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As we were in the Sungtow on the way back from Sticky Falls, Ebony asks the question…
How do you see God? What does God look like to you?
I start to ponder this question and the first thing that comes to mind is a book called The Shack. It’s a great read that I strongly recommend it if you have not already read the book. As I read that book I remember crying, smiling, and pretty much going through every kind of feel possible as this hurting man experienced God in Living Color. I also remember that as the author describes God, it is a picture that freely flows and changes form based on the need, the conversation, and the lesson that was being revealed.
God is so many things that He is a free form being that has the right and ability to be whatever He wants, whenever He wants because He is The Creator. It’s easy for us to read words like “we are created in His image” and think that we can put an understanding of God. But for me, that is not true.
This thought is actually the basis of why I decided to come on the World Race. I could have applied and taken a job in another country around the world if I just wanted to get out of the United States. I could have changed careers in pursuit of something that would “make me happy” if just didn’t like what I was doing with my life. I could have taken this journey as a Backpacker as a way to cope and fight my restlessness, but the reality is that all of it would have been the same if I was not on an endeavor to get closer to God, to walk in His corporate mission for all our lives in an effort to understand the unique purpose He has for my life.
The world is the same everywhere. The things that we hate about the world, the lack of peace, the lack of justice, the pain, the suffering, none of that goes away based on our location in the world. So what makes life truly worth living. In my opinion, having a relationship with the One who created me is what makes it different. If you don’t believe in a creator then you will struggle with this, but hear me out. The essence of what every person searches for is happiness. But as they search for “happiness” through the world, we find that “happiness” is fleeting. So day after day we struggle on a tireless journey that continues to chase happiness that is never satisfied. We become restless and similar to the story of the prodigal son, we realize that answer was the need for our Father THE WHOLE TIME! Our Creator is the only one who can tell us why He put us on this earth, why He made us unique, and the specific purpose for our lives. And not only that, He is the only One who can truly give us the tools of love and affirmation to fill us during this journey that we cannot complete on our own.
So why did God create us to have a purpose that we can’t complete on our own? Why did He set us up for failure? Why did He gives us a choice to not choose Him when He is only way we can achieve what we actually were made to achieve.
I’ve learned that there is so much power in a choice. When we choose, we make a decision, we make a commitment, we are not forced, we act in our own will to be an active part of the journey. And they journey is so much more than the destination. The journey with our Creator is through the playing field of pain and suffering by leaning in with trust in His wisdom as I hold His hand step by step through journey.
These are things that I have learned on the journey with God so far, but I decided to go on the race because He has pursued a deeper relationship with me. The God Of The Universe wants a deep relationship with me!! And I can’t wait for him to show me so much more of Him as I get see, know and understand Him in a much broader way.
I will never be able to fully grasp all that He is, but I like that because that is a part of who He is. He is and always will be bigger than me. God will always be with me and things will never get boring. He will never leave me through this adventure. In learning the expanse of Him I am getting to know Him better and better and growing in relationship with Him. He is so far beyond the span of my five senses, but this is what I currently perceive Him to be…
I know God to be all that I will ever need. He is food. He is light. He is sleep. He is patience. He is direction. He is fun. He is funny. He is handsome. He is caring. He is open. He “ain’t got time for games”. He is beautiful. He is free-flowing. He is true. He is Truth. He is strength. He is loving. He is more… and more… and more…
When I see Him I see a power that ripples as the heat waves do on a terribly hot day. He stands with the stature and confidence that commands without speech. His arms are better than the Rock’s because they are for more than show. They are weapons that wield His power and strength that adorn me with His affection. His feet are perfectly arched and balanced because no one can ground in a stance as He can. Gandhi wished he could do yoga like my God can! The way He moves is graceful yet fast with force and accuracy. My Daddy is the most beautiful warrior ballerina who loves me to death and will cause your death if you mess with me. #WinkWink
When I hear Him I know His voice. It is loving, filled with honesty and justice, words of affirmation, and clear direction. I look to His words, His Rhema like baby looks for milk. It keeps me from crying, from freaking out, from feeling alone. His voice speaks and reminds me that I am His. He made me perfect and for a purpose. He knows He made me for a relationship with Him and speaks life as we commune. His voice teaches, encourages, disciplines, and developments me as a tool that is beautifully wielded by a masterful artist.
When I feel Him, His presence surrounds me. It keeps me safe. It protects me. When I stay close to Him it is like a mucus that is impenetrable to the Devil and his minions. They try to attack me with my own inequities of my flesh, but their pettiness bounces off. My daddy’s strong “The Rock” arms surround me with the warmth, love, and gentleness that only a caring father can give.
Have you ever taken a minute to ask such questions? This is one of the things I have fallen in love with as I have been apart of the community on the World Race. We ask and are asked some of the deepest questions regardless of the depth of our relationship with one another as an opportunity to learn, know, and love each other more and more. I’ve made so great friends with deep relationships the fastest I have ever in my life by simply “going there”, talking about anything, and challenging everything. The love I’ve been rewarded with has been worth the risk! Ask some taboo questions, have a couple of friendly debates, and talk about what God looks like to you. It may end up being a lively conversation, but any conversation in Love is worth it!
WinkWink
