My Task Is "Will I Let Him"?

As time goes, the conversations about God begin to pass along within the participants.  Then some people are responding, and through these written treasures of communication, we explore together all things GOD.

He is Almighty. He is sovereign. He is different things as I need him to be.

HE IS......

The question to me lately has been, not what is he? It becomes "Will I let Him be.....?"

Taking on the task of surrender,

Jan M. Olsen
~J~

Angel writes again, after reading Mark and Brian's responses:

 

Hey, Mama!

Wow! That's pretty cool! I don't wanna piggyback on his answer, but I know that it resonated with me. I have also felt the bigness of God and my smallness in relation to Him. Actually, for me, that happens most often when I see the stars or the ocean. I know that's kinda trite. Lots of people, not all of them aware of God, have referred to feeling small or insignificant when faced with the majesty of creation.

I've been thinking about my own answers to your questions. I remember that when you asked me what I see I told you about the father holding infant me in his shiny, huge hands. That's still true on occasion, but more often than not, I see the Master of the Universe, and the Lover of my soul. The combination of those two things makes for a very humbled me. In the past year I have had the opportunity to examine the Sovereignty of ALMIGHTY God. I have been reminded countless times throughout my Christian upbringing that God is Creator, Father, and Friend. Recently though, I have begun to learn what it means to submit a life much bigger than I am to the Alpha and Omega. The Author and Finisher of my faith. Nothing I do could ever surprise Him. Nothing I face is outside His understanding or control. And yet, His heart breaks when mine is wounded.

He is the only hope I have for peace in this life. Knowing that he SPOKE and THERE WAS is steadily becoming more of an anchor in my stormy sea of self-discovery. Knowing that He never changes means that He could just as easily speak to my situation and make it what He wants it to be...If I let Him. I think that the observation of the human tendency to create God in Man's image was very profound and (much to our chagrin) accurate. Still, even scripture says that it is possible to "limit the Holy One of Israel". That's why I felt it was important to share not just the image I have of God, but the way I view myself in relation to Him.

My greatest challenge is allowing God to be the Sovereign Lord that He is. As we have always said, "to let God be God". That's why it's so important to me to remind myself that the only appropriate view of my role in his throne-room is one of submission and ultimate servitude.

WOW! I bet you weren't expecting all that! May not have been what you had in mind, but I couldn't seem to stop typing. Does that make sense? I guess you're not the only writer in this family! ;P Luv ya, Lady!

Angel Bugs

 

Pastor H writes again, after reading some of the conversation:

 

Just difficult to answer. But I guess I see him as I need him. There's times I see him on the cross. Times I see him as a shepherd. Other times I see him as a friend of the disciples. Hope this is what you were asking.

M. H.

The Connection We All Share

One of the themes of the God conversations, has been having GOD as the focus.  The center point.  Yet, the all inclusive, GOD IS ALL.  For me personally, one of the gifts of this past year was being reminded afresh that we are all connected. The only distance between us, is in our own perceptions and thoughts.  Once the skin to this onion-like present slid away?  I return daily to the connection, the unity, the wholeness with my fellows. We are all created by GOD in HIS image. All belongs to GOD.  All eventually returns to GOD.

I wonder what GOD thinks about these conversations?  Surely, it must be pleasing to him to be the focus of talk at the dinner table, on the work place, and in our personal or recreation time.  If a person allows themself? It is easy to find things that bring unease or discomfort in our world. Real and imagined, these serve to keep us turned inward in self-defense, instead of upward to GOD and outward towards one another.

Reminded by a friend recently, that GOD and his flow is always turned "ON".  The only disconnect is in me.  Turn the spigot to "on".   The Source is then flowing again, in uninterupted Connection.

Warmed to know I am not alone or adrift, I am grateful to recognize Connection.

