Extravagant Generosity!

Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It’s way over our heads. We’ll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice? Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes. (Romans 11:33-36 MSG)

I feel sorry for people who don't know God. They miss out on life. There is nothing like his extravagant generosity. He uniquely loves us, those created in his own image. It makes for a life filled with peace and adventure at the same time. I have really studied God over the past 15 years. I know people, like my grandfather, who studied him for an entire lifetime. Yet, they and I am no closer to being able to explain him. I am no closer to knowing him. He is so wise, loving, and amazing. I don't really expect to get to know him like I know my wife or my family. I still have a long way to go with them. My study of God is not so much to know him as to be with him. To hear his voice, to feel his presence, to feel his love, is my greatest hope. Everything about my life is in him, through him, and for him. May I share the love he has granted me every day of my life.

What I do know? He loves me! He shows me everyday by the blessings I receive, by the protection he provides, and by  his direction of my path. But, most importantly he showed me that love by sending his son to live with us and die on the cross for us! Merry Christmas. Celebrate Jesus this holiday season. He is the reason for the season!

Be Open to the Possibilities!

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3 NIV)

God is God. Why do we try to make gods of everything? We worship money, things, jobs, athletes, performers, and many other things in place of God. Everyone will figure this out............ eventually. We can do it on our own or forced by God himself. 

If we can't say we "Know that The Lord is God" We need to open our hearts and mind to finding out. I understand doubt, but in my 53 years of life I have opened up to the possibility and God has shown me. There is no question that God is God. The God of Isaac and Jacob, the God of Matthew and Luke is God. There is only one, my God is God. He created us and he knows our hearts. He loves us. He wants us to know him. Can you say it with your mouth? Do you know it in your mind? Can you feel it in your heart? If not, ask God to reveal himself to you. Be open to the possibilities. You will see and then know God is God!

God doesn't spin the truth!

1 Timothy 6:20

 20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge,

Old people, (I don't think of myself this way, yet), hate technology. They don't like the Internet, Facebook, or twitter. Although many seniors are embracing technology, many want to go back to the "good old days" of newspapers, writing letters, and sitting on the front porch. While I can relate to the slowness and simplicity of the past, I don't want to go back. I love my connectedness. I love the open and rampant exchange of knowledge. With such open access comes responsibility. Newspapers used to be held in very high regard. Now they report from left wing or right wing bias. I used to think they were about truth. Now they "spin" the truth. The Internet and social sites are the same. You have to read from a suspicious heart. Some times the knowledge they are peddling isn't knowledge at all and it's not the truth.

As Christians we have to be careful of what we accept of knowledge. The Internet opens up vast knowledge, but it can't be trusted unequivocally. The best filter to use with twitter, Facebook, etc., is through Jesus Christ and the Bible. Connecting with God and knowing him is where we need to start and finish. Seeking God with our hearts, souls, and minds,will lead us to truth and knowledge in our lives. Seek him and know!

Know God!

Psalm 99 (New International Version)

⁷ He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.⁸ LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.^[a] 9 Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.


My family is everything to me. We love each other and understand each other like no one else can. I spent the day with my youngest daughter and middle daughter. They know their Dad pretty well. I think I know them pretty well too. When you spend nearly 30 years of your life with a group of people (family), you get to know each other in every way possible. That's the same way with God and Israel. That family of faith have been together for centuries, they know each other. Since Israel knew God so well, they accept all that is given them. Israel knows God as a forgiving God but they also know him as fair and just. They had to face consequences of their wrong doing. Regardless what punishment they get, they still worshipped God and knew him as Holy.

I may not know God as well as the nation of Israel, but I am growing in that understanding more and more each year. I know my misdeeds have to be punished. I accept that more now than ever. As I know God better, I understand myself better also. I see the Grace he shows me more than the punishment. I guess it's because I know what punishment I deserve and God has shown his grace over that punishment.

Thank You Lord for your grace and forgiveness. I love you and worship you now and forever!