As I looked,
thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
Daniel 7:9
Sometimes, through these studies, I have been confused about whether the names refer to God or Jesus. The beginning of this month was Alpha and Omega, which are really names for Jesus (and we will be studying them in February!). At first, I admit, I thought, oh well, they are one and the same.
But they really aren't! As complex as it is to think of the Trinity, the 3-in-1, at once one God and yet three separate individuals . . . that's exactly what they are. And God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are very unique and individual beings.
I had always thought of Ancient of Days being about Jesus, but upon doing some research, I realized it is a description of God the Father. This name is used three times in the book of Daniel, and is used to describe God as an eternal being, without the definition of time or space. Sound familiar?
If I have gotten anything out of this month's study on the names of God, it has been a reminder that is two-fold: One, that He is absolutely everything that I need. He is the abundance in every shortage. He is the fulfillment of every need. He is the luxury to my poverty. He is the completeness to my inadequacy. Simply within His character, He is my all in all.
Secondly, I have been absolutely reminded on a daily basis that He is eternal. He is without pause. He is endless. He is without death, He is without end, He is without change.
When I met my husband, he seemed like such a steady, rock-solid person. I expected him to never change. I wanted him to never change, to always be the same person, to always react the same way, to never be different. I thought I needed him to be that so that I could count on him.
Guess what? He's changed over the last 17 years. And there have been times I have struggled with the changes. But, that's what we as humans do. We grow and change and mature, becoming who we were created to be.
But the Ancient of Days is already who He is. He doesn't need to mature, He doesn't need to change, He doesn't need to grow. He is already complete in and of Himself.
Do you get it? Are you getting excited? HE IS ALREADY EVERYTHING!! The anxiety we battle over, the worries we wrestle with, the questions we struggle with . . . He is bigger than those things. Why do we trust in anyone, and anything, other than the Ancient of Days?
Alcohol can't meet your need. Food won't rest your worry. Material things don't answer your questions. Nothing will ever come close to fulfilling you like He will.
Think I'm preaching now??? You bet your sweet patootie I am!!! How can I not be excited about Him? How can I not want to tell the world?
Here is a reminder of the names of God that we have studied this month. I missed this past weekend, so when I get to those names I will list the scripture references in case you want to look them up.
Alpha
Omega
El
El Shaddai
Adonai
El-Elyon
El-Olam
Jehovah
Jehovah-Jireh
Jehovah-Rophe
Jehovah-Nissi
I AM
Abba
King
The Potter
Purifier
Jehovah-Maccaddeshem
Jehovah-Shammah
Jehovah-Shalom
Jehovah-Sabbaoth
El-Roi
Jehovah-Rohi Psalm 23:1
Jehovah-Tsidkenu
Jehovah-Gmolah
Almighty
Eternal God
Everlasting Father
Judge Isaiah 33:22
Lord of Hosts
Merciful God Jeremiah 3:12
Ancient of Days
Starting tomorrow . . . the names of Jesus. More to be excited about!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
God is the Everlasting Father
Isaiah 9:6 says:
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
For those of us whose earthly fathers left us too early, this is a verse of hope. God is everlasting! Not just as creator, not just as king, not just as Jehovah - as if "just" is the appropriate word - but as our Father, loving us forever and ever.
We often read these verses at Christmas time, because they are prophecy on the coming Messiah. How wonderful to read about the Son and learn about the Father!
God as our Father might not be a comfort to you. Perhaps your earthly father wasn't present. Perhaps he was abusive, addictive, or absent.
Perhaps you've allowed yourself to believe that you don't need a father.
But you do. You need the God of the Ages to protect you, comfort you, see you. And He does! That's the amazing thing!,
More amazing is that the ruler and creator of time and space, of all things seen and unseen ... He loves you.
Jeremiah 31:3 reminds us “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." An eternal God is incapable of NOT loving us eternally. When you can't fathom a loving Father, think about that. These verses today would be great to memorize and keep in your spiritual arsenal!
Everlasting Father. Everlasting love. Sounds perfect.
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
For those of us whose earthly fathers left us too early, this is a verse of hope. God is everlasting! Not just as creator, not just as king, not just as Jehovah - as if "just" is the appropriate word - but as our Father, loving us forever and ever.
We often read these verses at Christmas time, because they are prophecy on the coming Messiah. How wonderful to read about the Son and learn about the Father!
God as our Father might not be a comfort to you. Perhaps your earthly father wasn't present. Perhaps he was abusive, addictive, or absent.
Perhaps you've allowed yourself to believe that you don't need a father.
But you do. You need the God of the Ages to protect you, comfort you, see you. And He does! That's the amazing thing!,
More amazing is that the ruler and creator of time and space, of all things seen and unseen ... He loves you.
Jeremiah 31:3 reminds us “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." An eternal God is incapable of NOT loving us eternally. When you can't fathom a loving Father, think about that. These verses today would be great to memorize and keep in your spiritual arsenal!
Everlasting Father. Everlasting love. Sounds perfect.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Eternal God
Deuteronomy 33:27 says, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Another term for refuge is hiding place. He is our eternal hiding place, our refuge forever and ever.
There's a song by Selah called "Hiding Place." The lyrics go like this:
You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart with songs
Of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You-
I will trust in You
Let the weak say I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
It's a very sweet, tender song. I'm amazed on a daily basis when I think about God. You know? God who is outside the parameters of time - who is eternal - He wants to be my hiding place, my refuge.
We are reminded of God's eternal-ness throughout His Word, but twice in Revelation He refers to Himself as "the Alpha and the Omega ....who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (There's Almighty again, from yesterday's name. Praise the Lord!)
And I hear another song in this verse, the Revelation Song:
Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy Holy is He
Sing a new song
To Him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat
Holy Holy Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my Everything
And I will adore you.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . . . Eternal God. Almighty. King. Jehovah.
Thank you.
There's a song by Selah called "Hiding Place." The lyrics go like this:
You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart with songs
Of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You-
I will trust in You
Let the weak say I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
It's a very sweet, tender song. I'm amazed on a daily basis when I think about God. You know? God who is outside the parameters of time - who is eternal - He wants to be my hiding place, my refuge.
We are reminded of God's eternal-ness throughout His Word, but twice in Revelation He refers to Himself as "the Alpha and the Omega ....who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (There's Almighty again, from yesterday's name. Praise the Lord!)
And I hear another song in this verse, the Revelation Song:
Worthy is the, Lamb who was slain
Holy Holy is He
Sing a new song
To Him who sits on
Heaven's mercy seat
Holy Holy Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
With all creation I sing
Praise to the King of Kings
You are my Everything
And I will adore you.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . . . Eternal God. Almighty. King. Jehovah.
Thank you.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
God is the Almighty
I needed this today. I feel frazzled and overworked and out of control. Obviously - it's 8:46 and I'm just started today's blog!
Genesis 17:1 says, "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless." To me what stands out is that almighty is not being used as an adjective; in this case, it's a noun.
