So today was probably my last day at work. I guess I should feel sad or something, but actually, I'm quite happy. It wasn't a bad job...and I really liked the people I worked with...but my back and hands can't handle much more and I look forward to having a couple weeks to gather my thoughts and myself before moving on.

Anyhow, today I met some people at lunch time and was able to share with them about Senegal and what I was doing there. It was really nice and I almost wish I were going to be there longer so I could talk with them more. But alas, it is not to be. Anywho, I was reading a new book I got called "Searching for God Knows What" by Don Miller. It's another of the interesting, but good, books. He was talking about the fear of God and I got to thinking about that and how I don't ever really ponder the "fear of God". And when I look at my life and get honest with myself, I don't really "fear God" a lot as shown in my actions. I know that this "fear" talks primarily of a reverence...but these couple lines from his book 1) made me think and 2) cracked me up. Read on if you wish...

"Everybody who met God in the Bible was afraid of Him. People were afraid of even the angels, so the angels always had to calm people down just to have a conversation. I would think that would be very annoying if you were an angel, always having to settle people down just to talk. It makes you wonder if the first thousand years in heaven will have us running around screaming like we would during an earthquake, the whole time God saying to us in an enormous, booming voice, Calm down, calm down, will you, it's just Me."

and

"It seems like, if you really knew the God who understands the physics of our existence, you would operate a little more cautiously, a little more compassionately, a little less like you are the center of the universe."

So the beautiful part of God is that yeah, we are to "fear" Him...and if we aren't on His side, then yeah, we have reason to seriously be a little afraid. He's huge. And that isn't even close to what He really is. But the beautiful part comes in the grace that He has for us, so we don't have to live like the ancients who were always terrified of what their gods would do if they didn't do this, that, or the other thing. God gives us grace. We try something for Him, screw up, and He looks at us patiently and lovingly and helps us get back on track. I've heard a lot lately about God and Jesus and how we put Him into our own boxes...but really, He doesn't fit in any one box. He's too big and too wonderful for one box. I think for myself, I just need to ask Him to show me more of Him and who He is. And I just need to stand in awe of who I see Him as and then realize that there is sooo much more that I don't know about Him yet. Heaven will be a cool place, I used to think that we would just know everything when we got there. Then I realized that if we knew everything, we would be like God...so then it hit me that I'm thankful I'm curious and I hope I get to take that with me to Heaven...because I have a lot of questions for God and I'm sure His answers will only lead to more questions. But to know that we get to be with Him forever when we accept His Son is such a gift. I love sleeping peacefully at night knowing that if I don't wake up here, then I wake up there.

So there are a few, not overly in depth, thoughts about fearing God. Try it. Just stand in awe of who He is. I have found that when you ask Him to show Himself to you in a new way, He will. But be ready for whatever that includes...it's not always pretty...but He accomplishes what He sets out to do in His own ways. And if you don't "know" God personally...then just go outside and look around at what He has created...and understand that it is not an accident...it was very on purpose and from the mind of the most creative Being who has an infinite love for you.

And with that I say, have a good week.