Funny name for the title of this post, huh??? Maybe it is. But for me, the words entitled above are words I hear very frequently from my son, Mathis age 3...It seems that no matter how often his tummy says that he is full, before to long he is going to be "hun-ga-ry" again.
I mention this for no other reason than to examine 2 things. First, my response and second, his persistence.
Everytime I hear these words my immediate, initial response to feed the boy so he does not starve to death...I am always inclined to respond to my son's petition that he is hungry and he knows that I can help meet his needs. For short measure, if I do not respond timely enough, he comes back again and again until I either get him something to eat or say no.
Is this not a decent picture of the relationship that I need to have with my Heavenly Father? He tells us in His scriptures that he is inclined to hear us and respond to our petitions for help, so why would He not respond to our petitions for satisfaction of our hunger...Hunger, that is, for Him. Beyond voicing our requests that we are indeed hungry, we need to be persistent with this petition. I think God uniquely rejoices over those of His children that keep coming and coming to Him with a hungry heart.
Father, I am hun-ga-ry for You and You alone.
SDG
JW
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Thristy hearts are awakened by God
"Thirsty hearts are those whose longings have been wakened by the touch of God in their lives." - A. W. Tozer
If we are willing to study Christian history, we will see that there have been many that have come before us that can be and sought to be defined and remembered by one thing and one thing alone: their hearts were thirsty for God. These men and women are giants in our historical faith and they speak to us with ancient words that are still ever true.
But...have you ever wondered what made these men and women thirst for God in ways that boggle our modern American theological minds. Tozer answers this question: their hearts were awakened by a touch from God. A pure thirst for the eternal was given to them be the only Eternal being that could satisfy their Eternal desires. It should not seem to difficult to comprehend why the Eternal is deeply involved in the initiating of this thirst or desire that only He can fulfill? If He is the only one who can fulfill it is He not the one that would have to give it to us to start with? GRACE.
This is just like our God isn't it? Being gracious enough to us to know that those who thirst for something deeper than themselves are really thirsty for Him, even though they may not know it. So He comes down, touches the hearts of men, gives them thirst for Him and then directs the thirsts He has given to them back toward the source, Him.
Is this not the definition of grace? Getting something that I do not deserve from someone who has the authority to withhold it. For many, it may be enough that they know of a God who is willing to save. But how many are willing to pursue and know a truly gracious God that can satisfy their thirsts and desires to the deepest parts of their being.
In agreement with the ancients, may we have a thirst for more than the man-made stuff of this world. Man-made stuff always sounds good in the theoretical but habitually fails and falls flat on its face in reality. May we thirst for more of the God who provides the very thirst we need in order that we are able to receive the satisfaction that only He can provide and the satisfaction we desperately need.
Piper put it like this: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." He is the source of it all.
SDG,
JW
If we are willing to study Christian history, we will see that there have been many that have come before us that can be and sought to be defined and remembered by one thing and one thing alone: their hearts were thirsty for God. These men and women are giants in our historical faith and they speak to us with ancient words that are still ever true.
But...have you ever wondered what made these men and women thirst for God in ways that boggle our modern American theological minds. Tozer answers this question: their hearts were awakened by a touch from God. A pure thirst for the eternal was given to them be the only Eternal being that could satisfy their Eternal desires. It should not seem to difficult to comprehend why the Eternal is deeply involved in the initiating of this thirst or desire that only He can fulfill? If He is the only one who can fulfill it is He not the one that would have to give it to us to start with? GRACE.
This is just like our God isn't it? Being gracious enough to us to know that those who thirst for something deeper than themselves are really thirsty for Him, even though they may not know it. So He comes down, touches the hearts of men, gives them thirst for Him and then directs the thirsts He has given to them back toward the source, Him.
Is this not the definition of grace? Getting something that I do not deserve from someone who has the authority to withhold it. For many, it may be enough that they know of a God who is willing to save. But how many are willing to pursue and know a truly gracious God that can satisfy their thirsts and desires to the deepest parts of their being.
In agreement with the ancients, may we have a thirst for more than the man-made stuff of this world. Man-made stuff always sounds good in the theoretical but habitually fails and falls flat on its face in reality. May we thirst for more of the God who provides the very thirst we need in order that we are able to receive the satisfaction that only He can provide and the satisfaction we desperately need.