How amazing to think that God isn't just an almighty being; He encompasses the word so much that He is THE Almighty. As an adjective, almighty means having unlimited power; omnipotent. But if you look in a dictionary, you can't find a definition for almighty as a noun. Oh wait, there is one definition -- God!!! I mean, come on!!! That's amazing!
Do you see what I'm saying?? Almighty isn't just a word that describes God. It IS God.
My petty troubles today seem even smaller in light of the fact that I'm friends with Almighty. I'm the daughter of the One who has unlimited power. I am His, and He is mine.
I'm ending right there. 'Nuf said.
Genesis 17:1 says, "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless." To me what stands out is that almighty is not being used as an adjective; in this case, it's a noun.
How amazing to think that God isn't just an almighty being; He encompasses the word so much that He is THE Almighty. As an adjective, almighty means having unlimited power; omnipotent. But if you look in a dictionary, you can't find a definition for almighty as a noun. Oh wait, there is one definition -- God!!! I mean, come on!!! That's amazing!
Do you see what I'm saying?? Almighty isn't just a word that describes God. It IS God.
My petty troubles today seem even smaller in light of the fact that I'm friends with Almighty. I'm the daughter of the One who has unlimited power. I am His, and He is mine.
I'm ending right there. 'Nuf said.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Jehovah Gmolah
He is the God of Recompense. Now, recompense means to repay something or to reward for service or aid. I'm having trouble with this name .... How could God need to repay or reward me?
But if you read Jeremiah 51, you see the correct context. Verse six refers to the Lord who repays what is deserved. Ahhhh now I understand and I am once again comforted by the fact that my God is a warrior!
The Lord of Recompense will repay those who are evil, if not in this life, in eternity. You know, that relieves a pretty huge burden for us. WE don't have to worry about revenge on those who have harmed us. He will take care of that. He has a perfect memory .....
....unless He chooses to forget. Aren't we so glad He does that? We really can't hold onto to grudges and make Texas Chainsaw style plans of revenge. Because if a person stays evil, our warrior will take care of that. But if the one who wronged us becomes right thru Christ ... Well, we want His forgiveness, don't we? We have to allow it then for others as well.
Jesus reminds us that we are to forgive each other, up to "seventy times seven" times (Matthew 18:22). Today, let go of your grudges. Let the Lord of Recompense take care of that!
But if you read Jeremiah 51, you see the correct context. Verse six refers to the Lord who repays what is deserved. Ahhhh now I understand and I am once again comforted by the fact that my God is a warrior!
The Lord of Recompense will repay those who are evil, if not in this life, in eternity. You know, that relieves a pretty huge burden for us. WE don't have to worry about revenge on those who have harmed us. He will take care of that. He has a perfect memory .....
....unless He chooses to forget. Aren't we so glad He does that? We really can't hold onto to grudges and make Texas Chainsaw style plans of revenge. Because if a person stays evil, our warrior will take care of that. But if the one who wronged us becomes right thru Christ ... Well, we want His forgiveness, don't we? We have to allow it then for others as well.
Jesus reminds us that we are to forgive each other, up to "seventy times seven" times (Matthew 18:22). Today, let go of your grudges. Let the Lord of Recompense take care of that!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Jehovah Tsidkenu
God - the Lord - is our righteousness. Jeremiah 23:6 says: "This is the name by which He will be called: the Lord our righteous Savior."
Why is this important to us? We spend way too much time trying to be righteous. We can never earn righteousness! It's not a quality that you can attain through discipline or discussion. We can only be righteous because He is righteous.
If you find yourself striving to make yourself righteous, you've got a problem. You're wires are a little crossed. That attitude assumes that you become righteous through your own hard work. No! Run away, as far as you can get from that mindset.
We become righteous because He flows His grace to us and through us. It is only because He so freely forgives and renews us that we have any hope of becoming right.
He's so good to us. I really have no words to describe how good He is, how wicked we are, and how blessed we become through His grace.
It comforts me to know that this God I dont deserve wants me, and wants me to enter into fellowship with Him. Not only that, but He gives me the tools I need to enter into His presence. He shares Himself so that I can be with Him.
Woah.
Why is this important to us? We spend way too much time trying to be righteous. We can never earn righteousness! It's not a quality that you can attain through discipline or discussion. We can only be righteous because He is righteous.
If you find yourself striving to make yourself righteous, you've got a problem. You're wires are a little crossed. That attitude assumes that you become righteous through your own hard work. No! Run away, as far as you can get from that mindset.
We become righteous because He flows His grace to us and through us. It is only because He so freely forgives and renews us that we have any hope of becoming right.
He's so good to us. I really have no words to describe how good He is, how wicked we are, and how blessed we become through His grace.
It comforts me to know that this God I dont deserve wants me, and wants me to enter into fellowship with Him. Not only that, but He gives me the tools I need to enter into His presence. He shares Himself so that I can be with Him.
Woah.
Jehovah-Rohi
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.
The 23rd Psalm. Easily one of the most famous passages of scripture ever. And from this passage we get today's name of God - Jehovah-Rohi. "The Lord is My Shepherd."
Shepherds have often been presented through literature and art as gentle, passive, boy-ish fellas who sit on rocks and while away the day. Far from it. They were tough, hard-as-nails manly men who were the protectors of their family's wealth. A man's wealth included his sheep and livestock; they were part of his bread and butter, how he provided for his family.
Shepherds, to carry the biblical analogy, would have been partakers of the down and dirty holiness. True holiness is just that, right? You get your hands dirty when you're seeking after holiness. Not dirty doing sinful things, of course - dirty doing good, getting down with others, helping them grab on and take hold. Holiness has dirty knees from praying, rough hands from working, jaws set with determination.
The same would be true for shepherds in the biblical day. The same is true today - because God is our shepherd. Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd in John 10:11: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
Do you see what I'm saying today? The Shepherd isn't some wimp who sits back and watches everything happen. The Shepherd is involved - active - participating. He is always moving, working, protecting His sheep. He is, quite simply, the one who saves us.
The Lord is my shepherd. Your shepherd. OUR shepherd. Somebody say amen!
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.
The 23rd Psalm. Easily one of the most famous passages of scripture ever. And from this passage we get today's name of God - Jehovah-Rohi. "The Lord is My Shepherd."
Shepherds have often been presented through literature and art as gentle, passive, boy-ish fellas who sit on rocks and while away the day. Far from it. They were tough, hard-as-nails manly men who were the protectors of their family's wealth. A man's wealth included his sheep and livestock; they were part of his bread and butter, how he provided for his family.
Shepherds, to carry the biblical analogy, would have been partakers of the down and dirty holiness. True holiness is just that, right? You get your hands dirty when you're seeking after holiness. Not dirty doing sinful things, of course - dirty doing good, getting down with others, helping them grab on and take hold. Holiness has dirty knees from praying, rough hands from working, jaws set with determination.
