Monday, March 21, 2022

Run Into God’s Throne Room



In the ancient times kings have their throne room

Where they conduct important state affairs

They preside over official ceremonies

They hold council meetings with high officials of the kingdom

They award high honors to their subjects

They welcome honorary guests

They perform other official functions



There’s a sense of hushed reverence when one enters the throne room

Where the king is seated on the throne which is elevated on a stage of some sort



The king is revered and sometimes feared by his subjects

Especially when he is donned in his royal clothes and wearing a crown

Just his appearance would cause sense of awe in all 



The princesses and princes have a different relationship with the king

Because they are his children

The king’s children have special privileges

They don’t need to wait for a special occasion

To approach the throne room

To approach their father



Our God is the Highest King

He is the King of kings

He is the King of all kings


God is seated on His Throne

In the Throne Room 

ruling over the entire universe



God views us not as His subjects

Rather

He views us as His beloved children


God doesn’t stand on ceremony with us

His eyes light up and is delighted 

When we enter His Throne Room


He wants us to come


Boldly

Confidently

Skipping and running

Right up to the Throne


God’s arms are extended

He is delighted

He laughs

He yelps with joy


When He sees us

Bounding into the Throne Room

Running up the stage where the Throne is


He whoops with joy 

And gathers us up in His arms

He tickles us with delight

Throws us up in the air and catches us


He enjoys us

He loves our company


Because we are His


His dearly loved children


The throne room is just a room

One where our Daddy is

Where we can be certain that we will find Him

And be assured that He is always welcoming us there


He can’t wait to spend time with us

To listen to us

To hear our heart

Our joys

Our sorrows

Our struggles

Our triumphs


He wants to hear every detail of our day

He wants to rejoice with us

To mourn and grieve with us

To feel our anger with us

To feel mad toward the unfairnesses we experienced

To feel our sadness and powerlessness 


To comfort us

To encourage us

To hug us

To just hold us in His bosom


He wants to see us

Eyeball to eyeball

To hold our gaze with His loving eyes



He understands us fully since 

He knows our every thought before we even thought them

He sees our every day even before one day came into being



He accepts us just as who we are

He accepts us just at where we are

With our ups and downs

With our triumphs and our failures

With our insecurities

With what we are proud of

With our strengths and our weaknesses


This is all because 

He 

Loves 

Us

Totally

Fully

Unconditionally


Now and forever



Monday, August 16, 2021

TO BE LOVED



We all want to be SEEN for who we are

After all, each of us is unique


We might be

Short

Tall

Medium height

Spunky

Shy

Vivacious

Out-going

Loud

Quiet

Thoughtful

Considerate

Active

Sweet

Caring

Care-free

Fearless

Bold

Careful 

Impulsive

Hesitant

A leader

A follower


We have a mixture of feelings

Depending on the day

Depending on what’s going on in the moment


Happy

Sad

Mad

Glad

Miserable

Joyful

Worried

Anxious

Bold

Fearful

Confident

Unsure of ourself

Hopeful

Hopeless

Expectant

Excited

Scared

Trapped

Powerless

Powerful

Stuck

Exuberant

Zoned out

Tuned out

Tired

Energetic

Bored

Sleepy

Proud

Glad

Numb


These feelings don’t define us

They are just our feelings

They exist and “just are”

