Your Image of God is Created in You and Creates You

Hand of God Nebula image by NASA/CXC/SAO/P.Slane, et al.

Forgiveness was the theme for a week of my Interdisciplinary Approaches to Trauma seminar this semester at Princeton Theological Seminary. One particular article described the parental influences on a child’s religious perspectives. How we see God (or the image of God we carry around with us) is greatly influenced by our relationships with our parents or other caretakers growing up.

With this in mind, I discovered this quote from Albert Einstein who said, “I cannot imagine a God who rewards and punishes the objects of his creation and is but a reflection of human frailty.” He added, “God may be subtle but he isn’t mean."
                                              
How does this perspective on God reflect the influence Einstein’s significant role models had on his development as his image of God was being created? 
                                                    
Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar who writes a daily devotional for his Center for Action and Contemplation said, “Your image of God, your operative image of God --  lives in a symbiotic relationship with your soul and CREATES what you become. Loving people, forgiving people have always encountered (or perceived) God as a loving and forgiving God. Cynical people are cynical about the very possibility of a coherent loving center to the universe.” 

Ponder this scripture: Psalm 103: 1-5 -- “Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits; who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfied you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
                                                                          
2 questions for your soul to contemplate: 1) How do these words align with the image of God that continues to create you? 2) How does your life show this image of God to the world?

Making Summer a Time of Rejuvenation

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

(Psalm 29:11 NIV)

When we think of summer we may think only those who get to lounge on the shore or go on a tour of some exotic place are truly enjoying summertime and having a summer vacation. Sadly church attendance tends to slump in the summer because of this expectation that one needs to “get away” or “take a break.” But there are many ways to take “mini-vacations” right here that can rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit – in healthier ways without having to go away.

Hebrews 10: 24-25 tells us to keep coming to church even in the summertime: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

I suggest approaching summer differently this year, with healthy Christian living that can rejuvenate and give you rest without having to go anywhere and spend money. Then donate the money you saved to a good cause like our PCM Outreach programs. By doing so you will be helping others rejuvenate through food, clothing, or by participating in mission trips like the Foundation for Peace trip serving those in the Dominican Republic.

We are instructed to: “Have no anxiety about ANYTHING but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” (from Philippians 4:8-7) 

When I am stressed I consider the passage above as a command from God. The scripture doesn’t say, “Maybe if you pray you will feel less stressed.” It says first to have no anxiety about anything. This is stated as if it is a sin to be anxious. We are told to give up everything to God gratefully. And the Peace of God “will” (it doesn’t say “possibly”) we are guaranteed that God’s peace will guard our hearts and our minds as we follow the ways of Jesus. John 10: 10 also reminds us that Jesus came so we can have life abundantly. His ways show us how to be healthy in our living in community with others and in our relationship with God. 

A summertime rejuvenation plan is: 1. Keep coming to church. 2.To prevent feeling stressed, take “mini-vacations” (even in the car or plane) and Pray, Pray, Pray. Learn the Centering Prayer method used in the study of resiliency last Advent. (Nearly 100% of our PCM study participants improved their Resiliency status with just 20 minutes of “resting in God” each day for six weeks!) 3. Learn the ways of Jesus for faith and health. And feel God’s peace rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit. May you have a blessed summertime! See you at church!