds and their response to the news of Christ's birth. And, amidst all this description, there is an interesting verse that stands out to me.
It reads: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (v. 19)
It's somewhat oddly placed, in my opinion, since it comes right in the middle of all this stuff about the shepherds; however, again, it speaks very strongly to Mary's mindset as well as the state of her heart at this time.
And, again, I think we can learn a lot from this very young, innocent, naive servant girl.
Treasure this time. Don't let all the nonsense spoil this season for you, and don't allow it to ruin this wonderful chance to show others what Christ-mas is all about.
Be a servant and treasure the opportunity.
God bless, and Merry Christmas,
Sean Hanzelik
http://www.readtheletters.com/
Remember, THE LETTERS is still on sale for only $10, which is a whopping 60% OFF the cover price. Order your AUTOGRAPHED copies now. They make wonderful, affordable Christmas gifts.
At this time of year, so many things pull at us from all directions--traffic, commercial advertising, lists upon lists of gifts, coordinating a million family gatherings, exorbitant amounts of food, tension, busyness, pressure, time constraints, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. Heck, we even have to battle odd, anti-Christ boycotts by some of our favorite retailers.
If we aren't careful, it's pretty darn easy to lose Christ during the Christ-mas season.
At the same time, there are still so many things that are just downright special and inspiring about this time of year. Wonderful music, an extra focus on charity/giving, joy, peace, beautiful lights, an emphasis on Christ, and a whole host of other enjoyable things.
So, where is the balance? How do we, as believers, maintain the true Christ-focus at our Lord & Savior's birth "season?" How do we become lights shining in the dark world of commercialism, hustle and bustle, and busyness?
I think we need look not too much farther than Christ's very own mother and her amazingly humble response to finding out the most astounding news any human has probably ever been given.
"You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." (v. 31-32)
The angel Gabriel delivers this message. Paraphrased, "You will be the mother of God's son."
"The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." (v. 32-33)
Again, paraphrased, "He will be Lord of all, forever. You will be the mother of the Lord and Savior of the world."
Wow!!! Does it get any more powerful than that?
A lowly servant girl. A mere child. Young, naive, innocent. And, here she is, receiving potentially the most unbelievable news anyone has ever been given.
And, her response is simply, "How can this be?"
Some argue that Mary's words indicate doubt, a lack of faith, but I totally disagree. If you compare/contrast them with Zechariah's words in response to a very similar message from the very same angel, Gabriel, just 16 verses earlier in the very same Chapter of the Gospel of Luke, you see a distinct difference.
READ ZECHARIAH'S RESPONSE HERE
"How can I be sure of this?" Zechariah asked, clearly indicating a need of tangible proof. He wants to see actual evidence before he will let his heart believe this Heavenly being. In addition, this doubt comes from a man who is versed in scripture. He's a religious man, and he's been praying for this very miracle. Yet, he still doubts. And, if we need any additional confirmation of Zechariah's doubt, we need only read Gabriel's forthcoming punishment.
"And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time." (v. 20)
As you can see, there is a stark contrast between Zechariah's words and Mary's. Personally, I believe Mary's words didn't express doubt, but more a sense of wonderment at how what God was revealing to her through the angel was actually going to come to pass. A mere questioning of the mechanics of the whole thing. After all, she was a virgin. It must have all seemed so odd to her.
Yet, after Gabriel explains to her that the Holy Spirit was going to come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, she says what I believe are some of the most powerful words in all of scripture:
"I am the Lord's servant."
It didn't matter that she was poor, that she was just a girl, that she was a virgin, and that she really didn't understand how it could be possible. She simply set herself out there to be used by God.
A servant.
So, what can we learn from this response? And, what can we take from it that we can use to be better Christian witnesses at this time of year? Amidst all the Christmas craziness bustling around us, what can we do to set ourselves part so that family, friends, co-workers, and yes, even strangers can actually see the Christ in Christ-mas?
I suggest and encourage you to simply approach the coming season as Mary approached becoming the mother of the Savior of the world.
As a servant!!
At your fourth Christmas party, serve others. As you buy gifts for the 99th person on your list, maintain a servant's heart. As you wait in long lines at your last department store after four hours at the mall, remember that you are an outcropping of the body of Christ.
Over in Chapter 2 of the book of Luke, there is a lot of description of the shepherds and their response to the news of Christ's birth. And, amidst all this description, there is an interesting verse that stands out to me.
It reads: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (v. 19)
It's somewhat oddly placed, in my opinion, since it comes right in the middle of all this stuff about the shepherds; however, again, it speaks very strongly to Mary's mindset as well as the state of her heart at this time.
And, again, I think we can learn a lot from this very young, innocent, naive servant girl.
Treasure this time. Don't let all the nonsense spoil this season for you, and don't allow it to ruin this wonderful chance to show others what Christ-mas is all about.
Be a servant and treasure the opportunity.
