In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:1-5
One morning as I sat with the Lord, I wrote in my journal, “One of the things I love about you, Lord, is you’re so — human!”
Is it blasphemy to say such things? Am I trying to bring God down to my level?
No, because He already did that when he sent Jesus to live among us, as one of us!
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38
I had been a Christian about three years when I became terribly convicted about one particular thing: I did not love God.
I was grateful to Him, so very thankful for my salvation and the positive changes in my life because of Jesus Christ. But I kept stumbling over what Jesus said to the teacher who asked Him to name the greatest commandment of all.
I later learned that many Christians struggle with loving God, much less keeping the Ten Commandments and being “a good Christian.”
A few years ago I spent our short South Texas winter of two months updating our scrapbooks. I struggled at first with figuring how whether to separate out the professional and the personal, because Ron and I have been in Christian ministry together since we married in 1982. The lines between personal and professional are …
No human being can understand all there is to know about God. However, God’s Word is chock full of admonitions for us to seek understanding! The book of Proverbs alone is like a broken record on the subject. I could write many pages listing all God’s complaints in the Bible about how His people don’t understand Him and His ways, to their own harm.
So the better question is not “Is it possible?” but “How shall I respond to what God desires of me?”
When God brought the Hebrew nation out from their life of Egyptian slavery, He gave them such favor with the Egyptians that they handed over their wealth for the asking. The Israelites walked away from their life of enslavement loaded with precious gold, silver, and bronze; fine white gossamer linen; colorful yarns; olive oil, spices, precious stones and much more. God’s redeemed people were not just free, they were greatly enriched with a treasure God instructed them to ask for as they departed.
I am a daughter of God, through the blood of Jesus, living with the daily help of the Spirit.
Since I first felt God’s love wash over me in 1979, I’ve been on a journey of getting to know this magnificent Person who made me and redeemed me, then came to live with me. Along our journey, He grew me into a teacher.
Today, in 2018, I perpetually find myself between people who are starving to have more of the life God offers, and a God who is holding it out to them, faithfully, every moment. Between them is a barrier, much more powerful than it has to be.
The main barrier of many Christians is a lack of faith in how fully God has given Himself to them in His personal Presence and love.
They Will All Know Me is the fourth book I’ve written. While I obviously believe the first three books are very valuable for any Christian who wants to grow in knowing the Lord, I am most excited about this one.
The response to this book has surprised even me. Some of the team who helped me edit the book ordered it by the case when it was published so they could give a copy to everyone they love or mentor. And even though they had each read it, they couldn’t wait to read it again!
The longer I live the Christian life, the more certain I am that knowing God personally is the key to everything we ever hoped would come of a decision to follow Christ.
Experience tells me the enduring joy, strength, wisdom, abundant life, and peace Jesus promised cannot be produced by human effort. At least, I could never manufacture those things. When I grew tired of striving for these things I finally gave up trying, and in desperation cried to God,
Behold, you desire truth in the innermost being; and in the hidden part you will make me know wisdom.
Psalm 51:6 NASB
As a writer, I am a bit jealous of those who communicated in ancient Hebrew, a rich imagery buffet of words and concepts that yield choice meals of truth. And often served in a special container, such as rhyme or repetition.
Psalm 51:6 is a perfect example. David employed LOTS of repetition here, which we miss in our English translations.
