Friday, April 25, 2008

Day 6

posted by Haley Sims @ 7:19 AM  

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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Day 4

posted by Haley Sims @ 8:36 AM  

What are your thoughts on Day 4's reading?

I have found it refreshing to take a few moments to just be quiet and reflect each day - something I know I should do, but don't always do.

6 Comments:

At April 23, 2008 1:11 PM , Anonymous Anita said...

I too have trouble with Joni's intreprtation of Christ's crucifixion(note Jan's comment under Day 1). I do not think that God turned his back on Jesus..that He accused Jesus of anything, I am not a Bible scholar but I feel that God probably wept that day as Jesus hung on that cross..crying for the pain and angony that His only son had to endure so that God's plan for redemption of the world could be fulfilled. I don't thing it was abandonment. I think God felt just like any parent who has to watch as their child suffers. We hurt and weep when our children suffer whether it is physical or emotional pain that they are dealing with and we want to take the pain away but know that we can't. We have to stand by and be there for them but that doesn't mean that we turn our backs on them. God is my heavenly father and He loved His own son just as much or probably more than he loves me. He won't ever turn His back on me as long as I seek Him and I feel that He would not have turned His back on Jesus.

 
At April 23, 2008 7:52 PM , Blogger PinkAsphaltMama said...

Jan, thank you for the Psalm 22:24 reference. I agree - Joni's interpretation is so far removed from the God who said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." I don't think God was pouring out his anger on His son, but had turned away in anguish over the suffering His son was enduring on the cross. God knew that this pain was necessary, just as a parent knows that shots at the doctor's office are necessary. God heard Jesus, but "...listened to his cry for help.". (Psalm 22:24)

 
At April 23, 2008 10:09 PM , Blogger alanbygrace said...

I guess i prefer the way Joni said it the first time "the answer was silence". God knew He could not take Jesus off of that cross so He just did not respond. As hard as that sounds God determined that was the way it had to be. Then He could say to you and me "I will never leave you or forsake you".

 
At April 23, 2008 10:54 PM , Blogger Jayson said...

Can you imagine that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross, to be our ransome? He knew what that meant. He knew Jesus would take the scorn we deserved. He planned for Jesus to have humiliation heaped on Him. He created the perfect lamb to bear our sin, your sin, my sin. I believe that on the cross hung the ugliness and sin of the human heart, and that God did reject it. Without Jesus paying my debt, my sin makes me unworthy of God. That day on the cross, smeared with my filth and carrying the weight of our sinful hearts, Jesus was unworthy of God. He was taking the pain, death, and even the rejection that was righfully mine. We deserve to be separated from God - to be foresaken - to be rejected. Jesus was on the cross to take what we deserve.

Of course she doesn't get to the heart of Jesus's mission - the resurection! Imagine! The lamb sent in our place was so precious that death could not hold Him! That means to God, WE ARE WORTH IT!

 
At April 24, 2008 9:19 PM , Anonymous campbelljp@verizon.net said...

But...Jesus and God are One Spirit. Jesus WAS worthy of God! "I and the Father are One." What God planned, Jesus planned (John 1); what Jesus suffered, God must have suffered. I don't see the separation; I do see the testimony and symbolism for we humans who are believers. *God was speaking from the cross*!!

And, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't help but notice our reactions are divided down -- yes,it's true -- gender lines!!

 
At April 24, 2008 9:24 PM , Anonymous campbelljp@verizon.net said...

By mistake I posted my originial comment (for Day 4) on the Day 1 page -- here it is:

At April 23, 2008 6:50 AM , campbelljp@verizon.net said...
Day 4 -- I cannot agree with Joni's interpretation (which I have often seen before) of Jesus' final words at the crucifixion in Matthew 27:46. The idea that God would coldly turn away while Jesus suffered doesn't seem to be in character with God's nature. Yes, Jesus took upon himself the sins of the world, willingly, but estrangement from God? I don't think so!

Rather, read Psalm 22 in its entirety. True to his nature, to the very end Jesus was quoting beloved scripture and chose Psalm 22 to express his agony and the betrayal of the people around him, and to ask for deliverance from this life. But go to v. 24 and following for the point of the psalm: All who fear the Lord should praise him; God has not hidden his face from the suffering one; God's kingdom will come on earth; all will bow down before him; for *he has done it*. "It is finished."What a testimony!

 

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Monday, April 21, 2008

Welcome to 31 Days!

posted by alanbygrace @ 5:29 PM  

"31 Days Toward Intimacy With God" is off to a great start. We have 70 plus members reading this book together. If each book is shared among families averaging say 3 that means we are touching over 200 lives. Let us all get closer with God and see what He can go through us at WGBC. Remember "intimacy with God is an island of sanity... and it is OURS"!!!

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Sunday, April 20, 2008

Day 1 - Intimacy with God

posted by Drexel Rayford @ 3:21 PM  

This spring, we are starting a new discipleship opportunity. The Discipleship Team invites you to jump-start your daily quiet time with inspirational thoughts from Joni Eareckson Tada. Join us starting April 20th as we journey together for 31 days “toward the heart of heaven and into the love of our Father and Savior”. We will read Joni’s book Intimacy with God together as a congregation. Look for the books in the connector hall April 6th & 13th.

4 Comments:

At April 20, 2008 9:43 PM , Blogger amethyst said...

Today's thoughts went so well with the song in the Edge - Life Is a Highway-- it was uncanny. During times of stress, we sometimes tend to fall away from intimacy with God when it is those times we need it most. Am looking forward to reading this book with my husband. More another day.

 
At April 21, 2008 5:49 AM , Blogger PinkAsphaltMama said...

I didn't read Day 1 until late in the day yesterday. AFTER the tornado touched down less than 1 mile from my home. I heard it, and saw something pass over our home, but God's arms were there to literally shelter us from the storm. Thank you for the reminder, Lord. You are my fortress.

 
At April 21, 2008 10:06 PM , Blogger Jayson said...

My mind is constantly racing. I seek a constant input of books/blogs/music/events/people who will affirm what I think God is.

I rarely am quiet and find a place where He can tell me Himself.

If intimacy with God is found in a quiet place, I may miss it with all the noise of my life.

 
At April 23, 2008 6:50 AM , Anonymous campbelljp@verizon.net said...

Day 4 -- I cannot agree with Joni's interpretation (which I have often seen before) of Jesus' final words at the crucifixion in Matthew 27:46. The idea that God would coldly turn away while Jesus suffered doesn't seem to be in character with God's nature. Yes, Jesus took upon himself the sins of the world, willingly, but estrangement from God? I don't think so!

Rather, read Psalm 22 in its entirety. True to his nature, to the very end Jesus was quoting beloved scripture and chose Psalm 22 to express his agony and the betrayal of the people around him, and to ask for deliverance from this life. But go to v. 24 and following for the point of the psalm: All who fear the Lord should praise him; God has not hidden his face from the suffering one; God's kingdom will come on earth; all will bow down before him; for *he has done it*. "It is finished."What a testimony!

 

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