Tag Archives: Attributes of God

The Beginning of All Things, by Lydia Floren

The Beginning of All Things

by Lydia Floren

This is an excerpt from the book I am writing about learning to live a God-guided life:

There once was a man and a woman who dwelled together in indescribable bliss. They lived in nature, surrounded by beauty – fresh smells, clear water, crisp fruit. They enjoyed each other’s company, plus the free and easy relationship with the One who had formed each of them, and had brought them to the paradise where they lived. They were healthy and happy – you might even say joyous – enjoying life to the fullest.

The Maker had given them one warning, one simple rule in this haven of life/joy: Don’t touch the fruit that grows on one tree, the one called the “Knowledge of Good and Evil.” This fruit is not good to eat.

That is all.

But the man and woman were curious, and surrendered to the Temptation to be like God, on equal footing with the Creator. They wanted to know for themselves, to decide for themselves what was good, and what was not. So, they disregarded God’s one rule, and ate.

Immediately, they were changed. They looked at things differently. They could see all kinds of potential good and evil, but had trouble deciding which was which. They decided that their nakedness wasn’t good and covered themselves. For the first time they felt shame. They decided they had done something wrong. And so, they decided to avoid God.

God cried.

And then did what He had to do. With great sorrow, He gave them the result of their choice: life outside of the garden.

God’s Grace

And then, all alone, God made a plan for the future, so that someday, this relationship would be restored to the way it used to be. It was a costly plan – a life for all lives, a choice for all choices. He would send His son to live in the world, and pay the price for their choice, and all the choices that followed.

The man and the woman settled outside of the garden. They had children and grandchildren. And they passed their skewed sense of truth, of right and wrong, down through their lineage. Over the centuries, they drifted away from the life-giving connections with their Maker, until he was just a distant memory, and then an ancient tale – remembered by a few, believed by even fewer.

But their Maker never stopped loving them and reaching out to them. Since these progeny had never known bliss, they had no idea what they were missing. There was a haunting emptiness that remained in all of these people, from generation to generation. An emptiness that – had they known it – could only be filled with God.

Yet somehow, in their minds, they had come to believe that God was their enemy.

After many years, God’s plan came to pass. He chose to visit their land – in the form of His son – to be one of them and guide them back to the ancient truth and ways. They thought they knew how to make things right, but they really didn’t. And so, He showed them that the only way to bridge the gap was to receive His gift of forgiveness and life, and choose to follow Him. And He demonstrated through His words and actions what it looked like to live that way. Before He left, he gave them the ultimate gift – His life – to make this all possible.

It seemed too good to be true. But it was true.

God was not their enemy.

He was their Creator, their Loving Father – the only one who knew them completely and loved them unconditionally. And He did what it took so that He could welcome them back into the warmth and safety of relationship with Him. So that they could live the life they were created to live.

Adam and Eve had a choice of whether to live their lives on their own, or to follow God‘s will. They chose the former, and their choice had consequences. It led to the loss of their home, and the disruption of the easy loving relationship they had with their Father. Every one of Adam and Eve’s descendants, including us, has suffered because of their choice. Amazingly, because of God’s love and grace, we still – again – have a choice: to live our lives on our own, or to invite God in and choose to follow Him.

Inviting God In

Do you want to experience the joy of living the life you were created to live? To have a true sense of identity and value, to know that you belong, and that you are safe – that your life will never end? If so, then if you haven’t done so, now is a great time to make the choice to invite God in to your life and follow Him. You can do that by simply talking to Him – praying. Here is an example of such a prayer, based on the acronym GRACE (G- Give thanks, R- Release, A-Accept, C- Continue, E- Enjoy)

G Thank you, God for creating me and loving me enough to give your life so that I could be in relationship with you forever.

R I choose to receive your forgiveness for ignoring you and going my own way, and I Release all of my past and future into your hands.

A I Accept your gift of hope and healing, and open the door of my heart to let you in.

C I look forward to Continuing to learn to live by your wisdom and direction,

E and to Enjoy the freedom and intimacy of your company every day.