God bless, and Merry Christmas,
Sean Hanzelik
http://www.readtheletters.com/
Remember, THE LETTERS is still on sale for only $10, which is a whopping 60% OFF the cover price. Order your AUTOGRAPHED copies now. They make wonderful, affordable Christmas gifts.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
A Good Day
"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalms 118:24
Yesterday was my 14th wedding anniversary. I spent the early part of the day at home with my family. My wife had the beginnings of a migraine, so I stayed home, spending some time with my children. Around mid-to-late morning, I went into work, taking my son, Andrew, with me since he's on Fall Break. Tracy took Sara to work with her.
Andrew and I had fun at work. He watched a movie, played with his Nintendo DS, fiddled with all of my office supplies, punching holes in paper, making paper airplanes, etc. He and I then went to lunch together, which he loved. Around the middle part of the afternoon, Tracy came and picked him up, and I went to the gym to get a little exercise for the day. After that, I made a quick jaunt to the store to pick up a small anniversary present and card, and then we met at one of our favorite restaurants to eat dinner.
We ate (pigged out actually), talked, discussed our 14 years, our kids, church, work, and a whole host of other topics. Then, we went to see a movie, which I'd probably rate slightly above average (a 6 out of 10, or so). Tracy and I then went home, visited with my mom, who was watching our children.
After this, I watched most of the presidential debate, chilled on the couch, relaxed, still feeling overly stuffed from the excessive meal. We got the kids in bed and finished off our anniversary with some alone time.
All in all, with everything considered, it was a good day.
Andrew is in 2nd grade now, and ever since he began Kindergarten, my wife has been the one to take him to school nearly every single morning. Since he has to be there by 8 a.m., most mornings I am still in bed when they leavek, and the routine is nearly always the same.
She gets Andrew ready for school, getting him dressed, packing his backpack, serving him breakfast, etc. And, just before they leave, assuming I'm still asleep, he will always come upstairs to say good-bye. It has evolved into a "Groundhog Day"-like routine that I cherish. Nearly every single time, it's the exact same thing over and over.
Andrew crawls in bed with me, gives me a hug. I then turn over and he gives me a kiss. Then, he always says, "I love you, Dad." I respond in kind, and then, this is my favorite part and I'm not really sure why, nor do I know how it ever even started.
The last thing he always says to me is: "I hope you have a good day."
And, I always respond: "You too, bud."
Then, he's off to school.
Every day, as I hear him bounding down the steps, I just smile, amazed by how much those seven words mean to me.
It's an odd thing for a seven-year-old to say to a dad, I think, but every day, it seems so genuine, like he really wants me to have a good day, and I always genuinely want him to have a good day at school too.
So, today, reflecting on my anniversary from yesterday, I thought to myself that it truly was a good day. It was a special day, a celebration, but it was more than that. I spent extra time in the morning with my children, then my son got to go to work with me, and we got to have lunch together. Then, I was able to use my body for some physical exercise, before spending a nice evening on a date with my wife.
A good day.
But, was it? I didn't feel it at the time, but something was missing. All the stuff I did was fun, pleasant, or enjoyable, but there was in fact something missing.
I've been spending time in the Word nearly every single day lately, studying, exctracting verses for closer inspection, and getting to know God more and more. I usually spend time praying to God several times per day, and a lot of times, I will stop and reflect on God's awesomeness, His power, His mercy and grace, basically taking moments out of my day for worship.
But, yesterday, for some reason, I didn't do any of that, and I'm not sure why. Was I too busy? Too engrossed in what I was doing, the fun I was having, the time I was spending with my loved ones, the things that are the most important to me? I'm not really sure why, but at the end of the day, despite the fact that the day I had was truly a "good day," I know I could have had a better day had I spent some time with Him, reading His Word, praying to Him, listening to Him, worshipping Him, thanking Him, etc.
Do I have to replace the time I spent with my family or exercising or working with these things? Absolutely not, but if I can find time for all of the stuff I do in a day, can't I make some time for God?
So, from this point forward, when Andrew says to me, "I hope you have a good day," I am going to make it a point to remember that a truly good day isn't just when you have fun with your family, or get to do something exciting or cool, but instead, a truly good day is when you get to do all of those things while also spending time with Him.
God bless,
Sean Hanzelik
Christmas is right around the corner, so start making your Christmas gift list and think about all those on your list who would love a good book. But, not only that, a HARDBACK, AUTOGRAPHED book.
Stop by my website:
http://www.readtheletters.com/ and purchase your SIGNED copy today for just $10.
Yesterday was my 14th wedding anniversary. I spent the early part of the day at home with my family. My wife had the beginnings of a migraine, so I stayed home, spending some time with my children. Around mid-to-late morning, I went into work, taking my son, Andrew, with me since he's on Fall Break. Tracy took Sara to work with her.
Andrew and I had fun at work. He watched a movie, played with his Nintendo DS, fiddled with all of my office supplies, punching holes in paper, making paper airplanes, etc. He and I then went to lunch together, which he loved. Around the middle part of the afternoon, Tracy came and picked him up, and I went to the gym to get a little exercise for the day. After that, I made a quick jaunt to the store to pick up a small anniversary present and card, and then we met at one of our favorite restaurants to eat dinner.