Piper put it like this: "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." He is the source of it all.
SDG,
JW
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Lest we forget
As the first post of the new year, a quick thought reminding us that we need to take time to remember...Why do we need to make an effort to "remember"?? Easy, we quickly amd frequently forget...
I once read were Eldredge said that he has thought many times about creating and hanging a sign on the wall in front of this bed that reads "God exists"..Why?? Just in case he needs to be reminded of that foundational fact when he awakes one morning...Just in case he had forgotten all else.
As is seemingly natural for us, we remember all or most of the bad stuff that has occurred over the last 12 months...So as a result, we need to make extra effort to remember all the good that has occurred and thank God for the journey we are on...
Forgetfulness is one of the reasons we need to saturate our hearts and minds with the Word and with solid Biblical authors, writers, musicians or speakers.....David encouraged us to "hide" the Word within us, why? so we will not forget...
So, I encourage you to take some time before the first week of this year gets away to take some deliberate time to remember and thank God for all He has done or is doing in your life...But most of all, thank God and remember that He is with you wherever you go...
SDG
JW
I once read were Eldredge said that he has thought many times about creating and hanging a sign on the wall in front of this bed that reads "God exists"..Why?? Just in case he needs to be reminded of that foundational fact when he awakes one morning...Just in case he had forgotten all else.
As is seemingly natural for us, we remember all or most of the bad stuff that has occurred over the last 12 months...So as a result, we need to make extra effort to remember all the good that has occurred and thank God for the journey we are on...
Forgetfulness is one of the reasons we need to saturate our hearts and minds with the Word and with solid Biblical authors, writers, musicians or speakers.....David encouraged us to "hide" the Word within us, why? so we will not forget...
So, I encourage you to take some time before the first week of this year gets away to take some deliberate time to remember and thank God for all He has done or is doing in your life...But most of all, thank God and remember that He is with you wherever you go...
SDG
JW
Monday, December 29, 2008
Examination vs. Adoration
I have again been moved by the words of A.W. Tozer...As usual, his words have rocked me to the core...
Tozer makes the point in "The Pursuit of God", page. 73-74, that during his day and certainly in ours, we live in a secular age. As a result, our thought habits are most similiar to "those of a scientist, not those of a worshipper."
A scientist. Does that describe me? What about you? Do we approach God, this God whom we as Christians say we have a 'personal relationship' with, seeking to examine and find proofs about God in an effort to have an authentic faith. Or do we approach God as people who fall to their knees and "whisper '"God'". Are willing to admit that we are going to have to wait until heaven before we are able to explain God? Is God unknowable? Certainly not, Is He unexplainable? Yes, in a limited manner. We can explain God based upon what we 1). Know of Him from the Word and 2). What nature reveals to us about God? For the worshipper, Knowledge of God revealed in the Scriptures and the Glory of God revealed in nature are enough to spur wonder and awe. To the scientist, more is needed.
Maybe you can see it, there is a large difference between the two.
Truthfully, most scientists find it difficult if not impossible to have much "faith" in anything besides their "science". If science cannot explain, it must not be true and real, and therefore, cannot be a valid, authentic option.
A true worshipper on the other hand has very little need for explanation of their faith. They take faith for what it is, faith. "The certainty of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Too bad, in our secular age, scientists are not the ones leading the charge in providing evidences to the church about our God that would spur us on in our pursuit of the Almighty. Instead, they are apparently enemies.
Tozer went further with his words and stated that as a result of this scientific mindset, "we are more likely to explain than to adore." Again Tozer is right on the money.
We are not called to explain God or to even necessarily demand an explanation from God, rather, we are called to come to his feet and adore.
May I be found at His feet in wonder and awe, not standing in the midst of His glory demanding more proof...
SDG
JW
Tozer makes the point in "The Pursuit of God", page. 73-74, that during his day and certainly in ours, we live in a secular age. As a result, our thought habits are most similiar to "those of a scientist, not those of a worshipper."