The same would be true for shepherds in the biblical day. The same is true today - because God is our shepherd. Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd in John 10:11: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep."
Do you see what I'm saying today? The Shepherd isn't some wimp who sits back and watches everything happen. The Shepherd is involved - active - participating. He is always moving, working, protecting His sheep. He is, quite simply, the one who saves us.
The Lord is my shepherd. Your shepherd. OUR shepherd. Somebody say amen!
Friday, January 21, 2011
God is El-Roi
The Strong One who Sees. That's what El-Roi means. In Genesis 16, Hagar is running away from Abram and Sarai, but God finds her and tells her not to be afraid. In verse 13 she says, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
It's a name that reminds us that He sees us, all parts of us, all the time. That can either be a comfort to you or a curse! If you are trying to hide from God, like Adam did in the garden after he had sinned, then El Roi is not someone you are relying on.
However, you can also be comforted by the fact that El Roi sees your distress, hears your cries, and knows your circumstances. As we discussed earlier in the week - His name is a strong tower! He provides comfort and protection for His dear ones - that's you and me!
Running to El Roi is exactly what He wants you to do. Running to Him means meditating on Him, thinking about Him, actively focusing and fixating your mind on Him. Praying. Wondering. Thinking. They might sound like passive activities, but I assure you, they are very, very active and VITAL to your successful spiritual life.
Let El Roi see you today. Don't hide. Be you - warts and all - and just see what He will do for you!
It's a name that reminds us that He sees us, all parts of us, all the time. That can either be a comfort to you or a curse! If you are trying to hide from God, like Adam did in the garden after he had sinned, then El Roi is not someone you are relying on.
However, you can also be comforted by the fact that El Roi sees your distress, hears your cries, and knows your circumstances. As we discussed earlier in the week - His name is a strong tower! He provides comfort and protection for His dear ones - that's you and me!
It follows then that as we meditate on the meaning of God's Names, like El Roi and remember that El Roi sees and cares about all of our circumstances (even if they are the result of our sin) the Spirit takes this truth and renews the "defenses" of our mind. Then with our mind renewed by the word of truth which fans the embers of faith, we can now potentially "extinguish all the flaming arrows" (Ep 6:16-note) of doubt and despair. (Look again - How many "arrows" can be extinguished?) This process is a picture of what it means to run into the Strong Tower of His Name and be set "safe" and secure above the swirling storm. (preceptaustin.org)
Running to El Roi is exactly what He wants you to do. Running to Him means meditating on Him, thinking about Him, actively focusing and fixating your mind on Him. Praying. Wondering. Thinking. They might sound like passive activities, but I assure you, they are very, very active and VITAL to your successful spiritual life.
Let El Roi see you today. Don't hide. Be you - warts and all - and just see what He will do for you!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
God is Jehovah-Sabbaoth
Jehovah-Sabbaoth means the Lord of Hosts. "Hosts" isn't about being good at hospitality. In fact, in this case, being a good host does not evoke feelings of welcome or good!
Amos 4:13 says, "For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth—The LORD God of hosts is His name."
Another prophet, Isaiah, put it this way: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!'”
To me, these images describe a being of nearly unspeakable might, power, and glory. He is sovereign! He is omnipotent! He is omniscient!
The Lord of Hosts is our warrior, leading His army to defeat the enemy and bring His people home. The Lord of Hosts is who we turn to when all hope is gone, everything seems lost, and our enemies are all around us. Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower . . ." When all else is gone, the Lord of Hosts is there. Always protecting, always preserving, always persevering. Even when we can't see with our earthly eyes, He is our warrior.
I've told this story before, but a few years ago I had emergency surgery for a bowel blockage. As I was being wheeled on the gurney to the OR, I was singing the song based on the scripture from Isaiah:
I see the Lord, seated on the throne,
Exalted.
And the train of His robe,
Fills the temple with glory!
And the whole earth is filled, and the whole earth is filled, and the whole earth is filled
With His glory.
Holy. Holy. Holy. Holy.
Holy is the Lord!
And you know what? When I woke up in the recovery room, I was still singing the song. He was my warrior when I wasn't even awake to know it. And He's your warrior, too.
Amos 4:13 says, "For behold, He who forms mountains, And creates the wind, Who declares to man what his thought is, And makes the morning darkness, Who treads the high places of the earth—The LORD God of hosts is His name."
Another prophet, Isaiah, put it this way: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!'”
To me, these images describe a being of nearly unspeakable might, power, and glory. He is sovereign! He is omnipotent! He is omniscient!
The Lord of Hosts is our warrior, leading His army to defeat the enemy and bring His people home. The Lord of Hosts is who we turn to when all hope is gone, everything seems lost, and our enemies are all around us. Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower . . ." When all else is gone, the Lord of Hosts is there. Always protecting, always preserving, always persevering. Even when we can't see with our earthly eyes, He is our warrior.
I've told this story before, but a few years ago I had emergency surgery for a bowel blockage. As I was being wheeled on the gurney to the OR, I was singing the song based on the scripture from Isaiah:
I see the Lord, seated on the throne,
Exalted.
And the train of His robe,
Fills the temple with glory!
And the whole earth is filled, and the whole earth is filled, and the whole earth is filled
With His glory.
Holy. Holy. Holy. Holy.
Holy is the Lord!
And you know what? When I woke up in the recovery room, I was still singing the song. He was my warrior when I wasn't even awake to know it. And He's your warrior, too.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Jehovah-Shalom
In Judges 6:24, we find the first reference to Jehovah-Shalom: "So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace."
Israel had lost their peace by doing evil in the sight of the Lord. So He gave them over to their enemy for seven years. When His time was right, He sent an angel to to Gideon, calling him to be a mighty warrior for Israel. He said to Gideon, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
Gideon's response was, oh yeah? If that's true, why is all this bad stuff happening to us?
Isn't it interesting that we often find no correlation between our actions and our consequences? We act as if God should protect us from everything, even from our own undoing. And to a certain extent, He does. Because no matter what mistake or sin, we can still accept His forgiveness and have everlasting life.
But the truth is that God DOES allow us to struggle, to wallow in the bed we made, so to speak. And that is right where Israel was in the time of Gideon. God called Gideon to use his own strength to deliver His people. And when Gideon was afraid, God said this:
"Peace!"
So Gideon builds the altar as a tribute to the God of Peace.
Let me ask you this: Is your life an altar? Are you laying it all out before God, the good, the bad, and the ugly? Or are you trying to cover things up, trying to hide from Him?
Sometimes we are so afraid of who we really are inside, afraid God won't love us, afraid He can't forgive us, afraid He doesn't really know us. But He does, remember? He made us, He made you to be exactly who you are.
So when you are struggling, with fears either real or imagined, pray for peace. The One who IS Peace has more than enough to give you. Peace doesn't mean there are no problems. Peace means calm in the storm. Peace is the way to peace!
Someone said, "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way." So focus on Peace, the Person. And you'll find peace on your way.
