Wounded pride...

What does it take to get our attention...?
How does the Lord speak to our hearts when our heads are so big?
Recently I was reminded how much I have to  hourly and minutely dwell on the Word of God to get me through my day. Doubts, questions and angst arise around ever corner in this world... life can be confusing. Personal refinement is one the greatest gifts God has given us in our lifetime. Arguably the greatest gift next to eternity with him.

Circumstances and trials that seem to be, oh so non-forgiving, are ultimately working for our good. It's our response during these circumstances that really can shed a light on how we view ourselves in the grip of our mighty God. Where does our faith rest? Hopefully it isn't a thing that only walks off our lips, but truly arises from the depths of our hearts.

Knowledge is a great thing.

I happen to really love it. I guess you could say that it impresses me to the Nth degree.

I was reminded of something that i know but often times disregard. A very foolish disregard to say the least.

I was reminded that ALL knowledge comes from God.

Proverbs 1:7 "The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Psalms 19:1&2 "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours our speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."

Romans 11:33 "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how incrutable his ways!"

Knowledge is a great thing- only through the understanding that it is gift from God. Apart from Him...knowledge is useless. Growing in my knowledge of God can only open my eyes and mind to growing in truth.

My pastor preached on Ephesians 3: 14-21 many years ago- I recently re-read his sermon from the resource library...

Ephesians 3:14-21 "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

"Paul is singing because he sees two things, not just one thing. He sees that the power of God over the church goes beyond what we can think. And he also sees that the love of God for the church goes beyond what we can think. Notice verses 18–19. He prays that the church "may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge."
Do you see the parallel with the power of God in verse 20? In verse 19 he says that the love of Christ for the church goes beyond what you can know, and in verse 20 he says that the power of God over the church goes beyond what you can think. When the massive weather front of God's love meets the massive weather front of God's power in the heart of a believer, it produces a hurricane of confidence called "Gloria"—a powerful doxology: "To him be GLORY in the church and in Christ Jesus Christ, forever and ever AMEN."
John Piper from Far More Than You Think

(Taken from September 29, 1985)

I hope you are still reading...I  think this may have gone off onto a rabbit trail- 

the point is...I want live a life of knowing God. =)

Not knowing him through JI Packer...ha (which is not a bad book- you should read it) but truly knowing him because of my love for the written Word. I want to be impressed to the Nth degree, not by some man- as I am so easily inclined to do but by my God...and men who fear God.

Paul wrote to the church in Corinth- Chapter 2 "And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

Keep studying, learning and growing. Just remember where your growth, understanding & knowledge are truly coming from.