Comments on: How Do You Picture God? http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:31:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Maurice Fuller http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/comment-page-1/#comment-28540 Maurice Fuller Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:57:16 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=838#comment-28540 Wayne, I heartily concur with your assertion that the Father is not a scary, angry old God. However, there is abundant scripture for the gentle ,loving nature of God. Why didn't you quote some? Certainly, our relationship with God is not theological but personal. But the scriptures reinforce our genuine experience with the Father. God. in the Bible, in fact, is portayed as a Servant. Jesus, as the Suffering Servant, did not simply show us a hidden side of God, He fully and accurately revealed Him. God does not use His power to conquer us, as tyrants do. He uses His great power to serve, protect and deliver us. This is all clearly taught in scripture (although most of us have missed it). Our translations have been at fault in the many places where they use the same word to describe both the coercive power of heathen kings and the loving power of God ("authority over" in both instances). Wayne,

I heartily concur with your assertion that the Father is not a scary, angry old God. However, there is abundant scripture for the gentle ,loving nature of God. Why didn’t you quote some? Certainly, our relationship with God is not theological but personal. But the scriptures reinforce our genuine experience with the Father. God. in the Bible, in fact, is portayed as a Servant. Jesus, as the Suffering Servant, did not simply show us a hidden side of God, He fully and accurately revealed Him. God does not use His power to conquer us, as tyrants do. He uses His great power to serve, protect and deliver us. This is all clearly taught in scripture (although most of us have missed it). Our translations have been at fault in the many places where they use the same word to describe both the coercive power of heathen kings and the loving power of God (“authority over” in both instances).

]]> By: John http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/comment-page-1/#comment-28505 John Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:06:38 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=838#comment-28505 Thanks... Jesus himself said that if we have seen him we have seen the Father.. That changes everything when we realise how kind, tender, generous and loving our dad really is... wonderful! John Thanks… Jesus himself said that if we have seen him we have seen the Father.. That changes everything when we realise how kind, tender, generous and loving our dad really is… wonderful!

John

]]> By: Amy http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/comment-page-1/#comment-28460 Amy Fri, 29 May 2009 18:52:40 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=838#comment-28460 LOVE THIS PICTURE LOVE THIS PICTURE

]]> By: Amy http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/comment-page-1/#comment-28418 Amy Thu, 21 May 2009 14:05:02 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=838#comment-28418 I have to say with much much joy, after many years of having the first picture in my heart, that the 2nd picture is the picture that I know of the Father NOW! Love it! I have to say with much much joy, after many years of having the first picture in my heart, that
the 2nd picture is the picture that I know of the Father NOW!

Love it!

]]> By: Wayne http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/comment-page-1/#comment-28388 Wayne Sun, 17 May 2009 20:10:34 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=838#comment-28388 My apologies to those who tried to access this page on Saturday night. We uploaded a complete rebuild of the Lifestream website and some image photos didn't make it through. It has been fixed now, obviously, but I do want to apologize to those who were frustrated at not being able to see the photograph! As you can tell, it has all be restored now... Blessings, Wayne My apologies to those who tried to access this page on Saturday night. We uploaded a complete rebuild of the Lifestream website and some image photos didn’t make it through. It has been fixed now, obviously, but I do want to apologize to those who were frustrated at not being able to see the photograph! As you can tell, it has all be restored now…

Blessings,

Wayne

]]> By: shaun http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/comment-page-1/#comment-28384 shaun Sun, 17 May 2009 02:23:04 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=838#comment-28384 Hi Wayne, I just wanted to say that this idea that God really does love me is not new, yet it seems new(does that make any sense?) because I have believed that He is a God of Love for most of my life, yet I have never truly lived in that reality. I can't see your pictures for some reason but it's ok I have seen lots of pictures. The picture I think of now is sort of a vision that I had during a very difficult time in my life when I was separated from my children. It was the image of God's arms holding my son embracing him with complete affection and security. And my son Resting in his arms with a warm smile on his face. That is what I hope to realize in my own life as I go along on this journey. I also wanted to thank you for sharing your thoughts and life with all of us complete strangers on the internet. I am so glad I found you guys, listening to you and Brad has been for me; a word in season. Peace Hi Wayne,
I just wanted to say that this idea that God really does love me is not new, yet it seems new(does that make any sense?) because I have believed that He is a God of Love for most of my life, yet I have never truly lived in that reality.
I can’t see your pictures for some reason but it’s ok I have seen lots of pictures.
The picture I think of now is sort of a vision that I had during a very difficult time in my life when I was separated from my children. It was the image of God’s arms holding my son embracing him with complete affection and security. And my son Resting in his arms with a warm smile on his face.
That is what I hope to realize in my own life as I go along on this journey.
I also wanted to thank you for sharing your thoughts and life with all of us complete strangers on the internet.
I am so glad I found you guys, listening to you and Brad has been for me;
a word in season.
Peace