We ate (pigged out actually), talked, discussed our 14 years, our kids, church, work, and a whole host of other topics. Then, we went to see a movie, which I'd probably rate slightly above average (a 6 out of 10, or so). Tracy and I then went home, visited with my mom, who was watching our children.
After this, I watched most of the presidential debate, chilled on the couch, relaxed, still feeling overly stuffed from the excessive meal. We got the kids in bed and finished off our anniversary with some alone time.
All in all, with everything considered, it was a good day.
Andrew is in 2nd grade now, and ever since he began Kindergarten, my wife has been the one to take him to school nearly every single morning. Since he has to be there by 8 a.m., most mornings I am still in bed when they leavek, and the routine is nearly always the same.
She gets Andrew ready for school, getting him dressed, packing his backpack, serving him breakfast, etc. And, just before they leave, assuming I'm still asleep, he will always come upstairs to say good-bye. It has evolved into a "Groundhog Day"-like routine that I cherish. Nearly every single time, it's the exact same thing over and over.
Andrew crawls in bed with me, gives me a hug. I then turn over and he gives me a kiss. Then, he always says, "I love you, Dad." I respond in kind, and then, this is my favorite part and I'm not really sure why, nor do I know how it ever even started.
The last thing he always says to me is: "I hope you have a good day."
And, I always respond: "You too, bud."
Then, he's off to school.
Every day, as I hear him bounding down the steps, I just smile, amazed by how much those seven words mean to me.
It's an odd thing for a seven-year-old to say to a dad, I think, but every day, it seems so genuine, like he really wants me to have a good day, and I always genuinely want him to have a good day at school too.
So, today, reflecting on my anniversary from yesterday, I thought to myself that it truly was a good day. It was a special day, a celebration, but it was more than that. I spent extra time in the morning with my children, then my son got to go to work with me, and we got to have lunch together. Then, I was able to use my body for some physical exercise, before spending a nice evening on a date with my wife.
A good day.
But, was it? I didn't feel it at the time, but something was missing. All the stuff I did was fun, pleasant, or enjoyable, but there was in fact something missing.
I've been spending time in the Word nearly every single day lately, studying, exctracting verses for closer inspection, and getting to know God more and more. I usually spend time praying to God several times per day, and a lot of times, I will stop and reflect on God's awesomeness, His power, His mercy and grace, basically taking moments out of my day for worship.
But, yesterday, for some reason, I didn't do any of that, and I'm not sure why. Was I too busy? Too engrossed in what I was doing, the fun I was having, the time I was spending with my loved ones, the things that are the most important to me? I'm not really sure why, but at the end of the day, despite the fact that the day I had was truly a "good day," I know I could have had a better day had I spent some time with Him, reading His Word, praying to Him, listening to Him, worshipping Him, thanking Him, etc.
Do I have to replace the time I spent with my family or exercising or working with these things? Absolutely not, but if I can find time for all of the stuff I do in a day, can't I make some time for God?
So, from this point forward, when Andrew says to me, "I hope you have a good day," I am going to make it a point to remember that a truly good day isn't just when you have fun with your family, or get to do something exciting or cool, but instead, a truly good day is when you get to do all of those things while also spending time with Him.
God bless,
Sean Hanzelik
Christmas is right around the corner, so start making your Christmas gift list and think about all those on your list who would love a good book. But, not only that, a HARDBACK, AUTOGRAPHED book.
Stop by my website:
http://www.readtheletters.com/ and purchase your SIGNED copy today for just $10.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
"Yes" in Christ!!
"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now, it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." - 2 Corinthians 1:20-22
Wow, that is powerful stuff!!
As you read scripture, you read promise after promise after promise that God has made to His children. From Adam to Abraham to Jacob, Joseph, Paul, John, and to us, modern-day believers. The Bible is simply full of promises made by God, and sometimes I forget about the fact that all of these are answered in the end, by Christ, through His birth, His death, and His resurrection.
I don't have to sit back and wish that what God has told me will come true. Doubt should not enter my mind or heart. The promises have ALREADY been answered. Christ has ALREADY fulfilled each of the promises. CHRIST IS THE PROMISE!!
If that's not comforting, what is?
Verse 22 of the above passage -- man, is there a better description of our place in God's Kingdom in all of scripture? If there is, please pass it along to me in the comments section, or if you know of other passages that support this, please pass them along. I'd love to set them side-by-side and meditate on the truth founded in them.
As believers:
1) We are ANOINTED!!! Amen!! To be anointed by God, what more do you want? Do you fail? Yes, of course you do, but you are still ANOINTED!! Nothing you do can change that. If you are a believer, you are anointed forever. The anointing has already taken place, and you live in a constant state of anointment. And don't ever forget it.
2) God OWNS us!!! He has set His seal of ownership on us. And, know this isn't the type of ownership that has a negative connotation. This is the ownership of the Almighty Creator of the universe. We are His, forever and ever and ever. And, don't ever forget it.
3) His SPIRIT is in us!! God actually lives in us through His Spirit. He knows you through His Spirit. He heals you through His Spirit. He convicts you through His Spirit. We are His, He lives in us, and He is always with us for constant communion if we so choose. God is always available for us because of His SPIRIT. And, don't ever forget it.
