ENTER YOUR RED DOT ‒ DON’T JUST DESCRIBE IT
|
Posted:Dec 30, 2008 5:42 pm
Last Updated:Jan 10, 2009 1:47 pm 17824 Views
|
The word PAPA in the title is an acronym for a process in which we enter a relationship prayer. The first 'P' stands for 'Present yourself to God without pretense.'
"Picture yourself walking into a large shopping mall that you've never been in before. What's the first thing you look for? The directory. And when you find it, your eyes scan all across the rectangles and numbers until you find, what? The red dot that says, 'You are here.'" p. 86
"Most of us live life on the surface." p. 92
"More that anything else, we yearn to be in a relationship where the love we receive defines our identity and the meaning we live for defines our value, where we can then live as the unique people we are, following the unique calling on our lives." p. 27
If you never enter your red dot, you'll never discover the God whose love displaces terror. And you'll never discover the real you. the wonderful you that is strong and beautiful, weighty and desirable. You’ll never find yourself until you find God in your red dot. or until He finds you in your brokenness." p. 95
Last night I laid down on the couch just to talk to God, to find my 'red dot', to live in it, to present myself to Him as I was experiencing me. I found that I kept trying to change what I was feeling because I perceived that those feelings did not show that I was trusting Him.
It took discipline to stay where I was. I found that I'd do anything to stay away from that 'red dot'. I'll be busy, I'd read devotionals, I'd check the Internet or watch TV or a good movie or even listen to Christian music. But I realized that if I want a deep relationship with our God, I need to know who and where I am.
|
|
|
1
comment
|
|
The PAPA Prayer by Larry Crabb
|
Posted:Dec 29, 2008 1:02 pm
Last Updated:May 22, 2024 9:16 am 16751 Views
|
God is using this book to get my focus recentered on our God. The theme of the book is that prayer is for building our relationship with God, not to get things from Him.
I'd like read what you have to say about this book and/or concept.
Here are a few quotes:
"Nothing has relieved my confusion over unanswered prayer requests more than the realization that relational prayer must always must always come before petitionary prayer. Relate and then request. Enjoy God and then enjoy His provisions, whatever they are." p.10
"I'm starting to hear, to really hear, the voice of God. And I'm realizing He likes me. He loves me and He speaks to me. He likes it when I shoe up for the party He's throwing. " p. 19
"When I want to be like Jesus more that I want anything else, then I pray, 'Not my wil but Thine be done. Above all else, may Your kngdom come.'" p. 23
"But if we hold to it, if we keep on believing that prayer is more about getting things than getting Gopd, not only will we eventually get thoroughly confused when prayer doesn't 'work,' but talking to God will at some point feel boring as well. If we're honest."
What are your thoughts?
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
On the Kings Mountain
|
Posted:Jun 19, 2008 12:27 pm
Last Updated:Oct 7, 2008 3:35 pm 17867 Views
|
Princess LeAnne sits quietly in the realtor's office on the hot, humid Wednesday afternoon. In this case, hot is a relative term, because this very afternoon it is much hotter in the place from which she just came a week ago. She is exhausted emotionally and physically.
God showed up in a mighty way over and over during the last 10 days and her body just can't keep up with what He is doing in her life.
The realtor just stepped out for a minute after going over the details of the contract that she is proposing for the house she intends to purchase. Her mind is realing, overwhelmed with all that is involved. This huge step is frightening. Is it the right thing?
She silently prays, 'God, I've wanted this house for months. I believe that it is You that is bringing it to me. But, God, if for some reason it is not the one that I should buy, please show me.'
The princess lifts her head and realizes that she's never paid much attention to the address. Now is the time to write it down, so that she can tell others where this place is. She looks on the flier and there it is: 54321 Kings Mountain.
Is there a better street on which God's princess can live?
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
A Texan Again
|
Posted:Jun 17, 2008 11:43 am
Last Updated:Jun 19, 2008 3:06 pm 17787 Views
|
I'd like to report that my move from Arizona to Texas went very well. I'm staying with a friend, and I have a contract on my house in Arizona with it scheduled to close at the end of July.
