A woman answered the knock at her door to find an obviously destitute man who wanted to earn some money by doing odd jobs. She was touched by his need and asked, “Can you paint?”
“Yes,” he said. “I’m a pretty good painter.”
“Well, here’s a gallon of green paint and a brush. Go around the house and you’ll see a porch that needs repainting. Be very careful. When you’re done, I’ll look it over and pay you what it’s worth.”
It wasn’t more than an hour before he knocked again. “All finished,” he reported.
“Did you do a good job?” she asked.
“Yes. But Lady, there’s one thing I’d like to point out to you. That’s not a Porsche back there. That’s a Mercedes.”
We don’t always get what we expect when we ask people to serve.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Qualities God Shares with People -- #3 Infinite!
The third quality God shares with people is that God is infinite, exceeding all limits – space, time, knowledge & wisdom, power, constant.
God is unlimited in relation to space. He’s omnipresent. He is always everywhere. There is no place where he is not. 1 Kings 8:27 declares, “The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.” God created space and is not limited by it.
God is unlimited in relation to time. He’s eternal. Psalm 90:2 says, “From everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Time doesn’t even apply to God – God is timeless. He created time and lives outside time. He is simultaneously in the past, present, and future – sees all events at once – and yet is aware of the succession of moments occurring within time. He exists without end or interruption.
God is unlimited in relation to knowledge and wisdom. He’s omniscient. He knows everything and how to apply it. Psalm 147:5 says, “His understanding has no limit.” He knows all the facts about everything. He knows every possibility from every direction. He knows all the details of the universe, and how to apply them perfectly in our lives to accomplish his plan.
God is unlimited in relation to power. He’s omnipotent. He can do anything. The angel told Mary in Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God.” He can fully carry out all he intends to do. He is in control of me and you – he is sovereign.
But God also has built-in limitations. He cannot do anything that would be contrary to his very nature. He cannot, for example, sin or do wrong or lie or fail or break one of his promises.
Plus, in all these qualities, God is constant – he does not and cannot change or develop or diminish. Hebrews 1:12 says about God, “You remain the same.” Of course, the Bible illustrates how God changes his mind in response to prayer. But to suggest that he can change or develop or diminish in his very nature is to suggest that he was previously less than he is now.
So what? Let’s put it all together. Since God is universally alive, there’s no place in time or space he cannot be. He cannot be taken by surprise. He is always and everywhere, accessible in our time of need, fully applying his infinite wisdom and power toward his plan and our good. Whatever our circumstances, we can always trust him to be consistent to do what’s right. Whatever our challenges, our problems, our fears, he knows and provides a solution fitting for our need. He is the ultimate and only fully trustworthy One. God is God and there is no one else like God.
God is unlimited in relation to space. He’s omnipresent. He is always everywhere. There is no place where he is not. 1 Kings 8:27 declares, “The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.” God created space and is not limited by it.
God is unlimited in relation to time. He’s eternal. Psalm 90:2 says, “From everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Time doesn’t even apply to God – God is timeless. He created time and lives outside time. He is simultaneously in the past, present, and future – sees all events at once – and yet is aware of the succession of moments occurring within time. He exists without end or interruption.
God is unlimited in relation to knowledge and wisdom. He’s omniscient. He knows everything and how to apply it. Psalm 147:5 says, “His understanding has no limit.” He knows all the facts about everything. He knows every possibility from every direction. He knows all the details of the universe, and how to apply them perfectly in our lives to accomplish his plan.
God is unlimited in relation to power. He’s omnipotent. He can do anything. The angel told Mary in Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God.” He can fully carry out all he intends to do. He is in control of me and you – he is sovereign.
But God also has built-in limitations. He cannot do anything that would be contrary to his very nature. He cannot, for example, sin or do wrong or lie or fail or break one of his promises.
Plus, in all these qualities, God is constant – he does not and cannot change or develop or diminish. Hebrews 1:12 says about God, “You remain the same.” Of course, the Bible illustrates how God changes his mind in response to prayer. But to suggest that he can change or develop or diminish in his very nature is to suggest that he was previously less than he is now.