Have you pray this prayer? Congratulations! You have begun the adventure of living a God-guided life.

Tasting God’s Kindness

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by Lydia Floren

“…if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” 1 Peter 2:3

I eat fast. Really fast. My husband, Andrew, does too. Often when we are out to dinner, and the waitress breezes by to ask, “How are the first few bites tasting?”, Andrew is reaching for his wallet and I am asking for a “to go” box. Those of you who have shared a meal with us are nodding and smiling, aren’t you?

In our defense, we come by this food-shoveling habit honestly. It was a survival skill we each developed during our medical training. Here’s a typical scenario of dinner as a resident-on-call:

After multiple visits to the ER, two admissions and a crisis in the ICU, our four-to-five-member on-call team, finally catches a break. Uniformed in scrubs and stethescopes, we head down to the cafeteria, to stack our trays with the free hospital food. After settling into orange vinyl seats and tasting the first few bites, a beep-beep-beep sounds. And then, another one joins in. As everyone reaches for their pagers, an announcement drones overhead: “Code Blue, 4^th floor, west wing… code blue, 4^th floor, west wing.” Collectively we groan, and then grab our gear and rush upstairs to see about the emergency. Often – no, usually – by the time we make it back down to the basement to try to salvage the remainder of our cold meal, we find the cafeteria is dark, its doors bolted shut. Sigh. Another night of vending machine supper.

In residency, it became clear that you’d better eat fast, or you may not get to eat at all. Food wasn’t to be savored, just consumed, because the main point of eating was not enjoyment, but sustenance. Enjoying the taste of food was a luxury one could not afford, with such an unpredictable schedule.

Andrew and I have learned over the years that normal people don’t gulp or shovel. Normal people take their time, and actually seem to enjoy the taste of their food. They savor. They actually enjoy what they are eating. When I eat dinner with these folks, I find that I appreciate the flavor of my food more than I ever would on my own.

1 Peter talks about tasting the kindness of the Lord.

I love that word picture, because in order to taste something, you have to slow down and pay attention to what you are eating. Don’t we find ourselves rushing through life, consuming the blessings God gives us, but never taking time to savor them? In order to taste God’s kindness, we have to be willing to let go of our tendency to hurry, and embrace a more leisurely, thoughtful approach to life. Let’s face it: most of our rushing around is not because of life or death emergencies. It is primarily caused by an accumulation of commitments or desires – some important, some not so important.

So today, choose to not simply consume God’s kindnesses without really appreciating them. Instead, choose to taste God’s kindness. Take the time to notice the many wonderful ways He has, and is now, blessing you. Savor His loving presence always with you and within you. Enjoy!

Someone

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Porch Time

Great is Your Faithfulness

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by Lydia Floren

I went to a funeral recently. A celebration, really, of a life lived walking with God. The service was mostly music, and during the course of an hour the 400 or so of us attendees (or should I say participants?) sang a variety of classic hymns. I haven’t sung those words in years, yet I still knew most of the songs by heart. I guess that’s what comes from occupying a Baptist pew 3 times a week for 18 years. As I sang verse after verse of those old hymns, their words “fell fresh” on my heart. What wisdom and encouragement those hymnists gave us! The words of Thomas Chisholm, in his song “Great is thy faithfulness,“ were particularly encouraging to my tired heart.

“Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father…”

What does “faithful” mean, exactly?

“Faithful” is a powerful word. A faithful person is consistent. Steady. Loyal. Constant. In our corner. A faithful friend is “there” for us. A faithful person has our back, no matter what. Chisholm declared God’s faithfulness. How exactly is He faithful?

God is faithful to Himself.

No matter what, God is

Consistently loving.
Steadily leading.
Loyally defending.
Constantly providing.
Always present.

And God is always good.

God is faithful to us. Whether we are faithful back or not, and He

Consistently loves us.
Steadily leads us.
Loyally defends us.
Constantly provides us.
Is always present with us.

No matter what our circumstance, God is always faithful to Himself, and to us.

And God always has our back.