Israel had lost their peace by doing evil in the sight of the Lord. So He gave them over to their enemy for seven years. When His time was right, He sent an angel to to Gideon, calling him to be a mighty warrior for Israel. He said to Gideon, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."
Gideon's response was, oh yeah? If that's true, why is all this bad stuff happening to us?
Isn't it interesting that we often find no correlation between our actions and our consequences? We act as if God should protect us from everything, even from our own undoing. And to a certain extent, He does. Because no matter what mistake or sin, we can still accept His forgiveness and have everlasting life.
But the truth is that God DOES allow us to struggle, to wallow in the bed we made, so to speak. And that is right where Israel was in the time of Gideon. God called Gideon to use his own strength to deliver His people. And when Gideon was afraid, God said this:
"Peace!"
So Gideon builds the altar as a tribute to the God of Peace.
Let me ask you this: Is your life an altar? Are you laying it all out before God, the good, the bad, and the ugly? Or are you trying to cover things up, trying to hide from Him?
Sometimes we are so afraid of who we really are inside, afraid God won't love us, afraid He can't forgive us, afraid He doesn't really know us. But He does, remember? He made us, He made you to be exactly who you are.
So when you are struggling, with fears either real or imagined, pray for peace. The One who IS Peace has more than enough to give you. Peace doesn't mean there are no problems. Peace means calm in the storm. Peace is the way to peace!
Someone said, "There is no way to peace. Peace is the way." So focus on Peace, the Person. And you'll find peace on your way.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
God is Jehovah Shammah
I'm sitting at the hospital waiting as my mother in law is having a heart bypass. So today's post will be short. Today's name is Jehovah Shammah, God is present. That's the perfect name for our family today, as we sit here, waiting. Waiting.
My mother in law isn't aware right now. But God is with her. God is present. I feel His presence all around us, and for that I am so grateful.
Please pray for her today if you think about it, and be grateful that this great big God is always present for you. Right here. Right now.
My mother in law isn't aware right now. But God is with her. God is present. I feel His presence all around us, and for that I am so grateful.
Please pray for her today if you think about it, and be grateful that this great big God is always present for you. Right here. Right now.
Monday, January 17, 2011
God is Jehovah-Maccaddeshem
So right now you're probably saying, He's what now?!? Some kind of macadamia nut? No, no, Maccaddeshem. Don't you know what that means?? (wink,wink)
Jehovah-Maccaddeshem is the Lord thy Sanctifier. This name come from Exodus, when God tells Moses in Exodus 31:13, "Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.'"
The LORD who makes us holy. The Sanctifier. Is it sacrilegious right now for me to be picturing God as the ultimate WWF wrester - The Sanctifier! Come on. Say it in your best WWF voice!
To sanctify means to set apart for sacred use, to make holy, to purify. As you can see, God's names continue to build right on top of each other. They never clash or cause misunderstandings of who He is. Each name tells us more about His character, His personality, His being.
This weekend, His names were "Potter" and "Purifier." And today, "Sanctifier." They all point to the same thing: this great big God, bigger than all of time and space, this God who created you individually, who knows your name, who knows your every move . . . He has set you apart for a special purpose. A sacred use.
So many times we look for God's will, and I tell you - we make it too.dang.hard. God's will is clear, and His intention with our lives is clear, too.
First, He DOES have a plan. One of most people's favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Secondly, He clearly tells us what His plan involves: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5) In other words, in His plan, He comes first. Thirdly, He tells us the next step: "He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27) Plain words. People are important.
So, let's look at this very broad concept again and make it simple. God is the Sanctifier. He has set you aside for a holy purpose. What is that purpose? To love Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love others.
That's pretty simple. Whether you do those things as a doctor, a lawyer, a garbage man or a housewife (like me!), God has called you to be holy. Sanctified. Set apart. He has called you to love. Don't worry too much about God's plan. It's easy!! You don't have to spend your whole life searching for it - it's clear. His plan has very little to do with what you do for a living, and more about what you do for a LIFE.
So respond to your calling. You are sanctified because you were created by the Sanctifier. You were created to be holy. To be pure. So do it!
Jehovah-Maccaddeshem is the Lord thy Sanctifier. This name come from Exodus, when God tells Moses in Exodus 31:13, "Say to the Israelites, ‘You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.'"
The LORD who makes us holy. The Sanctifier. Is it sacrilegious right now for me to be picturing God as the ultimate WWF wrester - The Sanctifier! Come on. Say it in your best WWF voice!
To sanctify means to set apart for sacred use, to make holy, to purify. As you can see, God's names continue to build right on top of each other. They never clash or cause misunderstandings of who He is. Each name tells us more about His character, His personality, His being.
This weekend, His names were "Potter" and "Purifier." And today, "Sanctifier." They all point to the same thing: this great big God, bigger than all of time and space, this God who created you individually, who knows your name, who knows your every move . . . He has set you apart for a special purpose. A sacred use.
So many times we look for God's will, and I tell you - we make it too.dang.hard. God's will is clear, and His intention with our lives is clear, too.
First, He DOES have a plan. One of most people's favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Secondly, He clearly tells us what His plan involves: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deuteronomy 6:5) In other words, in His plan, He comes first. Thirdly, He tells us the next step: "He answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10:27) Plain words. People are important.
So, let's look at this very broad concept again and make it simple. God is the Sanctifier. He has set you aside for a holy purpose. What is that purpose? To love Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love others.
That's pretty simple. Whether you do those things as a doctor, a lawyer, a garbage man or a housewife (like me!), God has called you to be holy. Sanctified. Set apart. He has called you to love. Don't worry too much about God's plan. It's easy!! You don't have to spend your whole life searching for it - it's clear. His plan has very little to do with what you do for a living, and more about what you do for a LIFE.
So respond to your calling. You are sanctified because you were created by the Sanctifier. You were created to be holy. To be pure. So do it!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
God is the Potter/God is the Purifier
I'm combining the posts for the weekend into one since it's so late. Today, Saturday, God is the Potter. Isaiah 64:8 says "Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." This verse reminds us that He is the one who created all things, including us; He knit us together in our mothers' wombs; He spoke and man was created in His image.
The image of the potter evokes someone sitting at a potter's wheel, kneading and working the clay with His hands. Isn't that what God does? Works on us, perfecting and refining us, until we are just right. It's interesting that our just right isn't His just right. We keep trying to change this thing He made - we use science to change the shape of our bodies, makeup to change the look of our faces, fashion to be accepted by others. But what He has made is perfect. What will it take for us to accept ourselves in HIS light?
Not that we shouldn't always strive to be better, to learn and grow and change. We are sinful creatures, after all. But let's make sure that we are allowing HIM to do the changing, not just doing it for ourselves.
God is also the Purifier, as found in Malachi 3:3: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver." Interesting that to "purify" means to "free from sin, guilt, or other defilement. "Purifier" means "a device or substance that frees something of extraneous, contaminating, or debasing matter."
