Reason #9 - He is My Own God

I love having this blog. Not because of anything brilliant I have written or come up with (because I haven't come up with anything new - it's all old stuff that I'm just now disovering myself!) Not because I'm hopeful that thousands are reading it. (haha :)) Not because it's a way to show off how holy or self-righteous I am (on the contrary, I hope that whoever does happen to read this will see the exact opposite! I share...not because I think I have already "arrived" at the goal of loving the Lord with all my heart, but because I want to "arrive," though I still have so far to go!)

No, I love having this blog because all throughout the days now, I am constantly on the lookout for new reasons why I love my Lord. It has changed my focus. And do you know what I'm finding? I'm finding that the more reasons I find to love Him, the more I do love Him.

This is a new experience for me. All my life, I've followed a religion. A list of rules...a checklist of things to do, and an even longer one of things not to do. I say this to my shame...I never loved God. And I knew it.

But now for the first time in my life, I am learning to love Him. I have so, so far to go! But it thrills me to see the baby steps of progress that Christ has enabled me to make so far.

But back to my reason #9. He is my own God.

"Then...God, even our own God, shall bless us." ~ Ps 67:6

He is the God of the universe. He is the God of all. But because He sees us each individually, and desires a special, personal relationship with each one of us as a unique individual, He is a personal God too!

Think about this for a minute. The Lord has made each of us so incredibly, distinctly, and beautifully different. He designed each of our unique characterisitics. And the personal Creator of each one of us is also the personal God of each of us!

And so because of this, He can meet each one of us right where we are. What a beautiful realization! What joy! I have always thought - "I have to whip myself into shape before I can approach God. I get my act together first, and then - and only then - do I meet with God." No, and a thousand times no!! Our personal God meets us right where are...as a broken-hearted mother, as a hurting child, as a confused teenager...yes, even as a fool, or a rebel, or an outcast.

He is my own God, Who knows each of my needs, each of my weaknesses, each of my downfalls, and each of my failures. And Who loves me anyway.

This is promising to be a long post, as I would like to close with a poem I wrote up recently that expounds on this thought. :)


The God of Me

A little child lifts her head
She reaches up with an outstretched arm.
A little smile breaks across her face
She trusts that she is safe from harm.
She has a question - she doesn't understand.
She can't give an answer, but she knows who can.

"Daddy, can I sit in your lap?
Can I hold your hand?
Will you tell me a story and sing to me?
Daddy, can I talk with you?
Pose a question to you?
Can you explain it all to me?

When the thunder rolls can you hold me close,
And rock me to sleep in your arms?"

My God is a God of the child
A God of the innocent
A God of the simple, trusting heart.
Because He's not a God for the grown-up
For the professional -
For the self-sufficient heart.
I hold out my hand to the greatest Friend of all.
As a child, I come.
He's the God of the child-
He's the God of me.

An angry boy runs to the door,
Lifting a tight clenched fist.
Without a word, he walks away -
Never dreaming how much he'll be missed.
The prodigal is happy at first, of course.
But soon he finds out the worst.

"Oh please, I need some help.
I've lost my way.
I need a guide to lead me back.
Oh please, can you take my hand?
Don't leave my side!
And bring me back to love?

When the thunder rolls can you shelter me,
And lead me to peace once more?"

My God is a God of the lost,
A God of the wanderer,
A God for the hardened, bitter heart.
Because He's not a God for the perfect -
For the prosperous -
For the self-sufficient heart.
I hold out my hand to the greatest Guide of all.
As the lost, I come.
He's the God of the lost -
He's the God of me.

A woman stands with her head in her hands,
With no one by her side.
Weeping silently, with no friend
To come to with arms open wide.
What is life if not shared with a friend?
It seems her pain has no end.

"Oh please, can I sit with you?
Can I talk with you?
Share my hurt, my fears, my dreams?
Can we laugh together?
Make plans together?
Can we walk down the road side by side?

And when the thunder rolls, can you hold me close,
And let me cry in your arms?"

My God is a God of the lonely,
A God of the friendless,
A God of the hurting, needy heart.
Because He's not a God for the happy -
For the busy -
For the self-sufficient heart.
I hold out my hand to the greatest Friend of all.
As the lonely, I come.
He's the God of the lonely-
He's the God of me.

He's the God of the sinner-
Of the broken-
Of the failure-
Of the lonely-
Of the lost-
Of the child-
He's the God of me.


I love my Lord because He is my own God.

Reason #8 - He Walks With Me

One of my favorite people in the Bible is someone that I really don't know much about. I believe this man is only mentioned 3 different times total in the Bible. (not including the references to his name in genealogies.) He is in the royal lineage of Jesus, and he was one of the two men in the Bible who never died. (the other being Elijah.)

This man's name is Enoch.

And why am I so fascinated with Enoch??

Genesis chapter 5 gives us a genealogy - a long list of men who lived for hundreds of years and "begat" many sons and daughters, and then they died. The average, normal life. Nothing really special to mention about them.

And then in the midst of this list comes Enoch (verse 22). The text doesn't tell us that Enoch lived for however many hundred years. He walked with God.

