Why do I see God as a friendly pussy cat instead of a powerful lion?

In C. S. LEWIS' children story, "The Silver Chair", Jill, a little girl from our world, accidentally stumbles into the world of Narnia. She is extremely thirsty and comes upon a stream. But a Lion, Aslan, is sitting by the stream. She is terrified. Aslan says to her, "If you are thirsty, you may drink.'' She doesn't move.

"Are you not thirsty?'' said the Lion.

"I'm dying of thirst,'' said Jill.

"Then drink,'' said the Lion.

"May I, could I, would you mind going away while I do?'' said Jill.

The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And, as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked a whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.

The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.

"Will you promise not to do anything to me, if I do come?'' said Jill.

"I make no promise,'' said the Lion.

Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.

"Do you eat girls?'' she asked.

"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms,'' said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.

"I daren't come and drink,'' said Jill.

"Then you will die of thirst,'' said the Lion.

"Oh dear!'' said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.''

"There is no other stream,'' said the Lion.

I was thinking of this story on Monday night when I read an A. W. Tozer quote: “The voice of God is a friendly voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it”. I began to wonder if my impression of God had become a little too friendly and familiar. Have I lost a reverence and fear of the Lion of Judah?

Timothy's Goals

Paul had two goals for Timothy: that he would be strong and that he would risk making an impact. Will you accept the same goals? One is for your spiritual character. The other is for your actions for Christ. One is being; the other is doing. When both come together, you have a powerful witness for Him.

WORSHIP NIGHT IN 5 DAYS!!!

So things are gearing up for the Worship Night and Graduation Celebration this week. Hope to see you all there on Sunday. Use this opportunity to invite a friend to church. And please let me know if you're graduating...

Shut-Out

A friend told me that he was emotionally "shut-out" by someone he love dearly last week, and it sucked! (His friend probably isn't even aware of how much they hurt him). He continued by saying that it occurred to him that this is what he often does with God - for weeks at a time.

I thought it was an interesting analogy. God doesn't want to be shut-out from our lives. Is he shut-out from yours? And are you the one He loves dearly and yet you're not even aware that you're shutting Him out; or do you care enough to stop, open up and reciprocate His love?