Monday, June 15, 2009

Loving God From the Heart I


How exciting it is to begin this journey as we explore together what it means to think, say and do everything "for the Love of God." If you have never read or participated in a blog before, welcome! It's a great way to learn together and even leave your comments. At the end of each day's post, there is a place for you to comment or raise a question. When you "click" your mouse on the comment spot another screen will pop up on which you can put your comments. After you have done that, then it will ask you to verify and identify yourself. One option is for you to become a member of blogspot (or blogger), but you actually can comment by signing your name in the content and then designating yourself as anonymous. That's the easiest way. If you have any problems don't hesitate to give me a call or to send me an e-mail at wcotton@stlukeslubbock.org.

This week, we are looking at what it means to "love the LORD your God" with all your heart. The truth is that in Hebrew, people don't compartmentalize between the emotional, spiritual, physical and intellectual dimensions of life. They are a unified whole. To love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind is to love God with all that we are. But Greco-Roman culture did make those divisions and we still do today. So we will be looking at each dimension of our love for God separately so that we can grow in each of these ways, but in the end we will be returning to what it means to love God totally.

Worship has often been called "a labor of love" to the LORD. When we sing, "Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, 'How great Thou art," we are not just on a head trip or even a spiritual connection, we are sharing of ourselves emotionally. The same is true when we sing, "I could sing of your love forever." There is a song that is sung during "The Walk to Emmaus" that sings, "Jesus, Jesus. Let us tell you how we feel. You have given us your Spirit. We love you so." We need not be afraid to be emotional in expressing our love for God. Some do so loudly and some quietly, but a healthy relationship with God does have an emotional dimension. Love that is expressed always does.

The greatest emotional love expressions in the Bible are found in the Psalms, so that is where we will be reading together this week. They are not the only places. There are doxologies that thank God for His greatness and provision, as in some from Paul's writings or in Mary's "Magnificat" ("My soul magnifies the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Savior"). By the way, when you sing "the doxology" after the offering, that's supposed to be an emotional outpouring of gratitude - "Praise God from who all blessings flow!" It implies that we are thanking God that His blessings have flowed to us and when are thankful from the depth of our hearts. The book of Revelation has some of the most powerful expressions of worship in the whole Bible.

Our readings today express our love for God because of creation. While I do not advocating worshiping creation, I strongly advocate worshipping the creator and being good stewards of creation as an expression of our love for God. My approach to these readings will be more devotional than scholarly.

Psalm 8

This is one of my favorite Psalms. It begins with "O Lord, our God, how excellent is your name in all the earth." It is an expression of awe that God could make something this great, things in creation that are amazingly simple and profoundly complex, things that makes us marvel and make us wonder. David composes this song of worship and begins by talking about the praise of children. One of my most profound experiences of worship happened at the birth of our sons. Amidst the pain (for Tina), the anxiety (for both of us), the confusion and noise, there is a deep sense of the divine. The birth of a child is a holy wow! And then children start to develop ways to communicate - cries, laughter, syllables, words, sentences, and even begin to praise their maker with a profound simplicity that humbles us all. Can you see God in the face of a child - even with pureed carrots or dog food on his or her face? Sure you can.

Then David talks about the heavens, the moon and stars. How long has it been since you took a drive outside of town a ways and have seen the sky for the fabulous displays it offers. When I lived up north I saw different constellations than I see in Texas. And if I go to the mountains, I see stars and constellations I will never see in Lubbock. Telescopes have shown us that the 5,000 stars we can see with the naked eye are just a miniscule part of what God has created, that there are multiplied galaxies and even universes. There's another holy wow! In the presence of that vastness and stunning light in the darkness, you feel so small and so blessed at the same time. With the Psalmist we cry, "What is man that you are mindful of him?"

Tina and I had a marvelous time on our cruise, which included time in the ocean of the costs of the Cayman Islands, Belize and Honduras. While snorkeling (a venture in faith for us both), Tina came out of the water and said, "This is awesome. The coral is stunning and the fish are so big and beautiful." We held stingrays and experienced a little more of what it means to be part of a beautiful creation. As human beings, we have dominion and responsibility for the creatures of the land and sea. We were told to be careful not to step on or damage the coral as we snorkeled or to make the stingrays anxious. How long has it been since you were sensitized anew of the awesome gift creation is, and how long has it been since you expressed your love for God for such a gift? The Psalm finishes with a repeat of the beginning, as if to say, "I just have to say it again, how great is our God...how awesome You are, O God, and how blessed I am to be part of all this."

Why not go take a walk in the park either by yourself or with someone you love and take in the gift God has for you today?

Psalm 19:1-6

It is so hard to put into words the greatness of God and our love for Him. We end having to use word pictures (metaphors) to try and express that which is beyond words. In Genesis 1, creation happens by the word of God - "And God said..." David here describes creation as a voice of a different kind that tells a story without words. The sky itself is described as an act of God the artist. How long has it been since you tried to imagine the pictures being drawn in the clouds?

For David the daily experience of creation is like celebrating a wedding and the new relationship of marriage or like the satisfaction of completing a marathon. How we take for granted the daily experience of God's creation! Did you awaken, stretch and take a deep breath? Did you wake up beside someone or did you greet someone who lives in your house? Did you eat a tasty breakfast that gave you energy for the day? Did you get the chance to do meaningful work or enjoy the company of people who mean the world to you? The blessings of the day just continue from there. No doubt, our days also have challenges and things that disappoint and confuse us. But we often forget the blessings. There really is much to celebrate and part of the things we celebrate are the normal things of creation that cycle through our lives every day.

Before you go to sleep, why not take time to thank God for the ordinary and the repetitive things that you enjoy every day? As you do, you will notice that God seems closer and life seems a little more holy. Why not tell God how you feel?






3 comments:

Anonymous said...

ae

Anonymous said...

I wish I had read this before speaking with Reece this evening! I am very thankful to God for giving me such a God filled and loving family! Thanks hon for your leadership!!!

Tina

Toni said...

Try walking to the park with a three year old...every rock and stick is a treasure. It certainly refocuses us to God's creativity. Started not to read Psalm 23 today...thought "I know that one." But after reading it with focused eyes there is so much more depth than saying it by rote.Toni