And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah (his son) three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters... And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

In the midst of millions of individuals currently on this earth who are simply "living" - how many of us as Christ-followers are taking up the challenge to walk with God? I know that too often I'm not. But oh, this is the desire of my heart!! That when I die, people wouldn't simply say "she lived for ___ years." No, that they would say "here is a woman who walked with God all the days of her life."

In the famous "Hall of Faith" passage in Hebrews 11, we are told that Enoch had this testimony: that he pleased God. Here is a man that I want to be like! Oh Lord, strengthen me that my life would also be pleasing to you!

But here is the thing that amazes me the most. Yes, Enoch walked with God. But this also means that God walked with Enoch.

Do we realize what this looks like?? The God Who created the universe, Who holds all things together, Who knows all things and controls all things...GOD HIMSELF chose to walk day by day with a MAN.

I ask with the psalmist, David: "What is man, that Thou art mindful of him??" (Ps 8:4)

And we know that He is no respecter of persons. If He did it with Enoch, He'll do it with me. The choice is very clearly not up to Him. It's up to me.

The God of the universe holds out His hand to each of us. He will walk with us, if we choose to walk with Him.

I love my Lord, because He walks with me.

Reason #7 - He is My Joy

A beautiful flower. A dear friend. A breathtaking sunset. The sound of children's giggles. All these things bring warmth to my heart, and I thank the Lord for the countless good things He constantly gives each of His children to brighten their day.

I heard a quote once that has stuck with me:

"Happiness depends on happenings. Joy depends on Jesus."

How true is that!!? I really do believe that most of us as Christians are stuck living in that first sentence. I know that I often am. If things go well, I'm in a good mood. Sure I'm happy.

But if someone irritates me - if I don't get my way - if I didn't get enough sleep - if a task takes twice as long as I expected it to...

I'm upset. Frustrated. Restless. Disappointed.

And notice that each of these things is the exact opposite of joy.

The common definition of joy is intense happiness. It's more than happiness. It flies far beyond happiness. It's like the never ending flow of water that comes from a mountain stream, always refreshing others, and never running dry.

And God wants to establish this fountain of joy in each of our hearts! I believe that every Christian is capable of not only have a constant joy in our hearts, but also bringing constant joy to everyone we meet.

But even more than that - God not only gives joy, but

He is our joy.

He is my joy.

Is that not incredible to think about?!

Psalm 43:4 "Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy..."

I think a more complete, in depth definition of joy would quite simply be this:

GOD.

Anybody can be happy. Even broken - hearted mothers and rebellious teenagers and drunken, homeless men can be happy for short periods of time. But I believe that joy is reserved for those who have the Lord. Only God can give joy, because only God is joy.

I love my Lord because He is my joy.


Psalm 16:11 "In Thy presence is fullness of joy..."

Reason # 6 - He is Trustworthy

To me, trust is one of the most beautiful words in the world.

Websters dictionary defines it like this: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.

Along with trust comes confidence. Certainty. Reliance.

And all fear flees.

Trust doesn't happen overnight. How many people do I know that can I say I really trust with all my heart? Enough to share anything with them...anything? And then to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this person's commitment to me will not change - that he won't judge me - and that he will understand, and love me every bit as much as he did before?

Trust must be earned. It must come from a long term relationship and experience with that individual.

I think that it is impossible to trust someone deeply without loving them deeply. The two go hand in hand.

So if I say that a person is trustworthy, I am saying that they have proved themselves to me. I can place full confidence and reliance on them, and know that they will not let me down. They are worthy of my trust.

What joy to say that though I only have a couple of people here on this earth that I trust in that way - I can trust my Lord! Deeply and completely. With absolutely anything. And with absolutely everything.

I think about the way that a baby trusts his parents - confidently holding their hand, and following them anywhere. This is the way that I can trust my Father in heaven.

I am so thankful. I love my Lord because He is entirely - absolutely - completely -

Trustworthy.

Reason #5 - He Never Gives Up On Me

I'm feeling discouraged.

It's easy to write these posts when it's been a good day. When I've been charming and lovely and said all the right things and never been selfish and always put the other person before myself. Granted, I don't have many of those days, but you get the idea. Some days are just better than others.

But how do I go about writing these posts when I've thrown all discretion and self-control to the winds, said all the things I didn't want to say, and didn't say any of the things I meant to say? How do I write a post about how much I love my Lord when it seems most of what I've done lately screams the opposite?

It's on these days that I am absolutely overwhelmed by this thought: "I know that He never gives up on me." I may leave my first Love, but He never leaves me. I may lose interest in the road of holiness before my God, but He never loses interest in His daughter.

I may even give up on myself - but He never gives up on me!

Hebrews 13:5 - "I will never leave you or forsake you."
1 Samuel 12:22 - "For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people." (are we not His people as Christians?!)
John 6:37 - "...and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
Malachi 3:6 - "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
Jeremiah 31:3 - “The Lord hath appeared unto me of old saying, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.”

