I want to share a wonderful memory and encouraging story concerning one of God's most passionate followers, Mom Sue Stanford; composed by my dear sis Patti Shaffer: - GETTING BETTER AT NOT UNDERSTANDING -

About a year before my mom died, Lee, Jane and I were all together in Texas visiting mom at her nursing home.

Mom had really declined in her memory. She knew who we were, but she really couldn't communicate much with us.

I just found myself staring and staring at her, and recalling so many memories of our lives together. I noticed her red Bible on the shelf next to her bed. I went over and picked it up, and looked at all the pages of her handwriting and shorthand notes and years of many, many hours of studying reflected in those pages.

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If asked, “Are you a seeker of Jesus”, I suppose that most churched believers would answer with a quick, “yes, of course!”

Before a quick, knee-jerk “yes”, give some careful thought to God’s thoughts, and how He characterizes “seekers” of His Mind, and “seekers” of His Call on their whole life for their whole life:

For the time is coming when people will not understand or accept clear teaching, but will have itching ears that desire teaching that suits their own passions (2 Tim. 4:3)

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True story: A while back I was with a group of Christian friends, 'fellowshiping' (whatever that may mean today) for 3-4 hours. During this time of ‘fellowship’, we talked about everything and anything from Obama to sports, families, jobs, vacations, and almost everything, ad-nasieum --- everything that is --- except Jesus and His "Kingdom stuff".

Akin to the feelings of Jeremiah, I felt I could hold my tongue no longer: “His Name…was in my heart like a burning fire, shut up in my bones: And I am weary of holding it in…” (20:9).

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Part I: Jesus, through His brother James, begs believers: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse yourself you double minded…and set your hearts apart for God only. Humble yourselves before your God, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:7-10)  

As believers, not exactly sure of what it means, we’re all to one degree or another, convicted of our need to draw closer to Jesus. Sometimes however, that God-revelation doesn’t get completely through, until we’ve experienced a great variety of struggles, huge disappointments, pronounced sorrows, and/or numerous dead-ends. However, like me, most of us eventually are confronted by a moment in time, where weary and tired of going it on our own, were shaken awake to the fact that we not only NEED More of God in our life, but MUST HAVE More of God – More than we’ve ever had before. It’s then, in desperation, we turn to Him for help and deliverance from all our trials and sorrows.   

It’s in these tumultuous times we sense a need to know Him not only as our Creator, Savior and Master, but also discover a spark of desire in our souls to know Him more intimately than ever before. In my book, Journey to More, I’ve chronicled my own personal quest to know Jesus more intimately. It’s become a passion to know Him more intimately than I’ve ever known anyone or anything else in life.

Like the apostle Paul, my quest is to know Him not only as my Merciful and Wonderful Savior (Phil. 3:9), but also to “… know Him , and experience the power of His resurrection, share in His sufferings, and be like Him in His death” (Phil. 3:10).

Tiffne Whitley describes her ache for More of Jesus as follows:

“Someday Jesus will call my name;

From day to day I hope I won’t stay the same.

I want to get so close to Him, that it’s no big change; 

On that day that Jesus calls my name.”

Isaiah expressed his search for More of God’s Presence this way:

“It shall even be as when a hungry man dreams, and look – he eats;

But he awakes, and his soul is empty;

Or as when a thirsty man dreams, and look – he drinks;

But he quakes, and indeed he is faint, and his soul still craves more;

So the multitude of all nations shall be;

Who fight against the Presence of the Lord their God.” (Isa. 29:8 LSV)        

Jesus opined: “Come unto me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your weary souls” (Mt. 11:28-29).

In Part II, we’ll dive deeper into how you can personally experience More of Jesus’ realized Presence and His perfect Peace (Isa. 26:3), and discover a deeper relationship with Him than you ever dreamed possible.

In the meantime, talk with your Abba Father, let Him know that you want More of Him in your life, and ask Him to open wide the eyes and ears of your soul to His Still Small Voice.

By the way, He wants far more FOR you, than you want FROM Him.

See you next time, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek More of Jesus’ Beautiful Face.

Lee Stanford

Direct contact: leestan1@bellsouth.net

Web: www.JourneyToMore.net

God said, “Let Us make mankind in Our Own Image, in Our Likeness…” (Gen. 1:26).

Our Bible is God’s revelation of Himself, His creation of the earth and mankind, and our future. Countless volumes have been written on the subject of “Theology” (the study of God), but for our discussion on “THE FEAR OF GOD”, we will restrict ourselves to several God-characteristics that may help us better understand WHY we should both FEAR God, as in ‘yirah’ and ‘phobo’, and FEAR God as in reverence/honor, found in ‘kabad’ and ‘timao’ (Part 1):

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