All depending on what’s going on



We also want to be HEARD

We have opinions

Thoughts

Desires

Wants

Ideas


We want to have a voice

A say about what happens to us

About what we want and desire


We don’t want to be told 

What to do

What to eat

What to wear

Where to go

When to do what

All the time


Although we are kids and we need adults’ help

We still want to be heard

God didn’t give us a mouth just to eat

He gave us a mouth so we can speak

And make our desires known



We want to be UNDERSTOOD

We are unique

We have our likes and dislikes

Even though sometimes we don’t know what we feel like

We have our quirks just like everyone else with theirs

We have our strong points and weak ones

Our feelings change and opinions change


We don’t want others to assume they know us

Without first getting to know us

Truly

Really

Know us


After all we are growing and changing all the time



We want to be ACCEPTED

We are who we are 

even when we don’t always know whom we are

We are ever-changing and growing

Our moods change

Our preferences change

We have our ups and our downs

We might like something at one time

and totally dislike it soon after

We might like our routines

We might like to go with the flow

We might like to be serious

We might like being spontaneous


We might enjoy music

We might enjoy sports

We might enjoy staying still

We might enjoy being active

We might enjoy reading

We might enjoy drawing

We might enjoy studying

We might enjoy tinkling with things

We might enjoy video gaming

We might enjoy playing chess and board games


We might enjoy being with others

We might enjoy being by ourselves

We might enjoy daydreaming

We might enjoy working hard


Whatever it is we might 

Enjoy

Like

Be


We want to be accepted for 

Whom we are

How we are

In whichever emotional state we are

In the moment

In this moment

In every moment


Just

Accept

Us



When we are

SEEN

HEARD

UNDERSTOOD

ACCEPTED

Then we feel


L O V E D




That is what we all want


Regardless of how different we might be


We want


We need


To be 


LOVED UNCONDITIONALLY


Experiencing God


Is God real

I’ve heard all about Him in Sunday School 

At church

From my parents and others


But

Is He

Really real?


Sure

I’ve prayed and sometimes 

the prayers seem to have come through


But how do I know

It’s not just a coincidence?


Yeah and sometimes

I felt something

I felt love

I felt moved

I felt touched


But how do I know It’s not just

A passing fancy

A temporary feeling

Something I made up

Something I imagined

Something I attributed to 

as God moving in my life


How do I really know that

God exists

and He is real?!


What is FAITH?


Is it “blind?”

Do I turn off my brain 

And just “choose” to believe?


If that is the case

Why then did God give me a brain?


Others speak of having 

Their prayers answered

Experienced God

Heard His voice

Felt His love

Received His direction for life

Was provided for

Felt His healing power

Experienced His forgiveness

Felt free

Felt joy

Felt His presence

Felt His touch



How do I know what they’ve experienced

Weren’t just figments of their imagination


How did they experience God?

What do I need to do to also experience God?

How does one really know it is God?



God Sightings



Some speak of seeing God in the day to day

From the beauty of the sunset

To the beautiful sounds of nature

To the majestic mountains

To the running brooks

The crashing waves

The rushing wind

The gentle breeze

The thunder and the lightening

The birds chirping and the bugs buzzing



Some speak of God’s answers of prayer

In the little things

Passing of a test

Remembering a forgotten knowledge

Winning a video game

Beating our opponent in a game

Locating a misplaced object

Being given extra play time

Parents forgetting to mete out our punishment

Not having to do a chore expected of us

Enjoying our family

A long-lost friend reaching out to us

Being forgiven by family or friends

Someone being generous with us

A patient sibling

Getting away with something

Receiving an expected gift

Getting into our desired school

Having a good day

Finding unexpected joy

Peace when panicking

Unexplained calmness

Getting a good deal at a store

Comfort when afraid

Companionship when lonely

God’s presence when feeling down


Whatever we feed will grow

What we neglect will be forgotten and die off

If we want our faith to grow

We need to feed it 


Unless we ask we will not receive

Unless we seek we will not find

Unless we knock no door would be opened to us


One key to experiencing God

To see if He is real

Might have to do with us choosing to

Ask

Seek

Knock


And then we shall see if He

Answers

Gives

Opens doors for us


We then nurture it

Nurture our faith and grow it

By our continual


Asking

Seeking and

Knocking 



“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelation 3:20).