Connected and turned to "on",
Jan M. Olsen
~J~

My friend's mom, Donna writes:

Sorry to take so long on this. Dad and I actually took a class on this way back when Father Jim was at Holy Cross. Lots of people still use the old man in the white robe with a long white beard and hair to match. Lots of people use a cross when they pray. For some reason I use a mountain. I think because it is strong, stable and chances of it going anywhere are pretty slim.

I would be interested to know what some other people see – just curious.

Love,

Mom

Tommy writes:
I see God in a white robe with His hands spread wide to welcome home His children who were good and faithful servants. I see me as falling short daily trying to carry out His will. We all fall short of the glory of God....thank goodness for His sufficient Grace He has on us!

Peter writes:

WHEN YOU SEE G-D, WHAT DO YOU SEE? PLEASE DESCRIBE IT…

Okay, here goes (slighted edited and updated, 7/15/11)…

Sometimes I “see” God, sometimes I “feel” God.  When I do my healing work, I “see” with my feeling hands, with my heart, and with my soul.  How about re-phrasing the question to “What do you experience when you experience God?  Please bear with me…

I encounter God in the celebratory song of the birds outside my window as I awake each morning.  I voice a prayer to God as I arise, giving thanks for another day, another breath. I see God in that very breath ~ the breath of life ~ and in meditation and in prayer.  God tickles my nose and dazzles my eyes with flowers that burst forth and dance in the breeze that rolls across the lake.  The breath of God caresses my face as I step forth into the morning sun (or the morning rain). 

I find God in music ~ in the chants I sing, in the symphonies of Beethoven and Mahler, in a Puccini opera, in a simple acoustic guitar riff.  I see God in the smile of a stranger, the cry of a child, the infectious laughter of a group of friends engaged in spirited conversation.  I connect with God in deliberate worship: in my Kundalini Yoga class; in my Sacred Circle; in the Kabalistic, mystical song and dance of Temple Adath Or.  It doesn’t matter where I worship ~ in church, temple, home or out in the woods, on a lake, stream, on top of a mountain.  God is omnipresent.  I’m at one with the Quakers, who speak of the Christ within, the Light within. 

I connect with God when I do my healing work, getting out of the way and letting the healing energy flow through me.  I become the Lightworker conduit.

From a Judaic perspective, God is the Force that makes it possible to not let existing reality constrain our visions.   The whole point of Judaism is that there really is a Force or Power in the universe (we call it YHVH or “Adonai” or “HaShem”), a breath and spirit which makes it possible to move from “that which is” to “that which ought to be.”  That Force is what we celebrate when we talk about God.

But our task is not to speak of God, but to speak to God.  And for that, the ancient words still resonate, and so I sing and say Hallelu-Yah, praise to you, Yah, the breath and spirit of the universe.

GOD Is Everything

July 27, 2011

God Is Everything

When man has done all they can imagine or try,  he comes back to God is everything.  I continue to ask people * what they see when they see God and * what they see of themselves.  The questions have been passed around.  Many demographics are represented, and more responses are still being emailed to me.

Reading these heartfelt answers of each person’s individual experience and belief with God, I became sensitized to all surrounding me.  I already have a firm foundational belief system in place.  But letting the views of my friends, their friends and families  stir me, I have become more aware of God in daily living. Inspired and humbled, I turn as I always have to almighty God and give HIM praise and my expressions of gratitude.

My own letter, began in the early stages of these conversations.  I have added to it as days go on, but the initial belief is the main thread.  Lately though, as my senses and curiosities became heightened,   I ask myself “Is THIS God?  What about THIS?”

Is GOD in the ocean, when I stand flatfooted on the sea floor, water above my head, eyes open to the life teeming around me?  That was both grounding and liberating.

Is God in the helpless newborn, who instinctively turns towards body warmth, nuzzling, seeking sustenance and reassurance?

Is GOD in the winds, storms, and their aftermath?

Is GOD the plane itself? Or the clouds?  Or the tarmac?

He is all of that and more. 

He is everything.

Here are several responses included to the questions “When you see God, what do you see?  How do you see yourself?”