A scientist. Does that describe me? What about you? Do we approach God, this God whom we as Christians say we have a 'personal relationship' with, seeking to examine and find proofs about God in an effort to have an authentic faith. Or do we approach God as people who fall to their knees and "whisper '"God'". Are willing to admit that we are going to have to wait until heaven before we are able to explain God? Is God unknowable? Certainly not, Is He unexplainable? Yes, in a limited manner. We can explain God based upon what we 1). Know of Him from the Word and 2). What nature reveals to us about God? For the worshipper, Knowledge of God revealed in the Scriptures and the Glory of God revealed in nature are enough to spur wonder and awe. To the scientist, more is needed.
Maybe you can see it, there is a large difference between the two.
Truthfully, most scientists find it difficult if not impossible to have much "faith" in anything besides their "science". If science cannot explain, it must not be true and real, and therefore, cannot be a valid, authentic option.
A true worshipper on the other hand has very little need for explanation of their faith. They take faith for what it is, faith. "The certainty of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Too bad, in our secular age, scientists are not the ones leading the charge in providing evidences to the church about our God that would spur us on in our pursuit of the Almighty. Instead, they are apparently enemies.
Tozer went further with his words and stated that as a result of this scientific mindset, "we are more likely to explain than to adore." Again Tozer is right on the money.
We are not called to explain God or to even necessarily demand an explanation from God, rather, we are called to come to his feet and adore.
May I be found at His feet in wonder and awe, not standing in the midst of His glory demanding more proof...
SDG
JW
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The night that changed it all..!!!
It has become only recently apparent to me why there was only one 'book on tape" that would remotely interest me that night at the Hastings in Russellville about this time last year...
I was just looking for a little company via a 'book on tape' for the 90 minute ride home...Little did I know that the lack of consumer choice that night would change my life...
After listening to this book in its entirety 3 times, I called a couple of God chasing buddies and discussed the issues contained within...We all agreed that this book would be perfect for us and for our group at church, which was in desperate need of a fresh infusion of spiritual meat to chew on...
The book was Waking the Dead by John Elderdge...I had passed over this book many times in bookstores, but that night in the Hastings, it really was my only choice...NOTE: (I do not include any Word of Faith/Health & Wealth books as spiritual choices to pick from)....
The encounter I had with God through our true exposition of this book I thought would have lasting effects on our group as a whole and only in part for me as it dealt with my involvement with the group: Fighting for one another, building a "redemptive powerhouse" from within our group, guarding and protecting our hearts....We have done a lot of talking and reminding, but it has sort of fissiled a little, as we thought it may...But we have made the effort and fought many battles...
However, little did I know that I was reading that book for me, for this night, as I sit at this computer...My heart is being torn apart at current...Some of the issues that weigh on my heart have been previously discussed in this blog.....People who are making decisions at my church have my heart in their hands and I pray that it is handled well...But past history with church people and my heart have very seldom turned out well...
I do not want to get caught in the middle of the frenzy but I do want the desires that God has placed within me to soar...I also have competing desires within that do not want to go through the pain of my heart ignored, mistreated, misunderstood (as is usual most of the time for me) or broken...And I find myself upon that precipice that brings all of the aforementioned into play and possibility...
Truth is my heart has broken in this manner too many time before and I am not, at this time, willing to take the risk again...May the Lord grant me His peace and wisdom that surpasses all human understanding...May He speak to the deepest parts of my heart has He has done so many times this year...
In recent days, I have drawn from the words of Waking the Dead many times...I have been encouraged, confronted and haunted by them...I fear that I may lose heart...I fear that I will lose heart...I fear that my talent is fading fast...I fear that I have been on a different ride than many of the people within my church...It seems I am hearing a lot of fear right now...
The passions within my heart have been shared by me to whoever would listen this year...Those passions call me to pursue God with all that I am and I want others to come along with me...And I know more than anything that music alone cannot do it...Much more has to be brought to the table, but it seems that music is the only way in the door...
And after 12 months, it hits me, all that has been on my heart these last days, and after all that I have endured in 2008 and after all that we have fought for, who would have known, the book was meant for me the whole time...
SDG
JW
I was just looking for a little company via a 'book on tape' for the 90 minute ride home...Little did I know that the lack of consumer choice that night would change my life...
After listening to this book in its entirety 3 times, I called a couple of God chasing buddies and discussed the issues contained within...We all agreed that this book would be perfect for us and for our group at church, which was in desperate need of a fresh infusion of spiritual meat to chew on...