We can look for something to purify us, to change us, make us different. Or we can rely on the Purifier to free us of those things that contaminate us!
This month's theme for one of my Bible studies is "renewal." But renewal as in make goals, take action, change your life. Renewal as in sit back, look to God, and allow Him to do with you what He wills. Sometimes, that's a lot harder than making goals and taking action! God's purifying can take a lot longer than our own. But His purifying lasts longer and stronger and changes us in His ways, not our ways.
I think that's the kind of purifying I'm interested in. How about you?
The image of the potter evokes someone sitting at a potter's wheel, kneading and working the clay with His hands. Isn't that what God does? Works on us, perfecting and refining us, until we are just right. It's interesting that our just right isn't His just right. We keep trying to change this thing He made - we use science to change the shape of our bodies, makeup to change the look of our faces, fashion to be accepted by others. But what He has made is perfect. What will it take for us to accept ourselves in HIS light?
Not that we shouldn't always strive to be better, to learn and grow and change. We are sinful creatures, after all. But let's make sure that we are allowing HIM to do the changing, not just doing it for ourselves.
God is also the Purifier, as found in Malachi 3:3: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver." Interesting that to "purify" means to "free from sin, guilt, or other defilement. "Purifier" means "a device or substance that frees something of extraneous, contaminating, or debasing matter."
We can look for something to purify us, to change us, make us different. Or we can rely on the Purifier to free us of those things that contaminate us!
This month's theme for one of my Bible studies is "renewal." But renewal as in make goals, take action, change your life. Renewal as in sit back, look to God, and allow Him to do with you what He wills. Sometimes, that's a lot harder than making goals and taking action! God's purifying can take a lot longer than our own. But His purifying lasts longer and stronger and changes us in His ways, not our ways.
I think that's the kind of purifying I'm interested in. How about you?
Friday, January 14, 2011
God is King
Yesterday we talked about an almost tender name for God - Abba. Today it's almost the opposite - King. Looking at the 29th Psalm helps us see just how powerful our King is.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.
To me, this describes a most powerful king - one who fears nothing, controls everything, and whose mere presence in commanding and awe inspiring.
The gospel of John calls us "children of God." Paul, in the the book of Romans, also refers to believers as children of God - in fact in 8:17 he says, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ." Children of the King. Heirs with Christ.
You know, to live a defeated life, as if we have no hope, no calling, no purpose, is to say that God is NOT King and we are NOT His children. The Bible's either true or it's not, black or white. He's either King or He's a liar.
I'm betting on King. In fact, I'm betting my whole life on it.
And if He's King, and I'm His child, then I know I better live like it. Interestingly, looking at the whole passage in Romans 8 combines yesterday and today:
"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." (Romans 8:14-17)
Our dad, our papa, our father - the king. Being the king's children doesn't mean a problem-free life (verse 17b). But it does mean that the powerful King, whose glory sounds like thunder, is with us, taking care of us, drawing us closer to Him.
Sounds like a pretty good king to me.
3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
11 The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.
To me, this describes a most powerful king - one who fears nothing, controls everything, and whose mere presence in commanding and awe inspiring.
The gospel of John calls us "children of God." Paul, in the the book of Romans, also refers to believers as children of God - in fact in 8:17 he says, "Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ." Children of the King. Heirs with Christ.
You know, to live a defeated life, as if we have no hope, no calling, no purpose, is to say that God is NOT King and we are NOT His children. The Bible's either true or it's not, black or white. He's either King or He's a liar.
I'm betting on King. In fact, I'm betting my whole life on it.
And if He's King, and I'm His child, then I know I better live like it. Interestingly, looking at the whole passage in Romans 8 combines yesterday and today:
"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." (Romans 8:14-17)
Our dad, our papa, our father - the king. Being the king's children doesn't mean a problem-free life (verse 17b). But it does mean that the powerful King, whose glory sounds like thunder, is with us, taking care of us, drawing us closer to Him.
Sounds like a pretty good king to me.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
God is Abba
God is our father, our Abba. It's interesting that the term "father" is not often used to describe God in the Old Testament. It's not until Jesus came, and consistently prayed aloud using the term "Father," that the idea of God as father cemented. Makes sense, I think. Jesus taught us that intimacy with God, our father, is something we innately crave. In fact, I think Jesus taught us a lot about intimacy - both with each other, and with God. Think of how He transparently showed emotion: grief (John 11), anger (Mark 11), and anguish (Luke 22), among other things. He transparently cried out in His need for His father, His God, just before He died on the cross - "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
So let's take Jesus' teaching about intimacy and transparency and apply it to this name of God - Abba. In Biblical Hebrew (which is what Jesus and the disciples would have heard and spoken in the synagogue) ab is "father." But in Aramaic (which they would have spoken during their "down" times, or more intimate times) abbā is a word derived from baby-language. In the pre-Christian era the usage of the word broadened so that Abbā as a form of address to one's father was no longer restricted to children, but also used by adult sons and daughters. The childish character of the word ("daddy") thus receded, and abbā acquired the warm, familiar ring which we may feel in such an expression as "dear father." (Information taken from jesuswalk.com)
What a blessed message this really is. Often I talk about GREAT BIG GOD, little tiny me. And that dynamic is certainly true. But that fact that GREAT BIG GOD wants to come down to me, to be not just my huge-everlasting-without-time-or-space creator, but just to be my daddy . . . well, what other "religion" has a God like that?
If you didn't have a good relationship with your father, you might not be able to understand God as father in a positive way. But, to be blunt - that's no excuse. God longs to heal your hurts and renew a daddy relationship with you. You can't hold onto the hurts of the past forever. At some point you'll have to let go, whether here or on the other side. What a shame it would be to get to eternity, having spent your whole life lamenting over your bad childhood, to realize that God was waiting that whole time to recreate a new "childhood", just for you. I think there's a reason Jesus invited us to become like children again - what an opportunity for a new life!
If you did or do have a great relationship with your dad, I pray that you cherish it, and use that relationship as a foundation to understand God the father in a unique and complex way. He cares for you like no other daddy in the world.
Abba, father, daddy . . . I have to admit . . . I like that.
So let's take Jesus' teaching about intimacy and transparency and apply it to this name of God - Abba. In Biblical Hebrew (which is what Jesus and the disciples would have heard and spoken in the synagogue) ab is "father." But in Aramaic (which they would have spoken during their "down" times, or more intimate times) abbā is a word derived from baby-language. In the pre-Christian era the usage of the word broadened so that Abbā as a form of address to one's father was no longer restricted to children, but also used by adult sons and daughters. The childish character of the word ("daddy") thus receded, and abbā acquired the warm, familiar ring which we may feel in such an expression as "dear father." (Information taken from jesuswalk.com)
What a blessed message this really is. Often I talk about GREAT BIG GOD, little tiny me. And that dynamic is certainly true. But that fact that GREAT BIG GOD wants to come down to me, to be not just my huge-everlasting-without-time-or-space creator, but just to be my daddy . . . well, what other "religion" has a God like that?