Great is Your Faithfulness, O God my father.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

Related Posts: Be Still and Know That I Am God,

Recent Series: NOMB Part I, NOMB Part II, NOMB Part III

To-Do, To Be

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by Lydia Floren

I am a big list person, always have been. I have little scraps of “to-do’s” on sticky notes stuck around the kitchen, my office, in my purse, the car…I have learned a thing or two about myself in my years of list making.

One thing, I have learned, is that for me, the act of writing something down on a list helps me remember it, even if I never look at it again.
Another thing, I have discovered about myself, is that I am not a very good judge of time. (I know that shocks those of you that know me.) I tend to cram my to-do list with more tasks than I can reasonably accomplish, which means I am more likely to be frustrated and hurried as the day goes on.
A third thing, I have learned about myself, is that if I really want to remember to do stuff, I have to put the list somewhere obvious. My favorite location is the refrigerator, since I seem to love to go open the door every hour or so when I am home. (Why do I do that BTW? Do I think a magic fairy is going to deposit delicious calorie free food in there when I’m not looking?] If it is really, really, important that I remember something: I write a reminder on my hand. I learned from my kids.

I have also learned a few great habits in list making:

Have 3 to-do lists.
- General overall list, so you don’t forget stuff. This might have sub-categories like shopping, online, work, home, meal prep, etc., it could be written, or on your computer or phone.
- Weekly to-do list.
- Daily to-do list.
Schedule tasks from your to-do lists’ into your calendar. Once a week, look at your calendar, and your overall tasks, and jot down things that must be accomplished in the coming week. As much as possible, set aside time in the week to accomplish these tasks, and actually write them in your calendar.
Limit your daily TO-DO list to 5 or 6 items. This little habit has a great impact. It forces you to narrow down what is most important to accomplish in your day, and reigns in the temptation to expect yourself to do more than can reasonably be accomplished. And that reduces stress, worry, hurry, and frustration, and increases a sense of accomplishment.

My daily to-do list always begins with this:

1. Be Restored

Be Restored: It is kind of ironic that my daily TO-DO list begins with something TO BE. As I choose to be quiet, to be available, to meditate on God’s word, and be attuned to what He is saying to me, I am connecting my heart and spirit with the one Person in the universe who knows me completely and loves me more than I can imagine. In this process, He restores my mind, emotions, spirit, and even my body. He forgives, He gives perspective, He reminds me that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and that He is taking care of me. He encourages me to release the past, move forward, and to enjoy the day.

No, I haven’t (and likely won’t) give up my TO-DO lists, but I have learned this: the most important thing, I can DO in my day, is TO BE restored. I can really tell if I miss it.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3

Read my meditation on Psalm 23:1-3 or check out the Belovedlove Psalm 23 Bracelet.

Share with us: What tips do you have for list making? How do you keep things in perspective?

God Showing Off: The Master at work

The fall colors have been spectacular this year in Eau Claire.

As i was wandering the neighborhood taking picture after picture I thought:

God has really been showing off this year.

Showing off? No, not really.

Fall colors in Wisconsin—like spring flowers in South Carolina—are just napkin-doodles for The Master Artist.

God showing off? How ’bout

Angels singing in the air.

God inhabiting a human body.

And a world transformed.

Now that there is some serious artwork.How has He transformed you? Please share!

Good people

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by Lydia Floren

Andrew and I went to visit my Aunt Sis this week. She is 92 years old. She still has an impish grin and twinkle in her eye, though her health and mental faculties have declined a bit. She calls me “darlin’” though she doesn’t remember exactly who I am. That doesn’t matter, because I definitely remember who she is. My Aunt Sis is an incredible human being.

A human exclamation point

My cousin Sam, her youngest son, fondly calls her a “human exclamation point.“ In her healthier days, she was full of vigor, a true southern lady. She was one of those folks who never met a stranger. She always remembered everyone’s name, and what was going on in their life and their family, and even how they like their iced tea: sweet or unsweet. She could make any awkward newcomer feel like a part of things within five minutes of entering her house. In fact when she greeted anyone at the door, friend or stranger, she would throw open her arms and say “come on in this house!”