The book was Waking the Dead by John Elderdge...I had passed over this book many times in bookstores, but that night in the Hastings, it really was my only choice...NOTE: (I do not include any Word of Faith/Health & Wealth books as spiritual choices to pick from)....
The encounter I had with God through our true exposition of this book I thought would have lasting effects on our group as a whole and only in part for me as it dealt with my involvement with the group: Fighting for one another, building a "redemptive powerhouse" from within our group, guarding and protecting our hearts....We have done a lot of talking and reminding, but it has sort of fissiled a little, as we thought it may...But we have made the effort and fought many battles...
However, little did I know that I was reading that book for me, for this night, as I sit at this computer...My heart is being torn apart at current...Some of the issues that weigh on my heart have been previously discussed in this blog.....People who are making decisions at my church have my heart in their hands and I pray that it is handled well...But past history with church people and my heart have very seldom turned out well...
I do not want to get caught in the middle of the frenzy but I do want the desires that God has placed within me to soar...I also have competing desires within that do not want to go through the pain of my heart ignored, mistreated, misunderstood (as is usual most of the time for me) or broken...And I find myself upon that precipice that brings all of the aforementioned into play and possibility...
Truth is my heart has broken in this manner too many time before and I am not, at this time, willing to take the risk again...May the Lord grant me His peace and wisdom that surpasses all human understanding...May He speak to the deepest parts of my heart has He has done so many times this year...
In recent days, I have drawn from the words of Waking the Dead many times...I have been encouraged, confronted and haunted by them...I fear that I may lose heart...I fear that I will lose heart...I fear that my talent is fading fast...I fear that I have been on a different ride than many of the people within my church...It seems I am hearing a lot of fear right now...
The passions within my heart have been shared by me to whoever would listen this year...Those passions call me to pursue God with all that I am and I want others to come along with me...And I know more than anything that music alone cannot do it...Much more has to be brought to the table, but it seems that music is the only way in the door...
And after 12 months, it hits me, all that has been on my heart these last days, and after all that I have endured in 2008 and after all that we have fought for, who would have known, the book was meant for me the whole time...
SDG
JW
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Thirst that leads to Aching
I have been struck this week by a quote I read in John Eldredge's book, The Journey of Desire. Eldredge's basic thesis of this book is that God has placed within each one of us a specific set of desires that are unique to us and therefore compel us. Some of us pursue these desires; others pull a Jonah and try to run from them, but find that they cannot because these desires are the basic fabric of who they are...And it results in several troubles.
In Chapter 11, Eldredge is talking about recovering and living with thrist and hunger as the M.O. of our lives. He makes this statement that I understood immediately when I read it for the first time. He said "To live thirsty is to live with an ache." Let those words sink in for a moment. Eldredge makes direct application of this statement in both physical and spiritual contexts. I will comment on it from the spiritual context. I have read similar statements from many others including, Augustine, Tozer, Gary Thomas, Pascal, Piper, to name a few. But Eldredge's combining of thirsting and aching are spot on.
As a man efforting to live a life that authenticly pursues the glory of God in my life, thirsting should be the hallmark of my life and the cry of my heart. And having my thirst quenched by an eternal being leaves my heart aching for eternity itself. My heart will ache because it knows that it was meant for another place and another time and because of Jesus, my heart knows it is going to be made whole and complete some day, which is satisfying and dehydrating at the same time.
The point is that Jesus has promised (Matt. 5) that those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled." Our thirst and hunger must be at the forefront of our lives. We must pursue satisfaction from eternal sources and not from sources that this temporal world offers. Jesus has promised to hear us and fill us.
Therefore, we are to live our lives in constant pursuit of the fulfiller of our hunger and thirst. We are to live being: Always Hungry. Always Satisfied.
SDG
JW
In Chapter 11, Eldredge is talking about recovering and living with thrist and hunger as the M.O. of our lives. He makes this statement that I understood immediately when I read it for the first time. He said "To live thirsty is to live with an ache." Let those words sink in for a moment. Eldredge makes direct application of this statement in both physical and spiritual contexts. I will comment on it from the spiritual context. I have read similar statements from many others including, Augustine, Tozer, Gary Thomas, Pascal, Piper, to name a few. But Eldredge's combining of thirsting and aching are spot on.
