I wrote this on another blog of mine on 16 August 2009.
Finished reading The Shack today. Found it very powerful and really helped my relationship with God to grow. I liked near the end when Mack was asked to forgive the killer and he said that in doing so he would be approving of what the guy did, but God said that's not what forgiveness is about. Forgiveness does not create a relationship, it lets go of the guys throat and sets you free.
Another part I found totally awesome was when God said that although He (she in the case of the book though...) may use unspeakable tragedies for good doesn't mean He orchestrated them. We have been given free will and we can use it as we please but our choices don't affect God's awesome purpose for us.
Speaking of free will, that was another thing touched on - the book touched on everything to be honest! But God said to Mack, although I know what you're going to do it doesn't mean I have any control over what you're going to do. I thought that explained free will perfectly!!! There are so many people who say how can you have free will if God knows how your life is going to turn out - Although He may know everything doesn't mean he has control over everything! Gosh I like that idea!
Another thing I got out of it was the idea of God abandoning us or feeling so distant when we're going through pain. I know of 'Christians' who say God isn't there for them and that He hates them and so on. Their pain is simply blinding them from His amazing truth! God is there, God is real and when all you can see is pain you can lose sight of God. It doesn't stop Him being there for you and holding you tightly and constantly trying to speak to you. When pain fills your heart and your head how can God? He should be the one filling your heart, He should be the one filling your head! When you allow these painful thoughts to devour you from the inside you're not letting God fill you with His love. The more you reject it the less far away He will seem - even though He has gone no where. No matter how much you reject Him (as Mack in The Shack had done for so many years) He will still be there when you realise His immense love for you! Praise God for that one!!!
There is just so so much more I could write on that book but I will leave it at that for now. Gosh I love our God. The awesomeness of what He has done by giving Jesus and loving and saving man from sin is incredible.
Finished reading The Shack today. Found it very powerful and really helped my relationship with God to grow. I liked near the end when Mack was asked to forgive the killer and he said that in doing so he would be approving of what the guy did, but God said that's not what forgiveness is about. Forgiveness does not create a relationship, it lets go of the guys throat and sets you free.
Another part I found totally awesome was when God said that although He (she in the case of the book though...) may use unspeakable tragedies for good doesn't mean He orchestrated them. We have been given free will and we can use it as we please but our choices don't affect God's awesome purpose for us.
Speaking of free will, that was another thing touched on - the book touched on everything to be honest! But God said to Mack, although I know what you're going to do it doesn't mean I have any control over what you're going to do. I thought that explained free will perfectly!!! There are so many people who say how can you have free will if God knows how your life is going to turn out - Although He may know everything doesn't mean he has control over everything! Gosh I like that idea!
Another thing I got out of it was the idea of God abandoning us or feeling so distant when we're going through pain. I know of 'Christians' who say God isn't there for them and that He hates them and so on. Their pain is simply blinding them from His amazing truth! God is there, God is real and when all you can see is pain you can lose sight of God. It doesn't stop Him being there for you and holding you tightly and constantly trying to speak to you. When pain fills your heart and your head how can God? He should be the one filling your heart, He should be the one filling your head! When you allow these painful thoughts to devour you from the inside you're not letting God fill you with His love. The more you reject it the less far away He will seem - even though He has gone no where. No matter how much you reject Him (as Mack in The Shack had done for so many years) He will still be there when you realise His immense love for you! Praise God for that one!!!
There is just so so much more I could write on that book but I will leave it at that for now. Gosh I love our God. The awesomeness of what He has done by giving Jesus and loving and saving man from sin is incredible.
