Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Some "Physical" Characteristics of God

I know You for I’ve seen You
You are real, Oh King
In every part of my being
I see You in Your creations
I see You in all that You do
Your eyes watch over me with loving kindness
Your ears hear me, even my thoughts and whispers
Your face shines upon me day and night
From Your mouth proceeds all I need for life;
Your strong, mighty hand keeps me safe
Your heart is set on me for always
From Your breath power emanates
From Your voice great things originate
I know You for I’ve seen You
In all that You do
And I want You to know
I love You so.



The Inspiration
In my days of ignorance I asked a friend, “Does God truly look like us? I imagine Him to be one giant sitting on a golden seat with a golden scepter in His hand, with Jesus sitting by His right hand.” She laughed. She replied, “I see God in everything and everyone around me because they were created out of Him.” Then she added, “Please do not try to give God something from your imagination – that would be making Him look like an idol. God is much more than that.”


Then I did not understand her but today I know that God is much more than that imagination of mine. There are so many facets of God. Today I’d like to share with you some things about God, what I title "Some Physical Characteristics of God". Do you have any to add to this? 

The Eye(s) of God
Beloved, you can live and sleep in peace because the eye of God is upon you [Psalm 34:15]. They run to and fro throughout the whole earth, that He may show himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him [2 Chronicles 16:9]. The ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his goings [Proverbs 5:21]. He sees everything that is going on. His eyes preserve knowledge [Proverbs 22:12]. Whosoever touches you touches the apple of His eye [Zechariah 2:8].

The Ear(s) of God
Did you ever wonder if God hears you? Call upon Him any day any time for as long as you live for He has inclined His ears unto you [Psalm 116:2]. His ears are not heavy that He cannot hear [Isaiah 59:1], His ears are open to your prayers [1 Peter 3:12].

The Face of God
Part of your daily prayer should be let the face of the Lord shine upon you. When He shines His face upon you, His graciousness goes with it [Numbers 6:25]. No matter what you are going through, seek His face and you shall be saved from that circumstance [Psalm 80:3]. There is restoration when we seek His face [1 Kings 13:6].

The Mouth of God
Whatever comes from the mouth of God is established. That is why we need to hold on steadfastly to the Word of God. He has made us know that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from His mouth [Deuteronomy 8:3]. You shall sit under your vine and under your fig tree (enjoy the most prosperous tranquility); no one shall make you afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has said it [Micah 4:4].

The Nostrils of God
There is so much power in God – it even exudes from His breath. At the blast of the breath of His nostrils, the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered, at His rebuke [Psalm 18:15]. Those that plow iniquity and sow wickedness, by the breath of His nostrils are they consumed [Job 4:8-9].

The Hand and Arm of God (and HIS right Hand)
The Hand of God is mighty [Joshua 4:24]. When it is upon us, we are strengthened and we can do great things [Ezra 7:28; Acts 11:21]. His arm is mighty, strong is His right hand and high is His right hand [Psalm 89:13]. The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turns it wherever He wills [Proverbs 21:1]. Therefore no barrier is too great for you to overcome because He can make things happen in your favour. The Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save [Isaiah 59:1]. No matter how deep in sin or in any situation you feel you are, know that His hand can reach you and deliver you. From the hand of God, you will eat and drink and enjoy good in your labour [Ecclesiastics 2:24].

The Voice of God
We are instructed to hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord [Exodus 15:26] for many blessings will follow. When God thunders marvelously with His voice, He does great things which we cannot comprehend [Job 37:5]. His voice is powerful and full of majesty [Psalm 29:3-9].

The Heart of God
Your body is the temple of the Lord – there the Holy Spirit resides. The Heart of God shall be there perpetually [1 Kings 9:3].

The mind of God
God knows well the plans He has in mind for you: plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope [Jer29:11(NAB)]. Thanks Telekinesys :-).


Got some to share? :-)

Have a glorious week ahead.

Thanks to all of you who responded to Queen. She even went ahead to drop a thank you line to all of you. Please read her response to your comments HERE.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Infant Steps: What happens when you have tried to live right yet it appears nothing good is coming your way?

Beloved EROLyrics Readers,

Hope you have started experiencing the blessedness of the week. Covenant grace and peace be to you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior, who reigns forevermore.

Today’s question on the Infant Steps Series comes from a lady who has kept herself yet feels a bit discouraged. I personally was glad and impressed to know we still have ladies like this, and I have spent time talking to her (but I don't know if it helped). Please read her question below. I trust you will have encouraging responses to share. Thank you.