4) We are guaranteed ETERNAL LIFE!! Because Christ has fulfilled the promise, because God has anointed us as His children, because we are His, and because He lives in us, we are guaranteed eternity with Him. And, don't you ever forget it!!!
When you are feeling "NO," when you are hearing "NO," when you are believing "NO," when you don't even care if the answer is "NO," never, ever forget that the answer has always been, currently is, and will always be "YES" because of Christ.
God bless,
Sean
p.s. Don't forget to get a copy of THE LETTERS at www.readtheletters.com. They are only $10, which is 60% OFF the COVER PRICE!!
Wow, that is powerful stuff!!
As you read scripture, you read promise after promise after promise that God has made to His children. From Adam to Abraham to Jacob, Joseph, Paul, John, and to us, modern-day believers. The Bible is simply full of promises made by God, and sometimes I forget about the fact that all of these are answered in the end, by Christ, through His birth, His death, and His resurrection.
I don't have to sit back and wish that what God has told me will come true. Doubt should not enter my mind or heart. The promises have ALREADY been answered. Christ has ALREADY fulfilled each of the promises. CHRIST IS THE PROMISE!!
If that's not comforting, what is?
Verse 22 of the above passage -- man, is there a better description of our place in God's Kingdom in all of scripture? If there is, please pass it along to me in the comments section, or if you know of other passages that support this, please pass them along. I'd love to set them side-by-side and meditate on the truth founded in them.
As believers:
1) We are ANOINTED!!! Amen!! To be anointed by God, what more do you want? Do you fail? Yes, of course you do, but you are still ANOINTED!! Nothing you do can change that. If you are a believer, you are anointed forever. The anointing has already taken place, and you live in a constant state of anointment. And don't ever forget it.
2) God OWNS us!!! He has set His seal of ownership on us. And, know this isn't the type of ownership that has a negative connotation. This is the ownership of the Almighty Creator of the universe. We are His, forever and ever and ever. And, don't ever forget it.
3) His SPIRIT is in us!! God actually lives in us through His Spirit. He knows you through His Spirit. He heals you through His Spirit. He convicts you through His Spirit. We are His, He lives in us, and He is always with us for constant communion if we so choose. God is always available for us because of His SPIRIT. And, don't ever forget it.
4) We are guaranteed ETERNAL LIFE!! Because Christ has fulfilled the promise, because God has anointed us as His children, because we are His, and because He lives in us, we are guaranteed eternity with Him. And, don't you ever forget it!!!
When you are feeling "NO," when you are hearing "NO," when you are believing "NO," when you don't even care if the answer is "NO," never, ever forget that the answer has always been, currently is, and will always be "YES" because of Christ.
God bless,
Sean
p.s. Don't forget to get a copy of THE LETTERS at www.readtheletters.com. They are only $10, which is 60% OFF the COVER PRICE!!
Friday, September 5, 2008
What does God want?
I woke up this morning feeling horrible. No, I didn't have a cold, wasn't ill, didn't feel sick. I was just dead tired. My head ached, my eyes hurt, and I wanted to sleep about four more hours. However, duty called, so I got up and headed off to work.
In the past month or so, I have basically given up caffeine. Previously, I was drinking absurd amounts during the day. This has been an addiction of sorts that has probably existed for nearly 3 years, perhaps longer. I honestly can't recall for sure. Diet Mountain Dew is what started it. Then that shifted to Diet Code Red, which is simply a fruity version of Mountain Dew. Then, Diet Coke took over, and lately, it has been Diet Dr. Pepper. Yeah, it's diet, but it's still awful for you, and it really, really messes with your sleeping habits. So, a few weeks ago, I basically quit cold turkey. Sure, I've had a few here or there, but for the most part, it's been non-existent in my life for about a month.
That is, until this morning. I felt so dead tired, that on my way to work, I pulled into Sonic and purchased a Rt. 44 Diet Dr. Pepper. I actually felt horribly guilty when I did it, but I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to function at work without it.
As I was waiting on the server to bring me my drink, I pondered why I was so tired. "Pondered" may not be the right word to use, because it might suggest I didn't know and that I was trying to figure it out. Truth is, I knew darn well why I felt like death hung over -- I stayed up until past 2 a.m. watching U.S. Open tennis.
I'm not really even a huge tennis fan; however, I have come to really enjoy watching Rafael Nadal play over the past few years. And, in this match, he got down a set quite quickly, won the 2nd set decisively, and was battling in the 3rd set, which seemed like it would either solidify the win for him, or put him on the hot seat, possibly facing an upset by an unseeded player. So, I got interested in the match, and the next thing I know, it's after 2 a.m., I'm feeling zonked, and I have to get up way too early to be watching a sport I really don't care that much about. Yet, I couldn't turn it off.
So, this morning, as I was pulling out of Sonic, a thought hit me -- What does God really want from me?