]]> By: Dave http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/comment-page-1/#comment-28379 Dave Sat, 16 May 2009 17:08:24 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=838#comment-28379 Wayne: I know the scripture says that 'no man has seen God' at any time' but I also can't see your pictures on this blog! Neither picture is displaying so I wonder if they were moved ? http://www.lifestream.org/ablogimages/angrygod.jpg http://lifestream.org/ablogimages/ABBA.jpg Thanks, Dave Wayne:

I know the scripture says that ‘no man has seen God’ at any time’ but I also can’t see your pictures on this blog!

Neither picture is displaying so I wonder if they were moved ?

http://www.lifestream.org/ablogimages/angrygod.jpg
http://lifestream.org/ablogimages/ABBA.jpg

Thanks,
Dave

]]> By: Julie http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/comment-page-1/#comment-28377 Julie Sat, 16 May 2009 14:43:17 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=838#comment-28377 I love to hear Brennan Manning talk about the fear of God.... "If you are afraid of God, you do not know Him." "In love there can be no fear..." from 1 John and his definition of fear is my favorite: "The affectionate awe (radical amazement) at the infinite goodness of God." (silent wonder) "In loving me, You made me lovable." "It is a profound act of faith in Jesus Christ." "It heals our image of ourselves. We have seen His glory--He was filled with love. He frees us of fear of the Father and dislike of ourselves." (quotes from Brennan's conference in 2008 at Glen Eyrie) I love to hear Brennan Manning talk about the fear of God….
“If you are afraid of God, you do not know Him.”
“In love there can be no fear…” from 1 John

and his definition of fear is my favorite:
“The affectionate awe (radical amazement) at the infinite goodness of God.” (silent wonder)
“In loving me, You made me lovable.”
“It is a profound act of faith in Jesus Christ.”
“It heals our image of ourselves. We have seen His glory–He was filled with love. He frees us of fear of the Father and dislike of ourselves.”
(quotes from Brennan’s conference in 2008 at Glen Eyrie)

]]> By: Theresa http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/comment-page-1/#comment-28372 Theresa Fri, 15 May 2009 22:07:37 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=838#comment-28372 What a precious picture Wayne. That first picture up top reminds me of a snarky bumper sticker I saw years ago. It would be a perfect picture to go with it. It read: Jesus is coming back and boy is he p*ssed. (With apologies to your sweet daughter.;) ) I also remember years ago entering a Catholic Church and gasping when I saw the crucifix up front. Yea, verily...Jesus really did look....well...you know.... What a precious picture Wayne. That first picture up top reminds me of a snarky bumper sticker I saw years ago. It would be a perfect picture to go with it. It read: Jesus is coming back and boy is he p*ssed. (With apologies to your sweet daughter.;) )

I also remember years ago entering a Catholic Church and gasping when I saw the crucifix up front. Yea, verily…Jesus really did look….well…you know….

]]> By: Laura http://lifestream.org/blog/2009/05/14/how-do-you-picture-god/comment-page-1/#comment-28371 Laura Fri, 15 May 2009 21:46:18 +0000 http://lifestream.org/blog/?p=838#comment-28371 Several months ago I was dealing with this very issue-- if God is our father, how is it that our concept of Father God seems to be so terrifying? I was praying about this, asking God to help me to know what he is really like as my father. I hadn't even finished this prayer when I thought I heard him say, "Call me Daddy." This was extremely mind-blowing for me, since I had never heard of anyone actually calling God Daddy, although I was familiar with Romans 8:15. It took a few months for me to fully believe that God really did say that, and it wasn't just my imagination. What an awesome, unimaginable thing, that the almighty God is also Daddy to us! Several months ago I was dealing with this very issue– if God is our father, how is it that our concept of Father God seems to be so terrifying? I was praying about this, asking God to help me to know what he is really like as my father. I hadn’t even finished this prayer when I thought I heard him say, “Call me Daddy.” This was extremely mind-blowing for me, since I had never heard of anyone actually calling God Daddy, although I was familiar with Romans 8:15. It took a few months for me to fully believe that God really did say that, and it wasn’t just my imagination. What an awesome, unimaginable thing, that the almighty God is also Daddy to us!

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