Glory To God--from The Purpose Driven Life
A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life in the online library and downloaded it. Todd and I started reading it together at night just over a week ago, and it has been a fruitful journey already. I'm sure I will say it again before the post is over, but I highly recommend the book. Let me tell you why. It challenges my thinking. It gets me out of my Mormon box and reminds me that above all I am a Christian. Let me explain.
Or look at the blue, blue sky,
Whenever I feel the rain on my face
Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heav'nly Father created for me.
He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings.
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
I thank him rev'rently
For all his creations, of which I'm a part.
Yes, I know Heav'nly Father loves me.
I am that creation. As a woman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a child. When I rub Brooke's back to wake her up in the morning I am fulfilling a gentle mothering urge and bring glory to God. When I say farewell to Bryce with a hug and our special "Angels will be with you!" as he leaves for the bus stop I bring glory to God. When I prepare a meal for our family or do the laundry with a joyful heart I bring glory to God. When I take time to read and ponder the word of God in the scriptures, I bring glory to God. So often I forget the GOD in my day. It's like living in black and white when God wants it to be the full color of Oz. Same path, perhaps, but an entirely different experience. I have been pretty sick lately. I get stir crazy when I am sick because I don't have the energy to do much of what I want to, but even in that there is an aspect of bringing glory to God. He made the germs that make us sick didn't He? I can rejoice in where I am and see God in it. As I have taken up residence on the couch for the past week, I have spent so much more time with Brett reading and playing. I can feel the increase in the bond between us and I know that brings glory to God. We can each bring glory to God today in how we see our choices, the people we interact with, the world we are a part of, and the inner workings of our own hearts. Praise the Lord!
And yes, I highly recommend checking out the book The Purpose Driven Life! :-)
I am a Mormon. Born and raised, baptized when I was 8. I enjoy studying about other religions and talking with people about their religious beliefs that are different than my own, but I believe that what I believe is true. That being said, I also know there can be a difference between Mormon Culture and LDS theology. When I'm not intentional about it I slip into living the familiar traditions and forget the why behind the what. The Jews at the time of Christ were in this boat. Many of the teachings and stories contained in the New Testament focus on this very issue. Jesus Christ wants us to know Him and love Him, not our religion. Sometimes the two get mixed up. That isn't meant as a criticism. It's just human nature, and I am the first to claim that I am human and am raising a family of humans. That is exactly why I love reading Christian works from a non-LDS perspective. It reawakens the child in me and helps me see the gospel with different eyes.
I had a powerful experience with this two nights ago as we read a chapter about glorifying God. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear a question like, What does it mean to bring glory to God? Moses 1:39? My seminary teacher would be proud. I still remember that scripture mastery verse I learned at Marcos de Niza when I was 15! God's work and glory is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life, so as I further that purpose I am bringing glory to Him. Good answer. I believe it. I also see now that it's only the tip of the iceberg. It may be the pinnacle, but without understanding the immensity of what else it means to bring glory to God I am not really understanding that doctrine. It has much more to do with "small and simple things" that fill my every day life.
I had a powerful experience with this two nights ago as we read a chapter about glorifying God. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear a question like, What does it mean to bring glory to God? Moses 1:39? My seminary teacher would be proud. I still remember that scripture mastery verse I learned at Marcos de Niza when I was 15! God's work and glory is to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life, so as I further that purpose I am bringing glory to Him. Good answer. I believe it. I also see now that it's only the tip of the iceberg. It may be the pinnacle, but without understanding the immensity of what else it means to bring glory to God I am not really understanding that doctrine. It has much more to do with "small and simple things" that fill my every day life.
Rick Warren asserts that God is glorified whenever any of His creations fill the measure of their creation. I love the beautiful simplicity of that truth. When the bird sings it's melodic song, when the sun sets in colorful majesty, and when our baby laughs in pure delight, God is glorified. It makes me get the tingles. It brings to mind the primary song, "My Heavenly Father Loves Me."
Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Whenever I hear the song of a bird
Or look at the blue, blue sky,Or the wind as it rushes by,
Whenever I touch a velvet rose
Or walk by our lilac tree,
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world
Heav'nly Father created for me.
He gave me my eyes that I might see
The color of butterfly wings.
He gave me my ears that I might hear
The magical sound of things.
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart:
I thank him rev'rently
For all his creations, of which I'm a part.
Yes, I know Heav'nly Father loves me.
I am that creation. As a woman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a child. When I rub Brooke's back to wake her up in the morning I am fulfilling a gentle mothering urge and bring glory to God. When I say farewell to Bryce with a hug and our special "Angels will be with you!" as he leaves for the bus stop I bring glory to God. When I prepare a meal for our family or do the laundry with a joyful heart I bring glory to God. When I take time to read and ponder the word of God in the scriptures, I bring glory to God. So often I forget the GOD in my day. It's like living in black and white when God wants it to be the full color of Oz. Same path, perhaps, but an entirely different experience. I have been pretty sick lately. I get stir crazy when I am sick because I don't have the energy to do much of what I want to, but even in that there is an aspect of bringing glory to God. He made the germs that make us sick didn't He? I can rejoice in where I am and see God in it. As I have taken up residence on the couch for the past week, I have spent so much more time with Brett reading and playing. I can feel the increase in the bond between us and I know that brings glory to God. We can each bring glory to God today in how we see our choices, the people we interact with, the world we are a part of, and the inner workings of our own hearts. Praise the Lord!And yes, I highly recommend checking out the book The Purpose Driven Life! :-)
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