How can we even KNOW God?

Years ago, I had the honor and privilege to prepare some material to teach preschoolers about prayer.
 
Teaching preschoolers has been by far the biggest factor in my spiritual growth. I have to understand the material well enough to distill it to a simple and concise truth.  I am grateful every time I think of how God has called me to teach children so that I can be taught by Him.

As I considered how to best explain prayer, the idea of a phone conversation seemed very appropriate because I wanted to show them we talk to God even when we can't see Him.

One simple and profound thought jumped out at me.  HE CALLS US!  If God did not want us to talk to Him, we'd have no way of accessing Him.

Yet God DOES want a relationship, so He initiates, He calls!

He walked with Adam in the garden.
He walked with Enoch.
He spoke to Noah.
He called Abram out of Ur.
He called Moses from a burning bush.
He spoke to Saul of Tarsus after blinding him with light.
From the beginning of the story, we see God initiating contact with people.

Have you ever tried to get to know someone that won't tell you anything about themselves?  You can't.

Perhaps it's someone famous and you've read their biography and everything ever written about them.  You may know details about them, but you can't KNOW them.

Now imagine your best friend, and how you've spent time together and you KNOW things about them that they would never tell another soul.  You KNOW how they think and how they respond to things.  That is a different type of knowing.  They have trusted you and opened up to let you know them like that.

God, in His amazing love and graciousness has allowed us, His creatures, to KNOW Him.

Of course, there is no way to know everything about God.  It would make Him a very small god if my limited brain could contain all there is to know about Him.  There are things that are still a mystery, because He is more complex and more wonderful than we have the capacity to understand.

Because of our limitations, some even mock our perception of God.

The caption I saw attached to a similar cartoon said it was arrogant to claim to know God because our perception is limited to our own experience.  People in other faith traditions, they claim, can also know God, in a different, but equally valid way.

But what if the elephant talked?


Click here for index of all posts.

What IS prayer?

Before we can talk about anything, we have to agree on some basic terms so that we can get on the same wavelength.  

I admit--I'm big on clarifying definitions.  It matters immensely what we understand each word to mean. 

So as I have looked to define prayer, I simply say:

"Prayer is talking to God."  

It needs more than that.  It really is only OUR side of the conversation. 

"Prayer is when we talk to God."

Now we need to also agree that God is not just any god for prayer to be prayer. Because there are instances where people talk to statues and/or direct their pleas to gods that are not the God I know.

"Prayer is when we talk to the one TRUE God."

Upon additional consideration, the scene in the opening chapter of Job comes to mind: Satan talking to God.  I don’t think I’d call that prayer either.

How to define "we" is still alluding me...but I am most comfortable defining "we" as God's children, believers, those who have trusted Jesus as Savior.

"Prayer is when believers talk to the one true God."

So it matters who we talk to—GOD.

And it matters who we are—how we relate to God.

It also helps me to think of what prayer IS NOT.

It is not some special words arranged in a special order that guarantees some outcome.  
It is not mystical or magical or even predictable.

It is not how we change or control God.

In the days ahead, I want to cover a few more things that need attention:

1.     How do we even know God?

2.     How does God talk to us?

3.     Why does He even want to talk to us?

4.     What does it matter how we relate to God?

Of course, there is more, and these may take more than one day each.  But I think that’s what I see here.

If you see that I brought up another issue that I haven’t caught for follow up, just let me know.  J

Click here for index of all #write31days posts in this PRAYER series.

"Almighty, Creator of the Universe on Line 1"

Welcome to my index page for all of the entries for the #write31days challenge.  I will be writing on the topic of prayer.  Bookmark this page as it will be the one receiving updates.

1:  What I am doing in October
2:  What IS prayer?
3:  How can we even KNOW God?
4:  How does God talk to us?
5:  Tuning into His voice
6:  Why does God even want to talk to us?
7:  Does it matter who we are and how we come to Him?
8:  In the castle
9:  The ONLY way to Pray
10:  Seek Him FIRST
11:  WHY pray?
12:  Does my ATTITUDE matter?
13:  Anything else keeping me from relationship?
14:  The Phone Call
15:  5 Ways Gratitude Has Improved My Prayer Life
16:  Missing the Miracles
17:  Overwhelmed by Majesty
18: TEN Ways to Pray
19:  Where, When, and What to Pray
20:  The Next Generation
21:  Prayer is Counter-Intuitive
22:  Prayer IS Doing Something

late but done...

23:  God Reveals Mysteries



Join the journey--and join the discussion.  I anticipate needing some feedback on what angle to write about as the month goes on.