Everything,

Jan M. Olsen

~J~

Mark writes:

Simple:

God is everything! Everything! All that we want and all that we do not.
Our challenge is to see everything as God and be grateful for it no matter
what it looks like, to love it no matter how it shows up, and to forgive
ourselves for every judging any part of God, including ourselves, as less
than Godly.

Mostly, easier said than done, but my view of God nonetheless.

God is all things --- Unity! Separation is an illusion of the human
condition.


:)

Marilyn writes:

Well...now there's a question you don't get asked everyday...let's see....today at this time I believe that God is Reality...what appears good and what appears bad. But that most of what does appear for us is just an illusion....I believe we are very slowly as a species in the still beginning stages of waking up from the illusions of good and bad. I believe that trying to put a definition of God into words is probably impossible but think that when we can get ourselves out of the way we can experience Reality as Bliss.

"Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,

there is a field...I'll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass;

The world is too full to talk about,

Ideas, language, even the phrase each other,

doesn't make any sense."

Rumi

in answer to "when you see God how do you see yourself?" innocent....safe....at peace.

Yes you may share my answers with others.

I would love for you to share some of the other answers with me!

love ya!

Marilyn

My view- Jan writes:

I see God as being everything.  He is in all, is all, everything that was and is to come. Eternal, with no beginning or end.  Everywhere at once, all knowing, all powerful.  When God spoke, form separated from the deep.  The void became alive, and in distinct properties that still retain all the qualities of its Creator.

In my limited view, I feel God in my very marrow.  I know scientists break us down to cells, molecules, DNA.  In my simple embracing of God as being my everything, I honor him as being the fire that’s shut up in my bones.  The center of my growth, life, death,  He is the regeneration of new when the old expires and is no more.  He created me and he will finish what he has begun.

When God created man, He formed him out of the dust into his own image. Then He personally breathed the life sustenance in him, and man became a soul, spirit, body.  With my every longing, I strain to be that united with God again. That pure. That much as he desires me to be.

I see me as a flawed cup or vessel.  I am incomplete, until I am in the Master’s hands. Then all my cracks and mars are filled with Him anew, and He floods me to overflowing.  Only in redemption and resurrection do I have hope of being whole in Him.  He however, sees me pure, redeemed, clean and whole. He sees what is Possible.

He is my peace, my hope, my reason, my rhyme and all the direction I ever need to know.  With God as my beginning and as my end, my living tries to reflect that with every breath or heartbeat. When I rest and recharge? I rest in an eternal, safe hand of God. He provides, He nurtures, He grows, He loves, He holds me when no one else will.  Fearfully and wonderfully made, He heals my fissures and tired cells, transforming me into His likeness again, when I stumble in a dark world and soil this temple in selfish human err.

He is everything, therefore He is both Lion of Judah, majestic  king, and sacrificial Lamb of God. He doesn’t change, not his mind, his attributes, or his person. Immutable and constant.  He is the great I AM.

God is the warmth and aroma I sense when His light fills my truck, and upon His word, my crushing mountains are cast into the sea.

For me He is my reason, my calling, my breath, my source, my one true love. He is my all in all. My muse, my one true north. All I ever dream of being or hope to attain.

In The Faces Of Others

What began as a humble conversation between two dear friends, these questions about God have opened a wonderful gift of communications encompassing people around the globe, from all demographics, that would not otherwise connect on a one to one basis. To be a small part of this is making my heart swell with the ache that comes when it grows and stretches as it opens to new things, places, people.

It is interesting to note, not everyone is choosing to participate. By their silence? They are still making a choice. Others, rather than share from their own heart are first asking for some sort of clarification, so they can give the "right" answer. A few ask to hear what others are saying, and some elect to share their views, and that is it to them, they have done their part by answering me once.

Of all so far, the people that tell me they are going to  pass the query along to ask someone else their views as well excite me! It's as if a God-wave has begun! In a time of microwaves, drivethroughs, and instant gratification.... in a world saturated by media and communications..... in an era where imagination and dreaming can be  a gasping, struggling art, it is so very warming when people get fired up about GOD and want to engage their fellows in a personal way!!!

