Pictures of God

Hi, again! I tried to find a beautiful picture that would describe the majesty and glory of God. Images, of course, do fail us. Words can try, but they only touch the very edges of who God is.

There are so many word pictures in the Bible of God - his power, majesty and awe. They give us a little glimpse, a little taste.

But who is God to me? Who is he to you?

David describes him for himself at many times in many ways - the shepherd in Psalm 23, the King - in many Psalms, the warrior - Psalm 18. David could relate to all of these images - they were reflections, in essence , of his own life.

After all, don't we see God in this way, too - what we know and understand, what is familiar to us? Or, what we need him to be at this moment in this particular situation?

But the Psalms also give us pictures of God beyond ourselves and our situations. We need to know that he is more than we picture him. Somehow, we are always trying to box him into a comfortable snapshot that we can point to and say 'this is God.'

I'm glad he's bigger and greater than I am - it gives me comfort while, at the same time, it makes me stand in awe of him and worship him.

Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

This is an amazing picture of the protection God gives his loved ones. This image runs throughout many Psalms - God as 'Rock.'

My mind visualizes Helm's Deep in Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers This gives me a picture of how a fortress is founded in rock. Hope and safety are there. The battle rages, but the rock protects and the Lord comes with his salvation.

How is God your fortress? Is he your Rock?

Healing and Wholeness

Here's a song relating to this:

I'm trading my sorrow;
I'm trading my shame;
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

I'm trading my sickness;
I'm trading my pain;
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

When I hear young people sing this, I can hear the pain in their voices - many times. It is real for them - and in their youth!

Pain does touch us - and at very early ages. Sickness, sorrow, shame and pain are all there in this life. Sometimes they seem to overwhelm us.

We need to 'trade up' to the Great Healer. Exodus 15:26, God says, . . . I am the Lord who heals you.' Sometims I need to hear that again.

This theme of the healing aspect of God is throughout the Scriptures. Why, how, when, where does God bring healing into our lives? How do we access this healing that we so desperately need? And what level of healing are we talking about? Just physical? No, total healing.

Here's the Scripture passage for today:

Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits -
Who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases
Who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
Who satisfies your desires with good things . . . (Psalm 103:2-5a)

What is your 'dis-ease,' your lack of shalom today? God can heal that.
He not only lifts us up out of our pits, he crowns us with compassion. His healing is based on understanding and pure love.

He wants to heal us today. Let's let him - let's 'trade our sorrow.. .

A Psalm a Day

I read once that Billy Graham reads a Psalm a day for his devotions. So, I started doing that, too. I love many of the Psalms, but 18 is a particular favorite of mine. My heart sings with the first verse:

I love you, O Lord, my strength

How wonderful and peace-giving it is to know that I am not alone and nothing I do is truly in my own strength. I confess to times in my life when I have been, or tried to be, self-sufficient, and, consequently, have fallen flat on my face. I resonate with Paul when he says, when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10)
This theme echoes throughout the Psalms - that the Lord is my strength (& my song & my salvation), but 18:1 gives our heart's response, 'I love you.'

This reminds me also of the Greatest Command according to Jesus - the Shema:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

There's that strength again linked with love. My strength, though little and weak, is to be focused on loving God. I guess that would lead to shalom!

What are your thoughts on this?

Check this out!

web.mac.com/sanewburgh Try this website to check out what an inner-city Salvation Army corps looks like. Here are some people who are really seeking 'shalom.'

This is my home church, and if you are in the area, come check us out for real! We are small (for now), but we have a beautiful fellowship, wonderful ministry from the Word, good music and practical minstry outreach!

Don't let the beautiful Hudson River view deceive you - it is inner-city ambience with some hurting people who need God's healing and shalom. Pray especially for Kevin and our youth outreach ministry to some hurting and confused young men. Christa could also use your prayers for our after-school children's ministry.

Check us out and, at the least, support us on prayer.

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21-22)

Exercise!

As we talk about shalom, total, holistic well-being, our intentional exercise does factor in. Sometimes we think only of the physical - the gym workout, etc., but intellectal (how many books have I read lately), social (relationships need work-outs, too), emotional (this is hard, but our feelings do matter - how are we maturing in dealing with them?) and spiritual (whether in group or private worship or personal time with God &/or the Scriptures)exercise are important also.

1 Timothy 4:8 says: For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for the present life and the life to come.

For out-of-shape people like me, this verse may give some comfort - or provide an excuse. But does it really exempt me from exercise on every level other than spiritual?

What do you think?

FYI - OOPS! After I posted this, I noticed the image did not print out. Sorry about that. Just imagine a cartoon character jumping rope - see it in your mind's eye.

Get some Sleep

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi, again! Sorry - no picture this time. I just couldn't find quite the right image - and I'm too tired to try again. (strike three and I'm out!) That's the whole point - I'm just too tired!

Ever get that way? So tired you can't think, move . . . or SLEEP! It was a big, intense week. A great week - just real long and intense. So I am bone tired. Now I have to trust that tonight, maybe tonight, I'll get some real sleep. It has eluded me for three nights!

Which brings me to the Word for today:
'In vain you rise up early and stay up late,toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves.' (Psalm 127:2)

Well, I know God loves me. He gives us all work and work is good. How many workaholics are out there? Let's go for 'everything in moderation' and remember that sleep has its purpose. A great purpose. Rest. Which leads to shalom. True well-being. Can't get it without the sleep. So,

'Nity-nite!' :)

Coffee Break!

So, how do you take your coffee? My particular favorite is Dunkin' Donuts French Vanilla, light and sweet.

Nothing like a cup of coffee in the morning to get you started right - but I can't afford DD every day, so I make do in my own kitchen with good old Maxwell House. Then my husband and I have some breakfast and have our devotions.

Here's a verse to remind us to take the coffee break:

'I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.' (Psalm 130:5)

Waiting in the Word - now that's a 'coffee break!'