Hi gang. Thought I'd start a new topic I'd like you all to contribute to (make me feel I'm still part of things even though I can't get along to meetings these days!)Last night, I was putting Kitty to bed and a nice thought struck me. I settled her as usual, left the room and waited outside her bedroom door until she'd settled herself to sleep. As I sat on the top stair listening to her cry, I thought how I wished she could know that I was right outside her door, very much still with her and that I hadn't abandoned her.
Then it struck me (in one of those 'this might be relevant' moments) that God feels just that way about me. When I'm in need and feel he's a million miles away, he's actually just outside my bedroom door, his heart totally with me, wanting the best for me and wanting me to know how loved I am.
I thought it'd be great to share our 'God in the everyday' moments. I know Andy has a deeply spiritual one involving Paws our cat that I'll get him to leave (when he's finished cooking my tea... ;o))
7 comments:
What a good topic :-) I am completely brain dead this evening so can't actually think of any specific examples at the moment, but in general since becoming a mum, I see God's unconditional love for me in a whole new light now I have unconditional love for my children.
If I think of anything specific I'll let you know - and the number of times I have sat at the top of the stairs listening to a baby crying, and I never had that little 'message'- maybe I just wasn't listening ;-)
Maybe he realised I needed the reassurance! I'll admit I'm finding motherhood harder than I'd thought it would be; you mums make it look so easy!
But this isn't MumsNet and Andy might not thank me for turning things baby-wards again (!) so I'll stop there.
Will be really interested to hear some of your 'God in the ordinary' moments, Helen - bet a few will come to mind...
Well... graciously ignoring the sarcasm inherent in the original post, I do have a spiritual moment with Paws to share.
I have long seen my relationship with Paws as being a kind of mirror to God's relationship with me - in the way that I see a much bigger picture that Paws can, care for him in ways he doesn't realise, and think he's great.
Every morning, and I mean every morning, he jumps up on to the bed to wake me up at around 6 o'clock. He uses a well-honed method including tickling my face with his ridiculously long whiskers, gently meowing in my ear and patting my face with the pads of his big furry paws. I then get up and feed him, and have a shower. He waits for me to get out of the shower then scampers into the lounge, where I have to get down on the floor and stroke him, rub heads, tickle his tummy and play fight with him. It is the same every day, has been for years, and I love it.
It dawned on me yesterday that I find this so charming because it is really showing his personality - he absolutely loves routine. And it made me reflect that maybe God loves us coming to him in ways that show our personalities. Often in traditional churches everyone does the same thing, suppressing our own individuality, and that's fine for a lot of people who like to feel part of a crowd. I never have been like that, and maybe that's why I feel more connected at SofaChurch where our personalities can come through and shape our worship more easily.
Hmm... what an interesting discussion thread.
I've always been pretty hopeless at listening to God, reading my bible and praying etc, hence he usually has to resort to 'brick on the head' methods to speak to me... hence He tends to use all my petty struggles in life some of which revolve around my kids!!!
Seriously though, I think God longs for us to see Him in the ordinary-ness of our lives, which is maybe why Jesus used everyday situations to illustrate his teachings. That is why in many ways I love SofaChurch so much... all the religeous trappings have been stripped away and we are encouraged to look for God in ALL things.... in our relationships and the world around us. This is refreshing and challenging too... thank you :O)
The other day I was struck not only by how differently my kids respond to the various challenges they face in life and how we support them too. For example "Learning to ride a bike". I knew that at some point I was going to have to take the stabilisers off their bikes and they were going to have to ride completely unsupported. Our eldest, pleaded with me to hold onto the saddle for as long as possible, and had me running along side her even when she finally managed to do it on her own. Our middle child refused to have any help whatsoever, and I was even banned from watching from the window. She spent all day falling off, clambering back on and stubbornly riding back and forth up and down the road. But by the end of the day she'd done it. Our youngest seemed to have perfect balance and mastered the skill confidently and relatively quickly. However, after a terrible tumble infront of all the neighbouring kids, he threw his bike into the back of the shed and hasn't even touched it since. Now, where do I begin.....!!!!!
JO =)
LOL - all very interesting and amusing in a variety of ways. Thanks for the thoughts.
Can't think of anything at the moment but if any memory surfaces I shall blog it straight away.Missing you at sofa church Suse.
This has really struck a chord with me. Do you *really* think God thinks that of you? On reflection I think I view God as a kind of benevolent dictator, who decides what happens and on a good day is nice to folk; or alternatively an occasionally interested clockmaker who built the machine, wound it up, set it going and sometimes comes back for a poke and look, and intervenes if he deems it necessary. I have a lot of trouble accepting the doting view of God. In honest response, cheers, Tim.
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