Also of note, are the people that share not only their views of "the image of God", but that twine "how they see themselves" and do not separate the two concepts. Intriguing.

A few times, this last has brought me bittersweet pain, as certain dear souls spit out a torture they are feeling. Something about how they see God, stirs up their own needs and hurts. Then from their internal processes, they realize something of themsleves.  That they took the time to do the work to verbalize their views, even when laced with pain and Process? Just humbles me. I am so grateful to them for their courage and ask God to flow through me and others to help these precious people to connect and to heal. They are my teachers, and the lessons are flowing with a force that has me sitting back, seat belt OFF, taking it all in, surrendering it all to GOD, and then  reaching out to others, again.

A recurring theme to the responses, is to mention they see God in the faces of others, or in nature around us. It will be interesting to see how far this God-wave will develop. What questions and what answers will arise? It is exquisitely masterful handiwork of God to engage all of us in connecting through seeking to know HIM better.   It's such a God-thing for him to do, big smile!

Going through my day I pass many miles and people.

Purposefully looking into the face of others? Absorbing all senses of the Present Moment?

Looking into the face of God,
Jan M. Olsen

Pastor Hattabaugh writes:

Wow... this is really too deep - heavy for an email... I'm sure you're explanation will be enlightening... but I see Him in so many different ways... I guess it depends on when and what I'm going through or need at the time...? Make sense?
Ready for your enlightenment! :-)
MH
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Nanci writes:

When I "see" God, I do not "see" God. I refer, of course, to MY God....and I understand all people are different.

And there certainly is NOT another ME.

I feel God.

I feel God when Morgan smiles at me with total abandon. It is shocking sometimes. Tangible.

I feel God alot when I am immersed in nature. Too many times to list, as recent as this week-end with Glenn in Charleston when I foolishly tried to capture what I "see" with my Canon when the beauty is actually in my heart.

I have felt God many times when I am in the mountains, sitting on the porch and watching the trees move in the wind.

I sense God when I walk on the beach, total sensory overload.

I do not see God in my mind. Perhaps too many Jesus paintings on velvet. He is not the wizened old man, nor the carpenter, nor the babe in the manger to me. I smell commercialism and I gag.

God is, to me, the quiet, calm in my soul, in the moments when I own love, depth, and clarity of self and surroundings....and I feel at utter peace.

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Allison writes:

I've been pondering your question for a few days, I may pass it onto Alan to put some thought into. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that no one see's God.

  However, I think we can see God in things in our lives, not his image but his attributes such as love and innocence. For example a child who loves unconditionally and when asked to pray they pray with complete faith because they're not old enough to know dissapointment.

  Another example would be Sis. Nash, her love for people and her gift for making everyone feel special and warm all over. When she hugs you, you feel God. When we see the sunset, sunrise, mountains, trees, the ocean, in all of those things I see Him. To me it's impossible to look at His creation and not see Him.

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Susana writes:

• Ive never seen God. But i c His beauty in nature.

When I See God, I See.....

Holly in Columbus, Ohio writes-

When I see God....There are so many ways one can answer this question. I see God every day in lots of shapes and forms because He is omnipresent. He is with me from the moment I wake up and all through the day. I can see God in the simplest ways such as the sun rise, an opening flower, the dew on the lawn to more complex things like, in your sorrow, as you're driving (even in construction ;-)), the birth of a child, or even in a shadow. God is all around us every moment of the day. There are times in my life where I know I saw God. Complete strangers smile at you or offer to get the door for you. Maybe they even paid for your meal. Random acts of kindness are so we can see God's face. If you are following the Bible to the best of your ability, then you too can see God.

When I see God, no matter what is going on, I'm immediately comforted and just know that He is with me. I sense His presence and know He is there. I can see God more when I'm having a bad day. I think He does this to remind us that He is with us. When I see God, you just know without a shadow of doubt who He is. It's like a light bulb that has quickly come in a dark world.