So what? Let’s put it all together. Since God is universally alive, there’s no place in time or space he cannot be. He cannot be taken by surprise. He is always and everywhere, accessible in our time of need, fully applying his infinite wisdom and power toward his plan and our good. Whatever our circumstances, we can always trust him to be consistent to do what’s right. Whatever our challenges, our problems, our fears, he knows and provides a solution fitting for our need. He is the ultimate and only fully trustworthy One. God is God and there is no one else like God.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Qualities God Shares with People -- #2 Life!
God is alive, the very source of life. Jesus announced:
John 5:26 The Father has life in himself. . . .
As the source of life, God did not derive his life from anything or anyone else. No other life source exists. He is it! He has always been alive, which is in contrast to all created beings. Rather, he began life, and gave it to all created beings.
Furthermore, the continuation of his life doesn’t depend on anything else outside himself, because he is the eternal source of all life. He doesn’t even need to will his own existence – he simply is! God is alive, the very source of life.
John 5:26 The Father has life in himself. . . .
As the source of life, God did not derive his life from anything or anyone else. No other life source exists. He is it! He has always been alive, which is in contrast to all created beings. Rather, he began life, and gave it to all created beings.
Furthermore, the continuation of his life doesn’t depend on anything else outside himself, because he is the eternal source of all life. He doesn’t even need to will his own existence – he simply is! God is alive, the very source of life.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
How Does God Speak to Us? 33 Ways
How does God speak to us? This is a list of ways God can speak to us, an enumeration of the multiple contexts God’s message may be conveyed to us. We open up all the vents of our soul to hear God speaking to us. This list is only a beginning, for God can choose to speak to us any way God wants! As needed, God will confirm God’s speaking through a combination of various multiple means or increasing unfolding. There are also boundaries or parameters, so we do not go astray.
1. Verbal Communication - an internal, inaudible message through a word or words spoken through the still, small voice of God, or perhaps, on occasion, the audible voice of God. This communication could be a specific Scripture, a statement, a question, a command. The “still small voice” in 1 Kings 19:12 can also be translated “the sound of gentle stillness” or “a gentle whisper;” the Hebrew is literally “a voice, a small whisper.”
2. Mental Pictures - inner picture-images or symbols, or messages as parables; a picture flashed across the inner screen of our mind.
3. Encounter - a phenomenal experience with God without words, but leaving an overwhelming message or strong impression.
4. Vision - a series of pictorial messages or visual images, literal or symbolic, while awake. These may require some additional reflective and prayerful interpretation.
5. Dream - a series of pictorial messages or visual images, literal or symbolic, while asleep. There are two formats of dreams -- dreams arising from the subconscious mind that God uses to convey a message, and dreams that are directly heaven-sent from God. Dreams may require some additional reflective and prayerful interpretation.
6. Intellectual Reasoning - cognitive, mental processing and evaluating of data leading to clear conclusions like connecting pieces of a puzzle.
7. Imagination - inner images or concepts creatively conceived or formed through guided imagery.
8. Intuition - knowing spontaneously the right thing to do or say.
9. Conscience - knowing right from wrong. See Romans 2:15; 9:1.
10. Thoughts - ideas or principles, words or pictures that grow with increasing awareness, clarity, unfolding, intensity, conviction, or volume in the mind.
11. Emotions - a gut-level feeling, desire, impulse, impression, arresting concern, or insistent nudge.
12. Memory - the remembrance of an event, thought or Scripture previously learned. See John 2:22; 14:26.
13. Common Sense - the ordinary use of rational, good judgment through experience and logical thinking.
14. Observation - a quickening of insight when observing or reflecting on people, art or inanimate objects. For Scriptural examples of listening to God by observing inanimate objects, see Jeremiah and the potter’s wheel in Jeremiah 18:1-10, Amos and the plumb line in Amos 7:7-8, Saul and Samuel’s torn cloak in 1 Samuel 15:27-28.
15. Liturgy - a ritual ceremony or observance that emphasizes or drives home a certain reality or truth.
16. Nature - the silent shouting of God’s creation, or inner messages that occur through ordinary created objects such as a flower or a tree. See Psalm 19:1-4.
