I Am

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

I've been away from my blog too long.  Sorry!  I have a fun testimony.  I've mentioned before that I worked in business for 30 years, in a cube, with no windows.  Every chance I got at home, I'd draw, shoot photos and paint.  The Lord lead me to all these great art supplies, I bought them over the years. So, today my studio is stocked up : )  I never thought I'd be able to use them this much.  I sure am having fun now.  Thanks be to God for providing the needs I didn't know I needed.  My husband demanded I get a good camera and get going in photography, which I've always loved.  It was his way of thanking me for my hard work.  Doing this blog helps me dig into the Bible and hopefully bless others too. (Plus I get to do more writing, photography and artwork)... yay!

It's so hard to describe God.  He knows our needs before we know we need them.  He's everywhere at once, He knows everything, He's invisible, He's in human form, He's the Holy Spirit.  We're basically three dimensional.  We have one body that gets scratches, bones, a brain, hair, soul and a heart.  We see what is in front of us and know what we learn, we dream, love, cry and laugh.   

When Moses asked God who he should tell Israel He was, God answered, "I am who I am."  God is the great, "I am."  He is indescribable, unpredictable, our Creator, Master, Savior, and Father.  While we sleep in our beds at night, God enjoys a symphony of stars and planets in the Heavens. 

John 14:6-11

So one day Philip asked Jesus to let him see God.
6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

But, Philip didn't want an explanation,"Just show me, that's all I want."
8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us."

9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?  10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.  11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
So when God took on the form of a man, He was still God. He is the trinity (3 forms, 1 God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit).  There are so many words; He says it best, "I am."

Prophecies about Jesus were written long before He was born.  In Isaiah, there's this wonderful description of His mission.

Isaiah 61:1-3

1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, 

Because the Lord has anointed Me

To preach good tidings to the poor;

He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to the captives,

And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn, 

3 To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
NKJV

I had this nice little card with all of God's names on it.  It has vanished from my studio.  Maybe God wanted me to just use His Word on this post.  I have Isaiah 61:1-3 in my business plan.  It reminds me of the mission Jesus has for me, so much more than just money.

This is a great song by Mark Schultz  I AM (link).

"I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matt 28:20

If My people pray

"His people are all over the world"

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

I enjoyed studying Jonah so much, the story has been on my mind since last week.  I'm not a pacifist.  I do believe there is a time to fight and defend.  But I couldn't help wondering how many of the wars could be stopped by prayer for repentance. The nations God loves, but are so far from Him.  We are all so tired of the conflicts, the bad news. I've been praying for Iran and Syria (and of course Israel).

Then there's our country...  Our leaders need God's wisdom and discernment so bad.  Even our President has been persuaded that money can change the weather (climate control).  "Just sign here..."  

Meanwhile some of the victims of Superstorm Sandy sleep in tents this winter waiting for a bill to be passed.  There are so many voices of conflict and personal ideas in the White House.  It's got to be confusing.  "If My people pray..." from all the nations.  I wonder...  I'm sure all the nations have issues.

2 Chronicles 7:14 came to mind almost everyday : )  After reflection, I realized in Jonah, Nineveh was given an ultimatum.  They chose to repent.  Then Ecclesiastes came to mind.  This is a beautiful passage about life, written centuries ago by King Solomon.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
NKJV

My prayer (you might have a prayer of your own for your country):

Dear Heavenly Father I lift up the USA to You.  Please heal our country and help us to find the right priorities. Bring repentance Lord.  I pray You will bless our leaders with wisdom and discernment to know the difference between right and wrong.  Forgive us where we've failed You Father.  Please bring homes to those who are without.  Help them to be safe and warm.  Help our government to consider our people first and politics last.  Thank You for the peace we have known and the many blessings we have received.  Please bless America again Father.

In Jesus Name, Amen.