And this image popped into my mind:
In the past month or so, I have basically given up caffeine. Previously, I was drinking absurd amounts during the day. This has been an addiction of sorts that has probably existed for nearly 3 years, perhaps longer. I honestly can't recall for sure. Diet Mountain Dew is what started it. Then that shifted to Diet Code Red, which is simply a fruity version of Mountain Dew. Then, Diet Coke took over, and lately, it has been Diet Dr. Pepper. Yeah, it's diet, but it's still awful for you, and it really, really messes with your sleeping habits. So, a few weeks ago, I basically quit cold turkey. Sure, I've had a few here or there, but for the most part, it's been non-existent in my life for about a month.
That is, until this morning. I felt so dead tired, that on my way to work, I pulled into Sonic and purchased a Rt. 44 Diet Dr. Pepper. I actually felt horribly guilty when I did it, but I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to function at work without it.
As I was waiting on the server to bring me my drink, I pondered why I was so tired. "Pondered" may not be the right word to use, because it might suggest I didn't know and that I was trying to figure it out. Truth is, I knew darn well why I felt like death hung over -- I stayed up until past 2 a.m. watching U.S. Open tennis.
I'm not really even a huge tennis fan; however, I have come to really enjoy watching Rafael Nadal play over the past few years. And, in this match, he got down a set quite quickly, won the 2nd set decisively, and was battling in the 3rd set, which seemed like it would either solidify the win for him, or put him on the hot seat, possibly facing an upset by an unseeded player. So, I got interested in the match, and the next thing I know, it's after 2 a.m., I'm feeling zonked, and I have to get up way too early to be watching a sport I really don't care that much about. Yet, I couldn't turn it off.
So, this morning, as I was pulling out of Sonic, a thought hit me -- What does God really want from me?
And this image popped into my mind:
So, what exactly is that, you might ask? Well, to me, it's a representation of a set of parallel lines. Yes, I know, geometrically speaking, they aren't perfectly parallel, but for the sake of this blog, willingly suspend your disbelief, if you can, and assume they are in fact parallel, which means, by definition, that they will never intersect. At no point as far as they go will they ever cross.
And, that's how I feel in my walk with God way more often than I should. Imagine His will being one of the lines and my will being the other one. Never intersecting? That's horrible.
I mean think about it...think about how seemingly innocent my staying up until after 2 a.m. to watch tennis was. Was there anything outwardly "wrong" with it? On the surface, no, not at all. I was at home with my family. I was in bed next to my sleeping wife. And, I was simply watching a tennis match. Granted, it was late at night and I probably should have been sleeping, but in and of itself, the activity was as innocent as could be.
But, what was the result, and more importantly, what was the motivation?
The basic result is easy to see -- I was tired. So what, right? I'm tired often, as are most Americans. Did you know that in an ABC News report back in February, the CDC stated that an estimated 50-70 million people suffer from constant sleep loss or sleep disorders. So, in reality, I'm just like so many other people.
But, does that make it okay?
To answer that, let's look further.
Step 1: Tired.
Step 2: I didn't tell you this, but I didn't leave my house until almost 9:15. Now, I don't have a set time that I HAVE to be at my office, but 9 a.m. is generally accepted. So, leaving at 9:15 got me to work approximately 40 minutes late.
Step 3: I drank caffeine. Again, not really that big of a deal; however, I had been undergoing an attempt at discipline in that area and doing quite well, mind you. Done, gone, out the window! Forty-four ounces later (for the mathematically-impaired, that's approximately 3.67 cans of Diet Dr. Pepper), and I've now not only gotten a late start on the day, I've destroyed a small act of discipline, and on top of that, I have now ingested a week's worth of horrible soda in a mere few hours. So, in a sense, for this particular day, I threw my health out the window. (And, yes, I was way too tired to even think about exercising.)
Step 4: I spent virtually no time with God, with the minor exception being the slow, random thought that led to this blog. I didn't read the Bible this entire day. I listened to no worship music. I made no concerted effort to even reflect on God's amazing grace, mercy, and love. I did pray, just a little, but it was a great, great mental struggle. In short, I was too tired for God.
Now, granted, despite regularly having relatively poor sleeping habits, I don't usually feel this down-trodden. Somehow, I usually get enough sleep to feel mostly energetic, or at least empowered enough to get my regular life things completed mostly efficiently.
In fact, most of the time, my walk with God feels more like this image:
To me, I feel like I'm at least heading in the right direction most of the time. Sure, there are those "parallel days" or "parallel moments" or "parallel situations." You know, those times when it doesn't matter how much spiritual wisdom has been revealed to you, you're still gonna just do your own thing simply because you want to.
But really, I often read the Word, I often pray for guidance, wisdom, patience, etc., and I often attempt to make the right decisions. So, it feels like the picture above, that God's will and my will are somewhat heading in the same direction, and at some point, somewhere down the road, they will eventually intersect. It may not be today, nor tomorrow, or even next week, but some day, it will all click and my line will connect with God's.
Yet, it still just doesn't seem like enough. It's not enough to just hope one day for my line to intersect with His. There has to be more. There has to be a better way.
There has to be a way to make our image actually be like this one:
A lone, single line where our will is so like God's that you can only see Him.
That's an amazing picture, when compared to the will of God, if you ask me. There shouldn't even be two lines, parallel or intersecting. It's not about hoping that one day your will will meet God's at some distant point. It's about your will becoming that of His.
