Is God in Control?

So often we take a look at the things that are happening in our life and we realize that this world is spinning out of control. In our relationship with God there are many factors that have to be taken into consideration and what we believe in accuracy. How many times has life completely went wrong for you and your first statement was, "well, God is still in control" Is that a fact or a feeling? Do we really believe that God is in full control? Better yet do we allow him to be? I am learning in this moment that when we make that statement that the facts are construded. God is not in full control. In early posts I mentioned that God's original intent for our life was Free Will. He does not control the choices that we make. The fact is that God is not in control unless we allow him to be or we ask him to be.

We have control over our choices and sometimes those very choices bring forth an outcome that we neither want nor do we desire. Sometimes in our life we say these things to remove the attention of the affliction. We want him to be in control because then we can blame God for the actions in our life and yet the only one there is to truly blame for the events that take place is ourselves because it is by our choices that our destiny is brought into existence. For instance if the enemy is just tearing us apart day in and day out, and we are constantly reassuring ourselves, "Well, the Lord is in control." When all the while we are steady carrying the burdens and heartache on our shoulder then who is really in control me or God.

A child is sitting in the floor playing with his favorite airplane when he throws it as high into the air as he can get it. As the plane crashes to the floor the wing shatters into three large pieces. The child comes running to his father, "Daddy, my airplane broke. Here is the plane and here are two of the pieces." The father attempts to fix the wing and says, " Son, I need the other piece to fix it." The child replies, " No Daddy, I can do it."

So many times in our life we carry around the pieces of our broken heart and our shattered life and we drag them to the cross. We carry it to the cross and we repeatedly beg God to fix our situation and yet when we start off a new day we carry those same feelings, those same trials, and we make those same choices and we never give them to God. It is then that we have removed his hand and replaced it with our own.

There is a bigger sin there. A sin of Idolatry there. We believe that we can do a better job than God can. Once this happens we begin acting out in our own will and our own choices thinking that we can do a better job. This is where we also start self medicating as well.

Shame

In this journey to freedom one of the greatest battles that I have faced was that I was not worthy enough to recieve the love that was being offered to me. I have asked the question so many times of what is wrong with me. In realizing that it is not that I have done something wrong but that something is simple wrong with my existence. In listening to a wise leader in conference the other day. She started explaining that shame was a wrongness of being. This was a subject that I really felt the need to explore. Shame is something that will hold us captive. It will alter our identity and will change our outlook on life because it removes out self worth. According to the websters dictionary here is the formal definition.

shame

–noun

1.	the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another: She was overcome with shame.

2.	susceptibility to this feeling: to be without shame.

3.	disgrace; ignominy: His actions brought shame upon his parents.

4.	a fact or circumstance bringing disgrace or regret: The bankruptcy of the business was a shame. It was a shame you couldn't come with us.

–verb (used with object)

5.	to cause to feel shame; make ashamed: His cowardice shamed him.

6.	to drive, force, etc., through shame: He shamed her into going.

7.	to cover with ignominy or reproach; disgrace.

—Idioms

8.	for shame! you should feel ashamed!: What a thing to say to your mother! For shame!

9.	put to shame, a. to cause to suffer shame or disgrace. b. to outdo; surpass: She played so well she put all the other tennis players to shame.

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Synonyms:
1. Shame, embarrassment, mortification, humiliation, chagrin designate different kinds or degrees of painful feeling caused by injury to one's pride or self-respect. Shame is a painful feeling caused by the consciousness or exposure of unworthy or indecent conduct or circumstances: One feels shame at being caught in a lie. It is similar to guilt in the nature and origin of the feeling. Embarrassment usually refers to a feeling less painful than that of shame, one associated with less serious situations, often of a social nature: embarrassment over breaking a teacup at a party. Mortification is a more painful feeling, akin to shame but also more likely to arise from specifically social circumstances: his mortification at being singled out for rebuke. Humiliation is mortification at being humbled in the estimation of others: Being ignored gives one a sense of humiliation. Chagrin is humiliation mingled with vexation or anger: She felt chagrin at her failure to remember her promise. 5. humiliate, mortify, humble, abash, embarrass.

Antonyms:
1. pride, self-esteem, self-respect.

In reading over what the actual definition was to shame. The complete opposite of shame is self respect. How often are we disrespecting ourselves because we carry the weight of our existence being wrong around on our shoulders. How is it that this horrendous belief formed and how do we get rid of it. We have to find where this ends because if it is not brought to an end then we will never obtain the freedom that we are searching for. So we must notice and realize what exactly we are feeling and what is holding us captive.

Relationships 101

In a relationship, we must first understand that that the foundation is trust. In order to trust someone we must first believe in them. That could mean many things. Believing in someone or something that you cannot see yet or hear or know for a fact is the beginning of Faith. Heb.11:1 "Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen." We we are at the turning point in our life as to whether we are going to follow God or not, whether to accept salvation or not, then we have to realize that the beginning is to choose. Then the second step is to believe. The one requirement for salvation is to believe because you cannot serve something that you do not believe in. You cannot be in a relationship with someone that you do not believe in. For instance, if you were searching for a mate and found the perfect mate. Just picture it, a slum lord basically. Someone who never attempts to better themself who is always negative and who is constantly creating drama. Could you fall in love with someone like that. Yes. I know you are a little confused so just continue reading. You could fall in love with someone like that if you believed that was their best. You could also fall in love with them if you believed they could be better. It is a hope that you are believing in. You are believing in that person though. No matter what. In the same aspect we must first believe in God. This would be the first step to being in a relationship will God.

