Getting To Know God

The Old Testament is filled with great stories of God's work within his people.

This is where many Christian children's story books come from.Today there is much emphasis on the New Testament and The Gospel.

I would not argue the importance of that, since it is the key to understanding our salvation. However, there is so much to know about our God.More than we can even understand.
The Old Testament is a window that we can look through to see the very nature of God.

I have started my plan to read through the Bible. I have never done it, but I really want to and so I am doing it. I am reading New Testament and Old Testament at the same time. I am currently in Numbers in the Old Testament. I can say that I was not very excited to read through Leviticus and Numbers. But now, as I read through it, I see so much of God's Character being revealed. I used to see God as this Giant glowing white old man who was grumpy and didn't really have a personality. But the more and more I read the Bible, I see that God has a Personality, a perfect personality!

God is not a God of Chaos and Confusion, but a God of Order and Creation. He loves to create and see us create. He had specific ways he wanted things built for the Israelites. He created all that we have on Earth, all the results of the combinations of things we can create. God enjoys watching us create, we are practicing our gifts. Like a child mimicking their parent as they work, so we do the same when we create. God has had this beautiful plan for everything since the beginning of time.

God is a God of Justice, but is also Compassionate and Forgiving. There are so many times in the traveling of the Israelites where the people complain and go against God and his rules. God is always ready to fry um all with fire from heaven, but Mosses talks to God face to face and asks him to spare them. God has mercy on them and only bakes those who are in complete rebellion to him. I was laughing while reading in numbers 16 this morning. God was getting so fed up with the children of Israel complaining about everything, in verse 45 God says "Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." So we see that God gets angry, but Mosses and Aaron made atonement for the people and turned God's wrath from killing all of them. But still, 14,700 died. So we see that God does have a personality, he gets mad when we go against him, but now have Jesus who is our mediator instead of Mosses, and Jesus is God. Mosses was just a man and could not stop all of God's wrath.

There are so many characteristics to God, they are innumerable, but what I want to emphasize is that God is real, he has a personality, he has feelings, and he is passionate about his creations. We need to see Him that way. We are made in his image, we were designed after him. God IS the perfect blueprint, Jesus IS the perfect creation from that blueprint. Jesus' personality reflected God's own personality to its maximum ability through human form.

I want to know God like I know my friends and family members.

I want to know what he likes, what he hates, how to please him, how to be lovely in his sight.
I hope that this is your goal too.

The same producer of the entire universe talked to Mosses face to face.
You can talk to Him too.

Know that God is real.

He is watching you right now. Wanting to talk with you.

Do it.

Talk with your Designer, Savior, King and Friend.

Boys to Men

There is a beauty in the innocence of a young child.
Knowing how much garbage there is in this world and then seeing a little child who knows nothing of it. As you watch the child get older, you start to notice them learning new things, simplistic yet selfish tendencies. The child will have a choice between right and wrong, fully understanding, and still they will choose the wrong. When children are young, we pretty much accept this type of behavior, knowing that they are learning and hopefully grow out of it. However, I have noticed this behavior in many many boys who claim to be men today. So, when do boys become men?

Some would say to look back at the times of Christ, at the age of 13 the males were considered men. That would be awesome if males today could be considered "Men" at 13, however with the pressure of our culture and all other obstacles in our world today, that simply won't work for most boys.

Some would say the age of 18 is when you are an adult, I would not agree with that considering this is the age that most graduate from public high school.

Some would say age 21. Because you can legally get drunk does not make you a man. You want to be your own man? Don't get drunk on your 21st birthday! Go against the grain.

I feel that age does not define becoming a "Man".

Emotions are running wild in today's "Men". I see guys getting so self centered, having full blown pity parties in front of people. I seen guys blow up in front of girls and guys over the smallest things. I hate seeing boys who call themselves men just sulking around in sorrow or letting anger run them.

"Get a hold of yourself you sally! Grow up, shut up, be a Man."

I'M SO SICK OF EMO BOYS! Emotions aren't bad, they are good. But if you can't control them, you have no right calling yourself a "Man".
There was once something known as chivalry. It has been lost with today's generation, save a few good men. Chivalry is all about protecting and respecting women, encouraging other men and just pouring yourself out in general. Upholding standards and rules, doing the right thing. If you are willing to help others without expecting anything back, you are moving in the right direction.
There is hope, but it needs to start with a change of heart.
Find your identity in Christ.
Be a man like Jesus was. Serving to Death. Loving to Death.
Stop being selfish, look at the needs and cares of others.
If you want to grow, you have to look outward.