How Do We Know What God Is Like?

a friend's song at the door... (Tune: "Here we go 'round the mulberry bush..")

"How do we know what God is like?

 God is like..
 God is like..
 How do we know what God is like?
...We know because he tells us.."

I couldn't get it out of my mind....
& it got me thinking...

(But if when he tells us, we haven't learnt yet to trust his words, all is not lost.. 
there is still his voice in his all-of-life WORD to us )

1) ...We look around at his world (& try to gain understanding) (Ps 29; Prov 20:12; )

2) ...We see him in relationships with others.. (primarily in good, true and loving actions and body language, Jn 10:37f, Ps82; Prov20:11; 1Cor3v9; 2Cor4:7-11; Eph5:1; the record of some of these relationships is in the scriptures)

3) ...We look at the (highest and best) longings in us.. (Gen 1,2,5; Ps 82; 2Cor4:7-11; Rom 7 n 8)

4) ...We look in the face of Jesus.. 2Cor 4:4b-6; Heb 1:1-3a)
(And who-wee, here it starts blowing out!..)

Things we recall by Chants

Mark 4:35-5:43. Note in each of these 4 stories, how Jesus handles being blamed or laughed at; cf at his trial.

So earth has the sheen

of "in Heaven";

Proverbs 19

verse 11:

If you are sensible

you will

control your temper.

When someone wrongs you

it’s a great virtue

to ignore it.

(instead of "Shit!")

Proverbs 19

verse 11.

So Earth has the sheen

of "in Heaven";

One Peter 2 verse 23

When he was insulted

(insulted!) he

did not answer back with an

insult when he

suffered he did not threaten

but he placed his

hopes in God the

the righteous Judge.

That is one Pee

ta chapter 2,

verse 23,

that's what I'll do,

that is for me!

(Note also Jesus not only ignores people’s insults, as they kill him, he prays for the people.. cf “our battle is not..”)  recording short URL: goo.gl/mCm9b3

The 2015th* Celebration of Xmas

Katrina the beautiful #

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad she dutiful-

-ly reflects that shining man.

This culture blames and curses

the one it do’n’t understand,

won’t submit, only versus,

his world-view, and what he planned.

The babe born (by many views)

absolutely innocent,

didn't catch the evening news

(except where the family went),

in a world made by God's word,

with hopeful glades where both trod;

that's the one who always heard

then obeyed and walked with God;

we want to walk just like him:

make sure we talk from list'nin',

and not just baulk, then give in,

to the evil that is sin.

God we need your help just now;

within us, but outside too,

to never give-in or bow,

to what's cut itself from you.

Some two thousand Christmases

later, we are glad he came,

and I’m glad that Katrina’s ^

joined to celebrate the same.

*  If the first was at zero, then the 2015th would be in 2014CE. This is rough though because an error made in the original judgement means that Jesus was probably born within ten years of zero, possibly about 5 or 7BCE.

 ^ and these others 
# & Hannah-Charis, Sophie, Milly, Vida, Annabelle, Shelley Ann, Amanda,

Gilbert, creative game one,

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad unashamed son

he reflects that shining man.

 

Samuel the wood worker

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad he (no shirker)

now reflects that shining man.

Soraya the motherly

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I think she (southerly)

still reflects the shining man.

Dina girl, the musical,

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and resounds (when dutiful)

music of that shining man. 

Beth Anne (Mum) the beautiful

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad she dutiful-

-ly reflects the shining man.

Peter the wise carpenter

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad he’s sharpened ta

show off well the shining man.

Timothy the farmer-boy

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I see him more in joy

reflecting that shining man.

Mathew the responsible,

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad he dutiful-

-ly reflects that shining man.

Grego the learning list’ner

came to earth in God’s good plan.

I see him, (not just wish-ing-er)

reflecting that shining man.

Frazer, more an un-daze-er

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad, he un-phased,

more reflects that shining man. 

Ian the growing wise-worker

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad he, no shirker,

more reflects that shining man.

Greg the Willing-Shire one

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad he’s having fun,

reflecting that shining man.  

Bevan the serving healer

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and as God’s good Dealer,

more reflects that shining man.

Ali, who’s an overseer,

came to earth in God’s good plan,

gained skills as an Engineer,

and reflects the shining man.  

Sam the son and twin brother,

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and as a “flying” lover

reflects too that shining man.

  

Danny the puppet-eer,

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m seeing life appear

as did with that shining man.

Nathan who is willing, game,

came to earth in God’s good plan,

as he gives to others, same

will reflect the shining man. 

Mohsen the wise and good dad

came to earth in God’s good plan,

taught his son to love not bad,

so reflects the shining man

Hannah with elfin bright-smile

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad she’s all the while

reflecting that shining man. 

Craig-eo the quite faithful

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad he dutiful-

-ly reflects the shining man.

Michael Chapman the faithful

came to earth in God’s good plan,

and I’m glad he dutiful-

-ly reflects the shining man.

One More Year...

One more year for young Shell-gell,
who would have guessed, or could tell,
unless they’re told? She keeps well
beauty, and it’s hard to quell 

her energy and bright smile;
though she’s worn, the “extra mile”
often flows out, like the Nile,
and it’s floods bring silt – fertile 

gift from further up, towards
the source, and thought to be from “gords”.
The gords looked after  the hoards
of gifts for life, and rewards 

for service done, and readied folk
for after-life, both sheila, bloke.
The leader from the gords of course
was the one who ruled with force. 

Though Shell can do that, & more,
I think I’ve seen her before,
and more recently, adore
folk who don’t deserve it, sure; 

and I’m one, who as a kid
(now  ashamed of  what I did),
used her bright trust, when she slid
down the rope from where we hid. 

She is bold, ever-ready.
Her trust gold, and quite steady,
truth be told, her hope’s not “heady”,
‘nher love should-ers more than “Teddy”. 

(re. sister’s birthday, 2014)

blessed birthday!

If my calendar is right, 

I've nearly missed your birthday:

the day finishes tonight,

at twelve, of this earth-day.

Hope you had a good one Russ

enjoyed the good that love grows,

without the fretting and fuss,

thinking it's the things one knows

that make the diff'rence, and good,

and bring to us our true life;

all the time we've known, or should

have, that knowing brings more strife!

For it most often puffs up,

but the knowing of a friend,

though it involves some tough stuff,

builds up right until the end!

And you have been building up

people and true friendships too.

So I raise (& toast) my cup,

"first Rus'ling leaves, then fruit new".