Hibbets' Happenings

I thought yesterday: it's almost as if God is taking us away from "church" for a little while to bring us to Him. Not that God can't be found in church, because that can be one of the best places to find Him -- but you have to realize our perspective. We were both raised in church. "Doing the church thing" comes naturally to us; it's what we both know. But we both got so caught up in what we now see as rituals, legalism, religion -- that we squeezed God out. Not completely; I know I was (and am) a Christ-follower. Those words, though, that idea -- just means so much more now. And I didn't even realize what I was missing. It's hard because I would use many of the same words now that I did before, but they mean something different now. Words and phrases like "head knowledge vs. heart knowledge," and "giving God my whole life." The best way I can describe this right now is that I had relegated God and the Bible to academics -- and the beauty is, the Bible IS academic, it can be studied academically -- but it's so much more! And now my eyes are being opened to the HEART of the matter, the relationship issues.

And God isn't completely taking us away from church, either. But it kind of feels that way, emotionally -- and I think that's God's way of bringing us (truly) to Him and not just a ritual, not merely a head knowledge of Him. It's a little hard to understand, and definitely hard to explain; but posting helps me think through all the amazing and wonderful thoughts swirling around inside.

Thank you, Lord; your love and grace are amazing!