This is what I quickly did. I may send you more later. Hope this is a good start for you.
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Dr. Isaac Deas, of Leesburg, FL writes:
I see the face of every person I know. I see the sun, moon, stars. I see a sunset/sunrise. I see children laughing/playing. I see colors. I see what God sees

Could You Make This?

In the last few days, I have had burning questions.  Constant companions to my waking hours and my slumber buddies in sleep, these queries tickle, engaging me in curiousity.  I live a set apart lifestyle and spend my weeks alone immersed in my work.  When these questions became pure combustion, I set out to make a list of my personal army of Safe People.

Who can I trust? Who will talk to me straight? No fluff or smokescreens? Who is willing to clamber down into the trenches, roll up their sleeves and dig deep into the heart, soul, and spirit of a matter?

Who will live out their claims of non-jugement or unconditional, faithful love?

My list was rather short. It was powerful to have so many warriors to name.

As I asked them one by one a few of my questions and began to pass the answers back and forth, it became apparent that there is so much yet to learn, so much we do not know.

However, it warms my spirit and further ignites me to realise?  We are all saying the same things in our own words.

Truly beautiful.

I ask you, could you make this?

Soaking, basking in God's Creations,
Jan M. Olsen


Brian writes:

Hi Jan,

When I see God, what do I see? What a loaded question! :)

I feel closest to God in the midst of his natural creation. The greatest times of illumination for me were when I was standing and looking at the heavens. My favorite verse is Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. There was a time when I had atheistic thoughts in Bible school after studying some hard material. I was so disillusioned that I walked outside to a field in the back and screamed, "God are you real? How can I know you're real?" The wind kicked up and I heard the trees start swaying and the leaves tickled by the wind. I looked up and saw beautiful cloud formations and the wind hit my face. A dry leaf fell off the tree and I heard a voice in my heart...pick it up...so I did. Then God asked me with that same voice "Could you make this?" I then was asked to pick a blade of grass "Could you make this?" Then, was the handful of dirt, "Could you make this?" Other questions came "Where did this wind come from?" Who made these cloud formations? Could you do any of this? The answer from my shaky voice was NO.

I have never doubted the existence of God since as I see him working not only in 'nature', but also in the daily business of my life. I feel the Holy Spirit most near when I am silent and admiring his creation. I am not one that thinks the birds are God or the water is God, but I do see that they are a reflection of his power and greatness. These places of awesome silence in nature are a sanctuary of praise and worship where I most see the glory of God.

The Bible says no man has seen the Lord, we only see representations of him (pillar of fire, cloud of glory, etc...). When I visualize him, I see him as a friend next to me. They say God fills the universe. NASA tells us the universe is expanding rapidly. I say God doesn't fill the universe, but the universe is trying to find the edges of God. We are smaller than an atom to Him, but yet He loves us. That's amazing to me.

I know this answer is vague, but like Paul I see through a glass darkly, but then one day FACE-TO-FACE!!! We know in part now, but someday we will be like him. The small glimpses I see of him in my spiritual and physical life keep me going that one day I won't have to guess or wonder. I'll know everything I need to know. :)

Love ya,
BF

What Do You See?

Today, I awoke a full 54 minutes early of my alarm clock. I was rested and lay there taking time to slowly become aware of what woke me and everything I was surrounded by, thinking, feeling, hearing in my Spirit.


That's it!  God was speaking to me. Kneading me. Preparing me.  So rather than get up at all, I continued to lay on my back, very awake. Everything within me throbbing with a longing to draw closer to God to HIS mind, to HIM.


Not sure yet of where we were heading, I felt it best to begin with gratitude. "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise."  This segued into inviting God into every aspect of my life, especially of my day ahead.  Spent some time here with this one.  Jeremiah 29:11, "Thy word have I hid my heart that I might not sin against thee."  "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." "establish my comings and goings." "The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord."


