God's Back

I can still have my breath taken away from reading the Bible, even after reading its stories all my life.

Many recall Moses' conference with God through the burning bush. How Moses ripped off his sandals, argued God's quest for him back to Egypt, and was finally convinced to go and free his countrymen in God's name.

But who recalls Moses' time on Mount Sinai, where God moved him into a crevice of rock, so that Moses wouldn't be destroyed as God walked by. Imagine when a bright light shears your eyeballs and you have- HAVE- to look away or risk losing eyesight. Yet, you still want to look, want to see the Creator, even at the risk of your life.

How did Moses remember to breathe, listening to God's footfalls and knowing just how CLOSE he was to his Lord (outside of Heaven)? How would you even think? And at the last second, he turns and sees a back...

... GOD'S BACK!

My brain was on fire just reading about it. A fire I never want to go out, no matter how many times I read and re-read His Word. It's how I am reminded of what God means to me because, yes, sometimes I forget. Sometimes I distract myself so much (ironically with the life that God's given me) that my stance as a Christian becomes hazy. Then I find myself reading a passage and WHAM! it hits me like a tidal wave.

And I hope it never stops knocking me over.

Depth

'O the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!'

~Romans 11:33 (exclamation point added)~

I like the word depth. We all use it to describe being so enwrapped in something- a book, a movie, an artwork, or a conversation- that everything else is blurred and in the background. A fringe from being out of sight and out of mind, since your mind is preoccupied with whatever amazing thing has your attention. To me, it's like letting yourself slip beneath the surface of the water.

Ever take a breath and sink down below, just so you can float there? You can't hear much or see much, both muted by the water. But you're still able to feel! On all sides the pressure of the water rests against you, shifting when you shift, but never leaving.

It's this kind of depth that the Bible is still able to wrap around me. Never mind how many times I've read over the verses and passages, or yes, the eye rolls I've given when the verses sound cliche and repetitious. The moments remain where their truth is able to reach out and grip me hard.

The best part is how the grip never leaves.

'Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.'

~Psalms 139:7-8~

Doubting

Sometimes it's hard to believe. Being certain of what we hope for, of what we can't see can be a tall order some days. I don't mean the traditional doubting of God's presence when bad things pile up and threaten to drown you. No, I'm talking about when your belief is the obstacle to a more intimate relation with God.

Hear me out. When we hear others testimonies, we identify with the ones that sound a lot like our own life stories. Any others, we may speculate about, like, Does God really act that way? Nah, He couldn't... could He? We become sooo absorbed in what God has been for us, yet be oblivious or insensitive to what He's been for others. His flexibility in forgiveness and loving without boundaries, and even His sense of humor (c'mon you're telling me He's kept a straight face during EVERY face plant I've endured in my life!?).

Before we know it, we've molded a limited version of God's omnipresence; one that fits in the context of our lives. Being individual pieces of God's masterpiece, THAT'S NOT A BAD THING! What could be bad is that in the race to understand our place in this world, to check and re-check our beliefs, we neglect to appreciate that way God's been working in other people's lives.

I suppose this is really a heavily worded rant about not being a self-centered Christian. But that's because I got this image in my head about how God's presence is like standing in a prism.  A prism in endless sunlight. Just when you think you've counted all the rainbows, two more show up from an angle you never thought possible.

This image reminded me that God is active. He is elbows deep in healing, freeing, and restoring the lives of so many people. Some of those people we know. But there are even more that we'll never meet this side of Heaven. Maybe what's best to remember then, is that God works His wonders in different ways for different people. Don't allow your own beliefs to hinder your growth with God or fellow believers.

(DON'T be a fool either because, ya know, false teachers and all that.)

God works in mysterious ways, but also in multiple ones. Don't doubt that.

The Season

'There is a time for everything, 

and a season for every activity under the heavens.'

~Ecclesiastes 3:1~

Yeah, so I'm brushing right past the 'BOOS' and going straight for the 'Chestnuts roasting'! Just ask Sinatra; he was lulling me toward work this morning with The First Noel. 

AHHHH fall, it's so good to have you back!

'So I comment the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better 

for a person under the sun then to eat and drink and be glad. 

Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life

God has given them under the sun.'

~Ecclesiastes 8:15~