Deep calling into Deep

There is a place in this journey that after you have been formally introduced to Our Creator that something inside you will begin to happen. There is a transformation point where the Spirit of the Lord calls deep within the spirit that lives within us. Sometimes it will call to the deepest parts of our very existance and we will not even realize that it is calling. There is a point in this journey that the lord tells us to pray without ceasing and we are to bring our petitions before him but me must understand that there is also a point where we must stop and be still. To know him we must listen to him. If we are constantly over talking him and not giving him a chance to speak then we are defeating the purpose. In realizing that God truly has felt everything that we have felt. Have you ever really thought about it. When God created the heavens and the earth, he felt that it was good. The bible tells us that but why were we created. Why did he need us when he is everything. He is the Great I AM. The answer to that is that we were created to praise him. Why? God was lonely. He wanted to be in relationship with us. He wanted to love and to be loved. How many times in our life to we seek acceptance and attention. I know in my case especially in living the lifestyle of a victim, that is how we humanly try to fullfill that need. We play on the sympathy of others and try to obtain the fullfillment of love and belonging. God's original intent for our life is for us to be loved. That is why he says in his word that he IS love. It was our first commandment. : Mark 12:28-31 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." (from New International Version)

God The Name of All Names

• El - God (mighty, strong, prominent) used 250 times in the old testiment
  
• Elohim- God (creator, preserver, transendent, mighty, and strong) 2570 times in the old testament
• El Shaddai - God Almighty or God All Sufficient 48 times in the old testament
• Adonai - Lord , Master 300 times in the old testament
• Jehovah - LORD
  
• Yahweh - covenant name of God 6823 times in the old testament
• Jehovah Jireh- The Lord will Provide
• Jehovah Rophe- The Lord who Heals
• Jehovah Nissi- The Lord our Banner
• Jehovah-M'Kaddesh - The Lord who Santifies
• Jehovah-Shalom - The Lord our Peace
• Shepherd
• Judge
• Jehovah Elohim- Lord God
• Jehovah Tsidkenu- The Lord Our Righteousness
• Jehovah-Rohi- The Lord our Shepherd
• Jehovah-Shammah- The Lord is There
• Jehovah-Sabaoth- The Lord of Hosts
• El Elyon- Most High
• Abhir - Mighty One
• Branch
• Kadosh- Holy One
• Shaphat- Judge
• El Rol- The God who Sees
• Kanna- Jealous
• Palet- Deliverer
• Goal- Reedemer
• Magon- Shield
• Stone
  
• Eyaluth- Strength psalms 22:19
• Tsaddiq- Righteous One psalms 7:9
• El Olam- Everlasting God
  
• El Berith- God of the Covenant
• El Gibhor- Mighty God
• Zur- God our Rock
• Melekh- King
• Father
• The First and the Last
• Kurious- Lord
• Despotes- Lord
• Theos- God
• Theotes- Godhead
• Hupsistos- Highest
  
• Soter- Savior
• The Word
• Almighty

These are just a few of the names of God. There are three parts of the Godhead and in knowing one you must know all so I am also going to include the names the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus- Derived from the Hebrew Joshua (Yshua) of Je-Hashua meaning Jehovah is Salvation
Christ- The Annointed One

And these are the names of the Holy Spirit

Counselor, Comforter, Baptizer, Strengthener, Sanctifier, Spirit of Christ, Seven Fold Spirit, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of Grace, Spirit of Mercy, Spirit of God, Spirit of Holiness, Spirit of life.

Symbolized in the old and new testaments as

1. breath or wind
   
2. fire
3. water
4. oil
5. light
6. dove

So here is your formal introduction. Let me introduce you to the God I serve. To find about more on the names of God, all information was obtained at www.ldolphin.org/names.html.

The official introduction to God

When you meet someone on the street or in a business, there is always a formal introduction. Usually it goes something like, I would like you to meet John Doe or Jane, or Sam, or Bob. In order to identify with someone the first step is knowing their name. It amazes me that God even points out to us that there is power in his name. If we are created in the image of God then we must also realize that we have power in our name. What does our name say about us. In Proverbs 18:10 it says The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Just by calling his name things were brought into existence. There is validation in simply someone calling you by name. When we live the lifestyle of a victim, how often are we called out of our name. It tears away our identity and in return we begin to bounce around in the cycle of victimization because it steals our identity. I have been on this journey and have asked myself a hundred times who am I. I want to know who I am. My name is Faith. I actually have a definition to my name. Hebrews 11:1 Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. In knowing that, I still really don't know who I am. Why? I feel lost most of the time. Not knowing in which direction to turn. Well, the answer is that I am seeking to know him so first off I want to know his Name.

Identies formed on a lie

If your belief systems are designed on the foundation of a lie then your actions are carried out enforcing that lie. In laymens terms this is where that familiar statement comes from of, I am living a lie. It also creates your perception of your identity to be false so this is also the beginning of an open door to confusion. This is where that familiar journey that we all tend to take of Who Am I really begins. In the very beginning I said that in understanding who God really is that it was then we could begin to understand who we are. We cannot love anyone until we first learn to love ourself. We cannot love ourself if we dont know who we are. We cannot know who we really are until we know who God is. And we cannot know who God is unless we seek to know him. It is all a process that is not just a quick fix but all of the answers are right in front of us. Matthew 7:7: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. If I were to be completely honest with you, my heart longs to know him. I so long to know and understand my creator. How majestic he is and how loving he must be. To understand the call of God on my life and to know that he wants to use me has brought me to such a humbling place. My prayer is to help others understand and learn the process of who they are in which the first lesson will be who he is.