Poor In Spirit

Loving God - Forgetting Ourselves

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 03:20:00 +0000

“There can only be two basic loves,” wrote Augustine, “the love of God unto the forgetfulness of self, or the love of self unto the forgetfulness and denial of God.”

There is very little to add to this statement by St. Augustine. I would encourage us all to consider which love we are most often operating from in our daily lives. I know this side of heaven we will never be perfect in our relationship with God, ourselves, and others; however, we can decide to be intentional on a daily basis to decide and then ask God to help us to live in love of Him to the forgetfulness of ourselves. The only way we learn to live out this type of truth is to practice it. So, when we “mess up” (and we will) we need not to give up and/or give into loving ourselves, but to humbly talk to God about our “missing the mark” [a.k.a. live for our own selves] and from that moment not to get lost in condemnation but move forward and continue to practice learning to love the Father.

So, don’t let your hearts and minds be discouraged by the fact you are human - God already know this and He is okay with it!

Is God your Father or your employer?

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:25:00 +0000

Many believers live their lives with the mind set of: “What can I do for God?” or “What does God want me to do for Him?” Basically, many Christians live as though they were saved to serve and that if they are to fulfill their purpose of salvation they must serve. The truth will bring a hit to our human pride and it is that God does not need us to serve Him and in fact, God wants us to be in relationship with Him and that is why He sent Jesus.

Jesus said in John 17:3

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

Jesus is telling us that we were saved so that we may know Him and His Father intimately.

When we are dead set on serving God, then our relationship with the Father is based on performance and therefore it becomes lifeless; mechanical; and obligatory. The Apostle Paul wrote in Acts 17:24 & 25 24

"God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25- "Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.

When our focus is on God through Christ Jesus we will form an intimate relationship with Him; some have even said we could even become obsessed with Him. In building an intimate relationship with the Father there will be an out-flow of service that pours out of that love relationship.

Only God can do something for Himself. In His wisdom He allows us to participate in work with Him; because and due to our relationship with Him.

If you think of your relationship with God in terms of performance and service then you will run the risk of relating to Him as your “Heavenly Employer” risking that you are doing things He requires, which may or may not be accurate. Remember an employer’s role is to scrutinize our performance and make sure we are following the rules and at the very least doing the status quo. Is this the relationship you want?

Live your life intentionally

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 05:14:00 +0000

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who am I not to be? You are a child of God. If you are playing small, that doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are born to manifest the glory of God within us. It is in everyone. And as we let our lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. When we are liberated from our fear, our very presence automatically liberates others. – Nelson Mandella

In my last entry I used a quote from C.S. Lewis to help exemplify how fear will keep us from actually living and loving in life. Nelson Mandella seems to know what Lewis knew and that is that fear is the biggest form of bondage. We live in a society where are all we are suppose to feel is only one thing and that is “happy” and as children many of us learned to be quiet about our being happy. However, we also live in a culture that is fear driven.

Turn on any radio, television, pick-up a newspaper or turn on your computer and connect to a search engine and you will soon have more than enough to be afraid of; from multiple types of crimes to the newest measure of what it is to be a “success”. There is no shortage of things to be afraid of and yet we still continue to move forward facing some of these fears; even if this is not in our consciousness. The majority of people have not identified cultural fears; let alone what fear or fears attempt to paralyze them in their own life. Also, many people live in bondage and do not even know they are the bound up by fear.

I encourage you to be very intentional about living your life. Take some time to identify what if any fears have you may have that could be keeping from being connected and present in your own life. It is highly important to identify and then challenge those things that attempt to keep you from living life.

Finally, I do realize and want to state that to get connected and active in your life risk is involved, but don’t be afraid of risk, just learn to approach each risk wisely. Be sure to know how much risk you are willing to take and know what your limits are. Like anything new, take small, manageable steps/risks until you feel more practiced at taking risk and dealing with success or disappointment.

To live our lives and not just exist; is to be at risk.

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 05:39:00 +0000

C.S. Lewis wrote,

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable; impenetrable, irredeemable…The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love is Hell.

What a powerful thought! Lewis speaks directly to what many people who come into my office seem to want and that is a guarantee that love and life will be risk free. It is amazing how we humans pursue what we think we want because of the belief that it will fulfill us and we can have what we want on our terms. Sure many of us bargain our way through life, rationalize our choices, deny what we have or are pursing is detrimental to our well being and/or that of others, the list goes on and on.

It is sad that in our pursuit of “having our cake and eating it too” or searching for love; relationship[s] either as family, friends, or a spouse’ success [however we define it] we work ourselves into sure bondage. Lewis depicts this bondage as sure death: “…in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless… “ Wow, he has painted the state of being “safe from risk” clearly as bleak as any thing I can imagine.

