A friend shared this with me some time ago--he said he didn't come up with it, but since I don't know the source he'll get the credit here:
Something that God has shared with me is that I'm just a little leaky vessel, and that despite His constantly filling me up, I leak; even if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to hold all of Him anyway. It's kinda like trying to put the whole ocean into a dixie cup and cryin' because it won't fit.
Through that He has also taught me to value the relationships I have with other people. I know this sounds kinda selfihs but hear me out before making a judgment. See, if we're all little leaky vessels being filled with God, then the more of us that get together, the more of God we all have, because I can leak into another person and they can share with another while another shares with me all the while the whole group benefits from each other because we all leak into one another and we all have a different piece of God.
My main focus is to get as much of God as possible, to understand who He is and how He sees things; to develop my relationship with Him. I know this is what He wants because Jesus Himself said that that is what eternal life is, "that we know the one true God and Him who He has sent."
The more I share and the more others share with me the more we all get to know God, that's why I value friendships so much, because it is one way that God reveals Himself to us. And that's truly the only thing I have worth sharing, what God has done in me and who He is to me.
~Daniel
5 comments:
It's a good thought, and a nice reminder as to why we can't forsake the church (no matter how silly it sometimes might get): church is a wonderful opportunity to get together with others who have been filled with God so we can pool all the God experience we can. We are all pilgrims who have sacrificed everything to make our pilgrimage, and along the way we stop to rest at pubs and inns where we exchange our stories with our fellow travelers. Through our stories we encourage each other, and, since we have left everything else behind, the stories are our sole treasure, our only coin, and indeed, the means of mapping our way to the goal. Thanks for sharing more (thankfully expressible) joy!
Hey, how do you get "inexpressible" means that it was once expressed? "Incurable" doesn't imply that it was once curable, "inoperable" doesn't imply that once you could operate on it, and "invincible" certainly doesn't imply that once the subject was "vincible." On the other hand, I can barely spell "English" much less speak it!
I agree with you feather, our relationships are one way to communicate with God.But there are also others that I like very much:
. contemplating a sunset is feeling a blessing from God;
. taking a walk on the countryside (or any other place, as long as we're attuned to Him) is being with God:
. hugging a tree is being near God;
. feeling the wind on our face and inhaling it deeply is listening to God;
. caressing an animal is having a relationship with God;
. and so on...
The thing is: people tend to think (or most people, or some people, well, at least most peolple I know) that God lives in a church and that only there can they talk to Him. It's not true. He is in everyone (like you very well said)and everywhere and in everything.We can be with Him whenever we want, whenever we need, wherever we are. And the best thing about it is that he finds so many ways to talk to us...
I'll add a hearty "amen!" to sol's comments (although for me, I'd change "hugging a tree" to "climbing a tree"). I think it's sad that most people don't seem to realize that the wind that blows across them as they hurry from their car to the office is of God. The stars in heaven, and even the inky blackness of night itself, is the canvas on which he shouts (I know, mixed metaphor)... and we shut off the car and race into Wal-mart with nary a glance up.
Thank you, sol, for reminding us of the immanence of God throughout creation (a theme feather weaves through most of her photo posts), and thank you, feather, for reminding us of God's indwelling in the human heart!
Ah... such responses ;-) where to start? Let's see, Sol, I was listening to the news last night and there was a piece on how churches were being vandalized and I thought "how interesting" and what people where there?
Admittedly it's sad when a building that is used to worship God is misused or tampered with... but really, it's the Christians that attend that particular building on Sundays, Wednesdays and whatever other days that do the real damage to the church.
By stating that I have inexpressible joy, I therefore have stated I have joy... so it is expressed. Ya have to think literal for that one.
I like to be reminded of the little things in life. The same friend who shared that posting with me also says "simple minds, simple pleasures." Finding freshness on a daily basis isn't easy because we take SO much for granted. I love that God allows me to SEE what he's made--my easiest is trees and leaves, I can exclaim over those and get funny looks and comments like: "uuuh okay, sure." I don't care, just so long as I keep seeing and wanting to see the little things as more than just "little."
It's all about the balance... and being willing to see that the people God places in our lives are there to help us learn and the creation around us can also shout about how absolutely awesome God truly is.
Thank you, another random slacker. You know, I’ll have to stick to hugging a tree, I’m not much of a climber.
Looks like you’re another life lover, and one who appreciates the little (very big) things in life. That’s a good thing. It’s good for the person who feels that way and for everyone else around.
Oh and don’t worry about mixed metaphors, they’re creative :)
Feather, I am convinced that simplicity is one of the hardest things to achieve, yet one of the most precious and grand.
I definitely agree with you about balance, and about how people in our lives always have something to teach us, even if just to be tolerant and patient. In fact, I agree with pretty much everything you say. So that means that I’m very happy that I found your blog and people who are going, as I see it, in the right direction (considering this crazy world we live in…)
Thank you both :)
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