Of course, feel free to PRAY FOR ME!  :)

Thanks!

Cristina

What I am doing in October

Just yesterday I was telling a friend how much I love talking and teaching and discussing and thinking about prayer--and of course, my hope is that I PRAY more than spend time on all of those things.

I am passionate to talk to others about it because I want them to join me in this journey of understanding and practicing what the Bible commands us to do.  To pray without ceasing.  Tall order.

Within the hour, I see the #write31days challenge and think, "I really need to do that.  I've been saying I need to work on my blog and write.  Because I "write" a lot, but not much get's documented--IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD."  *sigh*

(In fact, I wrote this yesterday, in my head, on Day 1--but am just now getting it down.  Pray for my diligence!)

Upon investigation I learn that I have to write on ONE topic for 31 days?  What would that be?  This would definitely be a challenge!

It didn't take TOO long before God reminded me of my recent conversation.

So PRAYER it is.

I look forward to what God will prompt me to write.  And yes, I'm a little scared to put this out there...

Because I've had a chance to do some teaching on this, I already have some thoughts.  But I'm also trusting that anyone out there reading this will let me know if there is something we can explore together.

I will update this link with each day's entry.  If you want to find it, you can set that page as a favorite. (I think that's how it'll work.)

Here we go, God.  I trust you!

Fighting Trolls

Setting goals that matter is not easy.  Especially when there are so many voices telling me what kinds of goals I should even be setting--and whether the whole exercise is even worth it.

"Goals are for people who make money."

"Who cares what a stay-at-home homemaker wants to do with her life?"

"You can barely keep your head above water--what makes you think you have time to do EXTRA stuff?"

"Who wants to hear what you have to say?"

"You're a big fraud and if you start writing, people are going to find out."

"God's gonna do what He's going to do, just put your head down and keep truckin'."

"And even if you made goals, you don't have the discipline to follow through--you've failed before."

These kinds of things are the trolls that live in my mind, trying to drown out the truth.  The one that tells me I am valuable and important and necessary and able to impact others, equip them, encourage them.  I am HIS--and that's what really matters.

For the past couple of weeks, I have been going through some goal-setting exercises.  The first step was identifying those very trolls.  Calling them out as lies.  And of course, not because it was part of the process, but because I know the one who is called Truth, I also took the opportunity to CALIBRATE my thinking about myself and the world around me.

One of the days, the song, "The Voice of Truth" came on the radio.  :)  Thank you, Lord, for reminding me that YOU have given me vision and desires and You will accomplish things through me.

Philippians 1:6 rings in my ears:

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

I am excited to share more on my goals, including the one to launch a more purposeful blog soon.  I want to help, I want to encourage, so I need to know how I can best do that.

Will you leave me a comment or otherwise send me a message about how I could serve you?

In 2014, I asked God to make me more purposeful in my prayer life and more passionate about it--and He did!  So, I will be praying for this, and would love to pray for you--if you'll let me.  :)

seeking Him

(april 2008)

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

When I was in college, my mom would write me letters and usually sign off with that verse. I was in rebellion and she was worried about me. She prayed I’d come back to God and stop relying on my own wits and strength to get the stuff I wanted out of life. I was prideful and arrogant and didn’t think I needed anyone to “make it.”

She knew better—a life without God was meaningless. I also think she figured any success in my life would be a blessing from God, so I needed him. For a long time, I also believed that the verse was about stuff. If I was right with God, I’d get the stuff I wanted.

Once I got married and came back to God, was reconciled to Him, I thought I’d taken care of that first condition. Check. I moved on to other verses that over the years have brought reassurance and hope in the God who inspired the words.

When I was trying to figure out what living the Christian life looked like:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

When I worried about my marriage and my children:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

When all the bad stuff that kept happening confused me:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

Most recently, when I thought it was my job was to be a junior holy spirit:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)

My job was to TRUST God and His Word—not to fix things and be anxious, or to try and explain things, or to convince someone that God was trustworthy. I had to seek HIM and be filled with joy and peace and then OVERFLOW with the hope I had. Only this way would I be able to live a life that bore evidence that He lived in me—only with His help would I be able to display the Fruit of the Spirit.

During this last spring, as this revelation was slowing coming to me, I kept seeing Matthew 6:33. I had already figured out it wasn’t about stuff. I see now that I’d poured so much of what I’d heard growing up and what my mom had said to me into that verse.

I like the verse in the New Living Translation:

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously,
and he will give you everything you need.

