remain.

Sometimes I have a Jesus high.

Those times when He becomes so real to me that I can almost see His face.  

Those times when I walk around the house praying and it feels like He's beside me listening and talking with me.

Times at camp or at some other breath-taking place where I can taste Him in the sweetest,

most personal ways. 

Most people refer to these as "mountaintop experiences." But what bothers me about that is it implies that you'll soon be taking the bus back to the "real" world and the valley of sin, guilt, and regret. 

I remember my youth pastor one year at camp tried so hard to get us to see that just because we were leaving the mountains, didn't mean our closeness with God had to end. 

I've figured out why a few days after camp or driving home from a bible study we forget everything we just learned and go on with old habits.

Because it's work.

Yeah, that's right. W. O. R. K. Jesus is work. He made it that way. He wanted us to make an effort to come before Him. If He was easy, how valuable would you feel as His child? His lover? His friend? But the truth is, most of us are lazy. We expect God to pour out on us the blessings of a lifetime because we go to church and read His word daily.  Ever feel like you're just missing it? He wants YOU!

It takes an

every-moment, full-throttle, selfless-giving, untamed-loving, surrendered-heart, and soul-on-fire

to be called His.

Even though the Bible states very clearly that our best efforts are like filthy rags (the original wording meant literally 'menstrual cloths.') compared to God's greatness, it still takes effort on our part to get to know who Jesus really is.

When we're on the mountain, God's easily accessible and we can breathe Him in like air.

But, after all the glitter fades, we must fight to remain in Him.

We must...

...abide, meaning to stay or live with...

   ...tarry, meaning to linger, dwadle, or loiter...

          ...or literally to continue to be present and wait upon...

The only way to be completely present with someone is to continually be in conversation with them.  By the way, when was the last time you lingered with God? Or loitered in His goodness? Lingered by His majesty? Waited patiently for His faithfulness? Do you really feel God's presence when you thank Him for meals three times a day?

Even Jesus, as He began His earthly ministry had a moment where God "[came] down from heaven as a dove and remain[ed] on Him." John one, thirty two. 
This never took away the pain or frustration of Jesus' ministry, but after that moment, He never left His Father's side and He continually abided in His Father's presence, often going to a solitary place to spend time with Him.

My point isn't that my relationship with God should always feel like a "mountaintop."
Because it doesn't. All relationships ebb and flow even with the best of efforts.

I'm simply saying that if we're not engaging in a love relationship with Jesus at every moment of every day, we're not doing the most important job that He's entrusted us with.
_____________________________________________________________


"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John fifteen, seven through thirteen

"In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs three, six


"The anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in Him.  And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming." First John two, twenty seven and twenty eight

knowing God. for real this time.

Well, I'd say I've come full circle. One of my very first blogs was entitled Knowing God.

I've been challenged lately to seek God with a whole new perspective on that concept.

We'll start by discussing my first attempt.
I took it the direction of knowing God through things.

"God can be seen, I see Him in you, I see Him in the trees, I see Him in the creation all around me. Yet, I’ve never seen His face. I can’t trace the contours of His face in my head, I can’t feel His rough and beaten, hole-filled hands, I can’t look in His untraceable eyes and see the yearning and aching for lost souls that Jesus feels. Then how, you say, can you know God?"

I left that question somewhat unanswered.  After a year and a half of trying my best to seek God, I've learned that my attempts don't get me very far.

Yes, I've learned so much.
Yes, I've increased my knowledge of the scriptures.

But did I really, truly, increase my knowledge, understanding, and insight about the God who wrote them?
What are those words there for but to push me towards that exuberant love for my Savior?

"The greatest knowledge we can have is knowing God

treasures us." -Francis Chan

I'm afraid after all my seeking, that truth hasn't been pounded into my head much at all.

So. Like a good man tells me often  . . . No dwelling in the past. Only progress. :)

I'm promising myself and my God, this very day. That I will from now on, seek to be attached to Jesus' hip, no only learning from Him, but always remembering that He treasures me above all of creation.  He knew me before I was created! He knows the depths of the deepest part of my being, even better than I do. When I pray, He already knows what's going to come out of my mouth. He designed the situation I am in for me especially. He is my lover, Father, and friend.  No one can take His place in my story because He's the very reason that I have one. He's bigger than I can ever imagine. That will not discourage me or frustrate me because I know that I will never reach the bottom of His magnificent love and devotion to a wretch like me.  I will not have to fear what is coming or what has been, because my Jesus is the alpha and the omega, the author and perfecter, the designer and the finisher.

When Jesus said He came to bring us life, and life to the fullest, He was serious. 

Dead on a cross serious.

"Isn't it great to worship a God we can't overexaggerate?" -Francis Chan