Seeking the Son

Drawing Near to Him

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 01:01:00 +0000

Friends, it has been some time since I've posted here. Time has allowed for many things to change, which is the way of things.

Some struggles remain, while other victories have been won! I praise God for all of this, and each day I feel I grow stronger in my faith -- and more importantly -- my understanding of His will in my own life.

Like a meandering stream I have allowed my faith to roll over rocks and lackadaisically find its way through this turn and that. When a storm comes, certainly it floods my banks to their fill and when the storm passes, so to does the insistent need for that faith.

Why He so easy to find when times are tough?

Or is it that He has been patiently waiting for me to find my way back into His arms... showing an unfaltering love I cannot imagine...

"Proximity," He whispers quietly in my ear.

Be close? Draw near?

... I am left to my reason to sort this out, but not alone. He has left clues along my path, and knows my unique ways to uncover them all.

And through it all, I am reminded of why I started this search so long ago. However, having found Him is certainly not a singular journey. No, my friends, it is something we endeavor to do like the raging rapids each day of our lives.

Perhaps we are only like babbling brooks, or slight rain drops to the ground -- at times. But I am reminded not to be discouraged, because His love for me is great.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. - Matthew 7:7-8

Why Is It We Fear God?

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Why is it we fear God? Why do we believe Him to be angry and wrathful? Perhaps some of scripture leads us down this path, but I would warrant a guess most of us fear God because we have been wounded by religion - those wielding God as a weapon to beat you down or trounce on your sins.

Today I received one of the Ransomed Heart Ministries' daily e-mails:

The Mastermind Behind the Story

Does God have a good heart? When we think of God as Author, the Grand Chess Player, the Mind Behind It All, we doubt his heart. As Melville said, “The reason the mass of men fear God and at bottom dislike him is because they rather distrust his heart, and fancy him all brain, like a watch.” Do you relate to the author when reading a novel or watching a film? Caught up in the action, do you even think about the author? We identify with the characters in the story precisely because they are in the story. They face life as we do, on the ground, and their struggles win our sympathy because they are our struggles also. We love the hero because he is one of us, and yet somehow rises above the fray to be better and wiser and more loving as we hope one day we might prove to be.

The Author lies behind, beyond. His omniscience and omnipotence may be what creates the drama, but they are also what separates us from him. Power and knowledge don’t qualify for heart. Indeed, the worst sort of villain is the kind who executes his plans with cold and calculated precision. He is detached; he has no heart. If we picture God as the mastermind behind the story— calling the shots while we, like Job, endure the calamities—we can’t help but feel at times what C. S. Lewis was bold enough to put words to: “We’re the rats in the cosmic laboratory.” Sure, he may have our good in mind, but that still makes him the “vivisec-tionist”—the experimenter.

We root for the hero and heroine, even come to love them, because they are living in the drama. They feel the heartache, they suffer loss and summon courage and shed their own blood in their struggles against evil. What if ? Just what if we saw God not as Author, the cosmic mastermind behind all human experience, but as the central character in the larger story? What could we learn about his heart?

(The Sacred Romance, 71–72)

While I haven't read The Sacred Romance, this excerpt really crystalized why most seem so fearful of God? But then I remembered that He sent His only son, Jesus Christ - to not only die for my sins - but to be the living, breathing example of how to have a relationship with God, our Father - my heavenly Father.

It is not without cause we fear God in many cases. In surrendering ourselves to Him and following the example Christ lived for us - me and you - how wonderful is it to realize His love is boundless even when there is no possible way we can deserve it.

Doesn't that just blow your mind?

Other Resources: Perry Duggar, Founding Pastor at Brookwood Church, has an excellent message on fear. Simply visit this link to Brookwood Church's website, and be sure to watch the video from January 24, 2010 Fear - Life Interrupted.

Seeking the Son is a website dedicated to the search for a more intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Ken is also the founder of ChangeForge, a website focusing on the shifting paradigms of business and technology. To discover all of the places you can connect with Ken, please connect with him here.

Seeking Through Struggles: Faith Is But A Stone's Throw Away.

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:30:00 +0000

… [L]et us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. (Hebrews 12:1-4, NLT)

Stop and think:

Would you have been willing to give your life to save your son or daughter? How about for your husband or wife, brother or sister, mother or father or even a grandparent? Would you be willing to give your life for a perfect stranger that wouldn’t even say thank you?

But does Jesus even ask us to give our lives for humanity? Why then do we believe it so difficult to make a choice of faith? Perhaps it’s because it’s not just one decision, in practice. We often focus so much on that one day when Jesus gave His life for us we forget the life of decisions He made leading up to that day. Even Jesus struggled to accept God’s will for His life:

He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. (Luke 22: 39-44, NLT)

Seeking Through Struggles: Faith Requires Action

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Faith is often thought of as being a glass to be filled. You either have it or you don’t. Looking to the verse about faith, do you think Jesus believed faith to be something to be acquired?

The Faith of a Roman Officer

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.”And the young servant was healed that same hour. (Matthew 8, NLT)

Perhaps faith is not so passive. When preparing for a marathon, weeks and months of training are required to get both the body and mind in the proper form to handle the rigor of trial to come. Is our spiritual battle requiring of any less commitment or is it any less important?

It sounds too hard doesn’t it? When comparing faith to a marathon, does that give you hope or make you question whether you should even try? But what if the Roman Officer hadn’t come to see Jesus, or believed his worthlessness would prevent Jesus’ power from saving his servant? He made a choice and believed it. It’s doesn’t have to be complex, but you have to choose to start somewhere!

Get up and prepare for action. Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say. Do not be afraid of them, or I will make you look foolish in front of them. For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land—the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah. They will fight you, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Jeremiah 1:17-19, NLT)

Seeking Through Struggles: Perhaps It Is About Perspective?