Submitting my will.  My talents. My gifts. My plans. My desires. My hopes. My day, every second of it both in linear and non-linear "time".


Still, I felt God massaging me in my chest area... kneading it like yeast bread.  Lovingly. Preparing me for???? For what, God?


There has been such a shifting in me. In my thinking. In my vision. In my Spirit.  Here it is safe to admit, somethings like the idea or the word or social connotations of "L-O-V-E" scare me to my core.  Yet, in spite of me, there is a flow in and out, that is as inexorable as the tides of the ocean that GOD created.


I know the exact moment I opened this specific Pandora's box. Spring 2010 when I lived, rested on the mountain ledge and healed in town.  It was in the Prayer Room at the Pentecostals of Cooper City.  I was alone, on a weekday.  I have a favorite "altar" there.  It's in the center area, across from the World Missions map and beside the bay window facing the main highway of Flamingo Rd, representing the Mission Field and Harvest.


There is an ottoman, or something like that. This one is a leather bound rectangle. High enough to sit up, propped  to read, low enough to kneel beside, and lean onto. Perfect for my often position of draping over it. feet behind me, body across, hands on the other side, pleading.  Fully surrendering me on the altar.


During an intense prayer, I asked God to settle onto me the mantle of Compassion and of Love for Others.  HE responded immediately, as the warm annointing oil began to course across and over me, filling me from within to without.  I already have these gifts. God understood my heart's cry for a BURDEN and a PASSION for Others.


Let it be.


This commenced a new chapter in my Journey.  A stride towards my Calling.  A companion to my Purpose. A fuel for my Big Picture. Merging and fusing my spiritual life with my mental and emotional life. Wings to my feet. Vision, clarity, surrender of me, unto HIM.


A step out of Complacency and the Past, into the Present Moment and Future  that I have been in the fire preparing for my entire life.


Today, I stayed in an almost uneasy state.  Not in a bad way. I couldn't get into my music. I didn't want to email or text randomly. I was a catch between a sob and a surge of God SPEAKING out of me.  More than once, the Spirit moved and I burst out in His tongue. 


At the latter portion of my workday, I decided to ask the question to a vast representation of people.  The ones who have responded have been more than I could bear if it was "me".  At once, I had to STOP "me" and enter directly into HIM with PURPOSE.  I had to say, "GOD! This is more than I bargained for. This is too much for me. I cannot handle the pain, the depth, the breadth. You have GOT TO TAKE OVER - NOW, GOD!"


God then showed me as His creation, on the Potter's wheel. Shaping me as HE sees me to be.  My cry today was, "God, if I am to be your earthly hands, feet, voice in this?  You HAVE TO equip me. Protect me. Direct me."


"I will."


and just like that, the answers came, the directions flowed through me, and I was able to peacefully be FULLY PRESENT to the person responding to my questions, and GOD spoke to them.


It was beautiful. Educational. Humbling. And draining.


Here are excerpts of the responses today, "When you see God, what do you see?"  and sometimes the follow up question of "When you see God, how do you see yourself."


Let the healing begin~

June 28, 2011

o    Berry writes:

 Truthfully? I see a God that whose light illuminates the the very fiber of my soul. I know that When I get to Heaven that his Glory will be the light that shines everywhere. I see the words, wisdom, love, kindness, protector, provider, advocate, and shelter, as though if you could actually see a word for what it is... That is who God is to me... I hope this is what you are looking for.. You may share this...

o    J:   thank you so much, Berry. You are an inspiration.

There is not a right or wrong answer. I asked the question so it was open on purpose.

Also, thank you for specific permission to share your response. This began as banter among friends, just after a very ministering time. The more I ask "Believers" and "non-Believers"?

The more humbled and profoundly loved and challenged I am.

Blessings, Brother!

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 Kim writes: 

I don't see God -- He is a spirit   I feel His presence, witness His character, and recognize the work of His Kingdom  -- which by the way is in us. How about you? ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Theresa writes:


 In the world and not only see but feel the holy spirit come over me and I know I just recognized what I see everyday God.