Monday, November 16, 2020

 

PRAY

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray…” (James 5:13a)

 

Prayer is talking with God

 

Prayer is having a relationship

 

In a real relationship

We talk

We listen

We go back and forth with that person

 

Sometimes we have a question

Sometimes we just want to share something

Sometimes we are silent and just enjoy the other person

In the quiet

In the silence

In their company

 

We feel loved

We feel safe

We feel secure

 

 

Other times we feel annoyed

We feel angry

We feel confused

 

We feel upset that the other person

Isn’t answering us

Isn’t doing what we’ve asked

Isn’t responding fast enough

 

We feel upset that the other person

Is saying “NO” to our ask

Is making us wait for an answer

 

We want an answer NOW!

We want to holler at the person

Don’t you hear me?!

Do you even see me?!

 

GOD

 

Are You there?!

 

When I feel confused

When I have doubts

When I am in trouble

When I feel troubled

When I feel impatient

When things don’t go my way

When I feel down and upset

 

WHERE ARE YOU?!

Come here already!

Answer me NOW!

 

Come HELP me!

NOW!!!

 

 

The Bible says to

PRAY

 Pray when we are in trouble

 

OK

Let me give it a try

 

Jesus

Help me

For I am in trouble

 

Your Word says I am to ask

 

So I am asking

 

HELP…

 

 

I am asking out of my relationship with You

 

 

I choose to not make You into a Genie

To not USE You

To not only go to You when I have a need

To not make You into my servant to do whatever I want

 

You are after all

The Lord

The Master of the universe

 

Who am I to order you around

 

Help me to have a real relationship with You

 

And out of our relationship

 

I will ask

 

I am asking

I am trusting

That You are true to Your Word

 

If anyone is in trouble

 

PRAY

 


Even when I have not worked on our relationship

 

Even when I have neglected You

Even when I have doubted You

Even sometimes I don’t know if You exist

 

You do not become Someone You’re not

Just because I have my doubts

 

 

You are still Who You are

You are still GOD

 

 

Thank You for your grace

Thank You for Your love for me

Thank You for bearing with me

Thank You for being always and ever patient with me

 

Thank You that my relationship with You isn’t earned

 

Because You are

Always faithful

Always loving

Always understanding

Always accepting

 

Of me

 

So I am praying now

Monday, October 12, 2020

 

Sometimes We Simply Need to Ask for Help

Matthew 7: 7-12 MSG

 

Sometimes we feel confused

 

We do not know what to do

 

How should we act

What should we say

How do we decide

 

We feel alone

 

We are at a loss for words

At a loss for what to think

At a loss for how to decide

 

We just don’t know

 

Who is there to help us

 

Why don’t the adults know that we need help

And just come and help?!

 

Sometimes we don’t even know what we need help with

 

We just need some sort of help!

 

HELP!

 

SOMEBODY!

 

ANYBODY?!

 

 

Wait a minute!

 

 

The Bible says:

Ask and it will be given to you

Seek and you will find

Knock and the door will be opened to you

 

ASK

 

Just ASK??!!

 

Yea?!

 

Ask

 

Hmm…

 

Even when I don’t know WHAT to ask for

 

Jesus knows what I mean

He knows what I need

Even before I know what I need

 

WOW!

 

“You know everything I am going to say

before I start the first sentence”

(Psalm 139:4)

 

REALLY?!

 

“We do not know what we ought to pray for

But the Spirit Himself

Intercedes for us

Through wordless groans”

(Romans 8:26b)

 

YAY!

 

Jesus!

Help me!

You know what I need help with

 

I am crying out:

 

“HELP!”

 

I am directing my cry

To YOU!

 

Knowing that You know

What I mean

What I need

 

Even when I don’t

 

Thank You that I know You are true to Your word

 

I will ASK

 

BOLDLY

 

WITH FAITH

 

WITH FULL EXPECTATION

 

That You

 

At just the right time

 

Will

 

Answer me

 

Because You will

Ask for me

 

You Will

Petition for me

 

So

 

I ask

 

And

 

I Wait…

 

This is a song by Hillsong Kids if you're interested:

Ask, Seek, Knock - by Hillsong Kids

Run Into God’s Throne Room In the ancient times kings have their throne room Where they conduct important state affairs They preside over of...