Fingerprints of God…

Recognizing God’s Touch on Your Life

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Gen 1:31). All God’s creation reflected His personal goodness. The Apostle Paul echoed this divine contemplation when he pointed out that God’s marvelous visible creation clearly displays His even more marvelous invisible qualities. God designed the observable world to help us envision with our heats what we cannot see with our eyes.

Samuel Longfellow, the lesser known but equally poetic brother of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, showed he caught this kind of glimpse of the invisible God. Samuel loved the seashore. He often surveyed the glorious ocean with its mighty surges, its mysterious depths, and utter vastness. Perhaps the sight of a delicate coral reef left him saturated in God’s tenderness and beauty. A dancing sea horse or squirming jelly fish likely brought to mind God’s astonishing creativity. The crashing waves and thunderous vapors clearly expressed God’s majesty and power.

Imagine…Longfellow beheld a different image of majesty when he glanced at his own reflection during his walk along the puddle shore. His style resonates with the words of Paul from centuries earlier: “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities…have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made” Roman 1:20.

Imagine that you too are at seaside and consider this heavenly object lesson. If you’ll look with your heart’s eyes, you’ll easily observe God’s splendor there. You’ll distinguish His unbounded influence and His unspoiled law. You’re even likely to notice, maybe for the very first time, that we are represented there too. For we are His very image and have been imprinted with His unmistakable likeness.

Psalm 33:6 “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth”

Psalm 33:9 “For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.”

Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

Genesis 2:21-22 “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.”

God with His very own hands made man, and formed us. He could have spoken us into being just as He commanded day and night but he chose to lay His hands upon us. Breathing His very life into us.

Examine your finger prints each one very unique to you, even identical twins have different fingerprints. A wonderful and loving God made you unique, with your uniqueness He calls you to be in a relationship with Him. As I have always told my Sunday school kids, when we are all singing or praying at the same time God is able to see each one individually. Wow, He sees you, and the Holy Spirit is calling to you to come and be in relationship with Him.

God wants to be your friend in the good times, bad times, weird awkward times, and share in your everyday, every moment of your life. We as people run to God in times of trouble and He wants so much more than that from you. God wants to be the center and included in your decisions, dreams and hopes.

Look at it like this; God gave you the choice to choose life with Him or life with out, because He wanted you to do it with all your heart and not because you have to. Those of you who are parents can understand this, when your child was born you had this incredible love for this child. You, want your children to love because you love them, not the things you give them. So, God wants you to love Him because of who He is not what you can get from Him. He wants you to love Him, trust Him and lean on Him, bring your burdens to Him and as any good father; He’ll take care of it if you let Him.

Those of you without children or had a crummy dad, picture this… in your mind you have seen movies, TV shows, listen to stories of these great dad’s. Imagine the dad you desired to have most; a dad that hugs you, the dad who had just the right words, and the dad who didn’t say too much when you screwed up but smiled and gave you a hug, the dad that corrected you and still made you feel special, the dad who spent his time sharing your dreams, hopes and encouraging you. God wants to be that dad to you right now, no matter your age, or any excuse you can think of. God thinks you are special and formed you with His very own hand.

The question: Are you tired of all the different excuses to not give your life to God?

• My life is perfect

• Religion is for the weak minded

• I need to be perfect

• I don’t need help from a God I can’t see

• I’m too screwy, why would God want me

• And many more…you know your own personal excuse

It is so easy to turn your life around and give it to God. Today let’s use the ABC method Sunday school style. I’ll help you but it does not have to be these exact words just an open your heart to God. Let’s begin:

Admit

Father, I am sorry that I have sinned against you in many ways and I admit that I haven’t been doing my life as You asked me to. I admit that I need Your help and I am ready to make the change. I am ready to give up living as the world tells me and I am ready to trust you completely. Following all your commands.

Believe

I believe that you are the only true God creator of heaven and earth, and that you sent Jesus your only son, born of a virgin to die on the Cross so that I may have life everlasting. I believe in the Holy Spirit my helper left by Jesus to assist me on my journey with your and to guide me.

Choose

I choose today to give up my will and wants and to surrender the rest of my life to you. I choose to turn away from evil and sin. I choose to look to you Jesus for direction of my life and allow the Holy Spirit to transform me into a new creation.

That was pretty simple and now the journey begins.

Steps to get you started: Go tell someone that you gave your life to Jesus. Secondly, go get a bible if you don’t already have one, a dictionary. Thirdly, read your bible every day, pick a time and place that you will read. Fourthly, find a church that teaches from the bible and meets your needs, men’s ministry, women’s ministry, children’s programs, prayer groups, youth program. Fifthly, you need to pray, wait, listen – ask the Holy Spirit to help you to understand the bible, the church you are to belong to and God’s plan for you. Congratulations and welcome to the family of God! You are an heir to the throne, prince/princess, adopted into the family of God.

Helpful Resources:

~ Take and Alpha Course - http://alpha.org/default.asp, this site will help you find a place in your area.

~ Join Bible Study Group

~ Book Christianity 101 - http://whatisthechristianchurch.blogspot.com/ this site has many excellent links to resources.

~ Online Services –

- Pastor James MacDonald –Walk in the Word

http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Walk_in_the_Word/

- Dr. Charles Stanley – In Touch Ministry http://ww2.intouch.org/site/c.dhKHIXPKIuE/b.2264355/k.BE55/Home.htm

- Chuck Swindoll – In Site for Living - http://www.insight.org/site/PageServer?pagename=new_home

- Joyce Meyers - http://www.joycemeyer.org/

- Dr. James Dobson – Focus on the Family -http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Focus_on_the_Family/archives.asp?bcd=10/27/2006