The Face of God

"If you're seeking the face of God, and instead find His hand, just look up; it's not that far away." Bill Johnson. My quote may be a slight paraphrase, but it is the essence of what he says. And it's so true!
He's talking about something many of us have been taught over the years; that we shouldn't seek God's hand, we should be seeking His face. Meaning that we shouldn't be looking for what He can give us, but seeking Him for who He is. Sounds good, but it's just a religious exercise.
I was contemplating this truth this morning during some time with the Lord. It seems to me that God is One, He is whole, and if we find Him in part, we find all of Him. It's our awareness that changes as we get to know Him, but He doesn't change. ( this may be someone else's teaching as well, no plageurism intended)
Isaiah 49:16 says, "See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands... Apparently it's okay with the Lord of the universe if we like His hands. He says that we're carved into them. It's a place of safety and rest. I know I'm oversimplifying this, but it's still true. If I only seek God for what He can give me, I believe I will still end up in the right place, because He will still give me His love and protection. He said so. And when I know that I'm loved, that draws me to the one who loves me. And I get to know Him better.
What all of this does for me is to put my heart at peace. I can rest instead of striving to do whatever is exactly right according to what someone tells me is right. I can rest in the knowledge of the love of God and remember that He loves me, not because I earned His love, but that He loves me and that's why He created me. He's got a book that tells me these truths; it's up to me to pick it up and actually read it and discover the truths buried therein. I'm on a treasure hunt today; I'm reading and re-reading Psalm 27.(thanks Sonia!) Would you like to join in the search? I bet God will stop by when you do.
Peace and blessings to all my readers.

I Am Loved. And So Are You.

I was talking with my one of my sisters tonight. She lives in Pennsylvania and I live in New York. Our other sister lives in North Carolina. We each love the place where we've made our home. We don't love that we're so far away from each other, but life is like that.
While we were chatting, I was reflecting on the busyness of my life this year. My sisters and I have plans to attend a conference in Pennsylvania. In addition to that, Paul and I have been invited to four weddings! One was this month.We have two more weddings in August, which is also our wedding anniversary month, and the month our newest grandbaby is due. The fourth wedding is in October, which is also the month of the conference. 
There are so many things I would like to do in addition to all these, but there aren't enough days off or enough money to spread around so many wonderful occasions. Choosing which to say no to is going to be very difficult.
I think for starters I can say no to the bridal shower invitations. That cuts down on some expenses. The next problem is the two weddings in August are one week apart, and the due date of our grandbaby is two weeks before them.  I hope to manage to arrive in time to attend the delivery of said baby. My daughter and her husband asked me to be there for labor and delivery, and I wouldn't miss that for anything! (barring flight difficulties, I WILL be there in time!)
I realize that all this activity, along with some other important events that I have sceduled, is in spite of all the negative things that are happening around the country. All the nasty political stuff, the economy being in such bad shape, joblessness, injustices, media bias, wars and rumors of wars; in spite of all these and more, life goes on. People fall in love and get married. Babies are conceived and born. Conferences are held and attended. People stay married for 42 years.(that's us) There is still a great deal of good, love, and happiness in this world. We just need to take a breath, step back a minute, and take a good look. There is beauty to behold in every simple, regular day. There is something to be thankful for every minute. I'm thankful to be alive. That's no understatement. I survived cancer. I also survived some very reckless times when I was much younger. I have three wonderful daughters and their husbands and children to be grateful for. My husband loves me. That's nice to know after so many years together. He still tells me too.
And I realize that all these invitations tell me something about myself. I am loved. I'm not invited because of obligation. I'm invited because I'm wanted. I treasure that knowledge. I never thought of it that way before, that I'm invited places because I'm loved. Maybe that wasn't always true. It is now. And I'm thankful for that. I'm thankful too that I realize it.
Take a look around today and see where you're loved. It may surprise you. In fact, I hope it really does. If you can't see that, look up at the sun or the moon, and know that the One who made them made you too. Just because He loves you. And He always will. If you never did before, I hope you realize that today. Thanks for stopping by. You're always welcome here.

Good Friday

Good Friday.This is the day Jesus defeated death. He defeated our enemy, satan. He laid it all down for you, me, and every other person who ever lived or was yet to be born. He decided that His Father's will was more important than His own will, as He struggled with fear in the garden of Gethsemane. "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." And a little while later, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." And drink it He did. Jesus, the Perfect Sinless One, drank the cup of death so that you and I would never have to taste its bitterness.
And so He defeated death. He tasted and we don't. That's the best exchange ever. We sin, He took the punishment. Forever. Don't ever think that your sin is bigger than the cross and the One who hung there for you.
Good Friday...the day Jesus said, as so many warriors before Him, "It's a good day to die." And He laid down His life for us all. He fearfully, passionately, compassionately, chose His battle and won! He is the Ultimate Warrior.
A very Blessed and wonderful Easter season to all. Remember why we celebrate.

Are You The 1% Who'll Repost This?

Repost or else.... I get really annoyed by so much of what goes around the internet that is supposed to show whether I have a heart or not. Whether I care about cancer patients or not. Whether I love God or not. If I think it's wrong to bully others. If I care about abused women, children, cats, dogs, horses, etc. The list goes on and on.
Most of them end something like this...."I know there are only about 1% of you out there who care enough to repost this. I bet my friends are that 1%." Or " If you really love Jesus, you'll post this." The newest one just added; "And He saw you reading this."
GEEEEZZZZ! When are we gonna cut ourselves some slack? Do you realize that you just got bullied by someone who posted this? And that when you repost it, you're bullying your friends? How is it that some unknown somebody gets to have so  much control over what you think about yourself? You feel like you're somehow wrong if you don't repost. So this gets perpetuated for the next century because we have no sense of who we are.
I love Jesus. He knows that. Most of my friends know this about me also. I don't need to repost this or that in fear that Jesus will be disappointed in me. I don't need to repost it in case my friends know I got it and didn't send it out. Or back. Or whatever else the internet monster wants me to do. I love and care about cancer patients, cats, dogs, horses, women, children, and even men. Whether I repost or not, it doesn't change anything in their lives. Or mine.
How about if we actually like the post, but it has that judgmental tie at the end? We can copy it in a better form to say what we really feel. And we leave off the guilt provoking, bullying sentence or two at the end of the post. That way, we really get to say something nice. And someone else can post it or not. It doesn't really matter, does it?
btw...be sure to repost this. but if you don't, nothing bad will happen to you. ;0}