I see everything because I know God is in everything. But matter makes up everything and when I look at my tv I don't think look matter. Nor Do I stop and think look God. Because I'm blind to my own selfish laziness and don't recognize the gift of sight God has blessed me with.

But on occassion for a reason I can not think of right now or a reason that escapes me there are times when I stop and really see the beauty.

( I felt led to ask, ”How do you see you?”   Later, to keep her talking, I asked,  “How do you see yourself, when you see God?”)

T: I have never looked at myself when I felt God so I can't say I see Him in me but when I do look at myself I usually see a vacant lot that Has potential to become anything but no one ever sees me instead people past me by litter on me. I get flooded. Over run with weeds. Just  Abandoned. Waiting for someone to see how beautiful I can be if time and care were taken to bring it out.

I thanked her periodically throughout this exchange.  Told her I loved her.  Encouraged her to continue. 

T:  When she was spent, she said that I can trust her to psychobabble anytime.  That the reason I am the only person that gets her is because I am half crazy too. 

J: I ended the serious talks by deeply thanking her again, loving her, “Theresa, thank you for sounding out ideas with me today. I receive it as a gift from you. Precious to me. Whatevah it takes, LOL.”  (combined several statements in a flow between us to make it legible.)

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Otis writes:

o    Well, I never thought about it before, but I would have to say Everything living thing around me. Since I know it
Says in the good book that God created
Everything in his "Own image.". So let me
Know if i'm correct.

R/
OT

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Marie writes:

o    When I read that "when you see God" and I have to think about it in mainly physical terms...I guess...I don't really see God, not physically...but I do see the manifestations of God...when I worship Him I "feel" His presence all around me. It makes me cry and feel deeply moved by the fact that He would choose to touch me...even knowing me as well as He does....

o    I feel Him mostly.....and it usually depends on the type of conversation we are having at the time. Sometimes its the "still small voice" of warning....that occasionally I have the wisdom to listen to. Or its the urgency I feel when I know one of my kids are in trouble..like a not so gentle nudging to get up and pray NOW!!!

it's like the feeling when I so desperate for God that, when my eyes are closed, I know that if I open them I will see his arms around me...cause I can feel them...literally feel them. At times I have felt the power of God flow through me to heal or touch another person...that is an incredibly humbling feeling. I think that "seeing" God is all about Him being what we desire/need at the time. He has all the names of Counselor, Great Physician, Father, Friend, etc., because he will be all those different manifestations in your life when you need them...each one is for us...and thats the part that blows my mind. He is willing to become what I need...wow....

o     

o    I see the physical manifestations of Him in my children (and now my grandchildren), I see His beauty all around me in the beauty of our world...small things that show me He cares for me, I see his handiwork..and it makes me thankful. When I read His word and stumble across a pearl that I didn't know (or remember lol) and it touches my soul in a real and tangible way...it makes me cry, or smile, or I feel a sudden brush of His presence all around me. When I see someone filled with the Holy Ghost for the first time...and watch the awe and wonder come over their faces...especially a child, THAT is really seeing God....

o    I guess I "see" Him in so many ways and places because I am always looking for Him...because I cannot believe that He is also looking for me...I think if you are always looking for Him, He will reveal Himself one way or another...and that just blows my mind! I feel like Paul sometimes...chief amongst sinners...so the face that I can "see" Him any where is just so incredible at times the shear magnitude of it makes me weep....so I guess that's what you are asking...if not let me know and I'll try again..lol

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J:  Sis, I love you! There is no right or wrong answer. And you also touched on my 2nd part to the questions "When you see God, How do you see yourself?"

You can add anything here you feel led to share. You bless me. As a friend. As a mother figure. As a Mother of Israel. As a teacher. You mean sooo much to me, all the time.

THANK YOU from my depths for sounding things out with me! I am blessed.
Jan

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