When we decide to be involved in our own lives we must face that risk is a part of life. This choice gets right to the heart of the matter and that is to live our lives and not just exist; is to be at risk.

Hallowed be Your name

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 06:20:00 +0000

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name." Matthew 6:7 - 9

According to the Strong’ Exhaustive Concordance, in the Greek hallowed is: hagiazo [hag-ee-ad-zo]: to make holy; purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate. The Vines Expository Dictionary defines hallowed: to make holy; signifies to set a part for God, to make a person or thing the opposite of koinos = common. The American Heritage Dictionary defines hallowed: To make or set apart as holy; to respect or honor greatly; revere. And consecrate as: (verb) to make or declare sacred; set apart.

The literal translation of Matthew 6:9 is: Thus therefore pray ye: Father of us the [one] in the heavens; Let it be hallowed the name; of thee. (Interlinerar Greek-English New Testament- Nestle & Marshall) HOW COOL! I love this.

If I had always read this verse as: Our Father, who art in heaven, set apart is Your name. I may have understood the weight and import of what Jesus is telling us; I cannot say this for sure, but I think it is likely. It strikes me so strongly and has impacted how I think and feel about our heavenly Father, the only true God, my mind and heart can hardly contain and comprehend what little I do grasp.

I am amazed that His name is set apart and it is so holy that we cannot even truly know it. Yet, we can know Him. Our great God, whose name is set apart from all names and is unfathomable, yet He makes it possible for us to know Him. Jesus is that way, He is the One who reconciles us – connects us to His Father, who is our Father.

By the way God Has given Him a name that is also set apart, Philippians 2:9-11 9: Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

My having a more accurate understanding of the word “hallowed” has deepened my awe and love for God. I know I am just barely beginning to comprehend His love for me and you, but I am not tired of meditating on it. I like to let it roll over and over in my head and as I do, I feel drawn to do so more and more.

One word can make a difference

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:13:00 +0000

The choice of one word over another can make a tremendous difference in how we understand, perceive and apply Holy Scripture to our daily lives. I remember the first time I discovered that there was just such an example in one of the most well known passages of scripture for believers and non-believers alike. I am referring to the first of Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, in the Hebrew the word we read as want is literally lack: חסר (2637 ) - (chacer), (khaw-sare); a primary root; to lack; by implication to fail; want; lessen; be abated; bereave; decrease; cause to fail; have lack; make lower; want. We should read The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not lack. When many modern people read the want we perceive the meaning as desire and/or we will get what we command and/or demand.

The American Dictionary defines these two words as follows:

Want: to feel a need or a desire for; wish for: to want one's dinner; to wish, need, crave, demand, or desire (often followed by an infinitive = I want to see you); to be without or be deficient in: to require or need.

Lack: deficiency or absence of something needed, desirable, or customary: something missing or needed; Verb form: to be without or deficient in: to lack ability; to lack the necessities of life; to fall short in respect of.

If you will stop and think about how many of us communicate our wants, it may bring the picture of someone stamping their foot, arms folded across their chest and a pout or defiant look on their face. Also, think about how you would perceive this verse if you had always thought of it terms of lack instead of want. Many of us have been socialized to believe if we want something then it is or should be ours, as we want it; as opposed to thinking in terms of not lacking. The difference being… Well why don’t you think about how that would be different for you.

I would love to hear how that would change your perception and how you think about God, His love, His care, and/or His provision for you on all levels: psychologically, emotionally, spiritually and behaviorally. If we can gain a more accurate understanding of God then we can begin to gain a truer and clearer understanding of ourselves and of others.

Oh, How He Loves Us!

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 05:31:00 +0000

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ~ Romans 2:4; NKJV

Don't you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin? ~ Romans 2:4; NLT

Or do you presume upon the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not know that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ~ Romans 2:4; RSV

No matter what version of this verse we look at, it is clear to me that our God is beyond amazing! It is incredible to me that He has loved us so much and for so long [before the earth was formed] that He pours out His kindness upon us so we can respond to Him - in the first place. Wow!

I imagine it going this way. The Apostle Paul is speaking to the Romans and trying to get them to understand how great the Father’s love for us is. And he says, “Hey you guys! Don’t you know it was the Father’s kindness that drew you to Him- in repentance in the first place?”

It had nothing to do with you – the only part we play in this fact is that we are drawn.

It completely blows me away. I feel humbled and NOT humiliated by His love, mercy and grace. There is a huge difference between feeling humbled and humiliated. Think about it, please.