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Perspective is defined as: “The ability to see all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship.” Its origins come from the Latin word perspectīva, or per + spectīva, meaning “to look”.

I like to call myself a binary believer. It’s either a one or a zero, it’s on or it’s off, black or white; I don’t have room for maybe in my brain. That’s why I gravitated towards computers and technology. But over the years, I’ve seen so many people question why a computer did this or that – speaking about it as if it had a mind of its own. But what they don’t see are millions of lines of programming code resting on top of bare metal and silicon. Although the relationship is much more complex, there is always a reason. It’s just hard to see because they don’t understand the relationship.

Our relationship with God is much like this. We start out with infantile understandings of what He expects of us. It is when we define what our relationship with Jesus should look like in the context of what we know that cannot gain the necessary perspective to look past our circumstances. Only through persistently seeking a relationship with Him, can we begin to understand His purpose in our lives – His calling on our lives.

How much information do you need to make a decision? Are you a “show me” kind of person, get anxious about being asked to change, or doubt what you think you hear from God? Perspective is often a choice to believe in something for which there is no proof. This choice to believe in something without proof is faith.

Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon? “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. (Matthew 17:19-21, NLT)

Seeking Through Struggles: You Against The World.

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Life seems to be full of obstacles, challenges and even land mines intended to stop us dead in our tracks – stop us from taking just one more step towards deepening our walk with Jesus Christ.

Do you even know where to start, feel like giving up or just feel stuck in a rut? Do you ever feel like it’s you against the world – or worse – the whole world is against you?

Jesus didn’t care about your position, your past or your religion. He only cares about you.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG)

Peace Can Be Found In The Smallest Shifts of Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? (Matthew 16:24-26, NLT)

I cherish knowledge and learning. I love tinkering, discovery, and find a simple joy in learning something new that makes me say, "Ah, I get it now!" I get a little smirk on my face, my head tilts slightly to the side and I nod my head a few times.

But over the past week, God has placed a calling on my heart to understand more about self-denial. Now understand, as a self-proclaimed, life-long learner I am adamant about being completely, brutally honest about myself. I believe the only way to learn - to improve - is to face myself and logically disarm my emotional reactions.

So when I hear the phrase, self-denial, I'm instantly thinking, "I have to lie to myself?" That goes against everything I believe in - to my very core. But as I pray and meditate on this phrase - I begin to understand it is not about fooling myself; it is about NOT fooling myself any longer.

Huh?

When Jesus asked His disciples to put aside their selfish ways, He asked them to throw away what was safe. He asked them to show ultimate trust in Him. This theme is repeated time and again in the Word, and Jesus exemplified this as the Living Word.

So self-denial tells me to put aside worry, to put aside pride, to put aside those things that shackle me from my calling in His kingdom. Now I must pick-up my cross, the cross He calls to me to carry.

For so long, I not only doubted but was fearful of what faith might mean. Who am I kidding, I still fear the full weight of what my cross might bring. But I am actively seeking to carry it now, much like training for a marathon, I suppose.

But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Isn't it odd how the smallest shifts in perspective can be the most meaningful? While I could always intellectualize this passage, I certainly didn't internalize it. Now my daily prayer is for Him to grant me the wisdom and will to stay my own hand, resist the temptation to control the circumstance, and truly seek how I might allow Him to take the glory from me!

Isn't it odd how the smallest shifts in perspective can bring you peace?

Got Empathy?

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:30:00 +0000

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. (Romans 12:9-18, NLT)

How many times have you found yourself scrimping - holding back? How many times have you questioned giving to someone else - your money, your time, your heart, and your grace?

I grew up in the IT field, working on desktop computers and hardware repairs in the USMC in 1997. Most get there start in a a tier 1 environment like bench repair or helpdesk. One of the nice things about starting with the Marine Corps was that I also got to work directly with end-users on problems in their environment. So it offered a variety for me.

IT folks often get labeled as being very rigid, because they tend to gravitate towards binary answers: It either is or it isn't, black or white, on or off. The label is often true - but not just for IT-types.

Because of the "technician mindset", many people like to work with things. They are uncomplicated, and if you do "A", then the result is always "B". It simplifies your decision-tree to think in binary, and it doesn't take into account human nature.

When someone would ask me for something I often find myself citing this regulation or that - finding a way to distance myself from the emotional decision. But I began to focus more on people and how I had an impact in their life. So I began to instruct people to get me in front of their problem and it would get fixed; This is called empathy.

If you wanted me to fix your problem, help me feel your pain, your frustration - and I would become your advocate to get it fixed. But what happens when I couldn't relate, when I didn't empathize with you?

What do you think Jesus would've done had He not empathized with each of us? Sure He might've lived a long and prosperous life, growing old and wise. But that wasn't His calling, and He never abandoned us. Even knowing we wouldn't be able to empathize with Him in His pain - He sacrificed all for the glory of God!

So don't just pretend to love others. Really love them... Don't think you know it all.

How then are we suppose to find this love for others and extend grace to them - as grace was extended to us? It comes not from within, friends. It comes from loving Him. In other words, while I was demonstrating some level of maturity by trying to empathize with another's struggle, that's not the answer. The answer is to love God - with ALL of my heart and mind. Then, and only then, can I empathize with what He would have me do in His name for another.

Worry. Anger. Hate. Fear. Stubbornness.

All are natural emotions, and expected. But they stand in the way of His will. So expect them and reason through them. Clothe yourself in His grace and love, and through your strengthening faith you will find an answer - His answer for all time. By empathizing with His will for your life, your faith can come alive and be a truer witness for Him in this world.

Choose a New Year Every Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 03:11:00 +0000

My friends, I welcome you to a new year - 2010! At the beginning of all things, we have a chance for hope and fresh starts, an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start with no mistakes. As we look into the rearview mirror at our gone-by year with the corner of one eye, we are keenly fixated upon the road ahead.

