Four pictures, one word

Hi - I've recently been introduced to a game on my mobile entitled as above; basically it shows four pictures that all share the same name. So maybe a piece of fruit, a Mac computer, the Beatles record label and the bulge in a mans throat would all require the answer "apple". The game is ok, but in my opinion, gets old fairly quick! But it did get me thinking about 4 in 1's.

Today over lunch a friend of mine talked about the different levels that exist in a marriage and how they are similar to our prayer life and in fact relationship with God. I am going to steel my friend's idea and expound on it a little here. All relationships, she stated, have the potential for a basic, deeper, intimate and further level of conversation, understanding and love.

Thinking about the marriage analogy - there is the basic level; which involves sharing the same home and chatting about the day to day.
The deeper level; this involves time spent sat around a table discussing hopes, dreams and challenges; when we make plans together.
The intimate level is when we are closest together physically and emotionally; literally sharing of ourselves.
Then the further level is the understanding and love that passes every other; the way that we can know another's thoughts with a look, and things are said without words; this goes beyond and lasts through all else.

This is where it gets a little deep, so hold on tight

The same levels of understanding and relationship are available between you and God.

You can know him on a basic level; acknowledging his existence and calling in for the occasional chat.
You can know him on a deeper level; where you truly know and share your hopes and dreams, entrusting them to him.
You can have an more intimate relationship with God; not in the physical, but in a sense of complete trust and acceptance, knowing each other and being in harmony.
Then there is available a deeper level; with too passes all understanding, and is available for eternity.

I wonder what level you are at today. And ask what level you want to feel.

If you're not living on the level you want to, please talk to someone (even me) and find out how to move forward and closer to God today.

Have a great day

God bless

Chris

Consider the lilies

Today is amazingly the 19th April 2013! I appreciate, at first glance that is not such an amazing date. But, bear with me dear reader, and I will expound upon this claim.

In what seems like only the blink of an eye, a quarter of the year has already flown by. It only seems like two minutes ago we were planning for Christmas, and now suddenly Easter is only a memory.

Add onto that, the simple note that it is actually 2013, a year which seemed impossibly futuristic when I was growing up. For anyone who's watched the Back to the Future trilogy (who hasn't?) we are only two years away from the future that Marty McFly visited in the second film.

Now whilst this is not a post asking why we don't yet have hover boards and self drying clothes (although that are worth questioning) it is about how time is rushing by.

On top of all this amazement that it is 2013, my niece just got engaged; this may not strike you as too amazing, except that she is suddenly 19 and growing up, which makes me wonder where those years went? I'm sure her mum and dad are asking themselves the very same question. Congratulations to the happy couple, should they stumble across these words.

So, all in all, lots of amazing things are happening! Which all make the title of this post so very important.

The Bible encourages us to consider the lilies; this is similar to the modern phrase to smell the roses; to stop and take a moment, away from all the rush.

So, no preachy words today - just a few thoughts:

If time is rushing by, what are we missing? What's too important to miss? And what's really worth spending our time on?

Work? Stuff? Sports? Hobbies? Holiday planning? Family? Friends? Relationships?

Have a great day - in which you take a moment.

God bless

Chris