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| Author | Topic: Who is God? |
| Pastor |
posted 2/20/08 2:25 PM
The stories from 1 Samuel might seem odd to answer the question "Who is God?" because usually we use stories like the parting of the Red Sea or the resurrection story to define who God is. Instead, we look at stories that are very personal. A childless woman crying to God, a young boy given to the service of God, and a prophet who stands between the people and destuction. Despite what God does for the whole, we still base our relationship on our personal understanding and experience of God. I can read a map about the roads in Delta, but I drive them according to my experience not the map. Similarly, we have to have an understanding of God in our life. Most people say that their most profound experiences of God have come in moments of trial and need. "God helped me through a loss," "God found me a new job," "God helped me when I was afraid." And at those moments there is little said about worthiness, (Lord, you should help me because of how much I give to the church) rather it is our need, our sincere cries to God that move the Author of Life. Can anyone share a story about God responding to their cries for help, or God's presence in times of need? |
| Lisa |
posted 2/21/08 2:36 AM
God's presence was very profound during the death of my aunt who was a motherly figure to me, whether she lived 20 feet away or 20 hours away. I specifically remember visiting her in the hospital when she was obviously in pain, but her face and voice remained calm as she sang the church hymns playing in her room. God's presence was there that day. Later she was sent home with hospice. For days the entire family would go to work/school during the day and then meet up at Julie's bedside at night. I think we ate dinner together more in those few weeks then we had in five years. I'd gotten behind in laundry and similar things, so I decided we'd take a night off from visiting her. My daughter wouln't stop asking to go over there. After about the tenth mention of it, I told my husband there had to be some reason she felt we needed to be there. I loaded up my two girls and we drove to Aunt Julie's. We were told that night it wouldn't be much longer. When I kissed her good-bye, she grabbed hold tight to my hands and locked eyes with me. That was the last night she was able to communicate with us. I know God was with us all during that difficult time and I am certain he worked through my daugter to make sure I had that last good-bye. |
| Unknown |
posted 2/23/08 3:50 PM
There were at least 2 times in my life when I felt like I got almost "instant" answers to my prayers. The first time was when my dad was dying from cancer. He had been pretty miserable and in a lot of pain for weeks. I was in his hospital room with him and I was praying something like "Please God, let him go now. He's suffered long enough" and within minutes his breathing slowed down, he got this relaxed look on his face that was almost a smile, and the nurse said he was gone. The other time was when I was having a severe problem with depression and was feeling suicidal most of the time and just didn't know what to do. Somehow one Friday night I actually managed to convince myself to leave the house and attend an event 2 hours away. I ran into this person who I had met only once in my life. He asked me how I was doing and I lied and said I was Ok. He said that during the week he had felt God telling him that he should pray for me for some reason, although he didn't know why. I decided if God was telling "strangers" to pray for me, maybe I should make an effort to get help, so I made an appointment with my doctor the following week and slowly started to get better. I wondered what would have happened if I wouldn't have gone that night. |
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