Why today; Why 01-01-10?

As I look at those 6 digits, it strikes me as oddly binary - that is the language of computers which is either off or on. There is no middle ground, no place to stand in the gap. I can't help but wonder why we do not take the opportunity for a fresh start every day?

Why not today?

... have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? ... And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. (Romans 6:3-4 NLT)

Wow! What a refreshing thing to remember. We have a choice thanks to His death! I've already made mistakes and this new year isn't even 24 hours old for me; I will continue to sin, because that's in my nature. But that's alright as long as I don't give up and choose to turn my back on the choice Jesus made for me - for you.

Choose to live your new year every day, my friends!

Speak Peace To Your Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 18:26:00 +0000

I am a man. I am a man living two lives: One man wishes and pines to be the best I can be, while the other sabotages the efforts of my wishing-man.

Inside of us all rages a battle, I believe. Those who choose to believe have surrendered to He, who is greater than us, offering us purpose, hope and grace. Even so, are you not still at war within yourself?

I cannot speak for all of you, only for myself in this. I daily struggle with action not equaling intent. But why?

Our society teaches us that we should take what we want, work harder for what we want, be more deserving of what we want - and not rest until our every desire is quenched. Am I then not doing something right? Why do I still struggle?

Always with a feeling of something left undone, I am left to question - when will it be enough?

But then I remember that which matters most. A son came to earth to die for us - for me. And in so doing, gave me a gift - gave you a gift - of forgiveness.

A quote I saw yesterday made me think:

Don't tell God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!

Think back...

... to a time when you felt the most at peace. Perhaps it was a specific time in your past, like baking Christmas Eve dinner, getting a hug from your son or daughter, laying in your loved one's arms just before you fall asleep, or even that first sip of coffee in the morning.

Whatever the occasion that brings you peace, focus on it; taste it ever so delicately - like you might sample a new recipe simmering on the stove. Now fall into it and imagine a life filled with this, surrounding you like a warm blanket on a cold, winter night.

Finding Jesus' love brings me rest from the tempest surrounding us. I suppose it's really about perspective, isn't it? In the midst of our storm, our own mental storm, I encourage you my brothers and sisters, speak calm to your storm and tell it how big your God is!

May you be filled with His blessings and find peace in His hands.

How To Deal With Criticism.

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery. (Proverbs 29:1, NLT)

Effective communication is a both an art and science. The human body is so very expressive, a fact those studying anatomy often relate to a maker or God, Himself.

And with the gift of choice, we all have the ability to use our bodies as offerings or weapons - our words as gifts or as swords to cut another deeply. Being candid or truthful is not a license for offense. We must take great care in the things we say and actions we demonstrate as these are evidence of our motive.

But can you be calm under fire? Do you accept criticism well? To be a mature communicator is very tough. In fact, I find it tougher with those I care more about. It's rather inversely proportional: The less I care for someone, the easier it is to take criticism.

But it is those we love most that need us to stay our hand and not level both barrels right at their head when delivering observations. I certainly have been guilty of opening my mouth and directly inserting my foot (or possibly both).

What I have been learning, and attempting to apply, is that maintaining a Jesus-focused perspective helps remove you from the direct line of fire. Why? I'm sure there are many reasons, but for me, my Jesus-focus helps me ask, "Why is this person saying this (using these words, using this tone, and posturing like that)?

Also, maintaining my Jesus-focused outlook helps me keep perspective on the day's problems. I find that when I am most stressed, if I were to pause and ask what I'm stressed about then I often can answer that I've become obsessed with the task at hand instead of the purpose the task is meant to yield.

Try that in your day. See if you can pause, take a breath, and refocus on God's purpose for you in that moment. It may help you take criticism just a little easier too.

Just Say Thank You

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:23:00 +0000

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. (Proverbs 28:13, NLT)

During my studies, I have found that starting the study with a brief prayer helps me be centered and God-focused. Each time I do this, and keep questions and requests for guidance in the forefront of my thoughts, I find it amazing that time and again He offers me another piece of advice or confirmation that I did not see the last time I read a verse.

Yesterday, this verse really stood out to me. It was stark in contrast to some of the other text and seemed to hit me like a smack on the head - more so than others.

I consider myself a blessed man. I have a wonderful wife and daughter, am gainfully employed, and I am even allowed to enjoy the fruits of my work. But as I have really begun to awaken to a much deeper need for intimacy with Jesus Christ, I have realized much of my life was built on sand (Matthew 7:24-27). I know I am working through really discovering and repositioning my life for His glory.

I'm sure there are quite a few applications to this verse, but it is interesting that this single verse speaks to both of the on-goings struggles I battle: my flesh and my pride.

Perhaps both are because I am a man, but I suspect it is because I am a human - victim of the fall of Adam. My choice could be to wallow in it with self-pity and guilt, or realize that Jesus gave his life for me so that I could be set free.

But it takes a choice. In fact, I should not say "a choice" (singular). Instead, it takes a choice every day, and sometimes many times throughout a day. If I can internalize this, then realizing I am a sinner now can begin to offer strength instead of guilt; sharing that I fall (often) quits being an excuse to do it again, but now serves as a reminder of who I am because of where I came from and does not define where I must go.

The choice of grace and forgiveness was made long before Adam took his first breath. It was given freely. I can't help in thinking that most of us are not gracious receivers of gifts or compliments. We often say things like, "You shouldn't have," or "No, not me."

Every once in awhile, what if we just simply said, "Thank You"?

Call To Me and I Will Answer

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:01:00 +0000

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3 - NIV)

This time of year is always so very busy with holidays, family gatherings, and - yes - the shopping. In my readings, I continue to hear the message calling to God - making time in your life for Jesus.

Doing so, however, is another story. This message speaks to me about action and application - and ultimately faith and love. How do we make just one small change in our lives on a consistent basis, as opposed to always trying and failing at that big 1 or 2 things and hitting ourselves upside the head in disappointment?