If you didn't have a good relationship with your father, you might not be able to understand God as father in a positive way. But, to be blunt - that's no excuse. God longs to heal your hurts and renew a daddy relationship with you. You can't hold onto the hurts of the past forever. At some point you'll have to let go, whether here or on the other side. What a shame it would be to get to eternity, having spent your whole life lamenting over your bad childhood, to realize that God was waiting that whole time to recreate a new "childhood", just for you. I think there's a reason Jesus invited us to become like children again - what an opportunity for a new life!
If you did or do have a great relationship with your dad, I pray that you cherish it, and use that relationship as a foundation to understand God the father in a unique and complex way. He cares for you like no other daddy in the world.
Abba, father, daddy . . . I have to admit . . . I like that.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
God is I AM
Have you seen "The Prince of Egypt?" I love that movie!! My husband and my two brothers and I went to see it on Christmas night of the year it was released. Now, I love watching it with my son.
It's hard enough to imagine stumbling across a bush burning in the desert, yet not be consumed by the flames. Then consider how terrifying it must have been to hear a voice coming from the bush! After God commands Moses to go back to Egypt (from which he fled as a criminal fugitive) and tell the Pharaoh (who was a genocidal terrorist) to release the Hebrew nation (of which Moses was a member), I can understand how Moses might have been feeling a little . . . shall we say, overwhelmed?
But I so admire his next question. "Who shall I say you are?" "What is your name?" That's a pretty legitimate question! I mean, imagine going back to Egypt and telling the Israelites, "Hey! Follow me!! Burning Bush God said so." Doesn't have a lot of strength, might or power behind it!
But God answers . . . "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”(Exodus 3:14)
Now before you start thinking about Popeye and eating spinach and getting muscles, let's look at what this really means. It is more literally translated, "I-shall-be that I-shall-be." This Hebrew tense is also found in Revelation 1:8: "I am the Alpha and the Omega." Now THAT rocks my world!!
I am. I shall be. I am the Alpha. I am the Omega. I am the beginning, I am the end, I was, I am, and I shall always be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't think I can say any more about it. Reminds me of the chorus of the worship song by Aaron Shust (I think), "My Savior, My God":
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior’s always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be
My God is I AM! Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's hard enough to imagine stumbling across a bush burning in the desert, yet not be consumed by the flames. Then consider how terrifying it must have been to hear a voice coming from the bush! After God commands Moses to go back to Egypt (from which he fled as a criminal fugitive) and tell the Pharaoh (who was a genocidal terrorist) to release the Hebrew nation (of which Moses was a member), I can understand how Moses might have been feeling a little . . . shall we say, overwhelmed?
But I so admire his next question. "Who shall I say you are?" "What is your name?" That's a pretty legitimate question! I mean, imagine going back to Egypt and telling the Israelites, "Hey! Follow me!! Burning Bush God said so." Doesn't have a lot of strength, might or power behind it!
But God answers . . . "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”(Exodus 3:14)
Now before you start thinking about Popeye and eating spinach and getting muscles, let's look at what this really means. It is more literally translated, "I-shall-be that I-shall-be." This Hebrew tense is also found in Revelation 1:8: "I am the Alpha and the Omega." Now THAT rocks my world!!
I am. I shall be. I am the Alpha. I am the Omega. I am the beginning, I am the end, I was, I am, and I shall always be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don't think I can say any more about it. Reminds me of the chorus of the worship song by Aaron Shust (I think), "My Savior, My God":
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior’s always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be
My God is I AM! Woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Please Indulge Me . . .
I hope you'll indulge me in an extra post today. Something interesting happened to me yesterday, after I had already posted, and I felt like I really needed to get it down on "paper" and make both a profession and a confession of my encounter.
My husband and I are joining our church in a 21-day fast. We are doing the Daniel Fast (there's tons of information on the web if you are interested). We are in day 8. There are three things I went into the fast expecting: Renewal, Freedom, and Focus. The particulars are private, so I'll leave it at that.
I have a lot of trouble sleeping. You'd think giving up caffeine would help with insomnia - NO! Last week I had one of the worst times ever. On about the fourth night, lying in bed, praying and pleading with God for relief, for sleep, for His presence . . . I was MAD. Hot under the collar. At HIM, no less. I prayed for what seemed like hours, off and on through the night, and not only was He not there, but He seemed farther away than ever.
That was Thursday. By Sunday morning, humbled and confused, I confessed to my husband my emotions. What is the point of fasting, what is the point of searching for God, what is the point of claiming healing, when He was nowhere to be found?
I'll admit, I was ticked! I marched off and had a diet Coke and a Hershey's kiss and stuck out my tongue (figuratively speaking, of course!). I fell from the fast for a moment. Like I said, what was the point?
Then I wrote yesterday's post about Jehovah-Rophe, the God who heals. I wrote about how God longs for relationship with us. And as I was driving to pick up my son from school, I was reminded of the scripture in Mark 2 when the paralyzed man's friends lowered him through a roof to be healed by Jesus. Jesus's first response was not to heal him physically. He first offered forgiveness of sins, and only healed his infirmity after the teachers of the law started griping. Jesus saw the man's true need - a relationship with Him. Being a paralytic could be dealt with; living without a relationship with God could not.
And in that moment I realized why God was so far from me last week. It was my relationship with Him that needed healed, not my insomnia or aches and pains (oh, how I hate getting older!). He withheld physical recovery from me so that I could see my real need - my relationship had gotten one-sided. I had become the one the relationship was about, not Him. It was all about my wants, my needs, my sadness, my anger.
And like that, in my van, driving down Memorial in Muncie, heading out to Selma - like that, He was there with me. I instantly dissolved into tears. "Where have you been?" I questioned. "I needed you and you weren't there!" "I was here," He said. "You just couldn't feel me."
I'll leave the rest of the conversation between me and God. I almost had to pull over, I was crying so hard. It was one of the most real moments of my life.
I wish I could tell you that the rest of the day was - what did Robin Leach used to say? Something about champagne wishes and caviar dreams? It wasn't! Satan fought me all day, especially in my home. But I'm still here. And I'm realizing more than ever, there's nothing I can ever "do" enough to be right with God. Can't teach enough classes, can't sing enough songs, can't shake enough hands. I have to have a heart that hungers for God. And I have to constantly put my relationship with Him first.
Well, thanks forlistening reading. ;0) I hope this very intimate post can encourage someone else. God is Jehovah - Rophe - and He knows the REAL things that need healed in our lives.
My husband and I are joining our church in a 21-day fast. We are doing the Daniel Fast (there's tons of information on the web if you are interested). We are in day 8. There are three things I went into the fast expecting: Renewal, Freedom, and Focus. The particulars are private, so I'll leave it at that.