Aunt Sis was a gracious hostess.

Aunt Sis was a gracious hostess. She welcomed stray family members like me: many a weekend in college I came “home” to her house, “my” bedroom all ready for me (my folks lived too far away for weekend visits). One year I even spent the whole summer there when my job kept me in Georgia. Several foreign exchange students also enjoyed Aunt Sis and Uncle Jake’s hospitality over the years. Those students didn’t realize until later that part of that hospitality included a lifetime “adoption” into the Hodges clan.

Aunt Sis was the ultimate entertainer. When our family visited in the summers, she would stock the freezer with ice cream treats and the walk-in with cases of bottled cokes. And boy could she throw a party. It might be a paper plate barbecue down at the carriage house, or Christmas dinner for the extended family complete with linens, silver and china. She was every bit as comfortable hosting a coffee for the Sunday school ladies as she was serving a steak dinner to the Georgia Tech basketball team.

It’s about people

It was never about “show” with Aunt Sis. It was always about people. People weren’t merely a part of Aunt Sis’s life. People were – and are – her life. The highest compliment Aunt Sis could say about someone was to say that they were “good people.” Many times after she introduced someone to me, she would put her hand on their arm, turn to me, look me straight in the eye and say

“Now Lydia, Darlin’, these folks are ‘good people.’”

I would nod and smile. She didn’t elaborate. She didn’t have to. I knew exactly what she meant.

Good people

“Good people” were Godly people. “Good people” were honest, kind and gracious. They were people of integrity, generous, and compassionate. They cared deeply about others, and did a lot for others no one ever knew about. In short, “good people” were like Aunt Sis.

God is good people.

God is good. God is “good people.” He has a good heart. He is honest and integritable, welcoming and warm. He has common sense and practical advice, and a strong sense of right and wrong. He is generous and wise and loving. He does what’s right, even if he is misunderstood for it. God cares deeply about others–more than people realize—and is always working in this world to take care of those He loves.

What’s great about good people

You know what’s great about “good people”? The more you’re around them the more they rub off on you. Aunt Sis may be nearing the end of her life on this earth, but she hasn’t quit rubbing off on me. Her habits– “good people” skills – echo through my life, encouraging me to

Give joyfully
Entertain graciously
Brag about others enthusiastically
Hug wholeheartedly

And of course, lovingly bestow terms of endearment –“precious” “dear one” “sweetie” “ baby doll” and her favorite (and mine)– “darlin’”

The fruit of the Spirit call goodness is really just God’s goodness in us.

The fruit of the Spirit call goodness is really just God’s goodness in us. It’s there. We just choose whether we’re going to let it out or not.

In her life, Aunt Sis chose to let God’s goodness to shine through her, loving people in her own special way. In so doing, she unknowingly encouraged the rest of us to love others a little more, and love them a little better.

Aunt Sis is “good people”. No matter where she is– on earth or in heaven–she will always encourage me to be “good people” too.

Oh, by the way, darlin’, how do you like your tea–sweet or unsweet?

We would love to hear from you! How DO you like your tea?

A Note in Your Lunchbox: Giving Thanks in All Things

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By Lydia Floren

For years I packed lunches for my husband and kids. Because food is NOT my thing, I tried lots of different ways to streamline this, including making 20+ PB&J sandwiches at a time, and freezing them for the week. That way, all I had to do in the morning rush, was grab one from the freezer and throw it in a box with a few other prepared items. Most days, I tucked a card in each lunch with a Bible verse written on it – a little spiritual refreshment for midday, to go along with the physical nourishment.

Typically, I wrote out these verse cards in the early morning, when the house was still quiet. As I prayed and meditated, preparing for the day, I would ask God to focus me on one particular verse to share, and if there was anything additional He was leading me to share. Then I would pull out my stack of blank cards and start writing. Five cards each day. Twenty-five handwritten cards per week.

Did those verse cards have an impact on my family? Yes, I know they did for 2 reasons: -The kids have told me so. (They still have some of those cards.) -God’s word is powerful. It always has an impact.