Pause. Be Still, and Reconnect with Him - where you are! Its an amazing thing I am learning - He will come to me where I am, if only I will ask. Isn't that so very humbling and reassuring?

This season is certainly busy, and each of you shared trials you face. As we pause and turn to a

time of year dedicated to honoring Jesus, remember He loves you not in spite of who you are, but BECAUSE of who you are!

Are You Willing?

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:00:00 +0000

"Don't gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake, it stings like a viper." (Proverbs 23:31-32, NLT).

We all have our vices... Goodness knows I have mine. Those I seem to have the most troubles with are those I find hard to escape. Your environment - your surroundings, workplace, home, friends, coworkers, and hobbies - have a strong influence on you. When you find yourself struggling with something, don't surround yourself with it.

But the trick is whether you are willing to take that step. Are you willing?

Relax Into It!

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:52:00 +0000

Imagine standing outside on a hot, summer day facing a crystal blue pool. Your arms are outstretched, your mind expectant of the relief to come, you lean forward - ever so slightly. You know that pool of water will feel so good after a long day. You don't wade in, nor do you dive into it.

Instead, you relax into it...

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll lean to live freely and lightly." (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG).

Do you feel the tension crawling up your back, hitting your neck, pulling your shoulders into your ears? Do you grit your teeth, notice you breathing more shallow, or find your brow furrowing? What's running through your mind?

Try as we may, life seems to find ways to get under our skin. Just now, even, writing reading and praying on this passage given to me by a friend just a few days ago, my wife sat here trying to decide the best way to comply with local business requirements for her business. And after overhearing several frustrating calls to various colleagues about just what to do - I felt like I had to jump in and save the day!

Wrong answer...

Not only was my approach (tone) wrong, this undermined my wife's sovereignty, damaged an opportunity to build trust, and was counter-productive. Needless to say, I didn't relax into His will for this situation.

How often do you wrestle with your way of doing things? Instead, practice what Doug Fields, teaching pastor at Saddleback Community Church, recommends in Refuel, his guide to connecting with God,

"Life is so much better when your spiritual tank is full. But if you are nearing empty, please know there is hope. Anyone can follow [this simplistic plan]...
Stop.
Be quiet.
Make a connection.
That's all there is to it. The plan is sustainable. It's powerful, and it works. God promises to show His people how to truly live. So when we regularly connect with God, we count on it. Not only that, but our souls are restocked. Emptiness diminishes. We have a new power and spiritual energy for each day."

So, if I want to help - I have to practice: 1) creating margin or space to see it coming, 2) shut my mouth, and 3) listen - to God and to what's happening around me.

I need to relax into it...

Living a Balanced Life - Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:46:00 +0000

This week, we continued our Brookwood study about living a balanced life. We focused on gaining wisdom. James 1:2-5 was the focus verse for us this week:

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers [and sisters], whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he [or she] should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him [or her]."

Some thoughts that really stuck out to me during this study were:

Fenton shared his view of wisdom as avoiding greed, lust and power; not easily swayed by circumstances, and having measured words.
The testing of our faith develops perseverance. How do you develop faith without an opportunity to demonstrate it?
Some of the ways in which we might develop perseverance (or spiritual endurance) is pushing our comfort zone, studying (small group, self-study, and church), prayer, worship, action (missions, evangelism, ministries), and finally seeking Him (having a heart to seek God).
Many of us struggle with poor reception (reminds me of a mobile phone), not being able to hear or feel Him at work in our lives. Seeking God in these times can be difficult, but many of you shared your stories about how you "get back to the basics" and find God again (having a seeking heart).
When do you experience poor reception? Many of you cited when things are tough, you seek God more but might not during times of plenty. How about when you are busy and your life is out of balance? What's the first thing in your so-called "priority list" that gets bumped? That's certainly a tough question to ask yourself.
Finally, the definition of wisdom is the application of knowledge. How do you apply what you've learned to what you know God wants you to do? (I know I still have a long way to go).

A thought to leave you with:

Many Christians today have shrink-wrapped God into a convenient little, bite-sized, individually-wrapped package to be put upon a shelf and retrieved whenever convenient; we live in a fast food world, where everything has drive-up service or doorstep delivery. If we take a good long look in the mirror, we may find we often ask God to come to us on our own terms and not go to Him on His.

Each of us have our own definitions of how our relationship with Christ should look, feel, smell and taste; so it is not for me to sit here and pass judgement on your methods for deepening your relationship with He who made the ultimate choice. Taking time out of your busy schedule and putting what should be most important first is always an exercise in choice (which may seem like an exercise in utter futility, at times).

In this study we have sought how to achieve more balance in our lives, and simply by committing to a small group study is a huge step; Your commitment to a small group is only one way of demonstrating your seeking heart, but are each of you challenging yourselves throughout the rest of your week?

How often do you seek God when you feel everything is "under control" or "progressing according to plan"? How many times in your life have you felt overwhelmed and lost - finally surrendering to God's will and handing it all back to Him? Does it worry you when you feel "in control"?

Perhaps when you feel most in control you should be worried? Could feeling out of control, being utterly broken, be the vehicle God uses to deliver you to His purpose for your life? Do you duck your head in your lap, scared for the outcome, or are your taking notice of the landscape of your faith unfold before you?

Wisdom is the ultimate demonstration of choice, my friends, and is the application of our accumulated knowledge of His Word in our daily choices. Only when we are tested do we know our truest hearts, and only in these trials does God brings us to the truth about ourselves. Jesus paid the highest of ransoms,choosing to restore our souls with God over His immediate circumstances to bring glory and honor to our Father's Kingdom.

I challenge each of you this week to choose... choose 1 small thing to make more room for God in your life this next week. Remember, "Be Deliberate about your life and use it as your offering to God!"