I have a lot of trouble sleeping. You'd think giving up caffeine would help with insomnia - NO! Last week I had one of the worst times ever. On about the fourth night, lying in bed, praying and pleading with God for relief, for sleep, for His presence . . . I was MAD. Hot under the collar. At HIM, no less. I prayed for what seemed like hours, off and on through the night, and not only was He not there, but He seemed farther away than ever.
That was Thursday. By Sunday morning, humbled and confused, I confessed to my husband my emotions. What is the point of fasting, what is the point of searching for God, what is the point of claiming healing, when He was nowhere to be found?
I'll admit, I was ticked! I marched off and had a diet Coke and a Hershey's kiss and stuck out my tongue (figuratively speaking, of course!). I fell from the fast for a moment. Like I said, what was the point?
Then I wrote yesterday's post about Jehovah-Rophe, the God who heals. I wrote about how God longs for relationship with us. And as I was driving to pick up my son from school, I was reminded of the scripture in Mark 2 when the paralyzed man's friends lowered him through a roof to be healed by Jesus. Jesus's first response was not to heal him physically. He first offered forgiveness of sins, and only healed his infirmity after the teachers of the law started griping. Jesus saw the man's true need - a relationship with Him. Being a paralytic could be dealt with; living without a relationship with God could not.
And in that moment I realized why God was so far from me last week. It was my relationship with Him that needed healed, not my insomnia or aches and pains (oh, how I hate getting older!). He withheld physical recovery from me so that I could see my real need - my relationship had gotten one-sided. I had become the one the relationship was about, not Him. It was all about my wants, my needs, my sadness, my anger.
And like that, in my van, driving down Memorial in Muncie, heading out to Selma - like that, He was there with me. I instantly dissolved into tears. "Where have you been?" I questioned. "I needed you and you weren't there!" "I was here," He said. "You just couldn't feel me."
I'll leave the rest of the conversation between me and God. I almost had to pull over, I was crying so hard. It was one of the most real moments of my life.
I wish I could tell you that the rest of the day was - what did Robin Leach used to say? Something about champagne wishes and caviar dreams? It wasn't! Satan fought me all day, especially in my home. But I'm still here. And I'm realizing more than ever, there's nothing I can ever "do" enough to be right with God. Can't teach enough classes, can't sing enough songs, can't shake enough hands. I have to have a heart that hungers for God. And I have to constantly put my relationship with Him first.
Well, thanks for
God is Jehovah-Nissi
Jehovah-Nissi. The Lord is our Banner. In Exodus 17, where we read yesterday, we also find one of my favorite stories. The Hebrews are fighting against the Amalekites, and as Joshua leads the army into battle, Moses - along with Aaron and Hur - watched on a hilltop. As long as Moses lifted his hands and prayed, the Israelites were winning. If he lowered his hands, they began losing. So Aaron and Hur stayed with Moses, keeping his arms lifted when he tired through the battle. (What a story of friendship, right?!?)
Often, after winning a battle, the winning army would raise the flag - or banner - of their country, tribe or kinsman. Remember the statue of Iwo Jima? That's exactly what that was - American soldiers lifting the American flag after winning a hard fought 35-day battle in WWII.
After Joshua won this battle, God told Moses to write down all that had happened. And Moses then built an altar. He didn't raise Israel's flag, or banner, because this victory was God's, not Israel's. At this altar, Moses called God Jehovah-Nissi for the first time. He understood that God was - and still is - the one who wins our battles for us.
Are you fighting a losing battle? Are you tired from the war, whether it's a war within or without? Are you sick of the struggle?
Good!!!! That's just where God wants you to be, because this is the moment that Jehovah-Nissi - our banner, our victory - takes over the fight.
Jehovah-Nissi!
Often, after winning a battle, the winning army would raise the flag - or banner - of their country, tribe or kinsman. Remember the statue of Iwo Jima? That's exactly what that was - American soldiers lifting the American flag after winning a hard fought 35-day battle in WWII.
After Joshua won this battle, God told Moses to write down all that had happened. And Moses then built an altar. He didn't raise Israel's flag, or banner, because this victory was God's, not Israel's. At this altar, Moses called God Jehovah-Nissi for the first time. He understood that God was - and still is - the one who wins our battles for us.
Are you fighting a losing battle? Are you tired from the war, whether it's a war within or without? Are you sick of the struggle?
Good!!!! That's just where God wants you to be, because this is the moment that Jehovah-Nissi - our banner, our victory - takes over the fight.
Jehovah-Nissi!
Monday, January 10, 2011
God is Jehovah-Rophe
Jehovah-Rophe . . . the God (Jehovah) who heals (Rophe). That's a pretty good God to put your trust in, don't you think?
This name of God is found in the Exodus story. Three days after Jehovah had set them free from the Pharaoh, after parting the Red Sea and finally putting the Egyptian captivity behind them . . . just three days later they were whining. OK, whining may be strong. Because they had had no drinking water for three days, and hadn't been able to find any.
So God said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you." (Exodus 15:26)
It's very interesting to read the entire chapter of Exodus. The first 21 verses are a song of praise and worship, exalting this magnificent power who has saved them, who has changed their lives forever. But they could only endure 3 days of hardship before the praise turned to pouts, before the worship turned to wondering.
I think verse 26 is God reminding them that this thing they have - God and God's people - it's a covenant relationship. God chose them, made a covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He promised His people that they would be His, and He would be theirs.
He promised a relationship. And it gives me food for thought today - I say a want a relationship with God. But how often is this relationship all about me? I don't get what I want, what I think I need, and I immediately start doubting Him. I lose my focus. I lose my pleasure in my relationship. After all that He's done for me, after all He's promised to do for me, after all the times He's proven Himself to be faithful and true . . . I doubt. And, a relationship isn't one-sided. (Not a good one, anyway.) It isn't sketchy and filled with long periods of time with no interaction. A true relationship is constant, it's consistent, it's moving and working and flowing all the time. On both sides.
I don't know about you, but I'm just like the Hebrew nation. Quick to praise and exalt, oh yes. Quick to whine and complain? Oh, definitely.
God, today I need you to be Jehovah-Rophe for my spirit. I need to be healed of my tendency to forget that you are there all the time, not just when I need you. I want to soak you in. Please heal me today, and forgive me for what I now see is a relationship lapse on MY part, not yours. Amen
This name of God is found in the Exodus story. Three days after Jehovah had set them free from the Pharaoh, after parting the Red Sea and finally putting the Egyptian captivity behind them . . . just three days later they were whining. OK, whining may be strong. Because they had had no drinking water for three days, and hadn't been able to find any.
So God said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you." (Exodus 15:26)
It's very interesting to read the entire chapter of Exodus. The first 21 verses are a song of praise and worship, exalting this magnificent power who has saved them, who has changed their lives forever. But they could only endure 3 days of hardship before the praise turned to pouts, before the worship turned to wondering.
I think verse 26 is God reminding them that this thing they have - God and God's people - it's a covenant relationship. God chose them, made a covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He promised His people that they would be His, and He would be theirs.