17. Circumstances - confirming situations and events that all seem to point in the same direction often combined with a profound sense of inner peace. See Colossians 3:15.
18. Signs and Wonders - external, more dramatic, supernatural and visible demonstrations of God’s love and power to help, heal, care or deliver.
19. Pain - physical suffering serving as God’s megaphone to gain our attention or teach some lesson.
20. Angels - messengers from God.
21. Theophany - a visible manifestation of God bringing a message. See Exodus 3:1-6.
22. Tongues and Interpretation - a spontaneous message from God in an unlearned language with interpretation in order to speak incisively to a situation, or bring immediate and profound comfort and peace to a person in distress.
23. Word of Wisdom - an appropriate, instantaneous insight for a particular occasion, to make a right decision, to discern good from evil, or to resolve, help or heal a particular situation or need.
24. Word of Knowledge - a fragment of knowledge or disclosure of truth implanted by God -- not learned through the mind -- about a particular person or situation for a specific purpose.
25. Prophecy - a timely message or utterance through an individual from God to strengthen, encourage or comfort that person or that group of people at that particular time. See 1 Corinthians 14:3.
26. Music - meditative or worshipful music that brings stillness, a sense of God’s presence, or a spirit of praise.
27. Bible - the holy, super-slow, spiritual reading and application of the Scriptures, and can include using the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. This is sometimes described as “reading with the mind in the heart.” The written revelation of God’s Word is combined together with the way the Holy Spirit quickens particular portions as a direct word in a present circumstance.
28. Meditation - memorization, repetition and prayerful rumination of Scripture texts.
29. Devotional Classics - a holy, super-slow reading of spiritual writings.
30. Journaling - writing down times of communion or conversations with God.
31. Soul Friends - spiritual guides, godly friends or spouses who provide spiritual direction and counsel.
32. Collective Voice - the united voice and decision made by a group of believers.
33. Preaching and Teaching - public presentation of the Word of God and applied by the Holy Spirit to the individual.
What are the top three ways God frequently uses to speak to you? Which one is a current area of spiritual growth?
1. Verbal Communication - an internal, inaudible message through a word or words spoken through the still, small voice of God, or perhaps, on occasion, the audible voice of God. This communication could be a specific Scripture, a statement, a question, a command. The “still small voice” in 1 Kings 19:12 can also be translated “the sound of gentle stillness” or “a gentle whisper;” the Hebrew is literally “a voice, a small whisper.”
2. Mental Pictures - inner picture-images or symbols, or messages as parables; a picture flashed across the inner screen of our mind.
3. Encounter - a phenomenal experience with God without words, but leaving an overwhelming message or strong impression.
4. Vision - a series of pictorial messages or visual images, literal or symbolic, while awake. These may require some additional reflective and prayerful interpretation.
5. Dream - a series of pictorial messages or visual images, literal or symbolic, while asleep. There are two formats of dreams -- dreams arising from the subconscious mind that God uses to convey a message, and dreams that are directly heaven-sent from God. Dreams may require some additional reflective and prayerful interpretation.
6. Intellectual Reasoning - cognitive, mental processing and evaluating of data leading to clear conclusions like connecting pieces of a puzzle.
7. Imagination - inner images or concepts creatively conceived or formed through guided imagery.
8. Intuition - knowing spontaneously the right thing to do or say.
9. Conscience - knowing right from wrong. See Romans 2:15; 9:1.
10. Thoughts - ideas or principles, words or pictures that grow with increasing awareness, clarity, unfolding, intensity, conviction, or volume in the mind.
11. Emotions - a gut-level feeling, desire, impulse, impression, arresting concern, or insistent nudge.
12. Memory - the remembrance of an event, thought or Scripture previously learned. See John 2:22; 14:26.
13. Common Sense - the ordinary use of rational, good judgment through experience and logical thinking.
14. Observation - a quickening of insight when observing or reflecting on people, art or inanimate objects. For Scriptural examples of listening to God by observing inanimate objects, see Jeremiah and the potter’s wheel in Jeremiah 18:1-10, Amos and the plumb line in Amos 7:7-8, Saul and Samuel’s torn cloak in 1 Samuel 15:27-28.