As a man efforting to live a life that authenticly pursues the glory of God in my life, thirsting should be the hallmark of my life and the cry of my heart. And having my thirst quenched by an eternal being leaves my heart aching for eternity itself. My heart will ache because it knows that it was meant for another place and another time and because of Jesus, my heart knows it is going to be made whole and complete some day, which is satisfying and dehydrating at the same time.
The point is that Jesus has promised (Matt. 5) that those who "hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled." Our thirst and hunger must be at the forefront of our lives. We must pursue satisfaction from eternal sources and not from sources that this temporal world offers. Jesus has promised to hear us and fill us.
Therefore, we are to live our lives in constant pursuit of the fulfiller of our hunger and thirst. We are to live being: Always Hungry. Always Satisfied.
SDG
JW
Friday, December 12, 2008
Maybe Plato was right afterall ?!?!?!
I have a quote from Plato on my desk at work that reads, "Old age has a great sense of calm and freedom when the passions have relaxed their hold and you have escaped, not from one master, but from many."
Are Plato's words as much of a description of your Christian life as they are mine??? How I long for the calm and freedom of having only one passion that masters my life...
I have recently been struck by this song, Reign in Us, by Starfield...The musical aspects of the song are nice and catchy, but as is always important with me, the words always mean more than the tune...The words in this song that are compelling are as follows: "O Great and Mighty One, with one desire we have come: that You would reign, You would reign in us." Notice this over-used phrase in churchianity today, "ONE DESIRE WE HAVE COME"... Come on, really??? One, single, solitary desire. Sounds easier than it lives.
I have become convinced of many things over the years, but there is one thing I have become convinced of out of mere frustrated experience. It is the idea that living the Christian life would theoretically be easier to live if I could indeed reduce all of my passions and desires down ONE thing. Whether it be the Lord reigning in me, or that I would "know and follow hard after " Him, or that I would "come and die"; having one single minded passion would be a much better barometer for me to use to evaluate where I am when compared to this kaleidoscope of perspective I usually draw from. But the focus needed....
Without a doubt, I want to have ONE "pure and Holy passion". I would love to have ONE "magnificent obsession", one "glorious ambition" for my life, but honestly, what a struggle that is. Seems like it takes too much time and effort to narrow down all desires into one. But, I am convinced that it is a noble and worthy road for us travel. It is narrow, lonely, confusing, and difficult, but worth every step and stride.
May God help in this pursuit. May He make it clear what ONE passion He has laid on our hearts and may we pursue His passion for our lives with all that we are.
SDG
JW
Are Plato's words as much of a description of your Christian life as they are mine??? How I long for the calm and freedom of having only one passion that masters my life...
I have recently been struck by this song, Reign in Us, by Starfield...The musical aspects of the song are nice and catchy, but as is always important with me, the words always mean more than the tune...The words in this song that are compelling are as follows: "O Great and Mighty One, with one desire we have come: that You would reign, You would reign in us." Notice this over-used phrase in churchianity today, "ONE DESIRE WE HAVE COME"... Come on, really??? One, single, solitary desire. Sounds easier than it lives.
I have become convinced of many things over the years, but there is one thing I have become convinced of out of mere frustrated experience. It is the idea that living the Christian life would theoretically be easier to live if I could indeed reduce all of my passions and desires down ONE thing. Whether it be the Lord reigning in me, or that I would "know and follow hard after " Him, or that I would "come and die"; having one single minded passion would be a much better barometer for me to use to evaluate where I am when compared to this kaleidoscope of perspective I usually draw from. But the focus needed....
Without a doubt, I want to have ONE "pure and Holy passion". I would love to have ONE "magnificent obsession", one "glorious ambition" for my life, but honestly, what a struggle that is. Seems like it takes too much time and effort to narrow down all desires into one. But, I am convinced that it is a noble and worthy road for us travel. It is narrow, lonely, confusing, and difficult, but worth every step and stride.
May God help in this pursuit. May He make it clear what ONE passion He has laid on our hearts and may we pursue His passion for our lives with all that we are.
SDG
JW
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