Dear Rita,


I grew up with parents, relatives and neighbors constantly teaching me how to live like a good Christian girl and keeping a close watch on me and constantly drumming into me that pre-marital sex is a sacrilege. I had all my education close to home so there wasn't much opportunity to live a wayward life and eventually, when I started living alone, I had come to believe that pre-marital sex was such a horrible sin that try as much as I wanted, I couldn't live otherwise. I am a very jovial and outgoing person but very principled, thanks to all those teachings.


Now, I am 26, have a good career but I have not been able to bring myself to love anyone because, the first time I meet any man, the first thing that comes to my mind is that he wants to sleep with me and then my Christian morals come screaming and then, the barricade unconsciously comes up and I eventually chase the man away. I have only been able to have one unsuccessful relationship and it was unsuccessful because I was too scared to love him for fear that it would make me go easy on my principles and lead to sex with him. I have tried severally recently to break that jinx and force myself to get past that level sexually but I always feel horribly guilty every time I try to have any form of sexual dealing with a man.


Now when I look back at my school years, I feel like I lost out on a youthful part of my life, the times I could have done all the crazy things possible and really caught my fun because eventually I would have come back to God. At times, I catch myself wishing I could re-live those years, do all the crazy things and then, ask God for forgiveness and get born-again. I know it is a horrible thing to say and it sounds like I’m taking God’s mercy for granted but I’m being very honest with you, that’s the way I feel cos all my supposed goodness have not paid off in any way. My friends that were the “bad ones” in school then and did all the crazies are having a wonderful time in their lives both with wonderful careers and the best of husbands. I still have not been able to love anyone; I still have not found the knight in shining armor that was supposed to sweep me off my feet once I “kept” myself. I feel like I have been cheated out of life. Now I fear that I might end up marrying a man that would not even appreciate the fact that I “kept” myself because it is now all so old fashioned.


The only reason I am still holding on is because there is an adage in my place that says that you don’t learn to use your left hand in old age, I would look stupid now at this time in my life if I try to start doing all the things I missed out on in School, dating different men and all that but that is the way I feel; cheated out of some grand fun!


My question is: What happens when you have tried to live right, by the books, according to all the instructions and yet nothing good is coming your way while every other person that has supposedly led a “not so good” life has it all going for them?

Best Regards,


Queen.



If you have any questions you would like to discuss on the Infant Steps Series, please drop me an email at esurunma@gmail.com or leave the question as a comment in any of my blog posts.

If you want to view past questions and answers on the Infant Steps Series, please check the list on the sidebar right of the blog.

All posts on the Infant Steps Series will be posted on Tuesdays, 9 AM West Africa Time.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

My Rice and Vegetable Oil

Today on iPray is a Prayer for 2010. Please continue to join in prayers at ZOE this February.

September 2009, I started one of my greatest heart's desires - to be a teacher in the children's church. I was assigned to the class of 3 year olds. God is amazing. These children are so smart. I remember once there was a bee in the class. I told the children to sit still so that the bee does not "bite" them. One girl in the class corrected me saying, "bees don't bite. They sting." From these children, I have learnt that gifts and talents are in us right from childhood. I wanted to keep the class quiet so I gave them some colouring assignments (believe me, this works for 3 year olds). But there was one girl who kept on coming back to ask for more because she quickly and neatly finished what I asked her to colour. I wondered, how could a 3 year old know how to colour so neatly without having the colours scattered all over the place?

In January, after the reshuffling, I was assigned the class of 8-9 year olds. This class is a higher level oh. When I was teaching creation - plants, trees, herbs, one of them said "vegetation to summarize". By the time we delved into amphibians, eclipse, and all those big big grammar, I knew I had to read more than my Bible before coming to teach them. But I love them so much.

Anyway, in January all Children Church Teachers received a bag of rice and a bottle of vegetable oil. The thought that came to my mind was "do I deserve the same gift as those who had been teaching all through the year?" I think between September and December, I must have taught only 3 times, yet I was getting the full benefits as those who had been consistent, been there from the beginning, and obviously put in more effort.

And then I remembered the parable of the labourers in the vineyard [Matthew 20:1-16]. The truth is that the Lord of the vineyard agreed to pay per day (not per hour) and no matter how long each labourer spent, he was going to pay the day's wage.

The grace, mercy and love of God is not by your works but by God's grace. God gives mercy to all for the sake of His Only-begotten Son. It does not matter whether you accepted Jesus twenty years ago or just yesterday. The full, complete benefits of salvation are yours.

Accept and receive them today for Jesus Christ has paid the price for you.

I have already launched my vegetable oil. It came at the right time...:-)