And, it's certainly not about staying up late, or watching tennis, or drinking caffeine. None of those things are bad, in and of themselves. What they are though, at least in my life, are representations of how I will often feed SELF, rather than seeking God and His will.
Could I have gone to bed at 10 p.m., gotten a full night's rest, awakened early, vibrant and alive, and still spent the day feeding self? Absolutely!! And, I often do.
But, the more time I spend focused on God and His will rather than the things of SELF that I normally waste my time on, the much more likely I will be to be driving along on the road to God's will.
You know, the single-lined highway of life.
If you haven't purchased your 1 copy of THE LETTERS, please do so soon. They are going fast, and I wouldn't want you to miss out. They are just $10, which is a whopping 60% OFF the cover price.
You can purchase them at: http://www.readtheletters.com/, and use our secure Paypal shopping cart.
I appreciate the tremendous response we've had for the book thus far, and I appreciate all the faithful readers of this blog. It's truly becoming a blessing for others and for me.
And, please, drop me a comment in the comments section. I'd love to know your thoughts on any of the topics I've discussed, or if you have any blog topic ideas to share, please feel free.
Thank you again, and God bless,
Sean Hanzelik
Friday, August 29, 2008
Another point of view...
So, God brought the Good Samaritan into my world again yesterday, and I was going to post a new blog then, but something stopped me. We'll be somewhat hopeful and call it the Holy Spirit, but it might have just been plain laziness and/or distractedness.
Either way, this morning, on my drive into work, I thought more about it, and something triggered a thought from a perspective different than I had ever really considered before.
When studying this parable, we always seem to focus on the work of the Good Samaritan and how he seemingly shunned the social mores of the time (Jews and Samaritans hated each other and went out of their way to NOT associate), went way above and beyond the call of duty to tend to the victim in this story, and basically epitomized Christ's call to "love your neighbor as yourself." For all intents and purposes, this is the classic example of what it means to serve others and to do everything you can to meet the needs of anybody and everybody, simply because we are called to do so.
But, what about the victim? Do we ever think about his role in this story? And, is there a lesson to be learned from him?
Those are rhetorical questions, so don't answer them...at least not yet. Instead, answer this:
When you have true life needs, are you able to let others either help you meet them, or maybe let them meet them outright for you?
If you are physically unable to do something due to an illness or injury, do you allow a well-meaning individual the opportunity to help you? Or, are you too proud or too self-sufficient to accept help? When you are in a financial bind, would you accept a monetary gift or financial assistance, or would you feel you should be able to make ends meet on your own, that it's your job to take care of yourself and/or your family?
Would your pride get in the way of allowing another person the opportunity to serve God by helping you?
You see, this Samaritan had such a compassionate heart for his fellow man that he couldn't just walk on by like the other two "religious" men in the story. He had a heart for people, and in my opinion, a true heart for God.
And, I believe when you refuse the assistance of another, you are quite possibly robbing them of the opportunity to serve the God they love.
Now, sure, the victim in this story was left for dead by the folks who beat him, so he wasn't really in a position to even tell this Samaritan to buzz off. I understand the comparison is somewhat of a stretch, but this morning, as I was driving to work, this is the side of the story that God wanted me to see.
That sometimes, when we are in need, by allowing others to meet our needs, we are actually affording them the opportunity to serve the God they love.
Regardless of how self-sufficient we think we are, or think we should be, there are often times we have needs of our own. And, maybe there is someone out there who is in close contact with God, and just maybe, God is telling that person to help you meet whatever need it is you have.
Are you going to be so bold as to keep them from serving God in their lives by being too prideful or self-sufficient to receive their help?
How dare you!!!
-----------------
As always, please check out my website: http://www.readtheletters.com/.
And, the book sales are going great!! I sincerely appreciate all the orders that have come through so far. If you haven't gotten yours yet, you are missing out. They are flying off the shelves!!
Lastly, I'd love to know your thoughts on my blog posts. I encourage you to post your comments. They can be supportive, encouraging, contrasting, or even antogonistic or contradicting. I certainly do not cast myself as some spiritual scholar, so I welcome any dissenting opinions, as long as they are presented nicely and politely. I wouldn't even mind a friendly debate.
Thank you for reading, and please keep checking back. I'm hoping to begin making more regular posts!! Please share this blog with everyone you know.
Oh yeah, if you love hand-made baby quilts, check out my wife's blog -- http://thebrowneyedpea.blogspot.com/ -- and order a quilt for you or someone you know!!
God bless,
Sean Hanzelik
Either way, this morning, on my drive into work, I thought more about it, and something triggered a thought from a perspective different than I had ever really considered before.
When studying this parable, we always seem to focus on the work of the Good Samaritan and how he seemingly shunned the social mores of the time (Jews and Samaritans hated each other and went out of their way to NOT associate), went way above and beyond the call of duty to tend to the victim in this story, and basically epitomized Christ's call to "love your neighbor as yourself." For all intents and purposes, this is the classic example of what it means to serve others and to do everything you can to meet the needs of anybody and everybody, simply because we are called to do so.