Suggested exercise for this week:

On page 50 of our Living a Balanced Life study, there is a "pathway to maturity" exercise. Try this in your own life:

Plans: Set a goal. Make sure it is either a reasonable goal, or break the goal down into digestible parts you can win! (I want to read 1 chapter in Proverbs to start my morning over and above my normal studies during the week).
Praises: Don't beat yourself up too much! Make sure you seek positive things you are doing. (I read at least 1 chapter a day during the week for the last 2 weeks).
Problems: What obstacles did you stumble on AND how do you think you should avoid them in the future? (There were 2 days I didn't wake up with enough time to get ready. I got busy and forgot. (but I did read at night!))
Progress: Follow-up from where you started and see if you feel your efforts have made a difference. What benefits are you realizing? (I feel more calm starting my day, and the days I forgot to read, I use it as an excuse to spend time with my wife reading the bible to her!).

Living a Balanced Life - Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 01:14:00 +0000

This week, we continued our Brookwood study about living a balanced life. We focused on living a healthy lifestyle. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 was a verse that we spent a good deal of time reviewing:

"Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body."

Some of the thoughts that really stuck out to me during the study were:

We discussed a few things which we felt were of the greatest benefit to our physical health. The answers were interesting, and of all of them I think eating a healthy breakfast to start our day was most surprising.
Do we relate the price Jesus Christ paid for us with not only dominion over our spiritual self, but our physical self as well?
Rob Dempsey (HIS Radio 89.3) shared some of his thoughts on what was most important: Faith, Commitment, Accountability, and Activity.
Kelly Frazier (Furman Lecturer & Brookwood member) shared a wonderful story about honoring the gift of bodies God gave to each of us.
Moderation is the key to sustained success.
Choosing to focus on one area of your life and achieving sustained change can have a pull-through effect upon the rest of your life.

A thought to leave you with:

While many of us are at varying stages and have different definitions of wellness, each of us recognizes this as either a strength or potential area of growth in our lives. Those who recognize this as an area of growth seem to recognize a few small steps you could take to start down the road to fine tuning your body. But as Rob Dempsey says, it takes activity, so don't procrastinate - commit to doing something to change.

Change is tough, and lasting change is even tougher. After all, if we had it all figured out we wouldn't need this study would we? Rob shared with us that he was at 308 lbs., and had lost almost half of this by starting small (activity), being committed to the long term success one step at a time, and really surrounding himself with a support structure which would hold him accountable for eating a serving of those Doritos instead of a whole bag!

And above all, Rob found that by stepping up his level of commitment to his physical wellness, it impacted every area of his life. He found that he could be a better Christ-follower and example to all those around him to the greater glory of His name!

Blessings to you all as you go through your week.

Thoughts on Living a Balanced Life - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:59:00 +0000

Some of the thoughts that really stuck out to me during the study were:

The prevalence of social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.) in society, and the tendency for many to believe that its use can replace relationships rather than be a method of simply staying in touch.
None of us particularly valued public relationships (p. 33 of the study) from what I gathered.
In Acts 2:44, we read that "all the believers were together and had everything in common." Wow! with all of the denominations of the church today, these blew my mind. A question I had was whether it is our job to seek commonality with our brothers and sisters in Christ - or perhaps our shared love and faith in Christ should be enough to have in common? Why do many judge whether someone's love or faith seems to be more or less than your own?

A thought to leave you with:

As we live our busy lives, are we taking the time and making the priorities we need for a stronger relationship with Him? Are you?

I know I fell down a good many times since we last visited, and I used to beat myself up about it. Now I know that our journey, at times separate and at times shared, is not without rocks and potholes. I know I walk more with Him today than yesterday, hear His words more and more in my life, and most of all feel His immeasurable love for me - as I am not who I think I should be.

I was glad to return to the service this week, and felt blessed to spend time with you. I realized that while I have come back to Christ and that my relationship has grown so much deeper with Him, I am still as a child who yearns for his parent in his first years of life. As Perry described the meaning of the word "steward", a person responsible for caring for the property of his master, I could not help but think that is how to find favor with people.

In today's group, I recalled how our youth pastor, Mike Hepola, told me a story about he and a group of Brookwood members went to an politically charged event at the Bi-Lo Center a few years back. While many of the other "Christians" offered rebukes and scathing, fire-and-brimstone words, he and the Brookwood members offered water to those who were thirsty on a hot day. Can you relate? Do you respond to an outstretched hand or cower at a closed fist?

Like Jesus, can we find favor with people by being Christ-like? Did Christ ever refuse the sick, the hungry, or the meek?

Blessings to you all as you go through your week.

The Choice

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:16:00 +0000

My family and I recently took some much needed vacation. On the drive to Florida, I saw a bumper sticker that read,

"You can't be a Christian and pro-choice."

Before my wife and I conceived our daughter, we were both of the opinion no one, especially not the federal or state governments, should strip away a choice that is solely an individual's. After all, it was God who granted us free will, right? It wasn't that we believed in abortion - not at all. It was that we believed taking away another's choice was not our choice to make; it was God's. We didn't need a law to attempt to be God's hand.

But that sticker reminded me of the awe of my own daughter's birth, and how much of a blessing she has been in my life. At first, I was scared and wasn't sure if I was ready or even wanted a child, but the birth of my daughter showed me something simple I had lost in my years away from God's love - a glimpse of what a love Jesus must have had for us!

So how can you be a Christian and support a pro-choice stance? I surely don't agree with the unloving acts and words perpetrated by those claiming a so-called pro-life affinity, but just because I don't agree with the bastardization of God's will doesn't mean I should instead support abortion either.

The pro-choice movement hinges upon an illusion - a play on honoring our God-given choice by honoring the sanctity of an individual's choice, while neglecting consequences and accountability for choices made!

