Is anyone out there?

Just checking in to see if anyone is out there as it's gone very quiet :)

Are you still reading?

If not, why? Do you need some encouragement?

If yes, how far are you?

I'm still reading but I take long with non-fiction as I like to think about things between chapters.

I've finished chapter 2 - I guess I should blog about that.

How are you doing?

Why I wanted to read Crazy Love

Right, so I've finished chapter 1.

But before I chat some more about that, let me share a little about why I wanted to read Crazy Love in the first place.

I am wildly attracted to passion and passionate people.

Jamie Oliver inspired me to cook because of his passion for food.

And when I started seeing God as a passionate God, that was it for me.

God is an awesome, mightly, all-powerful, TECHNICOLOUR God.

No-one can convince me otherwise because he's shown me again and again in my life.

Only thing is... sometimes I forget.

Sometimes I forget for long periods of time.

This is when the burdens of life happen and I get focussed on the circumstances instead of on Him.

I won't lie - the last couple of years have not been great, spiritually.

I have really good intentions but things just keep coming up.

Actually, that's not entirely true. To be fair, I'm just not prioritising Him.

Until this year.

I've always seen the biggest leaps of growth in me when I've been in ministry.

I suppose it's because I automatically lead by example when I'm reaching out to people.

And so Crazy Love.

I want to be passionate about God again.

Slowly it's stirring inside of me - the passion, the desire, the love.

I read the chapter and nodded at some parts.

Yes, the heavens declare His glory. Gosh, and how!

I can see God every where if only I choose to look.

The beautiful grey skies, the bright blue skies, the stormy skies - I love them all! (the skies proclaim the works of His hands), the trees as I drive to work, how I make it to work in one piece every day despite the Jhb drivers, the view from my office building, the perfection of a sunset (way better than anything Photoshop can do).


Creation shouts out His name.

This chapter was about being still and worshipping God.

The best ways for me to do that are to put on some worship music (usually Vineyard) and sing along with the music turned up loud.

It also means gazing at His glory. At creation.

I've always battled with having a "picture" of God but when I look at creation, WOW, He comes alive for me and I am speechless.

And yet, even though he is the Creator of the Universe, He still cares for me.

Me!!!

How do I know it?

When I'm having a blah day, I'll look up and see a spectacular sky and I know He's created it simply to delight me :)



Do you find it easy to worship God?

What makes you know that He cares for you?

Introduction

I have been reading and trying to get my thoughts together for a post for several days now.  Distractions, the weekend, and two sick little girls got in my way, but better late than never, right? 

Before I share my thoughts on the first two chapters of Crazy Love, I thought I would share a little about me and my faith.  I have been a Christian for over two decades now.  I was raised in church, the same church where my grandmother and my mother grew up, and it's the church we still attend today.  We have changed a lot over the years, but we are still a relatively small hometown congregation.  I have come a long way from the Christian I was ten, twelve, or fourteen years ago, but sometimes it's glaringly obvious that I still have a long, long way to go on this journey to really know God.

Maybe it's partly because I don't have a lot experiences outside my home church that I am not altogether comfortable talking openly about my faith.  I think the word for how I sometimes feel when it comes to faith and living for God is inadequate.  Like maybe I don't know enough to be talking with any authority on the subject of God, or like my relationship with God can't compare to that of many others around me. 

It's on that very point that Francis Chan challenged me in the preface in this book...on page 22, when he says, "It is important that we not measure our spiritual health by the people around us, who are pretty much like us"... well, he's talking to me there.  Who am I to guess what another person's relationship to God might be like?  Why should it matter to me?  The only thing I should care about is strengthening my relationship with God and deepening my understanding of His Word.  Does it matter if I am not as eloquent at sharing my faith or my thoughts as another?  Or does God just want me to step out and take the opportunities He's giving me and to trust that He will give me the words I need?

I say all this to show you that I may be a little unsure of myself here, talking about faith in such a straightforward way.  But I'm here, and I'm ready to talk and to hear what YOU think about Crazy Love and anything else that may come up as we read and fellowship together.

So, now that all that is out of the way...how do we feel about the first couple of chapters of Crazy Love? 

For me, that feeling of inadequacy I mentioned was reinforced in some ways, as I realize yet again that I am but a tiny, tiny part of God's awesome creation.  And yet...He LOVES me more than I can even begin to imagine or comprehend.  How great is that?

I have a lot more to say that I can't find words for just yet, and after a long night with my babies last night, my bed is calling loudly!  I really just wanted to get a post out here for discussion...feel free to share any thoughts in the comments, or just share a bit about yourself and your faith if you want.  Marcia and I are excited to hear from you!