But, what about the victim? Do we ever think about his role in this story? And, is there a lesson to be learned from him?
Those are rhetorical questions, so don't answer them...at least not yet. Instead, answer this:
When you have true life needs, are you able to let others either help you meet them, or maybe let them meet them outright for you?
If you are physically unable to do something due to an illness or injury, do you allow a well-meaning individual the opportunity to help you? Or, are you too proud or too self-sufficient to accept help? When you are in a financial bind, would you accept a monetary gift or financial assistance, or would you feel you should be able to make ends meet on your own, that it's your job to take care of yourself and/or your family?
Would your pride get in the way of allowing another person the opportunity to serve God by helping you?
You see, this Samaritan had such a compassionate heart for his fellow man that he couldn't just walk on by like the other two "religious" men in the story. He had a heart for people, and in my opinion, a true heart for God.
And, I believe when you refuse the assistance of another, you are quite possibly robbing them of the opportunity to serve the God they love.
Now, sure, the victim in this story was left for dead by the folks who beat him, so he wasn't really in a position to even tell this Samaritan to buzz off. I understand the comparison is somewhat of a stretch, but this morning, as I was driving to work, this is the side of the story that God wanted me to see.
That sometimes, when we are in need, by allowing others to meet our needs, we are actually affording them the opportunity to serve the God they love.
Regardless of how self-sufficient we think we are, or think we should be, there are often times we have needs of our own. And, maybe there is someone out there who is in close contact with God, and just maybe, God is telling that person to help you meet whatever need it is you have.
Are you going to be so bold as to keep them from serving God in their lives by being too prideful or self-sufficient to receive their help?
How dare you!!!
-----------------
As always, please check out my website: http://www.readtheletters.com/.
And, the book sales are going great!! I sincerely appreciate all the orders that have come through so far. If you haven't gotten yours yet, you are missing out. They are flying off the shelves!!
Lastly, I'd love to know your thoughts on my blog posts. I encourage you to post your comments. They can be supportive, encouraging, contrasting, or even antogonistic or contradicting. I certainly do not cast myself as some spiritual scholar, so I welcome any dissenting opinions, as long as they are presented nicely and politely. I wouldn't even mind a friendly debate.
Thank you for reading, and please keep checking back. I'm hoping to begin making more regular posts!! Please share this blog with everyone you know.
Oh yeah, if you love hand-made baby quilts, check out my wife's blog -- http://thebrowneyedpea.blogspot.com/ -- and order a quilt for you or someone you know!!
God bless,
Sean Hanzelik
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Yo, Homey, wassup?
"Yo, Homey, wassup?"
Just spend time with Him. If you don't know what that means or how to do it, you are NOT alone. We are so accustomed to our "churchy"-type behaviors, that it is very difficult to just BE with God. I think we sometimes think we have to be doing something. Reading the Word, praying, worshiping, etc. But, sometimes, I think God wants us to just BE with Him. So, if you don't know how to do this, ask Him to show you how. Or, put on some soft worship music and just sit...sit and wait for the Spirit to move. Just acknowledge God's presence, because, yes, even if you don't necessarily "feel" it, God is there. Acknowledge it, and just enjoy being in it. Don't wait for a "feeling." God isn't about "feelings."
So, I don't know if any of this makes any real sense. It's difficult to put this kind of intangible thing into words. But, if anything, I can leave you with this all-encompassing wisdom:
When you've simply spent time in the presence of God, you'll just know it.
Ha, how's that for wisdom?
I hope you have a blessed day in the Lord, and as always, please check out: www.readtheletters.com and purchase a copy of my book, THE LETTERS.
God bless,
Sean Hanzelik
Have you ever addressed God this way? Ever started a prayer in this manner? Ever just been sitting there, looking up at the sky (why do we do this, by the way?), and said, "Yo, Homey, wassup?"
Nah, I'm sure you haven't, nor have I, and I'm sitting here wondering why. Why don't we talk to God like he's one of our pals? or chums? or "homeys"?
Well, I'm sure there's some aspect of reverence involved, probably a fair amount of conditioning, training, and tradition, and perhaps even a feeling that it's just not right, but I suspect there's another reason as well, a deeper root to the problem. And, I think it's founded in relationship, or perhaps, lack thereof.
I know for me, personally, a lot of the time, I just don't feel that close to God, and certainly, I don't feel like he's all that close to me. Now, I know deep down that the latter is all my doing. I know God is right there, waiting on me to seek Him, wanting me to allow Him all the closeness in the world. I know this; yet so often, I do nothing to open myself to Him, nothing to bring Him in.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what a relationship with God really is. What's it like? What does it look like, or feel like? What kinds of things do you do when you are close to God? How do you talk to Him? What does He say to you? How hard or easy is it for you to even hear Him? Can you feel Him? Do you know He's present wherever you are? Are you more blessed? Or, do blessings even matter? Are you healthier, happier, more joyous, more pensive, more worshipful, kinder, gentler?
What exactly does it mean to have a relationship with God, or to be "in relationship" with God?
