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I don’t think much about that. I don’t really have a picture of him in my mind. Maybe an older, short-haired, gray-haired person? Medium build? Average height?
I think more in terms of where he is located. In my bedroom, for instance, when I am thinking of him, I think of him as being located near the ceiling corner closest to the entry door.
Of course, Jesus usually seems to look the same way in the paintings you see of him, and I believe Jesus was God in flesh.
I think more in terms of where he is located. In my bedroom, for instance, when I am thinking of him, I think of him as being located near the ceiling corner closest to the entry door.
Of course, Jesus usually seems to look the same way in the paintings you see of him, and I believe Jesus was God in flesh.
I have been practicing contemplative prayer using St. John of the Cross and The Cloud of Unknowing as texts. They espouse the idea that any image of God reduces Him too much - so we should practice simply being in His presence. I imagine nothing - and I watch my thoughts and emotions travel through my mind as I wait and listen for God. The results have been better then I ever dreamed. I remember the first time I ever tried this type of prayer - I was at a prayer retreat at a monastery where we prayed 6 hours a day for 7 days; after two days of frustration, I was about to give up, but I tried one more time and my prayer life has never been the same since. My time with God is like the best thing that has ever happened to me - it is beyond words. I could go on and on and never scratch the surface......
It is like the most secure satisfying experience of my life.....here I go again.
As far as my image of God? I think of it as an experience of God and it is beyond description.
It is like the most secure satisfying experience of my life.....here I go again.
As far as my image of God? I think of it as an experience of God and it is beyond description.
C
Crystal floor, crystal sky. An ampitheatre that reaches up to the sky on one side, a burning mountain on the other. A throne of crystal gold and in the center a light so pure that you can see it with your back turned and your eyes closed. Hundred of rainbows eminating from the light. A figure like a man standing at the right hand, the same light eminating from him. He holds an iron staff in his right hand. Seven living fires alternately rise and fall burning with the same pure light. Diagonally from the corners of the throne are four angelic creatures. Their bell-like voices cry out forming of sort of white noise of holy-holy-holy. Twenty-four smaller thrones of crystal silver surround the throne, waiting for the day of occupation.
I think you would love my garden, I started collecting old chanalleir crystals about four or five years ago.
There are over 1500 crystals hanging in the trees throughout my garden now.
sIt was my way of praiseing and showing God how he made me feel.
During the day, when the sun hits them, it send light and rainbows all over the place.
At night with a bit of wind, its like the stars come down from the sky.
God bless, pickles
There are over 1500 crystals hanging in the trees throughout my garden now.
sIt was my way of praiseing and showing God how he made me feel.
During the day, when the sun hits them, it send light and rainbows all over the place.
At night with a bit of wind, its like the stars come down from the sky.
God bless, pickles
It is a very good question. should we even try? if we do try are we then getting close to making an image of God, and if we do, do we get close to idolatry (one of the main reasons im not too keen on the book 'the shack')
anyhow, that was just a few thoughts or should I say questions that I asked myself. What I do know is,that, God is a Holy God.
Kind regards
Phil
anyhow, that was just a few thoughts or should I say questions that I asked myself. What I do know is,that, God is a Holy God.
Kind regards
Phil
I
Genesis 1:26-27
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
I
Jphn 14:8-9
Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
Hebrews 1:1-3
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Romans 8:28-29
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
God is Spirit. And His image is defined in the Bible.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
Hebrews 1:1-3
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Romans 8:28-29
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
God is Spirit. And His image is defined in the Bible.
L
Aspen, I do not want to offend you with what I have to say regarding your post above, but I have read so much on this subject (contemplative prayer) lately that I feel compelled to share with you. What you are practicing appears to be (from your description) a dangerous form of prayer....centering (or contemplative as you called it) prayer. I am by no means an expert on this type of prayer, but have come across a lot of information about it recently. It is a type of prayer that is becoming very popular in the Catholic church and in the Emergent Church.
Emptying one's mind of thoughts is much different then actively contemplating God and His ways. Opening your mind up like that can allow for all kinds of spirits to enter. Here are two sites I came across that discuss it; there is tons of information out there available.
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9711fea1.asp
http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/emerging-church/centering-prayer
Emptying one's mind of thoughts is much different then actively contemplating God and His ways. Opening your mind up like that can allow for all kinds of spirits to enter. Here are two sites I came across that discuss it; there is tons of information out there available.
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1997/9711fea1.asp
http://www.carm.org/religious-movements/emerging-church/centering-prayer
Im just shaking my head at how you can manage not to understand Scripture, or maybe you do and like to make it say what it doesn't mean. God is not the Image of us but we reflect the image of God, there is a difference
even just one point shows how you get it wrong... the image of the son, is.....what??? by the way when Paul is using image he is using it in the same manner as Genesis just before you answer.
secondly, since you are using the verse.. what does conformed mean Israel?? this word might help you understand what Paul is talking about and not your false teaching.
Kind regards
Phil
Thanks for the warning Lauren - I appreciate that you used a Catholic source. Here is a link from the same magazine that answers your first link:
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1998/9802ltrs.asp
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1998/9802ltrs.asp