I think about the story of the prodigal son. Discontented and restless, he told his father - "I'm out of here!" Taking his inheritance with him, (read: "I wish my dad was already dead") he walked out on the happy home life he had been living and away from the father who loved him.

How many dads could have endured that kind of slap in the face? How many dads could still have loved a son who wanted nothing to do with them? And not only loved him, but waited and watched for his return every day, and then -

Ran to him in ecstasy to welcome him when he came back?

This is the kind of God we serve. A Father Who never ceases to run to His wayward children when they return once again from their lustful wanderings. A God Who runs to me, when I return.

Wow.

I love my Lord because He never gives up on Me.

Reason #4 - He Does Not Condemn Me

How many times in my life have I sat down to have a quiet time with the Lord, and I almost couldn't even bring myself to pray because I felt guilty and condemned?

Guilty because of something I had done wrong, or messed up - no matter how big or little. And condemned because I know that God is perfect and sinless, and how could He understand my constant and never ending faults??

How many times have I heard a small voice whisper in my head: "Don't even bother talking to God this time. You've messed up one too many times. You've committed that sin one too many times. How can you even call yourself a Christian?"

Is that God? Are these thoughts - these feelings - from Him?

Romans chapter 8 vs 33-34 asks this same question: "Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" In other words - "who is going to accuse the children of God?" And you know what is interesting? - the author of Romans (Paul) never gives us the answer to that question. But one thing he does make sure to give us - and that is Who does not accuse us.

"It is God that justifieth"

Not condemns. Not accuses. Not points the finger. But He justifies.

The passage continues:

"Who is he that condemneth?" Again, Paul answers this question by telling us who does NOT condemn. "It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who...also maketh intercession for us."

Christ, Who has shed His blood for no reason other than perfect love for His wayward children, is risen from the dead - not to condemn those He has died for, but to make intercession for them. He is fighting against the accusations that are hurled at us!

Of course, I know in my head that Satan is "the accuser of the brethren." I know that Christ makes intercession for us. I know He loves us. But do I really know it and believe it with all my heart? And then let that realization affect my attitude and my approach toward my Father?

It is never God that stands between me and a close, intimate relationship with Him.

I will close with a paraphrase of one of my favorite stories in the Gospels...

A woman is brought to Jesus by a group of big shot, swaggering, hypocrite Pharisees. "Master," they begin, (though it's interesting to note how very much Christ was NOT their master) "Master, here is a woman we have caught in the very act of adultery."

"Moses told us that a woman like this is to be stoned. But what do you have to say about it?"

Then they sat back and waited. Doubtless, they assumed they had really caught Jesus this time. Doubtless, they were impressed with their clever thinking. How was the "Master" going to wriggle out of this one?

But to their surprise, He didn't say anything at all. Instead, He stooped down and wrote in the dust.

"Master," they pressed, "what do you think?! Should she be stoned as the law commands?"

Then standing up straight, He looked each one in the eye and said "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone."

And He stooped again, and wrote once more in the dust. Oh, what I would give to know what He wrote!!

And one by one, each Pharisee, so righteous on the outside, and so sinful within, slipped away in shame.

Jesus straightened, and looked at the woman. "Where are your accusers?" He asked. "Does no one condemn you?"

"No, Lord," she replied.

Then the words of the Master rang out as a trumpet call upon her ears:

"And neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."

I love my Lord because He does not condemn me.

Reason #3 - He is My Portion

Psalm 16:5 - "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup; thou (God) maintainest my lot."

Psalm 73:25-26 - "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

I have often wondered what it means to say that God is my portion. It's all over the Psalms, and in other Old Testament books as well. What is God talking about?

Just recently, I read in Psalm 17:14 - "Deliver me from men of the world, which have their portion in this life." Changing out the word "portion" for "inheritance", I immediately had a "light bulb" moment! (which fyi can be rare in the world of Kate! :) )

When my grandpa died, each of his children got a part of his possessions. This was their portion. The Hebrew word for portion means allotment. It's what they have saved up for themselves when everything is said and done. It's their inheritance.

For the non-Christian or the carnal Christian, their portion is whatever cheap earthly treasures they can gather around them during the few days on earth we call a lifetime.

For me, as a Christian seeking the Lord, what is my portion? And here is what gave me goosebumps...

It's God.

Yes, heaven is our portion, and yes, joy and peace and contentment all are as well. But it's even bigger than that. Everything that God is - everything that He encompasses - is our inheritance. God Himself is our portion!

Have you ever read in the Old Testament, (many times in Leviticus and Deuteronomy) how God gave special "portions" (rewards) to each of the tribes of Israel? It usually entailed a large piece of land that they could call their own. But then God would always say:

"but Levi doesn't get____ (what the others tribes received)...because I the Lord am their inheritance." (paraphrased)

And I hate to admit this, but I always thought "No fair for them!! I bet they were bummed about that!"

Now God is showing me...NO WAY!!! To have the Lord Himself as my inheritance - what better thing?? It's incredible to think about! And what's even more incredible is that what God promised to the royal priesthood - He promises now to us as His children!

He is our inheritance - all we want, and all we need.

I love the Lord because He is my portion.