Tomorrow I plan to make an offer on a house here in Texas that I've been looking at for a long time.
Yesterday I started work, and I believe that I am going to really like this new job.
This noon I called an old friend who informed me that at 67, he is suffering from alzheimers. He's writing a book about his experiences and what it is like to live with the disease. He's also writing another book, a novel, and asked be to help with research for it.
God is good.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
In and Out
|
Posted:Jun 6, 2008 6:40 am
Last Updated:Jun 17, 2008 11:22 am 17739 Views
|
All I've talked about this winter is my move. Well, the day is finally here. Today 3 friends are coming by to help finish my packing, then on Saturday we load the truck and drive. We figure it will take 24 hours to get there.
I'd appreciate your prayers. The friend that I will be staying with has dial up Internet, so I won't be able to just hang out on the computer. I'll check in occasionally. Just telling you so you will know that I'm not dropping out. I just won't be around much during the next few weeks. When I do check in, I will update you on what God is doing.
Thank you so much for your prayers.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
Where do you hide?
|
Posted:Jun 2, 2008 12:54 pm
Last Updated:Jun 2, 2008 8:17 pm 17500 Views
|
In my Bible study this week, we talked about hiding - our hiding from God, ourselves and others. After Adam and Eve ate the fruit in the garden they hid because they were afraid.
We do the same thing; we sin; we are afraid; we hide. In our fallenness we hide; we do not want to expose ourselves. We fear that if people really knew us, they would not like us.
We all hide in different places. Some of us become controlling, others of us slink back and hope to not be noticed. I've always fallen in the latter category.
I woke up Saturday morning feeling lonely and blue, I asked Jesus what to do about it and He said, "Spend time with me." So I did. I turned off the TV and radio and was quiet, alone with God.
I know that for most of my life I hid behind my large size, believing that I could never minister to others and that no one would like me because I was fat and ugly. Now that I am aware of that, I have been focusing on offering myself as I pursue other's hearts and not worry about what I look like.
Yesterday as I read God's word, He showed me two areas where I hide, where I want to protect myself; and where I in turn am hurting others. One is - I want to show off my spiritual maturity and knowledge. I want people to know what a great Christian I am. Ouch! This is not good.
The other thing I saw today was that I was blue because I compare myself to other people. I see them as having great intelligence and compassion, insight into people lives and understanding of scripture. They have an awesome sense of humor. I found myself wanting to be more like them and feeling quite inferior. I've even found myself trying to change to become more like them. Perhaps that's the reason for my first hiding place.
Anyway, God talked to me. He asked me if I wanted to attract people to me, or to do what He has called ME to do. Ouch!!
Yep, now I know of two places where I must come out of hiding, to let myself be seen. The enemy has me convinced that this will not be good, that I have nothing to offer when it is just me. God says otherwise. Now I have to choose whom I will believe.
I think back to the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and remember Toula. In the beginning she hid to protect herself, to stay safe. But throughout the movie as she ventured out, she gained confidence and became beautiful. In the end she got what she really wanted.
I believe that with God it is the same. As we trust Him, venture out, stop hiding, and pursue the hearts of the people around us, His beauty will reflect off of our faces and countenance. Others will see Him when they look at us. We will have God's joy and peace because we rest in Him.
So, where is it that you hide? What hiding places have you had victory over and have come out to be seen?
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
6 TRUTHS OF LIFE
|
Posted:May 29, 2008 3:40 pm
Last Updated:Jun 4, 2008 5:16 pm 17916 Views
|
1. You cannot touch all your teeth with your tongue.
2. All idiots, after reading the first truth, will try it.
3. And discover that The first truth is a lie.
4. You're smiling now because you're an idiot.
5. You soon will forward this to another idiot.
6. There's still a stupid smile on your face.
Sorry about this....but~~~~~
I'm an idiot and I needed company!