He promised a relationship. And it gives me food for thought today - I say a want a relationship with God. But how often is this relationship all about me? I don't get what I want, what I think I need, and I immediately start doubting Him. I lose my focus. I lose my pleasure in my relationship. After all that He's done for me, after all He's promised to do for me, after all the times He's proven Himself to be faithful and true . . . I doubt. And, a relationship isn't one-sided. (Not a good one, anyway.) It isn't sketchy and filled with long periods of time with no interaction. A true relationship is constant, it's consistent, it's moving and working and flowing all the time. On both sides.
I don't know about you, but I'm just like the Hebrew nation. Quick to praise and exalt, oh yes. Quick to whine and complain? Oh, definitely.
God, today I need you to be Jehovah-Rophe for my spirit. I need to be healed of my tendency to forget that you are there all the time, not just when I need you. I want to soak you in. Please heal me today, and forgive me for what I now see is a relationship lapse on MY part, not yours. Amen
Saturday, January 8, 2011
God is Jehovah
Jehovah is another title sort of name. In the coming days, you will see "Jehovah" paired with other names, such as Rophe, Gmolah - don't worry, I'll explain each day!
A God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Wow. What truth. I've been a Christian for a long time, and I'm still learning more and more about Him. As I become more mature, He reveals more of Himself to me. And there's still so much to know!
Even these names are a learning time for me - Jehovah, Yahweh, Adonai - they are confusing. One name was formed from the vowels of another name that was deemed too holy and sacred to be spoken. Confusion! (At least for my frail mind.)
But I can live with that. I can keep trying to understand, because I want to know more and more about Him. I want to know everything I can know! And because He is Jehovah - the Lord everlasting, the Lord who reveals Himself - I am confident that He will have patience with me as I strive to know Him deeper and better.
God is El-Olam
(Yesterday's post didn't . . . post! So here it is.)
God is El-Olam. Remember, El is kind of a title, a "Mr." or "Lord" that will come before a name. El - mighty, strong, permanent - is meant to solidify the rest of the name.
Olam means world, or universe. It can also mean everlasting time or space. WOW. Mighty God - strong and permanent, over the whole vastness of time and space. Put these two words together in Hebrew, and you'll find a meaning of "Everlasting God."
Again, it just doesn't seem descriptive enough, you know? EVERLASTING. You can only be everlasting when you control the sands of time ("Like sands through the hourglass...."). You can only be everlasting when time has no hold on you. You can only be everlasting when you are bigger than the universe as it is known.
Yup, that's our God!
God is El-Olam. Remember, El is kind of a title, a "Mr." or "Lord" that will come before a name. El - mighty, strong, permanent - is meant to solidify the rest of the name.
Olam means world, or universe. It can also mean everlasting time or space. WOW. Mighty God - strong and permanent, over the whole vastness of time and space. Put these two words together in Hebrew, and you'll find a meaning of "Everlasting God."
Again, it just doesn't seem descriptive enough, you know? EVERLASTING. You can only be everlasting when you control the sands of time ("Like sands through the hourglass...."). You can only be everlasting when time has no hold on you. You can only be everlasting when you are bigger than the universe as it is known.
Yup, that's our God!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
God is El-Elyon
If anyone is singing old Amy Grant songs after reading this week's posts, you're not alone! So am I! These are names I used to sing of, before I even knew what they really meant.
Today's name is El-Elyon, which means "the Lord most high." Now, El on its own means mighty, strong, permanent. Elyon, on its own, can simply mean the placement of something. For example, in Genesis 40:17 elyon is the word (in the original text) used to describe the placement of a basket (the top basket). It's when you combine Elyon (high) with El (mighty and strong) that you get the Lord most high.
In Genesis 14:19-20, Melchizedek king of Salem blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Wouldn't you love to be Abram, blessed by the Most High God, the God that cannot be stronger or mightier or more than He is, because He already is the most of all those things? Well guess what - you already are! You've been blessed by El-Elyon Himself!
Today's name is El-Elyon, which means "the Lord most high." Now, El on its own means mighty, strong, permanent. Elyon, on its own, can simply mean the placement of something. For example, in Genesis 40:17 elyon is the word (in the original text) used to describe the placement of a basket (the top basket). It's when you combine Elyon (high) with El (mighty and strong) that you get the Lord most high.
In Genesis 14:19-20, Melchizedek king of Salem blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Wouldn't you love to be Abram, blessed by the Most High God, the God that cannot be stronger or mightier or more than He is, because He already is the most of all those things? Well guess what - you already are! You've been blessed by El-Elyon Himself!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
God is Adonai
Today's name for God is Adonai. Adonai means Lord or Master. They seem like such simplistic words - lord, master. There are two Hebrew words which translate into "lord." One is Adonai. The other is Jehovah. Now, Jehovah was THE name of God - the unspeakable name that Jews found so holy they couldn't utter it. When they did say the word, they pronounced it, Adonai, so as not to desecrate the holy name of Jehovah.
Think about this: when the original Hebrew was translated to English, Jehovah was rendered as LORD, printed in small capitals. It is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. But, here is where things get really interesting. The word "adon" means "one possessed of absolute control." It denotes a master or ruler. The plural form of this Hebrew word is "adonai."
In other words, God - Jehovah, LORD - is Adon. But because God is the three-in-one, He becomes the plural form of the word, "Adonai." He is the Master, the one who controls the universe, the Absolute - and He is three-in-one. He is amazing, don't you think?
Think about this: when the original Hebrew was translated to English, Jehovah was rendered as LORD, printed in small capitals. It is the proper name of the God of the Hebrews. But, here is where things get really interesting. The word "adon" means "one possessed of absolute control." It denotes a master or ruler. The plural form of this Hebrew word is "adonai."
In other words, God - Jehovah, LORD - is Adon. But because God is the three-in-one, He becomes the plural form of the word, "Adonai." He is the Master, the one who controls the universe, the Absolute - and He is three-in-one. He is amazing, don't you think?
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Names of God
Welcome back to The Brightness of His Presence! I took some time off -- months off! But I'm back now.
Last month I decided that I wanted to meditate on an attribute of God each day, so I made a calendar with one of His characteristics on each day. This month, I'm doing the names of God, and I'm going to post them each day on the blog.
Today's name is El-Shaddai. It means God Almighty, or God All Sufficient. "El" is kind of a term of address, pointing to God Himself. Shaddai refers to the one who nourishes, supplies or satisfies.
God is All Sufficient. Don't you think He can meet your every need?
Last month I decided that I wanted to meditate on an attribute of God each day, so I made a calendar with one of His characteristics on each day. This month, I'm doing the names of God, and I'm going to post them each day on the blog.
Today's name is El-Shaddai. It means God Almighty, or God All Sufficient. "El" is kind of a term of address, pointing to God Himself. Shaddai refers to the one who nourishes, supplies or satisfies.
God is All Sufficient. Don't you think He can meet your every need?
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