The Shack
Pursued beyond death
Reading 'The Shack' (i'm nearly done!) I have felt God pursue me beyond death and to life again. He simultaneously waits, makes himself totally available to us and pursues us to the very core of our hearts. Sometimes fiercely if we are in danger of shutting down altogether, but always he pursues with assurance and steadfast love, unrelenting and awesome.
God the Father as 'PAPA' but in the form of an African American Big woman who loves to cook and see her kids happy and full. A woman who wont take no messin', but is so full of love and cuddles and fun. She loves to sing and is 'especially fond' of each of her children. She takes notice in every detail - nothing gets passed her. She loves unconditionally, she enjoys and delights in giving. She is the Mother who would always give her children a big kiss no matter how old they are. She is always welcoming, her timing is perfect. You know that there is a mother bear inside of her, but you would only ever see it if one of her children was threatened or in danger. She is in control, but not controlling. Her name is Papa and she is God the Father.
None of this seems 'theologically sound' and it expands my current concepts of God the Father to a place I never thought I would go. I am not supposing that this is all and everything of who God the Father is, but simply an illustration, an image, a door to opening up another part of His amazing character. This image of who he is, is so left field that it catches you and disarms your defences. God's character is to provide. His CHARACTER - WHO HE IS, INSTINCTIVELY, UNASHAMEDLY, BOLDLY and BEAUTIFULLY - is to love us patiently, all knowing, understanding us - every detail, accepting us - completely - as we are RIGHT NOW.
God, show us MORE of who you are, so that we can be more of who we are, the way you made us to be. take us by the hand and walk us past our preconceived, earthly experiential, limited concepts of who you are.
What concepts of God the Father are you desperately holding onto or hiding behind or even afraid of?
What do you think about God's character?
Right now, where you are, ask him to show you a part of his character that you don't yet know about.
What did he show you?
I'd love to hear what you think.
tons of love
Lois
P.S. I got engaged this weekend!!!!!! ARGHHHHH!!!