Well, this is what I've been pondering for awhile now, because, honestly, I really don't know for sure. I could give you a "book"-type answer, or I could give you a "churchy" answer, but something just doesn't seem right about those types of answers.
Sure, I could tell you, "Well, you know, when you are close to God, you want to read the Bible more, you pray more, you listen to worship music more, you feel tingly all over when something cool happens or something seemingly miraculous occurs."
Or, I could give you the always fun, "I don't know. I just know it. I just feel it. I can't describe it. I just know it."
And, you know what? I truly believe all of that is true, but it's not true in the way you may think. Sure, I believe the closer you are to God, the more you will probably read the Bible, and I believe you will most likely pray more often, and you'll probably be moved by spiritual things more easily or more often, you may be nicer and kinder and gentler, and you may not even be able to describe it in words, and your answer may actually be, "I just feel it."
However, I think the main difference is in the motivation.
I believe when you are truly "in relationship" with God, you simply want to spend time with Him, like you would with your spouse, your kids, your best friend, etc. You want to talk with Him (note I said "with" not "to"...there is a difference). You want to listen to Him. You want to truly worship Him. And, you want to get to know Him. Basically, you become consumed by Him.
You don't read the Bible to meet your quota for the day. You don't pray just to say you started your day with prayer. You don't listen to worship music just to feel tingly. You do these things simply because you want to be with Him.
Now don't get me wrong. If you have a daily reading plan, that is awesome, that is great. I commend you, because I spend way too little time in the Word and probably need to set one up myself, mainly just to be more disciplined; however, I would also encourage you to check yourself every now and then and look at your motivation. Are you reading because you have made yourself feel obligated to complete the task you set before yourself? If so, it's certainly better than not doing it at all, but I would ask that you make a concerted effort to loosen the restraints you are putting on yourself, and just immerse yourself in the Word so that you can simply spend time with Him, or so that you can learn more about Him, not to just "get your reading done for the day." Don't make it a chore, don't make it an assignment. Make it a dialogue between you and your Creator. Listen to His wisdom as you read, and feel free to speak to Him about it. Develop an intimacy with Him like none you've ever had. Seek to know all you can about Him, and sometimes, just read because He loves you and you love Him.
It's the same with prayer, in my opinion. Do you pray every day? Do you start your day with prayer? Do you say bedtime prayers, or pre-meal blessings? If so, great!! These are all awesome things to do, and I can't say I do any of them all the time, but only some of them some of the time. However, have you ever just chatted with God? Told Him how your day went? Asked Him what he thought? Do you ever come before Him in prayer without any requests? Do you ever just say, "Lord, I want to know you better? What don't I know that You want me to know?" and then just sit there and wait for Him to reveal it? Try it.
Do you have close relationships with other people that you don't know anything about? Of course not, because if you know nothing about someone, then they are basically a stranger. So, when you want to know something, what do you do? Typically, you ask them and then you listen to their answers. So, why don't we do this more with God? Why are we so enamored with asking Him for stuff, whether it be health for a loved one, blessing at work, guidance in a decision, etc, etc, etc, we always seem to be asking, asking, asking, asking.
And, you know what? In His infinite love, He wants to give to us. He wants us to seek Him for all of our needs, so again, these types of prayers are just fine. But, do they have to be EVERY ONE of our prayers?
Every now and then, just stop yourself, and say, "Lord, for today, I want for nothing. I need nothing. I just want to be close to you. Please show me how."
Yes, I know, asking God to show you how to be close to Him is technically asking Him for something, but it's different. Let's not play the semantics game, because you know what I mean. So, I encourage you, sometime in the near future, set aside one single day where you don't ask God for anything for you or for anybody else. Don't set out to accomplish any kind of self-motivated goal.
For just this one day, in all that you do, seek to know God better.
If you read the Bible, don't worry about how long you have read, or how many chapters, just seek Him. When you pray, just talk to him like He's one of your "homeys" with perhaps a little extra reverence thrown in, although this may not be necessary either. After praying, or even during, stop and just listen with your heart. What is God trying to tell you or show you? He may not want to show you anything. He may just want to sit with you. He may want you to see nothing more than how much He loves you.
Just spend time with Him. If you don't know what that means or how to do it, you are NOT alone. We are so accustomed to our "churchy"-type behaviors, that it is very difficult to just BE with God. I think we sometimes think we have to be doing something. Reading the Word, praying, worshiping, etc. But, sometimes, I think God wants us to just BE with Him. So, if you don't know how to do this, ask Him to show you how. Or, put on some soft worship music and just sit...sit and wait for the Spirit to move. Just acknowledge God's presence, because, yes, even if you don't necessarily "feel" it, God is there. Acknowledge it, and just enjoy being in it. Don't wait for a "feeling." God isn't about "feelings."
So, I don't know if any of this makes any real sense. It's difficult to put this kind of intangible thing into words. But, if anything, I can leave you with this all-encompassing wisdom:
When you've simply spent time in the presence of God, you'll just know it.
Ha, how's that for wisdom?
I hope you have a blessed day in the Lord, and as always, please check out: www.readtheletters.com and purchase a copy of my book, THE LETTERS.
God bless,
Sean Hanzelik
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
