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Overview
God created you and I to have a relationship with Him. He knows each one of us, inside and out, but He also desires for us to really know Him. Not just a Sunday type of knowing Him, and not an intellectual knowing Him, but something deeper.
Understanding this desire of God for us to know Him can change everything. We say things like "I found God" or "recently I've been searching for more of God," but the truth is that He has been actively pursuing us our entire life. Most of us have yet to stop, listen, and realize what that means.
We would never admit to it, but for the most part, we live our lives like God was made for us. As if His purpose for being is to answer our prayers, to give us what we want, and to make our lives as perfect as we want them to be. But what if we were made for Him? You see, we all know this is true, but do we live like it is true? What would happen if we did? Could a relationship be formed with the creator of all things that surpasses our wildest expectations?
There are four overall themes of this book:
• God's heart for His people
• Our Relationship with God (Original Design)
• God's Will above Man's Traditions
• Unity of the Body of Christ
Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). But what are His commandments? Are they the ten God carved into stone, and we have framed on our walls? Are they the over 600 laws in the Old Testament? Or are they commandments that our grandparents taught us, or even the founder of our denomination declared as church bylaws? If we said yes to any of those, then we define our love for Jesus by our ability to measure up to them. But what if His love for us and our love for Him is defined by something more? Going beyond traditions and into the heart of God and His will?
There is a revival that is coming. Not a revival of this denomination or that one, but a revival of God's church and His people. We like to make posters about unity, and come up with fancy slogans, but what does Christian unity really take? We equate unity with agreeance and alignment with each other, but God sees it differently. Could true unity be our repentance and alignment with God? To be a part of what God is doing in our time, it can't be about us and them, it must be about HIM. God does not change, but are we open to be challenged by Him to move closer to His plan for our time?
There are paths before us. One path where we stay the same and pretend everything will work out while we point at the other side as the issue. And another path where we move into alignment with the very heart of God. Jesus has a plan but it's possible that our traditions and how we think about God prevents us from moving into it. The paths are there, and we will take one of them.
Throughout this book (though not in order) you will find each of the four key themes moves us into the next, taking us where we are individually in full relationship with our Lord and Savior, unified as a single body of Christ, trusting God over traditions, and walking in God's plan for our lives.
God's heart for His people -> Our Relationship with God (Original Design) -> God's Will above Man's Traditions -> Unity of the Body of Christ
It's not what we can do, but it is what God can do in us if we are willing to be honest with Him and have heart to heart conversations as we grow. I hope as you journey down the path to ask and answer the hard questions, you find that God will take you deeper in a relationship with Him than you have ever been before.
Is it more important that God agrees with us, or that we agree with God? We are used to asking God questions all of the time, and throughout the book, you will ask God questions. But more importantly, God will also ask you questions. In those times when God asks you the question, you will find His questions carry the deep and most life changing power of all. As you answer, sitting or standing in His presence, you will never be the same. God wants our heart, so He can share His heart with us.
Understanding this desire of God for us to know Him can change everything. We say things like "I found God" or "recently I've been searching for more of God," but the truth is that He has been actively pursuing us our entire life. Most of us have yet to stop, listen, and realize what that means.
We would never admit to it, but for the most part, we live our lives like God was made for us. As if His purpose for being is to answer our prayers, to give us what we want, and to make our lives as perfect as we want them to be. But what if we were made for Him? You see, we all know this is true, but do we live like it is true? What would happen if we did? Could a relationship be formed with the creator of all things that surpasses our wildest expectations?
There are four overall themes of this book:
• God's heart for His people
• Our Relationship with God (Original Design)
• God's Will above Man's Traditions
• Unity of the Body of Christ
Jesus said if you love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). But what are His commandments? Are they the ten God carved into stone, and we have framed on our walls? Are they the over 600 laws in the Old Testament? Or are they commandments that our grandparents taught us, or even the founder of our denomination declared as church bylaws? If we said yes to any of those, then we define our love for Jesus by our ability to measure up to them. But what if His love for us and our love for Him is defined by something more? Going beyond traditions and into the heart of God and His will?
There is a revival that is coming. Not a revival of this denomination or that one, but a revival of God's church and His people. We like to make posters about unity, and come up with fancy slogans, but what does Christian unity really take? We equate unity with agreeance and alignment with each other, but God sees it differently. Could true unity be our repentance and alignment with God? To be a part of what God is doing in our time, it can't be about us and them, it must be about HIM. God does not change, but are we open to be challenged by Him to move closer to His plan for our time?
There are paths before us. One path where we stay the same and pretend everything will work out while we point at the other side as the issue. And another path where we move into alignment with the very heart of God. Jesus has a plan but it's possible that our traditions and how we think about God prevents us from moving into it. The paths are there, and we will take one of them.
Throughout this book (though not in order) you will find each of the four key themes moves us into the next, taking us where we are individually in full relationship with our Lord and Savior, unified as a single body of Christ, trusting God over traditions, and walking in God's plan for our lives.
God's heart for His people -> Our Relationship with God (Original Design) -> God's Will above Man's Traditions -> Unity of the Body of Christ
It's not what we can do, but it is what God can do in us if we are willing to be honest with Him and have heart to heart conversations as we grow. I hope as you journey down the path to ask and answer the hard questions, you find that God will take you deeper in a relationship with Him than you have ever been before.
Is it more important that God agrees with us, or that we agree with God? We are used to asking God questions all of the time, and throughout the book, you will ask God questions. But more importantly, God will also ask you questions. In those times when God asks you the question, you will find His questions carry the deep and most life changing power of all. As you answer, sitting or standing in His presence, you will never be the same. God wants our heart, so He can share His heart with us.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940185947661 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Tom Wilson |
| Publication date: | 05/19/2024 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 491 KB |
About the Author
Tom Wilson began drawing Ziggy in 1987, following in the footsteps of his father, who created the title character in the early 1970s. Tom first studied graphic design at Miami University then went on to fine art and illustration coursework at Boston University. Today he displays his passion for creativity and expression as president of Ziggy and Friends Inc.
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