Sure, there were some days those notes didn’t get read. But other days, they were read over and over again, and even shared with friends at the lunch table. Samuel says he used to pass them around, so everyone could take a shot at deciphering my handwriting. (Who knew that my doctor-handwriting would have a positive benefit?)

The Power of Habit

Those cards impacted my family, but what I didn’t realize until years later, was how much they influenced me. The practice of writing out 25 verse cards a week enabled God’s truths to penetrate deep into my heart. They pop into my head at unexpected – and timely – moments, blessing me with their God-inspired wisdom.

The Habit of Giving Thanks in All Things

I think there are lots of habits – repetitive choices – that bless our lives, and then keep on blessing us. They start with small decisions in a moment or day, but their cumulative effect is powerful. There are several other such habits that have blessed me like this over the years, but one rises to the top: giving thanks in all things.

Thanksgiving Restores My Joy.

Choosing – repeatedly – to give thanks in all things, changes my perspective. It shifts my focus, from my problems and weakness, to His sufficiency and grace. Thanksgiving also changes my attitude. It refreshes my hope in the future, and strengthens my faith in God’s goodness. Most important, thanksgiving restores my joy. In the practice of thanksgiving, I remember that God is at work, and He does love me and everyone else in the world.

Things to give thanks for:

The last 24 hrs. People and events. God works all things to good.
God, my loving Father
- His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
- His working in my life and in this world, even when I don’t see it.
- His commitment to me personally, to always be with me – within me, to restore my soul every day, to lead me in the way I need to go.
Myself
- The gift of life, and of this day.
- My unique identity, value, belonging, and calling.
- My limitations, and God’s limitlessness.
Others
- Those I know (especially those that are dear to me), and those I don’t know
- Those I will cross paths with
My concerns
- That God knows my concerns before I do, and he will take care of them, and lead me in the next step.
- Perspective: Problems are just opportunities for God’s work to shine.
The next 24 hrs.
- The people and circumstances I will encounter in this day.
- God’s faithfulness to lead me in the way I need to go.
- God will work all things to good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Giving thanks in all things,the habit of thanksgiving, is like writing a note for your lunchbox: a message of hope that seeps into your heart and soul bringing refreshment when you least expect it, and may most need it.

Please share with us: what are you thankful for?

“Good” gets a bad rap. God is good.

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by Lydia Floren

The word “good” often gets a bad rap. “Good” might mean unapproachable, perfectionistic, hypocritical, obsessive compulsive, squeaky clean, self-righteous, pompous.

A “good person” might bring to mind a “goody two shoes”, teacher’s pet, brown-noser, self-righteous prick or a clean freak.

Does anyone really want to be good, or to be around good people? Well, yes, I think we do, because we know that “good” really means honorable, trustworthy, kindhearted, selfless, genuine, approachable, giving, humble.

When we hear “God is good”, what image surfaces? A tall white-robed man holding out a stick, frowning down at us? Is God that harsh, unapproachable, difficult to please, and downright mean-spirited guy we sometimes think He is? No. Definitely not. God is no monster.

God is not out to get you: He is out to bless you.

Remember the aftermath of 9-11? Being afraid to open mail, being suspicious of unaccompanied suitcases in an airport? You would not accept a package, and certainly not open one, unless you trusted the sender. We are every bit as hesitant to trust God sometimes, believing at some level that He really is out to get us, like a bait and switch scheme. Know this: You cannot receive and open the gift of abundant life God has given you without first accepting that God is truly good. God is not out to get you. He is out to bless you.

Here is the truth–God is good: God is loving, joyful, peace-loving, patient, kind, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.

God is

forgiving,
generous,
creative,
tenderhearted,
respectful,
strong,
honest,
protective

No one will love you more or take care of you better—both now and in eternity—than God. He is totally trustworthy. There is no evil in God. None.

God is genuinely 100% good.

It is safe to follow Him. In fact, you are safest when you follow Him.

“God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5 NASB

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 NASB

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 NLT

“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. ” Hebrews 11:6 NLT

Q: What does God is good mean to you? Share your story below.