What a Wild Ride, Man!

I can't believe that today is the last day of my 30-day challenge. What's more is that I can't believe I completed it without skipping any days! I have learned so much about the God I serve and I will never be the same. I feel like God has allowed my eyes to be opened to some new things that have altered who I am, how I think, and how I look at life. I feel peace where there used to be worry. I feel joy and certainty where there used to be confusion. I feel so much more deeply connected to the Father and it's hard to believe that it all started with just thinking about Him on the way to and from work! It's shocking to scroll back through the last 30 days worth of blogs and realize that all of that came from just devoting a little time to focusing my heart and mind on Him while I was in the car instead of jammin' out to music.

My commute is 20 minutes. So each day, I was able to devote 40 minutes each day to prayer and meditation on the names and attributes of God. Even if all you've got is a 5 minute commute, I seriously challenge you to try this on your own for 30 days.

I certainly didn't arrive at all the answers to the mysteries of God. Who can really do that? But even so, it is worth it to give God some time each day. I look at what He's done in me with 40 minutes a day and I'm thinking, "Hmmm....how can I sneak in even more time?!"

There's another thing I have found: meditating on God's names, attributes, and word is actually fun and addicting! I don't want to stop! I may never entirely figure Him out, but I never want to stop trying.

If you've followed this amazing journey with me, I just want to thank you! I'd love to hear your stories about what God has taught you through your journey!

If you didn't join the journey, it's never too late to start! I would challenge anyone to think about and read scriptures about the names and attributes of God for 30 days straight. Think about Him. Question Him. Ask Him "why?" Wrestle with Him. I doubt you'll be unchanged and I seriously doubt you'll see God the same as you did before you started. I know I never will!

I have been overwhelmed and humbled by His love, grace, mercy, holiness, provision, goodness, onmipotence, limitlessness, healing power, self-sufficiency, omniscience, sovereignty, wisdom, faithfulness, wrath, comforting Spirit, almighty power, position of authority, intercession, and most of all by His desire to have an intimate relationship with you and me (and the great lengths to which He was willing to go for it).

All I can do is stand in awe.

As I complete this challenge, I want to share one of favorite worship songs with you. I can't hear or sing this without getting lost in love, awe, and adoration for Abba for everything that He is. I also want to share a chapter in Psalms. Take a moment to just get lost in worship right there at your computer. He's there with you. Tell Him what you think of Him.

Psalm 33

1 Let the godly sing with joy to the LORD, for it is fitting to praise him. 2 Praise the LORD with melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. 3 Sing new songs of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp and sing with joy. 4 For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust. 5 He loves whatever is just and good, and his unfailing love fills the earth. 6 The LORD merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born. 7 He gave the sea its boundaries and locked the oceans in vast reservoirs. 8 Let everyone in the world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him. 9 For when he spoke, the world began! It appeared at his command. 10 The LORD shatters the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. 11 But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. 12 What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen for his own. 13 The LORD looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. 14 From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. 15 He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do. 16 The best-equipped army cannot save a king, nor is great strength enough to save a warrior. 17 Don't count on your warhorse to give you victory -- for all its strength, it cannot save you. 18 But the LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. 19 He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine. 20 We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we are trusting in his holy name. 22 Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.  

Thank you for joining me on my journey! What incredible journey does He have in store for YOU? :o)

God, Just Who Do You Think You Are?!

It's a valid question. Who IS God? Some wonder, many think they have Him all figured out, and others couldn't care less who He is. In our world, there are many perspectives on the whole "God thing." I find myself being a hybrid. I know God. I have a relationship with Him that was made possible because of Jesus' death on the cross for me. However, even though I know him (in part), I still have so many questions and have a deep hunger to learn more. Not to sound sacreligious, but it's kind of like that Lay's potato chip commercial says, "Betcha can't eat just one." I dare anyone to truly give God the chance He deserves and see if you can walk away. He is compelling. Once you experience Him, you instinctively want more.

In light of that instinct, I am about to embark on a journey and I'm inviting you all to join me. I have recently been inspired by a fellow blogger and woman of God at my church. She set out to listen intently for God and radically obey Him regardless of what He asked her to do for 30 days. I took the challenge with her and was rocked by what I experienced and what God asked of me.

This journey is a part of that. On this journey, I am going to focus on a name and/or attribute of God for the next 30 days. It may mean that I am a sharing from my own studies or personal experience. However, it may also mean that you might get a front row seat to watch me wrestle with some things. Regardless, I am making a promise to be real, honest, and vulnerable. No one can ever fully comprehend the vastness of who God is, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

Join me on my journey! I'd love to hear about your stories of discovering or experiencing God along the way. Feel free to post your comments below or email me, if you like. Let's dare to learn the truth of who God is for ourselves, never taking someone else's word for it.

Holy Father,

In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, I ask that you would remove anything that blinds me from seeing you. Show me more of you. Illuminate the truth and open my eyes, mind, ears, heart, and soul to experience you over these next 30 days.

All I want is you.

In Jesus Name, Amen