In my opinion and life experience there is nothing more settling and gratifying than knowing that God wants me. He does not need me…He wants me! He wants you! Jesus came and made our way to the Father. Oh, how He loves us!

Just let this verse roll around in your head, like a wave on the ocean’s shore. As a wave comes in to the land it deposits a few new grains of sand as it crashes on the shore and as it goes back out to the depths of the sea it takes a few grains of the old sand with it. I think in the same way it can work for us when we are trying understand something new. So, as you let this verse and the knowledge that He poured out His kindness on you [and me] keep turning over and over in your head, a bit more of the truth will sink in and a bit more of our old misunderstanding of who God is will fall away.

Christ Our High Priest - Part Two

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:43:00 +0000

Application of Hebrews 4:14-16:

In my last entry, I am sure you all noticed that I seemed a little “happy” with the bold feature and certain words [learn and practice for certain and maybe a few other action words]. Good job! It was quite intentional, as it is a main theme with me that we are in a continual, on going process of growing in our intellectual and experiential knowledge of God through Christ and Holy Scripture. It is all about understanding that we will not hit the mark perfectly this side of heaven. Only Jesus could and did do that perfectly, that is why we worship Him and one of the rest of us.

I thought I would give you a little look at how my learning curve has developed. When I first started to practice Contemplative Scripture reading and Contemplative prayer, which is the practice I asked you to begin to try in my last entry, I felt like a complete dork, sometimes a helpless freak and/or like I was just kidding myself.

First of all, if I even remembered to turn to God, I surely had not read the passage accurately because I approached a throne of shame and went expecting a good old lecture, a nice demeaning, debasing, a trip to the proverbial woodshed, some nice messages of shame loaded with anger that would reinforce the shame I already felt. In my head those messages of shame would sound like: if only you had…, you should have…, why didn’t you…, what secret sin have you not confessed? Any of those remarks sound familiar? So, for me the beginning was to acknowledge that I didn’t truly believe that I was able to come to a throne of grace and mercy. I behaved as if I was still before the throne of judgment. It was my behavior that revealed what I truly believed. In my head I said one thing, yet based on my actions I had to acknowledge that I didn’t believe I had the same access to the Father that I knew everyone else did and this is where change had to begin.

Then, as I practiced approaching the throne of mercy to ask for help my visual thought process changed from a picture of me climbing up a large white robe onto a lap to being scooped up by a large, strong yet gentle hand. All I had to do was begin the assent and then I believed I was not only able but welcomed by the Father and it became easier to ask for help.

Finally, as I continue to practice this process I get better at remembering that truth is more than knowledge for my mind to dwell on and think: “Isn’t that cool.” or “If only that could happen for me.” There are many different ways that these types of thoughts can sound, but I believe you get my point. It is only by practicing what God says that we will turn our head knowledge into experiential knowledge therefore we are continually building relationship with Him. It has been my experience so far that this is how we solidifying what we hope to be true into what we are coming to know to be true.

One last thing, help does not always look the way we tell God it should, hope it should or expect it to. Be open to what the Father knows is best for you.

Christ Is Our High Priest

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 04:36:00 +0000

[Note: This is part one of a two part series]

In my previous blog entry I mentioned that it crucial for us to go beyond just the academic knowledge of God and learn to grow into relational and experiential knowledge. Below I have listed some verses from the book of Hebrews, chapter four, verses 14 -16. I have included several different translations for verse 16 in order to help the reader approach the process of turning this theological truth into an experiential knowledge. This is how I have learned to grow in relationship with the Father through the Son.

Jesus made it possible for us to be in relationship with our heavenly Father this side of heaven; it is not some “pie in the sky” or “when the circle is unbroken…in the sky, in the sky” kind of relationship. While those may have been fun songs for their day and encouraged those folks, I believe that Jesus tells and shows us throughout the gospels how we can have access to the kingdom of heaven, while we are still here on the earth. This is one of the central messages in “The Sermon on the Mount,” and in particular, “The Beatitudes.”

So, what I would ask you to do is read these selections and then practice applying them using the questions below the verses.

Christ Is Our High Priest: Hebrews 4:14 – 16:

New King James Version:
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15- For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.16 -Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16

New Living Translation:
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:16

Amplified Bible:
Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Hebrews 4:16

Young's Literal Translation:
We may come near, then, with freedom, to the throne of the grace, that we may receive kindness, and find grace -- for seasonable help.
Hebrews 4:16

Contemporary English Bible:
So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.
Hebrews 4:16

New Life Version:
Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.
Hebrews 4:16

Okay, now take a few moments to stop and ask yourself: “How would my life be different if I actually practiced what I have read and not just memorized the words, or mused over the idea of them?” Actually, think about behaving them out, practicing truth and experiencing relationship.