Think about all the choices a couple make up until the point of conception, the most obvious one, of course, being the sexual relation which resulted in the pregnancy. An innocent kiss, a fiery embrace, perhaps rushing hormones or a few too many drinks?

All were choices, a step in the dance leading finally to pregnancy. And then a different type of reality sets in, the sheer weight of a decision pressing in upon you. Maybe your too young, or too broke, or too whatever. Maybe you think your life is ending instead of realizing it's your lifestyle that may be in jeopardy instead.

You might hear words coming out of her mouth like "I'm not ready," and "I don't think I can bring a child into this situation."

Men in these situations can be absent physically, emotionally, or even pressure the woman for an abortion. Try and remember that while he may have left you, He never will.

You see, part of the misperception is that sex itself is one simple choice, but anyone who has had experience here realizes there are a multitude of choices before and leading up to the act itself. So why continue to be part of an illusionary platform which speaks of honoring choice when in fact it besmirks the lack of responsibility inherent in conception, steals the opportunity for the unborn child's choice, and ultimately undermines that choice the Son of God made for you so long ago?

Why honor a choice by taking another's away? I'm not speaking about the child living inside of her; I'm speaking about the choice Christ made for you so long ago.

Choice is given to each of us, and as such we must each make our choice, ultimately to believe in Him or not - to live in His love or not. You are all free to make such choices as you see fit, and you may do so with my love, my friends. However, do not mistake my love for my approval. For it is God's choice in your life that I urge you to heed, His love that I encourage you to seek.

You may be alone and feel left in the darkness, with nowhere to turn. Someone preaching at you is not the answer to your woes, your hurt, nor your fear. But imagine having unconditional love, someone who accepts you and will take care of you. I know it seems hard to imagine because the world may not have shown you love or offered you shelter. Don't allow your fears and uncertainty to lead you down a path in which you choose a lifestyle over a life - a love for self over the selfless love your child can bring you.

Image courtesy of Shahram Sharif.

Thoughts on Living a Balanced Life

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:53:00 +0000

A few thoughts from this week that stuck out:

We cannot earn God's grace; it was given to us by Christ who died a sinner's death so that we may know true life.
“The Lord is pleased only with those who worship Him and trust His love.” Psalms 147:11.
Acts of service are outward displays of our love for Him, not a way to earn Grace.
Seeking a closer relationship with God sometimes requires us to step outside of our comfort zone.
Perhaps our perceptions of how we please God and strengthen our relationship with Him are a bit off (key words: egocentric, motivations, contentment, security).
Are you allowing anytime for stillness in your life?

A thought to leave you with:

I know life is hectic for each of us - in its own unique way. This week, ask yourself what 1 thing can you do to inch just a little closer to Him; to take back just a little more time you have given away and return it to that which is most important.

If you cannot take 30 minutes, offer 5 minutes. If you cannot offer 5 minutes, start with 1 minute - and spend that brief amount of time quieting your mind, offering your worship to Him, and trusting in His love.

Peace be with you my friends.

The Choice Is Made. Now Do You Understand Why?

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:06:00 +0000

Our heat pump went out a few days ago, and the diagnosis was grim. With the recent market pressing down on our monthly finances and savings seemingly fluttering away with this or that emergency that keeps popping up - hearing that thousands of dollars were going to be required to repair or even replace our system - it really leaves you asking, "Why me?!?"

My wife was very angry, and felt slighted by God. I was perplexed and left wondering what I was suppose to learn from this situation.

Eventually she calmed down as she talked with God over the situation (how wonderful is it that we can be that honest with Him?). I began wondering if this was the enemy coming at us sideways or if I was supposed to seek understanding and discernment in the situation.

I related this to a friend, and he simply asked if I had any room for a category of "... manure just happens"?

I laughed out loud, and then I paused ... and thought. "You know, I really don't."

It's an interesting observation about how my beliefs have changed and molded over the years. You see, I'm not a big fan of predestination - the theory or belief that my destiny is already made for me. But you read this:

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Luke 12:7)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart... (Jeremiah 1:5)

How do you not believe that God knows everything about you, who you are, what you can and will become? How is there any room for that "other pile" in your life? But what of choice? Didn't God give us the ultimate choice; to choose His love or not?

There is a line in a favorite movie of mine, The Matrix Reloaded when the hero, Neo, is speaking with the sage Oracle,

You didn't come here to make the choice, you've already made it. You're here to try to understand why you made it.

There is a lot of wisdom in that simple statement, isn't there? So perhaps choice and predestination are not so diametrically opposed, after all. Perhaps the middle ground between these two seemingly immutable opposites might be that our decisions have already been made - by us.

God sees each of our lives laid out before us, but we cannot - not in the moment. So getting your brain wrapped around this is weird. But if, in fact, our decisions have been preordained by God, then what choice do we have? You might jump to that conclusion, but wait...

...you've already made it.

Those 4 words might be very depressing to some, but think about this... If we have made the choices, then perhaps what God is waiting for is us to discern Him in those very choices. It's a type of "glass is half-full or half-empty" type of decision, ultimately. In seeking and searching for God in all things, we are making a choice.

It's the difference in giving - and giving with your heart - isn't it, my friends?

Ultimately, we must die to ourselves. That doesn't mean giving up what we hold dear; it means giving up what we hold dear to HIM - as an offering of love, an ultimate and unflinching acknowledgment that we want His love in our lives.

What is God is waiting for us to do? To decide WHY we should love Him.

We will travel this path or take that trail, but through His grace we can find ultimate peace and still be sinners. So I ask you again, have you come to this place to make a choice or seek discernment for His purpose in this decision you have already made?

Meanwhile, I know I'm going to get my heat pump fixed - I'm just trying to figure out why I have to spend so much money asking!

Peace be with you my friends.

Image courtesy of Jo Jakeman.

Is the Third Time a Charm For You?

