I'm always amazed at how quickly time passes us by and how certain snapshots in our lives can be better remembered than others. Last night we went to visit my uncle at his office after work. We gathered together to have a little early birthday celebration for him.
My family on my dad's side are all scientists. Literally.. they all have doctorate degrees in physics, material science engineering, electrical engineering .. (ooh, the excitement) - every family reunion is like a big science conference where the latest and greatest in scientific discoveries are discussed and debated in great detail. "Am I really related to these people?," it's always been sort of surreal and all-around amusing for me.
Last night, as we sat down for tea and some sweets we brought for the occassion, my uncle started talking about prayer. He doesn't know Christ yet, and has probably never stepped foot in a church. In fact, if you ask me about my most significant memories of him, I would say that it's his pragmatic, shrewd, and scientific nature that has defined him. So you can imagine my surprise when he began to talk about his experience with prayer. He doesn't know who he's praying to, or why things happens. He just knows that we he prays, his life begins to change. His relationships improve, his work gets better, his stress goes down. Prayer, it seems, is helping him not only live a longer life, but be the person he always wanted.
This made me realize just how undeniable God is. The reality of God is so easily dismissed yet so undeniable for those who seek Him. It's like as we try to understand and define more of what life is, we realize we can never grasp it all. It's the ultimate oxymoron. Without Him and without our connection to Him, we can't even begin to define ourselves. Crazy, isn't it?
"The reality of God is so easily dismissed yet so undeniable for those who seek Him"
In Romans 1:19-20 Paul speaks of how all men have an intuitive knowledge of God. That knowledge is inherent. It's deeply rooted with the heart of all mankind. God put it there!
All it takes is one glimpse of God's marvelous love to germinate that seed!
Our job, share the love!
Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Carol, this is by far your most profound posting...wow...so true, so deep, God is all around us, in everything we see...how does M W Smith say it...He is the air we breathe...
I have read your last paragraph a dozen times at least. It is so true. After 50 trips around the sun, I am telling you I know less about life than I ever have. The more I learn about life, about Him, the more I realize how little I know...and the more I look forward to another day of learning.
Carol, thank you. I needed this today. This is awesome.
Carol, you have nailed it with "just how undeniable God is"! No matter how hard we try to deny God, He is obvious all around us! Thanks for sharing this great truth in such a personal way. peace
Carebear, thanks for the story. Our God is so incredible, and as He shows me more of His word, His grace is just soooo Amazing, but even that word fails to describe His goodness. Did you know that at the Battle of Magog, Christ Jesus Himself will return from heaven (Ezek. 38) with a shout, with the archangel and the trump of God. Not only will Jesus defend His chosen (Ezek. 38, Zech 12), but will send His angels to get his followers, and then He will set up His millenial reign on earth (Zech 14) and the all the remaining nations will come up and worship Yahweh year after year! Ellis Skolfield shows how the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation have been fulfilled. We're awaiting now the battle of Armageddon/Magog! I know it sounds crazy from how the church is 'expecting' it to take place, but you should check out his book, The False Prophet, downloadable in pdf @ www.ellisskolfield.com. Blessings to you sister!
How encouraging! The scripture "when we don't know how to pray the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us" came to mind. Your uncle will hear from the almighty God if he continues to pray. I know you are so excited with this report!
Exactly! You blew it up, Girl! Sometimes, we get so "mystical" about Jesus that we forget He's everywhere -- even outside of the "church" doors and that, ultimately, your actual relationship with him -- your relationship -- not your mother's faith or your friend's faith, but your own face-to-face experiences tht count. I've even heard people say that God doesn't hear the prayers of the unrighteous. Well how, then, can they ever become "righteous?" If He doesn't hear their prayers, when they repent and ask Him to come into their hearts, what then? I so long for the Body of Christ to truly know God; I mean REALLY know Him w/o all the fanfare and drama. Prayer. Pure, heartfelt prayer. Of course, faith w/o works is dead; but the relationship itself must be initiated...the Holy Spirit will guide the rest...peace, Carebear -- you bring the noise!!!
Someone said, "I like the song but it doesn't sound very Christian to me." I was kinda with them... so I went in search of an answer.
Here reportedly is what Mat has said about the song, "Undeniable is an unbelievably catchy song that found it's beginnings of inspiration from the life of a troubled young man who would often visit the recording studio that Mat was recording his music at. The young man would converse openly with Mat about his need to make real changes in his life. He was just a teenager who went to a nearby high school that was ironically under construction."
Mat told Christianity Today that he would often drive by the school on his way to the recording studio. One day it occurred to him to turn the school's demolition into a metaphor for the uprooting and seemingly uncertainty of the young man's life. Mat said, "The roots of that song are really in seeing joy on the other side of pain - of coming to know God and the undeniable nature of who He is."
Sounds better when you know the reason behind the lyrics. R...
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