Here’s the epiphany, the things I truly want and need are:
- To DAILY display love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control;
- In EVERYTHING to have the peace that surpasses all understanding—HIS peace;
- To trust God and His plan for my life; and
- To OVERFLOW with hope.

Of course, I still want to help others, but the BEST way to do that is to seek Him above all else! That means that I make time with Him (studying His word and praying) a PRIORITY—the first step is that I stop thinking that one or two more hours of sleep are worth how cranky and grouchy I am and what an ineffective wife and parent and child of God it makes me. I have to take time to nurture the most important relationship I have—the one with my Heavenly Father.

last of it, MOPS 2008

Have a great 2008!
(MOPS eNews Jan. 16, 2008)

I hear the buzz this year is not about resolutions but about setting goals. What goals can you set? As a mother of preschoolers, you can choose a few realistic and attainable goals for the new year. Interested? Keep in mind that you can only control a fraction of the things in your life. Those are the things you can affect by setting goals. Take small steps to avoid frustration and discouragement, but do take them. The sense of accomplishment is worth the effort.

Being a better housekeeper has been a resolution for years now. Somehow, that was always so daunting and vague. I had to break it down. For example, I have always tried to remember to change the AC intake filters for the AC system in my house. It would dawn on me that I had no idea when I'd last done it. I'd then remove the most disgusting, dust-caked thing. Now, I make myself a date with the air filters (writing forward on my calendar) and then feel good when I do something so simple but important for the health of my family. Yes, this is a small thing, but I celebrate it.

Something that helps me is some advice I just found again:

"Begin with the end in mind--then determine the step needed to reach your goal. Use SMART criteria when setting goals: Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic/Relevant, Time-limited."

I choose goals to accomplish a task not just "become" some new person. I look for ways to measure the steps until the goal is attained (this is hard to do sometimes). I am realistic about how much I can do and what makes sense for me and my family. And as much as possible, I pick a deadline--maybe summer or spring break or whatever, depending on the goal. I also know that I only have a limited amount of time and not everything I want to do will get accomplished. So I can appreciate the following quote:

"O Lord, may I be directed what to do and what to leave undone." (Elizabeth Fry)

I want to choose the important things to make goals about so I pray for wisdom and discernment. I do not make many goals either, because I would rather attain the few I have chosen rather than feel discouraged because I left so much "half done."

This year I've even sat down with the kids to pick a few goals for them. One thing that was crucial for making it fun was attaching a reward for attaining the goal. Isn't it more fun to work toward something when you know that you get a treat once the work pays off? So, we may have a few trips to the toy store and some ice cream runs on school nights, but it'll be worth my youngest being potty trained, my son writing his ABCs, and my oldest riding without training wheels. Plus, I managed to work in a mommy-only trip as my reward for getting those last few stubborn pounds off. (Yes, feeling good about yourself IS important.)

Feel free to check how we're doing. Have a great year!

more writing for MOPS, nov. 2007

i haven't had access to my laptop for a while, i need to get my documents and pictures downloaded onto an external drive...this laptop is on it's last leg....

anyway. i wanted to get other stuff on here, so here's something from right before the holidays--sort of follows up on what i'd done the previous year......


Can you believe the holiday season is HERE? (MOPS Nov. 16, 2007)

Thanksgiving is upon us. How are you doing? Are you cheerfully anticipating the idea of gathering with family and/or friends to celebrate the blessings in your life? Or are you dreading the pace that is about to characterize the last weeks of this year?

Your attitude about Thanksgiving and Christmas (and life, really) can be affected by the circumstances of your life and memories of the past. If all is well and you have wonderful memories, you are more likely to enjoy this season. If not, of course, it all becomes a bit more challenging. They key is understanding that you control your attitude. Circumstances are constantly changing, but how we choose to react to those circumstances can keep us afloat and grounded. You won’t drown in the lows or get carried away with the highs.

Years ago I read this in a friend’s office:

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company ... a church ... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we embrace for that day. We cannot change our past ... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our Attitudes."
--Charles Swindoll

If you were in MOPS last year, you may remember I shared with the group that I was determined not to panic and fret about Christmas—and the decorating and baking and mailing of packages and seeing everyone within a “reasonable” driving distance and getting gifts for people who might get gifts for us and the appearances and the “Joneses” and the perfect tree and on and on.