15. Liturgy - a ritual ceremony or observance that emphasizes or drives home a certain reality or truth.
16. Nature - the silent shouting of God’s creation, or inner messages that occur through ordinary created objects such as a flower or a tree. See Psalm 19:1-4.
17. Circumstances - confirming situations and events that all seem to point in the same direction often combined with a profound sense of inner peace. See Colossians 3:15.
18. Signs and Wonders - external, more dramatic, supernatural and visible demonstrations of God’s love and power to help, heal, care or deliver.
19. Pain - physical suffering serving as God’s megaphone to gain our attention or teach some lesson.
20. Angels - messengers from God.
21. Theophany - a visible manifestation of God bringing a message. See Exodus 3:1-6.
22. Tongues and Interpretation - a spontaneous message from God in an unlearned language with interpretation in order to speak incisively to a situation, or bring immediate and profound comfort and peace to a person in distress.
23. Word of Wisdom - an appropriate, instantaneous insight for a particular occasion, to make a right decision, to discern good from evil, or to resolve, help or heal a particular situation or need.
24. Word of Knowledge - a fragment of knowledge or disclosure of truth implanted by God -- not learned through the mind -- about a particular person or situation for a specific purpose.
25. Prophecy - a timely message or utterance through an individual from God to strengthen, encourage or comfort that person or that group of people at that particular time. See 1 Corinthians 14:3.
26. Music - meditative or worshipful music that brings stillness, a sense of God’s presence, or a spirit of praise.
27. Bible - the holy, super-slow, spiritual reading and application of the Scriptures, and can include using the five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. This is sometimes described as “reading with the mind in the heart.” The written revelation of God’s Word is combined together with the way the Holy Spirit quickens particular portions as a direct word in a present circumstance.
28. Meditation - memorization, repetition and prayerful rumination of Scripture texts.
29. Devotional Classics - a holy, super-slow reading of spiritual writings.
30. Journaling - writing down times of communion or conversations with God.
31. Soul Friends - spiritual guides, godly friends or spouses who provide spiritual direction and counsel.
32. Collective Voice - the united voice and decision made by a group of believers.
33. Preaching and Teaching - public presentation of the Word of God and applied by the Holy Spirit to the individual.
What are the top three ways God frequently uses to speak to you? Which one is a current area of spiritual growth?
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Qualities God Shares with People -- #1 Personal
If those are qualities unique to God, what about these qualities God shares with people? Let’s focus on four primary aspects.
The first quality God shares with people is that God is personal, rather than impersonal.
When Moses encountered God in Exodus 3:14 -- "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
When God announces his name to Moses, God shows that he exists as a person. Even responding to a question reveals personality. The living God speaks!
God possesses personal traits like self-consciousness, intellect, will, and self-determination. He thinks, feels, chooses, and enjoys relationships with other personal beings like us. God is personal, rather than impersonal.
The first quality God shares with people is that God is personal, rather than impersonal.
When Moses encountered God in Exodus 3:14 -- "God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
When God announces his name to Moses, God shows that he exists as a person. Even responding to a question reveals personality. The living God speaks!
God possesses personal traits like self-consciousness, intellect, will, and self-determination. He thinks, feels, chooses, and enjoys relationships with other personal beings like us. God is personal, rather than impersonal.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Qualitites Unique to God - #3 Infinite
The third quality unique to God is infinite.
God is infinite, exceeding all limits – space, time, knowledge & wisdom, power, constant.
God is unlimited in relation to space. He’s omnipresent. He is always everywhere. There is no place where he is not. 1 Kings 8:27 declares, “The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.” God created space and is not limited by it.
God is unlimited in relation to time. He’s eternal. Psalm 90:2 says, “From everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Time doesn’t even apply to God – God is timeless. He created time and lives outside time. He is simultaneously in the past, present, and future – sees all events at once – and yet is aware of the succession of moments occurring within time. He exists without end or interruption.
God is unlimited in relation to knowledge and wisdom. He’s omniscient. He knows everything and how to apply it. Psalm 147:5 says, “His understanding has no limit.” He knows all the facts about everything. He knows every possibility from every direction. He knows all the details of the universe, and how to apply them perfectly in our lives to accomplish his plan.