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
In Search of Safety
|
Posted:May 29, 2008 6:07 am
Last Updated:May 29, 2008 8:21 am 16747 Views
|
The Art of Trusting God in the Middle of Disaster
Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
2 How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame ?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods ?
Selah
3 Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD will hear when I call to him.
4 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.
Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
6 Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"
Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.
7 You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Do I have the right to be safe?
I'm thinking of the quote from Aslan in Narnia where he says, referring to God,
"He is not safe, He is love.'
We as humanoids have an insatiable demand to be safe. We will:
^ Sacrifice freedom for the allure of safety - look at all the security devices at the airports
^ Sacrifice relationships - we don't trust people. In Psalm 4 David has a broken relationship with Absalom. Absalom was no longer safe for David. Many of us do not feel safe with our parents, spouses, or others because they have abused us.
^ Turn glory to shame - we live in fear
^ Delude ourselves - we pretend that we are safe, that security devices work
^ Turn to other gods - ie. Finances, we trust our savings to take care of us.
^ Search for safety in what we have - stuff gives us the illusion of safety.
When we don't feel safe it is good to ask for what we want. We can say:
^ Answer me! - When we feel unsafe, we feel that God is distant from us.
^ Give me relief! - We have the right to as for relief.
^ Be merciful to me!
^ Hear my prayer! - Prayer is communication with God. Pray with your Bible open.
^ Let Your light shine on me!
Real safety is found when we:
^ Know the Lord has set apart the godly for Himself. - He loves us - it's His nature
^ Know that He heals.
^ Don't sin in your anger. - God doesn't condemn anger
^ Search your heart and be silent
^ Offer right sacrifices. - Give up the illusion of control and power. He wants a broken and contrite heart.
^ Remember all the times that God protected you and provided for you.
Our only choice:
Psalm 4:8
"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."
This also means that we will feel safe.
*God will put us in unsafe places - as we dwell there - healing will come.
The Risk
^ I could suffer John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
^ I could die Romans 14:8 "If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
Esther - One of my favorites
|
Posted:May 27, 2008 7:12 pm
Last Updated:May 28, 2008 5:52 am 17182 Views
|
Esther is an outstanding person in the Bible. My favorite version of the story is told by the Veggie Tales. The Veggie Tales version makes it very clear that Esther did not ask to be queen, she really didn't want to be, but she was willing to do what God asked her to do.
The key verse was Mordecai giving her instructions:
Esther 4:14
"For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this."
I am encouraged by this passage because so often we find ourselves in situations where we are uncomfortable. When I am there I remember that God put me at that place at that time because He had a job for me to do.
The following are the words to the song the Esther sings in the Veggie movie:
Mordecai: You wanted to know why you became queen.
I told you God must have a reason.
Perhaps he put you here, for such a time as this.
perhaps This is the reason.
Ester: Tell me why, I don't understand.
Tell me why, or show me your hand.
Tell me why because I can't see my way through ~
What now...should I...do ~
The battle is not ours
We look to God above~
For he will guide us safely through
and guard us with his love
I will not be afraid
I will not run and hide~
For there is nothing I can't face
when God is at my side
No, there is nothing I can't face
when God is at my side
The battle is not ours
We look to God above
For he will guide us safely through
and guard us with his love ~
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
Trusting and resting in Jesus.
|
Posted:May 26, 2008 7:38 am
Last Updated:Jun 1, 2008 3:56 pm 18142 Views
|
I was just thinking about trust. I think that part of the reason that I have had so much trouble trusting God is that I believed that trusting Him meant that I had to believe that everything would turn out well, that life would be easy, that I wouldn't go hungry or lose my house.
I know that there are wonderful Christian people who starve to death, are homeless and are martyred.
Trusting God doesn't mean that I believe that none of these things will happen to me. It means that I believe God is there with me, getting me through the difficult things.
Planes do crash and are missed. Godly people die in car wrecks and of terrible diseases. We lose people we love through death, divorce or moving away.
Trust means that we know that God is with us through it all, that He will bring good and growth through the pain, and that He is in control.
|
|
|
0
Comments
|
|
