When Scazzero wrote this I was quickly taken back to the Lodi Christian Trip back in August. We read through Genesis 3 and "What Does It Mean To Be Human?" I took a little time and re-read through some of that material. I'm often reminded that He created us to be us (God- "you be you and I be Me"), and that Jesus also knows what it is like to be human. Matthew 1:21-23- looking at what Jesus names ment 1(YHWH Saves)+1(God With US)=2(Jesus) My mind was blown this morning.
God created us with these feelings and emotions for what? When I watch a television commercial I tear up. When I fall on my bike my lower lip quivers, trying to "fight back" the emotions He has given us. What is it like to see a grown man cry after falling off his bike... rewind back to a year ago and I'll show ya. (Now I wear a helmet.)
I think this test can be a great tool for helping me recognize moments or areas in my life where I may not be allowing the emotions He has given me to reveal how much MORE I need Him. I know when I try to operate without acknowledging these emotions or feelings I become more paralyzed.
I think this book is stirring up 2 things in me...
1. How desperate (high emo) I am for HIM.
2. How lost I am without Him.- Paralyzed, not knowing what to feel, think..
I'm very interested to see where we journey together over the next few months and to see how God is coming to me (and us) through this.
~Andy
Great comments, Andy! I especially appreciate what you shared regarding what this book is bringing up in you and stirring in you. What honest revelations. It will indeed be interesting to see our "take-aways" during this journey. Thanks Andy!
ReplyDeleteI think your post pushed me to rock the office with the emotionally charged genre of '80's music today Andy. I know Mike C. is the unofficial lyric dropper in the Sonshine blogosphere but I couldn't help but notice that our 2 Song 80's jam session today at the home office included "When Smokey Sings" by ABC which begins with
ReplyDelete"Debonair lullabies in melodies revealed
in deep despair or lonely nights, he knows just how you feel
the slyest thymes the sharpest suits, in miracles made real."
The title of our second 80's throwback Office Jam was appropriately named (considering emotional brokenness) - "Bitter Sweet Symphony" which has lines like "Well I never pray, But tonight I'm on my knees yeah. I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah.”
As I thought about our 2 song 80's mix and your post my mind became focused on Romans 8:26 - "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."
I feel hope and solace knowing that in those moments that you pictured for us - desperation and paralysis (like a test for example as your post suggests) - God is working in our weakness, ignorance, and paralysis to groan (perhaps emotional feedback type groans) on our behalf.