Month: July 2020

Louis did an excellent job kicking off his book. He starts chapter 2 with a BIG question…

The most important thing about you is what you think about when you think about God?

This question came from “A. W. Tozer. In his well-known book The Knowledge of the Holy, Tozer says it this way: “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

I pondered for a while how I would answer. I struggled early in my walk understanding the trinity. I “got” Jesus role as well as the Holy Spirit.

The “father” role was a bit distant and while I didn’t have a negative perception on the Fathers role when it applied to my personal walk.

There was more understanding I needed to learn. I never compared my earthly father experiences to our Heavenly Father. Louis covers several examples of the “type” of God is…for example, some see God the father as an old guy who could look like Santa, is really nice but not fully in touch with that is happening today. There are others like “Angry God” etc…

God the father covers his role in Colossians 1:16, “All things were made by him and for him.”

That statement on face value seems arrogant as I first read it without a better understanding of our Heavenly Father.

Going back to the original question asked at the top. Our mental image of God goes along way in either helping or hurting our walk. I never thought of it that way until reading this book.

That is a deep question and something I will be praying for help in removing any previous thoughts about our Heavenly Father involved in my life and make sure the accurate image is revealed vs. any preconceived notions.

Another true statement worth chewing on is:

“That’s why God is constantly in the process of revealing Himself. Through His Word, through creation, through the Holy Spirit at work in our lives, and yes, through the influence of godly people around us, God is constantly showing us who He is. God knows the stakes are high because if we don’t know who He truly is, then we could spend our whole lives with the wrong idea of God in mind, living out our days on earth trying to respond to a flawed image of God. That can cause any number of problems.”

As I have continued my walk, God reveals new ways of himself that surprise me. A few years back, I was confused by the fathers role in the trinity. I prayed for God to make it simple yet something that would accurately describe each part of the trinity. His answer was:

• God the father – architect, authority and creator
• Jesus – operations manager, authority
• Holy Spirit – daily support manager, authority.

If that seems simple, it is. I have worked in Information technology for 20+ years. I asked him to make simple for me to understand. God is WAY more than what I shared. I know this and get it.

The answer removed barriers in my walk at the time. I encourage anyone with tough questions for God, ask him he is a big boy?!

One of the top Things of chapter two is: The number one image of God that Jesus paints for us again and again is that God is a Father. He is our perfect Abba Father.

On to chapter 3…

I am studying a book by Louis Giglio ( Not Forsaken ) The book covers helping a person grow in their relationship with God ( Heavenly Father).

This post covers the first chapter thoughts and observations plus some personal thoughts about my earthly father that surfaced while reading this chapter. I will use these notes for later when we study.

Louis covers examples of how we have a deep desire for our fathers approval, not everyone growing up had a father or father figure and if a person did, it might not be the most positive.

My dad was “there”. He was at my games, allowed me to be a kid, he was an encourager in his own way while my mom was providing that “mom type love reassuring me it would be ok”.

My memories described by Louis are generally positive and helped me shape the person I am today. There were times I didn’t agree with my dad yet as experience and growing older, my dad was right even though at the time my pride would say otherwise. My dad was the typical “man” of his era. He was a self starter. He started and owned multiple businesses, involved in the community, enjoyed outdoors ( hunting deer and at my uncles in Wyoming).

My dad was mechanically inclined, there wasn’t much he couldn’t do from my perspective. One of his self professed weakness was his lack of formal education. He always encouraged me to go to college to help in my life. He would say “ I am a worker, do what is necessary to get it done”

Now that I am an adult. I appreciate my parents for their love and encouragement when looking back. I hope my grown kids have similar positive experiences about their childhood.

As I was reading through the first chapter, many examples came to mind, which was refreshing and brought back good memories. As of this writing, my dad has been gone for about three years. It seems like yesterday he was still there and providing advice.

One of the frequent items I was reminded while reading chapter one. Up until my early 30s, I would frequently seek a “final approval” from my parents when making big decisions in my life at the time. I don’t think that urge to seek your parents input ever goes away. As I have gotten older, their wisdom is more appreciated.

As I continue my walk with the Lord. I seek his advice through prayer and studying of his word. So much of what I failed in my earlier life. I went about the journey by myself without seeking advice from my parents or involving God. That might seem “odd” yet God has been a blessing as I involve him in the most basic and trivial times of my daily life. He wants to be involved.

Here a few highlights I pulled from the book:

God the father wants you to:

“And He wants you to live fearless and free. He always stands poised and ready to take a step toward you. You just need do it”

Psalm 27:10 is referenced:

“Even if my mother and father leave me, the Lord will take me in.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:10‬ ‭ERV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/406/psa.27.10.erv

When a person grows up without a father figure or has a bad experience regardless of the situation. Gods word clearly describes our Heavenly Father will not leave us nor abandon us in any situation.

I found in Matthew and Mark covers when Jesus was dying on the cross and says “father why have you forsaken me” Matthew 27:45-46 and Mark 15:33-41. Luke and John don’t cover these specific words but accounts are at Luke 23:44-49 and John 19:28-30.

I had a feeling of deep dispair when reading the scripture references. At that moment in eternal time. Jesus was sin and to re-establish the connection between his creation and himself, that was a necessary step for the father although it grieved him greatly.

It also allowed Jesus to relate to everyone . He knows every sin and daily struggle. When Jesus “knows” what we are going through. It was that defining moment where our sins were nailed to the cross.

Even in our own depravity, God the father loves us and won’t forsake and abandon us ever. This observation is my own discernment and how I interpreted the passages.

As part of this study, I would encourage each person to read the four accounts in the gospels the moment Jesus was dying on the cross. It was humbling and appreciative of Jesus sacrifice.

In conclusion, Louis did a good job in setting up the chapter. I liked his statement:

“after a small and uneasy moment while you begin to loosen your grip on whatever you’re using to cope with the absence of your father’s blessing, you’ll take that tiny jump, and you’ll find your heart laughing in the arms of a Father who is offering you the best blessing you could ever know.”

This sums up when taking a leap of faith, you might not be sure at first and speaking from recent experience, I can attest this is true.

One final example that happened the same week I started studying this book:

“Do you complain?

…if you do, your friends don’t like to hear it…your enemies love it….James Schofield ( my fathers words) from the 1980s”

Longer story…

“I have a friend I get to meet each week and deliver a care package of food through City Church Greenville (MI) food ministry.

When I pulled into the driveway on the day I normally deliver, my friends spouse was home. He is normally working a part time job. I sensed a need to pray or seek wisdom from him.

We chatted, prayed as normal and about the time I was ready to leave, he commented…there is one thing that “your dad” told me years ago that has stuck with me….then he shared the phrase above…

I was instantly choking up knowing these words of wisdom are from my earthly father, who is no longer with us ( my dad passed in Oct 2017) yet his wisdom is still alive and well…that was extra special…And seems to apply to today’s culture.

Hope this provides perspective today.”

On to chapter 2.