Hello Everyone,
We are only 1 week from beginning our discussion group for the book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. I thought we would do a roll call to see who is going to participate. Please click on the 'comment' link below and leave a comment with your name (first name is fine) and where you are from. You are welcome to leave other info if you would like but don't feel obligated.
As we prepare to dive into this book, I am praying that God move in the hearts of the people of this church. We prayed this morning for renewal in our body. I really feel that God is going to do something great!
If you have not yet purchased the book, it's not too late. We are just starting. Francis Chan is the author, and I think it's about $12 on amazon.com. We were challenged last week to start at the beginning of scripture, and review the creation account (Genesis Chapter 1 - 2 to Verse 3). Then to look at Phillipians Chapter 2 verses 1-11. Meditate on those passages and ask yourself, are you in awe of your creator? Can you believe the same God that created birds, animals, the earth, and coffee humbled himself as a servant and became obedient to death on the cross, just so he could have a relationship with us?
Francis talks about his experience in the church. He writes "I called myself a christian, was pretty involved in church, and tried to stay away from all the things good christians avoid: Drinking, drugs, sex, bad language. Christianity was simple: fight your desires in order to please God. Whenever I failed (and it was often), I'd walk around feeling guilty and distant from God. In hindsight, I don't think my church's teachings were incorrect, just incomplete. My view of God was narrow and small"
What is your view of God? Are you in awe of him? Do you fear him?
Go online and view "The awe factor" at www.crazylovebook.com
I need to have a magnifying mirror to look at myself (you know, the ones that make your pores look like moon craters). If I can stand to look that closely at myself and see how miniscule and meaningless I am in the scheme of things in comparison to an unfathomably huge God, I gain a perspective to grow on. In Isaiah 6, the prophet is confronted with Almighty God. "Woe is me. I am undone." I can't even imagine how I would feel. Certainly Isaiah was living in days of unprecidented evil in the kingdom of Judah. They had wandered so far without ever leaving the promised land. Are we so different? We call ourselves a Christian nation; somehow I don't think Christ would agree. I am positive I wouldn't have uttered a word, I would have been too busy trying to tunnel under the holy marble of the temple to get my unholy self far from the presence of He who embodies Holiness.
After developing this perspective, I can then truly marvel at truth. The God who commands the galaxies--who spoke them into existence, designed each cell in my body precisely according to His unique plan. Furthermore, he continues to note the loss of each gray hair I yank. (One day, he'll stop replacing them and I will indeed be sorry.) He uses an electron microscope on steroids to zoom in from His vastness to get down to my level and know me. Even with the foreknowledge of how arrogant and unworthy I would be, it's amazing to know that because I am a follower of Christ, my shame would be covered by Jesus' blood. He wanted me to be able to meet Him in the throne room. He truly loves me and wants to use my life to display His glory. When we "get that", it will change our lives.
Ask yourself these questions this week and comment please:
1 - What would be the first words you would say when you saw God in all His glory?
2 - How was your relationship with God different this week?
3 - How would you like to see it change?
Read Revelation 4 - How does this change the way you enter into prayer? Try to picture our maker on the throne when you enter in to prayer this week. Does it change the way you pray?