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 02:55:00 +0000

Greetings my friends. These past few weeks have been rather interesting. As I seek to grow more intimiate with my relationship with Jesus Christ, I am always amazed at the ways in which He speaks to me. To be fair, each of us must listen with our own ears - of a sort. Some like to catalogue "God's voice" as the roaring lion while others might speak of a gentle breeze. Both are right and both might be equally wrong for you.

God finds ways in which to speak to me - not so much in words as in feeling and that which I witness. These are dangerous for many, and could be no less for me as I find it easy to miss Him in these slight gestures or brief pauses. It's so easy to dismiss these as happenstance or whim, but learning to discern the will of God for your life might not be as easy as we might like.

For me, God must know I miss His message, because God likes to repeatSave Now Himself to me in many situations. When I am bent on a certain action and have this nagging feeling in the back of mind that I should seek counsel, I pray. I don't pray for God to work out what I want, and I don't pray for Him to take it away either. My only concern is that God allow me to understand His will for me in those actions - knowing that I am a doubting Thomas... and He holds out His hands to me.

I know His hope is that I grow stronger in my faith, and oh how I have grown. Only He knows the catalysts that help me break through to that next level of intimacy, but I have to open my heart - I need to be tuned in (or at least trying to find the channel)!

I have to believe it's OK to ask for confirmation before making big decisions, because an intimate relationship with God means I've brought my fears, anxieties, and hopes to Him knowing that He takes all of that into consideration. But the distance between confirmation and faith may be great. Just because He offers you confirmation and peace about a decision does not mean that He will make it for you. Faith requires you trust in Him and find your way along the path which He has lit for you; faith requires of you that you not only seek the relationship with Him, but will prove you are worthy by acting upon your faith.

This all can sound kind of preachy, and may even sound really ludicrous if you are still stumbling in the dark, proverbially speaking. If that is the case, then give me a call or e-mail me. I would be happy to chat. I don't promise I can provide answers, but I will be happy to to start with just listening.

Phone: 864-916-9536

e-mail: ken@seekingtheson.org

If all of this feels like it's hitting you between the eyes, then you are on the right track. It's not supposed to be easy I don't think, but I know it feels right when you get just that much closer to Him.

Image courtesy of yasmin.

The Lessons He Never Grows Tired of Teaching

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:04:00 +0000

This past Sunday, my wife's mother asked that we attend her church's homecoming. I wasn't very familiar with this tradition as I was raised in a non-traditional church, but it was certainly an interesting experience. If you are like me and didn't know exactly what a homecoming is either, the format goes a little something like this:

1 hour of listening to old-style gospel sung with some serious twang, foot stompin' and hoopin' and hollerin'.
1 hour of a message or sermon -in this case by a guest pastor or preacher.
A really, really (did I say really) big potluck meal complete with about every kind of southern cuisine you could imagine.

I reluctantly accepted the invitation to attend the church, after all, I have a church I am very happy to attend - and didn't need a new church, right?. I just knew I wouldn't like the music, wouldn't care to hear some pulpit-bangin', fire-and-brmstone sermon, and certainly wouldn't have anything in common with those kind of people...

We had to wake up much earlier than I was certainly used to. I tried not to be a sour-puss, but I was certainly me-focused. I volunteered out of duress, if I must be honest. Not only did we have to wake up earlier, we had to drive almost an hour to get there through about 5 different cities and towns.

We arrived, and I took a deep breath and prepared myself. We quickly discovered there was no childcare and the service was 2 hours!

Great! - and that's sarcasm for those who might mistake that exclamation for excitement. I don't know about you, but have you ever tried to keep a 6 year old focused on something they could care less about for 2 hours?

The music was strange. It felt as if I was listening to Reba meets Hank Williams, Sr. meets Johnny Cash, meets - well I don't know. It was old-school gospel, folks; not my cup o' tea, I can tell you. But something strange began to happen. The lead singer started talking during and between the songs... citing this verse or that or just plain shoutin' and hoopin' - reminding me of how the Indians sounded on the old Cowboys and Indians movies of yesteryear.

I began to see just how much fun he was having, how much fun he wanted the audience to have, and a real conviction in what he believed. Even though at times I thought he might pull out some thick Elvis-style sunglasses to match his performance, there was something...

... and I felt a question touch upon the fringes of my consciousness,

What is in his heart and what is in yours?

And as that very question seemingly floated through the peripheral of my mind, the singer began recounting the ways in which we are all different. He encouraged us all to rejoice in this as God gave us all the ability to praise Him, but in our own giftings... Sing or cry, raise your hand or shout it out; let God know you love Him.

I'm glad I was sitting down... I was embarrassed.

And then the pulpit was handed over from the Pastor of the church to the guest Pastor, and he began to reminisce about how long he had been away from this church, much like Paul did with the church at Phillipi.

The orator began to explain his view that we were all made in His image, and that God had originally breathed life into Adam to be made in His image, but that Adam partook of the fruit and his sons were made in Adam's image - the image of a sinner with a decaying and dying body. This dying of the body symbolized the physical manifestation of our separation from God's love and subsequent spiritual death.

No longer was the question on the fringes of my mind, the Pastor asked it proudly,

Do you love Jesus? If so, then why do you continue to runaway from His purpose for your life and sit on that throne of self instead of seeking His calling for your life?

It was the wake-up call I needed... I was being, no, I am selfish. I needed to be reminded - yet again - that I don't need to be the center of attention, because when I keep staring at only myself I miss everything else along the way - I miss God's glory!

Your heart tells so much about you. It breathes truth into your actions or uncovers the truth in your motives. We are all human, and our hearts are truly those of a sinner. But every once in a while we need a reminder of our purpose. Stepping outside of our comfort zone helps us grow in this understanding.