It went pretty well—there is still room for improvement this year. I am learning that I need to brace myself for a trying season and that I have to chose the attitude of patience for the hurried masses and of gratitude for all our blessings, not just on Thanksgiving Day but all year. During Christmas especially, we are choosing a few deliberate ways to give thanks for the one blessing we treasure most—that thousands of years ago, a baby was born, that God entered His creation to redeem mankind, to redeem me. Does this make sense to you? Ask someone, it can make all the difference in how you’ll go through this holiday season.

december 2006

last year, i did publicity for MOPS and i tried not to be self-indulgent and write too much, but i did a bit. so here's one from our december newsletter...i feel compelled to clarify that MOPS is an outreach ministry and many of the ladies that come to our group are not churched or are not living a fruit-bearing Christian life. "lifestyle evangelism" is used a lot in all the training materials. we don't do bible study and we don't preach, but we do love on the ladies and show them that during these early years of mothering, there is something that can make a HUGE difference--JESUS! Christmas and Easter are great times for us to clearly present the wonderful news as we simply present the meanings of these celebrations.

last year the theme verse was john 10:10b:
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

it was a good way to talk about what the "abundant life" is and how you get it.


Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men?
(december 1, 2006)

I find it terribly ironic that as a Christian, I dread Christmas. I, of course, do not dread the celebration of my Savior’s birth, but what this season has come to mean. Every year I try to enjoy the holidays and to remind myself of the “reason for the season.” Somehow, as December gets started and the already harried pace of life speeds even more, I find myself caught up in all the wrong things. I am less than kind to my husband, I have less patience to give my children, I have anxiety about finite finances and time, I obsess about what to give to whom, I let myself be controlled by my circumstances, and in the end, I usually end up resentful that I didn’t slow down and focus on what really matters. I suppose there is progress in recognizing the pattern.
This year, I am choosing now to have a better attitude and outlook. I will wake up each day thanking God for His glorious creation and for His wonderful gift—one that came down and dwelt among men that we may all be saved. I will remember that God’s gift not only reconciles me to Him, thus allowing me to have eternal life, but also gives me the resources I need to have a full life NOW. That simply amazes me! We don’t have to wait to have access to His supernatural love and peace and patience and kindness, or any fruit of the Spirit. As His child, I have those resources for use at all times—in all circumstances.

Therefore, I choose now to love and be kind to my family and my neighbors and the lady that took the parking spot I was waiting for and the man that won’t let me merge and the family member that has yet to reciprocate with a Christmas card. I choose to have peace in the midst of family feuds, in the company of selfish people, and at the height of the shopping frenzy. I choose to remember that my children are just children who haven’t quite figured out that the world does not revolve around them, who haven’t quite mastered the art of self control, who are still being trained to consider others, and who will make their own choices—about big and small things. I cannot control anyone else’s choices (not even my kids L).

All I can control are my thoughts, my attitude, and my actions. Whatever the circumstance, I have a choice as to how I will act and react. So, before anything “sets me off,” I choose now to behave in a manner consistent with what I believe—God is in control of EVERYTHING, He loves me (and you), and the ultimate purpose of my life is to glorify God. How then will I be affected by the hordes of people out shopping this month? By the blatant advertising? By my children’s incessant “gimme” attacks? By the parties that make no mention of Christ? By my brothers and sisters in Christ who are angry and judgmental that Christmas is turning into a “holiday” circus? Will I use my limited resources or will I remember who dwells within me? I will choose to glorify God with my response to believers and unbelievers, and with my attitude toward all of it.

Simply, my prayer is that God give me a compassionate heart—this Christmas and always. I want to remember that the likely reason many fill their shopping carts and calendars and plates to excess is that they are looking for the thing that will make them full. They are trying to satisfy the yearning deep within them that can only be satisfied with a personal relationship with the God of the universe. If you don’t have that relationship, ask someone to help you find it. If you do, I challenge you to join me in that prayer for yourself—daily pray that God gives you compassion for those who seek Him and may not even realize it.

As we get ready for the rest of December, I’m choosing now to focus on Christ—yes, the “reason for the season”—but not as just the baby in the manger, but as He who came that I may have life, and have it abundantly. I truly want to have peace in my heart and to show good will to all with whom I come in contact. Have a very Merry Christmas and enjoy celebrating the New Year!

Feel free to ask me how I did when we meet again in January.

goodness (2/18/2005)

this is the second article i did that year for the MOPS newsletter.

Good Mom vs. Martyr Mom
as it appeared in The Grapevine on February 18, 2005

The last week or so at my house has not been very fun. Suffice it to say, we've ALL been sick and "needy" and for the days my husband was out of town I'd overplanned my days. In the midst of everyone's sickness, including my own, I still had to get them fed and keep things from descending into chaos--I could not wallow in my misery. I am a "good mom." Hey, there's the goodness thing I'd been thinking about. This would be the perfect anecdote about how I was a good mom even though I didn't feel like it.

