Embracing God's Presence: A Journey of Transformation

In the Gospel of John at the very beginning we're told that the word that is Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us when we beheld his glory, and that was literally true in the person of Jesus that's the amazing Miracle of the Incarnation but it's also something God wants to have happen inside you and inside me. [00:46:55]

We talk a lot in our day about neuroplasticity how the brain can actually be changed can actually be rewired and that actually every time you think a thought it involves neurons firing and that changes the brain and the brain is actually part of your body it's part of your flesh so the word becoming flesh the word becoming embodied in US is actually a way by which we live. [00:67:86]

Frank lavik Remains the only U.S missionary as far as I know to be put on a U.S postage stamp happened back in the early 1980s because of his impact on the world and what a lot of people who saw his outside impact did not know is what was most uh remarkable about him was his inner life and that he decided to devote it to this experiment of seeing to what extent God could be present for him especially in his mind. [02:32:18]

He said the day had been rich but strenuous so I climbed Signal Hill back of my house that's what he called the hill or you'd go to meet with God talking and listening to God all the way up all the way back all the lovely half hour on the top and God talked back. [02:66:14]

I let my tongue go loose and from it there flowed poetry far more Beauty than any I ever composed it flowed without pausing and without ever a failing syllable for a half hour I listened astonished and full of joy and gratitude I wanted a Dictaphone for I knew I should not be able to remember it and now I cannot. [03:81:31]

People all over the world are withering because they are open toward God only rarely every waking minute is not too much the sun pours out on the earth and gives life the water rain pours out on the earth and gives life and so God says I want to do with you and every moment is not too much. [04:87:40]

Now that I have discovered him I find it is a continuous Discovery every day is Rich with new aspects of him and his working as one makes new discoveries about his friends by being with them I used to tell my wife I know you better than you know yourself and it did not make her happy it was not a wise thing to say because every human being is a wealth of depth that can never be plumbed whether a new surprises how much more with God. [05:15:30]

See it is when thoughts of beauty and goodness and nobility Wonder curiosity admiration fill our minds that our lives are at their best and when our thoughts go to worry Darkness anxiety selfishness greed discontent anger resentment pruning that we are at our worst we are what we think about why not God what should we think of next. [07:50:84]

This concentration upon God is strenuous but everything else has ceased to be so I think more clearly I forget less frequently these are Frontline reports from the experiment things which I did with a strain before I now do easily and with no effort whatever I worry about nothing I don't lose sleep even the mirror reveals a new light in my eyes and face I no longer feel in a hurry. [09:73:48]

Nothing can go wrong except one thing that is that God May slip from my mind if I do not keep on my guard if he is there the universe is with me if he is there the universe is with me I go lightly through the day that's the invitation the word became flesh it happened then it happens now. [10:08:27]

The pursuit of growth of Love Of Joy of uh goodness of character that is not something that we drift into Grace doesn't mean that there's no effort involved in it but it means that the effort becomes not draining not life depleting but life-giving. [09:52:80]

God what shall we think about now You Are Not Alone. [10:39:48]