Sure the music wasn't my style, but it honored Him. The only fire the sermon ignited was in my heart. All those people were kind, displaying how Christ opened his arms to embrace each and every one of our sickly souls. They extended a hand instead of judgment, which I am ashamed to say I carried through those doors with me. But as I walked away I simply shook my head and marveled at how He never grows tired of ministering to my heart.

Peace be with you all, my friends.

Image courtesy of Voxefx.

The Punctuated Pauses In Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:35:00 +0000

Life is filled with so much STUFF.

We are surrounded by so many things that distract us and take our focus away from developing a more intimate relationship with God. One thing hit me today listening to Perry Duggar. Basically, he said we don't need to feel like we have to go from zero to sixty in our worship of God. We do have to start somewhere, and he suggested finding those "punctuated pauses" throughout our day: As we are driving to work, pause after a phone call, or walk from the office to our car - say a sentence or two in prayer with Christ.

My wife and I just finished remodeling our laundry room and pantry. She painted most everything, and I installed our new tile. Tile work is interesting to me, but a tedious job. It takes time, energy, and lots of patience - much like building any relationship.

The trick is to measure and lay out the floor first. Choose your spacing between each tile and cut each piece to fit. Is it a corner piece? Does it have a 45 or 30 degree angle? All of the puzzle pieces must fit together and be spaced appropriately for the finished product to look professional.

The mortar must set, and then comes the most interesting part to me - grouting. While the mortar secures each tile piece to the floor, the grout slips in between each tile piece, both for accent and to solidify the placement of each tile. Just like the punctuated pauses Perry recommends we take, each line of grout further cements the floor and helps us take one more step towards the finished product.

When I stand back and appreciate the workmanship of the new floor, I am pleased with the efforts of my labor. I enjoy walking across the new tile with my bare feet, allowing the cool porcelain to slide across the bottom of my feet. It feels solid and safe, and brings a feeling of joy.

Much like my new floor, the punctuated pauses are helping me cement my relationship with Him. Over the years, I have found myself walking closer to Him - wanting to find new ways to spend time with Him. I still have many lessons left to learn, but I now feel certain that as I work to puzzle through the pieces of my life, a new type of joy awaits that only a life lived in pursuit of His service can bring.

Image courtesy of WayTru

God Tweets

noreply@blogger.com (Ken Stewart | Seeking the Son) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:58:00 +0000

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome my father, Ken Stewart Jr., as a guest author on Seeking the Son. He sent me this post yesterday, and I thought it a wonderful opportunity to allow a different perspective on how to seek a deeper relationship with Him.

God Tweets, by Ken Stewart, Jr.

It struck me the other day that everyone’s obsession with tweeting (using Twitter), Facebook, RSS feeds, etc., is essentially a desire for significance, for connecting, for being heard. If the goal of the ‘60’s was the fulfillment of Andy Warhol’s famous dictum, “Everyone has 15 minutes of fame,” then the goal of the current rage of internet commentary must be, “Everyone has 15 seconds of fame,” even if it’s only fame with 3 or 4 people, and spread over multiple “hits” (which term rings of drug-addition or mafia-elimination fame and may help explain some of the addiction to internet gaming—we all want to see ourselves as Al Capones, Bonnies & Clydes, or Robin Hoods of some sort).

Not that I am an expert by any means on any of this. But it also struck me that, if our desire is to have constant or significant notice and admiration from others, then that may well be one way in which we are made in God’s image. If so, then God also desires our attentions, and may very well—no, indeed, must—be continually trying to get our attention.

In other words, God is always tweeting! How much we hear is dependent on how (and how well) we are connected, what “feeds” we get, and how well we are “reading” or listening to those feeds.

Someone has written several books about “God-winks,” instances where there is such undeniably unexpected and impossibly circumstantial connection that we have to conclude that God loves us and orchestrated such “coincidence.” Great concept, but I wonder if we don’t have to take it a bit further.

The idea that makes a God-wink so desirable is its very unusual nature, something so rare and powerfully serendipitous that it’s undeniably “God.” But what if God is speaking in all the little things that we seldom notice: in the smile of the supermarket clerk, in the unnoticed smoothness of the events of a day simply coming together, in the unremembered dreams (both sleep-dreams and desire-dreams), in small ways, all the time, if we were to simply log on and read the feed.

What if God is constantly “tweeting” us? What if all those little things are “God-tweets”?

What is we are simply missing most of them? What could we do to re-arrange our thinking, to re-construct our lives, so that we don’t miss them? Maybe it requires some radical re-arranging, or some DE-constructing, some simplifying and “down-sizing”? Maybe we’ve just tried to “supersize” everything too much. Maybe we’ve just gotten too dulled in our hearing and our thinking, too jaded from information-overload, from a diet too rich in incoming and self-induced stimuli, from too much “saturated data,” from simply “too much”…

Maybe. It’s a thought. Maybe it’s just a thought. But then, maybe it’s not.

Maybe the God of the universe is calling us—yet again—to “Be still and know that I AM God.” (Ps.46:10) Be still—get alone, get quiet, shut down the superabundance of stimuli—and simply sit. Wait. Get quiet. The New American Standard translates it, “Cease striving,” but The Message jumps out even more:

Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.

In another place, the Psalmist David says,

God, I’m not trying to rule the roost, I don’t want to be king of the mountain. I haven’t meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. I’ve kept my feet on the ground, I’ve cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby in its mother’s arms, my soul is a baby content. (Ps. 131:1-2, The Message)

Other versions speak of “a weaned child,” one no longer needing to be breast- or bottle-fed. It takes a bit of growing up to reach a point of foregoing immediate satisfaction for a longer-range goal. Unfortunately, most of us aren’t in touch with ourselves or visionary enough to know when we need to cut back or cut out, and even when we do, we aren’t disciplined enough to simply do it. We have to be forced into cutting back, forcibly down-sized or outsourced or whatever, even in little ways.

Regardless, God is still waiting, and He is always tweeting.

Image courtesy of Mykl Roventine.