Then my husband asked me a simple question that exposed my real motives: "How do you feel?" I unloaded: "Terrible, but I don't have the luxury of laying around until I feel better." So, I wasn't being good, I was doing good things. I wasn't being a good mom, I was being a martyr mom. I was sucking it up and doing what had to be done and waiting for someone to notice. This is reality a lot of the time for me, but surely not how goodness would look. Then what does goodness look like for me as a mom?

Goodness is, according to the dictionary, the quality or state of being good. Doing things even though I don't feel like it isn't me "being good," it is me going through the motions. Basically, this is what I know: (1) goodness is a fruit of the Spirit, which to me implies that I need the Holy Spirit, thus a relationship with Christ, to even have a shot at displaying goodness, especially since (2) the Bible tells us none of us are good (Psalm 14:3, Romans 3:12); and (3) Jesus tells us that we, even though we are evil, give our children good gifts (Matthew 7:11), which proves that we can DO good and still not BE good. Isn't assuming we are good at the core of a prideful heart, one that denies our need for a good God?

Here's my conclusion. It wasn't about doing the stuff I didn't want to do--about being the martyr mom that does it all and isn't appreciated and slowly grows bitter. It's about having a heart that wants to do those things because I want to please God. He, through the Holy Spirit who indwells me, gives me that supernatural gift of goodness for my family and everyone else around me. I have to choose daily to align my heart with God's heart and let Him be the SOURCE of the energy I need to care for my family. Without God, I'd eventually run out of steam, when my efforts were not recognized--because really, what kid applauds you for still doing the laundry and wiping his nose for the upteenth time. If I'm waiting for all my work and sacrifice to be "recognized," then I will be sadly disappointed. Jesus tells us our reward is not here but in heaven (Matthew 6:1-4)--we do good to please God. Now I just have to behave like I really believe that.

peace (11/19/2004)

a few years ago, our MOPS theme was "Fresh Fruit" and focused on the fruit of the Spirit. it was my first year in MOPS and the publicity person was a good friend and i offered to write something if she ever needed. i was able to do a couple of articles for her. she worked with me to refine it a bit--something i miss, i want feedback so that i can ensure what i want to come through is indeed getting across. thanks for your help, renee! (i see things now i wish i could change, but i will resist the urge to change things here...i want to have a record of previous writing, so i'll work to collect it all here.)


Peace
as it appeared in The Grapevine on November 19, 2004

Peace is not the absence of concern, but in knowing whom to trust in the midst of that concern.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was anxious about so many details. Did I have enough folic acid? Am I being careful with what I do and what I eat? Typical stuff, I think. During my birthing class, the instructor pointed out that the delivery would likely be a better experience if I could be in a state of peace rather than of fear.

I Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

She suggested we memorize some scripture and focus on God's word during the laboring process. Well, it didn't exactly work out that way, but it was good to meditate on I Timothy 1:7 and Philippians 4:6-7 during the late stages of pregnancy when my anxiety was building.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I had a great peace that God would equip me through the delivery and for mothering as well. It really was and is a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Even now, the Philippians passage helps keeps my anxiety from overwhelming me. If you know me, you know I'm a details person. The flip side is that I can really drown in the "what ifs" of life. Do you play the "what if" game? I do. I can easily imagine the nth degree repercussion of a decision. Like, what if I decide to homeschool my child and she doesn't learn to interact with non-Christian children and one day when she's out without me she meets a predatory person that she is ill-equipped to handle and gets involved in something she can't recognize as "wrong"--as if my decision to homeschool my child will ultimately lead to her joining a cult. Clearly, this is ridiculous, but my mind can and does work this way.

I know that as a parent I have been entrusted with raising and training my children to the best of my ability. Of course, I want to make all the right choices, but it is unrealistic to expect perfection. I pray for wisdom from God to make the best decisions I can. Recently though, I had an epiphany. The first and foremost prayer I need to make on behalf of my children is that they will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Of course, I have been praying this already, but this time it was in the context of how I affect them, how others influence them, how life's circumstances will form their lives. If they KNOW God, then I can rest in God's promises to His children (Romans 8:28, 31b)

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose... If God is for us, who can be against us?

Just as I rest that whatever life throws at me is under the supervision of the God of the universe who loves me, I can find rest that whatever my children will experience is also under God's control. I can concentrate on showing my children how God loves them and wants to know them and be known by them. Now I'm working on Philippians 6:8-9.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

I pray they and I will have peace, but more importantly I pray that my children will have the God of peace.