God is unlimited in relation to power. He’s omnipotent. He can do anything. The angel told Mary in Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God.” He can fully carry out all he intends to do. He is in control of me and you – he is sovereign.
But God also has built-in limitations. He cannot do anything that would be contrary to his very nature. He cannot, for example, sin or do wrong or lie or fail or break one of his promises.
Plus, in all these qualities, God is constant – he does not and cannot change or develop or diminish. Hebrews 1:12 says about God, “You remain the same.” Of course, the Bible illustrates how God changes his mind in response to prayer. But to suggest that he can change or develop or diminish in his very nature is to suggest that he was previously less than he is now.
So what? Let’s put it all together. Since God is universally alive, there’s no place in time or space he cannot be. He cannot be taken by surprise. He is always and everywhere, accessible in our time of need, fully applying his infinite wisdom and power toward his plan and our good. Whatever our circumstances, we can always trust him to be consistent to do what’s right. Whatever our challenges, our problems, our fears, he knows and provides a solution fitting for our need. He is the ultimate and only fully trustworthy One. God is God and there is no one else like God.
God is infinite, exceeding all limits – space, time, knowledge & wisdom, power, constant.
God is unlimited in relation to space. He’s omnipresent. He is always everywhere. There is no place where he is not. 1 Kings 8:27 declares, “The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.” God created space and is not limited by it.
God is unlimited in relation to time. He’s eternal. Psalm 90:2 says, “From everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Time doesn’t even apply to God – God is timeless. He created time and lives outside time. He is simultaneously in the past, present, and future – sees all events at once – and yet is aware of the succession of moments occurring within time. He exists without end or interruption.
God is unlimited in relation to knowledge and wisdom. He’s omniscient. He knows everything and how to apply it. Psalm 147:5 says, “His understanding has no limit.” He knows all the facts about everything. He knows every possibility from every direction. He knows all the details of the universe, and how to apply them perfectly in our lives to accomplish his plan.
God is unlimited in relation to power. He’s omnipotent. He can do anything. The angel told Mary in Luke 1:37, “For nothing is impossible with God.” He can fully carry out all he intends to do. He is in control of me and you – he is sovereign.
But God also has built-in limitations. He cannot do anything that would be contrary to his very nature. He cannot, for example, sin or do wrong or lie or fail or break one of his promises.
Plus, in all these qualities, God is constant – he does not and cannot change or develop or diminish. Hebrews 1:12 says about God, “You remain the same.” Of course, the Bible illustrates how God changes his mind in response to prayer. But to suggest that he can change or develop or diminish in his very nature is to suggest that he was previously less than he is now.
So what? Let’s put it all together. Since God is universally alive, there’s no place in time or space he cannot be. He cannot be taken by surprise. He is always and everywhere, accessible in our time of need, fully applying his infinite wisdom and power toward his plan and our good. Whatever our circumstances, we can always trust him to be consistent to do what’s right. Whatever our challenges, our problems, our fears, he knows and provides a solution fitting for our need. He is the ultimate and only fully trustworthy One. God is God and there is no one else like God.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Qualitites Unique to God - #2 Life
The second quality unique to God is LIFE!
God is alive, the very source of life. Jesus announced: "The Father has life in himself" (John 5:26).
As the source of life, God did not derive his life from anything or anyone else. No other life source exists. He is it! He has always been alive, which is in contrast to all created beings. Rather, he began life, and gave it to all created beings.
Furthermore, the continuation of his life doesn’t depend on anything else outside himself, because he is the eternal source of all life. He doesn’t even need to will his own existence – he simply is! God is alive, the very source of life.
God is alive, the very source of life. Jesus announced: "The Father has life in himself" (John 5:26).
As the source of life, God did not derive his life from anything or anyone else. No other life source exists. He is it! He has always been alive, which is in contrast to all created beings. Rather, he began life, and gave it to all created beings.
Furthermore, the continuation of his life doesn’t depend on anything else outside himself, because he is the eternal source of all life. He doesn’t even need to will his own existence – he simply is! God is alive, the very source of life.
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