Second Post

The most profound joy of discovery has been the intimacy I now have with God which is not found in my efforts, but His leading.  You see, I have come to the conclusion that knowing God like a “BEST FRIEND “ and talking to Him while you and He are the only ones there is the most important area of my Christian experience.  I believe now with all my heart is this is the way in which we drink the “living water” and are filled with the Holy Spirit because we are not over-thinking  how we should be conducting our walk.  My own experiences with “quiet times” with the Lord have often been associated with some sort of regimen or liturgy which I now see were helpful, but not life changing, and I might trick myself into believing that I was doing ok.  However, as I followed programs or outlines to read the Word I did not really talk to God on an intimate level about him and me. My prayers resulting from these times were always focused outwardly as in supplication, not inwardly, and I think that is because I worshipped God as Lord and my Savior, but personal emphasis on my relationship and how he was growing me and conforming me to His image seemed to be uncomfortable and powerless.  It was. I was not In deep intimate love with My God, and I have discovered without this love and intimacy on a “daily, deep down and personal, grass roots level” if you will , I have a perfunctory walk with God and not the power and presence of God that becomes the very air I breathe.

A very close friend of mine, whom I love dearly, told me several mos. Ago that you have to be “in love” with God. I thought I was, so his statement was not fully understood. I am thankful, count my blessings, and completely cling to the love, grace, and mercy of God.  Isn’t that love I thought to myself?  However, I noticed when he was telling me about being in love with God his passion was felt and powerful  as I detected that there was something different about his relationship with God than mine. I am now understanding and enjoying this wonderful experience.

A little over a year ago my wife and I and our son and Daughter In Law and her parents enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday in Tucson with some long time close friends of our son’s In Laws.  However, all was not what it appeared to be, much like we act like on Sunday mornings…everything is fine and ok. It wasn’t and I was about to have a nervous breakdown and my life was falling apart. I actually shed tears that I tried to hold back as I talked with our son James about the fear and uneasiness of my future.  It is very humbling to take consul from your child, but as mentioned earlier wisdom can be disclosed from any source God chooses and I was blessed to receive that from James. Being a pilot, he used a pilot’s perspective and example of how to prioritize the most important things in flying an airplane and how to correct them ,  not all at once, but one, then another, but still keeping the first situation under control and so on. He asked me what I thought needed to be my # 1 priority and I responded that it had to be my relationship with God.  Continued