glory of God

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We all have ideas of who God is. Some of those ideas are grounded in truth, others are assumptions we’ve made or are based on random things we’ve heard throughout our lives. When discussing who God is, I’m often amused by mankind’s adherence to their assumptions–as if they have the right to determine who God is and how they will relate to Him.

Pause to contemplate that for a moment. Then ponder the following questions:

Who do you believe God is?

What do you base that belief on?

Now pause to consider others’ assumptions about you. Which assumptions tend to be the most accurate? I suspect those that are based on things you yourself have revealed.

Why would God be any different?

What I’m saying is this:

Everyone has an idea on who God is, what He has or hasn’t done, and how He wants mankind to relate to Him. But having an idea doesn’t make it so. If we want to truly know God, we will take time to learn what He has to say about Himself. The Bible is God’s revelation to mankind. Through it, God has removed the uncertainty, has brought clarity to confusion, and has shown mankind exactly who He is, what He has and will do, and how we, His creation, can have a vibrant and ever-growing relationship with Him.

© 2010 Martin Alan Grivjack Photography Martin Alan Grivjack PhotographyToday a sweet friend, Ava Pennington, author of Daily Reflections on the Names of God, talks about one aspect of God’s character–glory–and a man who was not content to formulate his own ideas about who God was. Nope. He went straight to the source.

How did God respond? Read on, and you’ll see. 🙂

But before you do, I want to announce the winner of last week’s give-away. Laurean Brooks, congrats! You won a copy of The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, written by Carole Brown. I’ll be contacting you soon. 🙂

Excerpt from Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional, by Ava Pennington

Published by Revell Books, 2013                      

Are You Ready?

Glory

 

Exodus 33:12-23

“Give to the Lord the glory his name deserves” (I Chronicles 16:29 GW).

 

How intimately do you know God? How intimately do you want to know Him?

Moses knew God in a way few other people knew Him. It’s possible for us to know God in a similar way simply by making the same request Moses did. He asked the Lord, “Let me know Your ways that I may know You” (Exodus 33:13).

After God said He would go with Moses and the people, Moses still was not satisfied. He made a bolder request of the Lord: “Show me Your glory!” (Exodus 33:18). Instead of becoming angry with Moses, God granted his request, causing His glory to pass by him.

What is the glory of the Lord? It is the combination of all His attributes. When He passed Moses in the cleft of the rock, God proclaimed His goodness, graciousness, and compassion. God’s glory is who He is. It is impossible to separate His glory from His character and His ways.

As we read God’s Word and spend time with Him in prayer, He opens our spiritual eyes to see His glory in ways we had not previously recognized. Are you ready to see His glory?

 

Lord God, I want to know Your ways more intimately than I have,

that I may know You.

 

Have I become complacent in my relationship with the Lord?
How will I look for Him to show me His ways today?

Daily Reflections on the Names of God:

Every name of God revealed in the Bible shows us something about his character and his ways. This book offers readers a wonderful opportunity to spend time each day getting to know God more intimately. This insightful guide to the names of God provides 366 life-changing, personal devotions for new Christians and longtime believers. As readers explore 122 names and attributes of God, they will discover something special about who God is, who they are, and how they relate to others. Includes a Scripture and name index for easy navigation to favorite verses. Now in paper.

Ava Pennington is a writer, Bible teacher, and speaker. Her newest book, Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional, is endorsed by Kay Arthur, founder of Precept Ministries International.

Additionally, Ava is co-author of Faith Basics for Kids. The first two books in the series are Do You Love Me More? and Will I See You Today? She has also written numerous articles for magazines such as Today’s Christian Woman, Power for Living, and Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse.

Ava also teaches a weekly, Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class of 175+ women. She is a passionate speaker and teacher, and delights in engaging audiences with relevant, enjoyable presentations.

For more information, visit her at www.AvaWrites.com

To purchase Daily Reflections on the Names of God, visit:

AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, or CHRISTIANBOOK

livingbygracepic.jpLet’s talk about this. At the end of her devotion, Ava encouraged us to ask ourselves some great questions:

Have I become complacent in my relationship with the Lord?
How will I look for Him to show me His ways today?

I’ll answer first. I seem to go up and down in my relationship with God. The “downs” are usually the result of unchecked busyness, and this to my own detriment. I can only be busy and spiritually neglectful for so long before my heart begins to dry out.  I’ve found life is so much better, so much richer, more peaceful and fulfilling, when I connect with and stay connected to my Savior. What about you? Join the conversation in the comments below or at Living by Grace on Facebook. 

Oh, and don’t forget about our daily acts of kindness challenge! 🙂 Each day find some way to make someone else’s life a little better.

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You might remember my post a while back about doing what we love, whatever that is, for the glory of God. There are countless ways we can do that, but today I want to highlight an author who’s reaching an audience near and dear to my heart–teenagers. This morning Shellie Neumeier, author of Driven, sent an email through the ACFW writer’s loop and I asked her if I could share it here. (And if you know anything about author royalties, you’ll understand that a dollar per book is a hefty chunk! Way to go, Shellie!)

Young Adult Novel Driven Helps Fund the Edge

Shellie: I love Sunday mornings, but before I dive into mine, I wanted to let you know about a special place that’s near and dear to my heart. A few years ago, a small church decided to ask their community how they could serve them. This community had been hit hard by the economy. So hard, that the busing to the local high school had been stopped and many of the lower grades were left without busing, too. BUT in many cases both parents needed to work, so how were parents to pick up their children from school (the ones who were too old for daycare)? What were the teens to do for the hours before their parents came home?

In answer to that need, Wellspring Community Church decided to open a teen center. The Edge soon found itself filled to the brim and within two years, serves to feed and provide for more than 100 teens every afternoon (yup, that’s 100 teens every day…imagine the amount of food they go through:D). Volunteers come to serve the snack bar, mix with the kids, and just love on them. Most volunteers are local youth leaders, some are fantastic parents, and others just have some time to spare and want to serve. There are small groups and classes. I get to  teach a writing class there once a week and these kids are so grateful! I wish I could do more. That’s when it hit me…

During the next two months (until Jan. 31, 2012), for every paperback copy of DRIVEN sold $1 will be given to The Edge so they can continue to support and serve these kids. DRIVEN can be found on Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble. com (those are probably the easiest sites to pick it up at). At amazon, the PB is only $6.01. If you decide to pick up a copy as a gift for a teen or just for yourself, first Thank You! and second, please send me a note letting me know where you picked up the book, the price it sold for, and when it was purchased (so I can keep track of the monies to be sent to The Edge).