What would it look like when: the boss [or your: spouse, parent, sibling] is unfair to you, or someone treats you with contempt, or you are accused falsely, or you go unnoticed when you have tried very hard to be noticed? I could go on and on and on with different scenarios, but I believe you get the point. It is not enough to read the words and develop right and accurate – even spiritual sounding answers, these will not get us through the bad, hard or even good times.

It is by learning to cultivate our relationship with the Father that we turn our head knowledge into relationship knowledge. Our Sunday school answers are the right place to start, but to grow, to be transformed and experience the peace of the Father here on earth we need to learn to go further than our heads. So please take some time, and ask God to show you how your daily life might look different if you were to practice running to His throne of mercy when you need help and then write down what comes to mind. That is where experience begins, by talking and then listening.

How can we know God?

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 05:11:00 +0000

Answering the question from my previous post, “How can we know God?” I want to first talk about four different dimensions of knowledge. According to R.C. Sproul, in God's Will and the Christian, there are four dimensions of knowledge and they are listed below with a few scripture verses and are not exhaustive, as there are too many to list on this site and I only list two per dimension as to not overwhelm the reader.

The Dimensions of Knowledge:

1. Intellectual: Knowing the truth about God:

a. Deuteronomy 7:9

b. Psalms 100:3

2. Volitional: Trusting, Obeying and Worshiping God:

a. Psalms 95: 6

b. Proverbs 3:5 & 6

3. Moral: Practicing justice and love:

a. Jeremiah 22:16

b. I John 4:7&8

4. Relational: Reciprocal love (Relationship)

a. John 10:14

b. Galatians 4:9

c. II Timothy 2:19

We can to learn how to experience interaction between intellectual knowledge (truth) and relational knowledge (authenticity) as we develop and grow in relationship with the Father. Volitional knowledge and moral knowledge will flow naturally out of the other two.

In the second book of Peter chapter 1, verses 1-12, the Apostle Peter uses different Greek words for the word, “knowledge.” As he is writing in the Greek language, the recipients of his letter read and understand in that same language and the meanings are not lost in translation. As we read and understand the word “knowledge” in our 21^st century context, we do not fully understand the import and weight of this word. It is an important distinction as many of us will read “knowledge” and define it as an awareness of and/or academically acquired information about God.

So, what is the difference of those Greek words and why does it matter? In the Greek, one word is “epignosis” [*1922] which means, “to recognize or become fully acquainted with,” which implies relationship. The other is “gnosis” [*1108], which means to “understand, to be resolved, growing knowledge, seeking after, active knowledge.”

If you look in verses 2, 3 and 8 of II Peter, the Greek word for “knowledge” there is, “epignosis” [*1922] and in verses 5 and 6 is “gnosis” [*1108]. Try reading these passages with these literal definitions and see if it doesn’t change your perception and understanding. Peter knows that we can learn to know God, through Christ, but that it is a knowing that will be based on relationship and not through religious ideas and/or acts. Actions will flow out of our relationship, because we will become an extension of His heart in real, experiential and practical ways. We do not “do” to receive His love, stuff will happen in and through us because we are in relationship with Him…because He loves us and we are learning to live in that relational knowledge.

Scripture speaks of “knowing God” as the knowledge of God’s covenant agreement with us as reciprocal, with affection on both sides.

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

We know God as ours because He knows us as HIS!

*Represents index numbers for these words in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

What is the chief aim of man?

noreply@blogger.com (Dawn-Marie Hill) — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 07:34:00 +0000

Why are we here on this earth? That is a question that has been asked more times than I can possibly know and there have probably been as many answers as there have been questions. According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which is considered by many to be one of the grandest doctrinal statements to come out of the English Reformation, this question is restated and answered as follows:” What is the chief end of man? Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever."

Author and Pastor, John Piper said that he thinks the Bible translators got this line wrong by one word and that it should say, “We are here to love God by enjoying Him forever.” Delighting in Him is our privilege.

How could we delight in someone we do not know? We cannot. Therefore, it is reasonable that we will have to spend time with Him, if we want to get to know Him. This statement then brings about the question "How can we know God?" The answer to this question greater minds than mine have tried to answer, some more successfully than others. Over time on this blog I will attempt to give answers to that question that are theologically sound, academically accurate, and experientially applicable.

The key here is that on this side of heaven we are in the continual process of "learning." There is more to knowing God than simple head knowledge. In the New Testament Jesus tells us to learn to live in Him and he does not ask us to live for Him. There is a world of difference in how those two small words are lived out.