Believing in God

Believing in God Aug 23-24

!DUH, Ya Think?     For some reason many atheists are males between the age of 15 and 51! Guess after 50 these guys start to see there just might be an end to this thing we call life...then what? Starts putting an end the thought:  "we made it ourselves!"  Before that time...well... the lad hasn't awaken yet!
         
John 17:3;
Genesis 1:1;
      

      
John 1:1-3; 
Psalm 19:1;  Romans 1:19-20  
Hebrews 11:6
      

• Genesis 1:1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

  
  "And he said!" The beginning of beginnings. Only God could testify as to want happened at the beginning.
  
  Who else was there. Oh, that's right, we hadn't been created it yet! Everyone came from somewhere. Except God! Once I met a man fro the continent of India. When he read the begets in Matthew he wanted to become a believer. In his tradition nothing ever had a beginning, a first time! When he discovered that Jesus could be traced to a first point , He believed. Every word of scripture is endued with the power of God unto Salvation! There is Life in every word!
  

  
  
• John 1:1-3

           
  1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
  

  2 The same was in the beginning with God.
  

  3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
  

  4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.       *******
  

  Yes there was a beginning. the world hasn't's gone this way at all times. Some how this lends a slight question of doubt. Maybe this world will not continue as it has for all time. Maybe there will be an end to the things that we rely upon and that we all think is set. This is a little unsettling to a person who is thinking that God either isn't , or if He is He doesn't care. It's so much easier to think that he isn't contributing any control to things here round about! Yes, that is it! He spends His time dealing with nations and others..He could care less about a person like myself. Why would he care if I see a little eye candy? So it goes, little by little; how did we get to this place? But I really believe in God don't I? I pay my dues! I live okay! Why should He care, and about ME?
  
  The word! Now that is something! How did we get that? At places, it makes me a little uncomfortable. Wish it hadn't have said that. This is how that thinking goes. A little maybe!A little fudge here or there.Soon you have a sticky situation. gonna have to get off of this subject! So this Wordwas in the beginning with God. That is a little scary. All things were made by Him. Everything here was made by Him. Think about some of the seven wonders of the world. Life, I could use some of that! Things are a little "dead" around here!
  

  
  
  
• Genesis 17:3          
  And this is life eternal, that they might know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.      

  
  

  Some time back, I had the opportunity to participate in the last Billy Graham crusade here in Dallas. As a result of that experience I had the opportunity to experience being near him personally and come into the presence of a great man. I will forever be different as the result of that experience. Some how touching a man who has for all these years been the contact for people to meet the Lord changed my prospective on life and on my world. Having known him I carry within my self a different kind of feeling about life that is difficult to put into words.
  When I compare this feeling with the feeling that I get when I think," to know God personally," there is no comparison.
  Trying to put this experience into words is difficult.
  
  
  
  
  Opening this thumbnail into a different page, a person may be able to get the feeling of the vastness there is in God. Some how, comparing my 5'9" frame to this mile high overlook, places my mind into perspective of the vastness of God. Sitting by a seashore or lakeside looking out over the expanse of water does a similar thing inside. Maybe that is why; when Jesus got too much of people, he headed to the seaside or to the mountains. It was there he refocused his heart on the reality of life and NOT!
  It is here that one would begin to recommit to the "Mission of your life?"
  Because I do
  not live near scenes like this,   I sometimes remember to take five minute vacations. At these times I close my eyes and relive the vacations of the last few years.  I can see again the Grand Canyon, or some other "breath taking site!"  A five minute vacation can re-vive me to the reality of God. After all Believing in God carries me through all the "Dirty here and Now!"
  

  
  
  
  
  
• 
  Hebrews 11:6       
  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is,
  and that he is a rewardor of them that diligently seek him.

  The Author made the rules, He wrote the Book. If he says it takes faith, then ,Dear Lord , Give me more Faith! ...Or at least help the faith that I have!
  As I mentioned earlier, I was born on a sheep ranch in West Texas ("see July 19,2008".)
  At three years or so, in the ordinary course of living, My dad took me to the side of a canyon he called the "Big Canyon." It ran through our ranch, dropping to debts of three hundred to four hundred feet. Seeing that drop of 350-400 feet changed my life in a way that could not have happened any other way. My 32" looking over the side of that cliff left me with night dreams of standing near the precipice and feeling something like a huge vacuum pulling me to the edge. In these dreams I never fell over, but it was nearly twenty years before I conquered the fear of heights. All those formative years I thought God must be really BIG. Over time I also learned that with all this BIGness He was also Good! Big and Good, This is enough to take away fear!
  Believing that He is only the first half. One must also believe that he is a rewardor of those who diligently seek Him. The first half while reassuring, might be a passive thing. But the second half certainly cannot be a passive experience. Inside my self I must put it in "D!"   Oh, there is no time limit either! Guess it just status in "D" until the reward comes,   no that would be too crass! Must be from now on!
  Inside many of us, there exists a strong desire to please others! For a believer this is a miss placement of the very natural desire God placed in each of us to PLEASE GOD. A very simple and straight forward proposition,
  

  Believe in God!

  Diligently Seek Him!

  This will please Him!

  
  

  
  
  
  
• Romans 1:19-20       

  
  

  19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it to them.
  
  

  20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,
  even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
  

  
  
  

  The context of this verse in Romans is this. The people in question acted in a way that God did not exist. Or if God did exist, He did not care what they did. It is significant that the subject at issue is the subject of Sexuality. Maybe Paul expressed thoughts about sexuality different than the prevailing thought of our day. Now is this or is this not the Word of God in these scriptures?
  

  This really seems to be the real issue! Not only does God exist, but does this existence have any bearing upon our lives? Does God matter to us in this year 2008?
  Have we progressed so far that we passed Him up? For many this is the state of their lives. As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord!
  

  
  
  
• Psalm 19:1;7-9       

  
  

  1 ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handy work.
  
  

  7 ¶ The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
  

  8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
  

  9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
  

  
  
  The firmament... that would be The mountains, the Grand Canyon, and maybe the seas starting with the seashore!
  
  "The Glory of God" I always wondered what that means. Oh yeah, It is that Mist around the Mercy seat in the Torah!
  Where no one could sand. That could do it. I have a hard time standing at the edge of the side of a cliff, like the Grand Canyon.
  
  The Law...That would be Torah!The word of the Lord is "perfect"(complete) self sufficient to the converting of the soul.
  
  This does bring a little light into the situation! The "fear"(awe) cleans out the "debris" left by a life of sin! The "debris" left by a healthy Fear of the Lord is a sense of rightness with God!
  
  I think that is what I would like! Maybe that would lift this burden of "guilt" off of me.
  
  
  I the writer would like to interject a word in Prayer! Dear Jesus please introduce this person GOD to me.
  
  Please come into my heart and clean me of this sin that I have live in for so long.
  Please give me this FEAR that Psalms speaks of!
  Please reveal to me this faith that Pleases God!
  speak to my heart that I may Believe Him!
  

http://community.webshots.com/slideshow/562837668gPSXeT?mediaPosition=7

the firmament shows his handy work.You may click on any of these to enlarge.