Have you ever felt insignificant, confused, invisible to God?  You’ll appreciate this Youtube video by Northland Church:  www.youtube.com—watch

(we apologize–the podcast for part 3 is temporarily delayed due to technical difficulties until 1.31.10)

In the Father Heart of God part 3 I shared areas that block us from receiving God’s love into our hearts.

The first is sin:  is it politically correct to talk about it?  In our society today, it’s becoming an “impolite topic”.  Why?   Are we so afraid of offending that we don’t face the realities of our lives?

Here’s an example:  if a man cheats on his wife, is it okay for him to say, “I know it wasn’t the best thing, but we all make mistakes, so honey- you really shouldn’t be mad.  I saw you overeat last week with that chocolate cake.”  So the point is that we’re “all sinners,” anyone can do whatever they want, and there are no consequences, right?  In the case of the wounded marriage—of course not!  Studies have shown that even when a couple believes in an open marriage, something is harmed within one partner or the other when the marriage is violated.

So we’re faced with the same issue: when we blow off God’s ways there are consequences.  This is the transcendence principle: there are truths bigger than us- no matter how hard we try to convince ourselves otherwise. Sin separates us from God…even when we don’t feel guilty.

Scriptures to accompany part 3: (take a few minutes and read each one and meditate on it- there’s a lot to be found in each!)

Proverbs 3:5, Psalms 9:10, Hebrews 4:16, 1 John 1:8-9, Proverbs 4:23, Ephesians 3:17-19

Unresolved emotions also block our ability to receive God’s love for us:

Myths about emotions:

• Letting others know that I am feeling bad is weakness.
• There is a right way to feel in every situation.
• Negative feelings are bad and destructive.
• Being emotional means being out of control.
• Emotions can just happen for no reason.
• Some emotions are really stupid.
• All painful emotions are a result of a bad attitude.
• If other’s don’t approve of my feelings, I obviously shouldn’t feel the way I do.
• Other people are the best judge of how I am feeling.
• Painful emotions are not really important and should be ignored.

It’s essential that we unpack the unresolved emotions and conflicts if we desire to move forward in relationship with God.

Here are further meditation questions from “The Father Heart of God”:

1. Acknowledge your need for healing.  Admit you need help.
2. Be honest with the Father.  He wil then be able to comfort and guide you.
3. Confess your sins.  These sins should be confessed only on the level they were committed.  For example: Secret sin- a sin of the heart or mind that was never acted on or spoken out to others.  Needs to be confessed only to the Father.  Private sin- ask forgiveness of the one you sinned against.  Public sin- ask the group’s forgiveness.
4. Talk to God about your negative emotions:  anger, fears, bitterness, disappointment, resentment, and so on.  Even no emotion is valuable to acknowledge.  Talk to Jesus first, then others who you trust.
5. Forgive those who have hurt you.  Most often this is a process, not a one-time act.
6. Receive forgiveness.  Ask and receive the Father’s forgiveness for yoru worng actions and attitudes towards others.

Keep in mind that healing is a process, often referred to as peeling the layers of an onion.  Be patient, keep inviting God as Father into the deepest parts of your being.  He always responds to our sincere cry for help, in His own way and time.  Trust Him and watch what happens!

Don Riling

Lead pastor, Mosaic

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If you’re tracking with us on the Father Heart of God series, you can listen to the Sunday podcast- (it’s normally posted at our podcast site within 24 hours.)

Update: This Sunday’s podcast now available!

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I think you’ll enjoy this Youtube video by the author of the book Father Heart of God, teaching on the prodigal son.

Many of us have been taught that sin goes one-way:  you mess up, and God’s going to make you pay.  I first heard Floyd McClung teach on a different view several years ago; the idea that we’re sinners, but we’re also sinned against.  Both have negative consequences in our lives.

If you’re digging more deeply into this series:

Here are the scriptures I shared in the teaching, for you to look up and meditate on.

Matthew 22:39- is your ability to love others a reflection of the self-love in you?

Isaiah 54:10- unshakeable, unconditional love from God to us

John 10:27, 16:13- God’s desire to speak to us

Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5- His nearness in our lives

Isaiah 53:5- the promise that our hearts can be healed

Here are some further discussion/mediation thoughts from the book Father Heart of God:

1. Think about your family environment during your childhood.  Was there peace, joy, stability, security—or strife, rage, depression and more?
2. Did you feel love and accepted?  Wanted? Valuable?
3. Did you sense God’s love in your family- was it a nourishing, uplifting environment?
4. Who were the male authority figures in your life?  Female?
5. Did you (do you) trust them?
6. Did you receive affection from these primary authority figures?  Affirming words?  Dedicated time?  Eye contact?  Hugs?
7. Do you remember receiving love and support during a time of crisis from a primary authority figure?  Think about how it was expressed.
8. How do you envision God in your life?  Is it possible that you project human authority figures (good and bad) over onto your image of Him?
9. Are you able to receive His unconditional love into your heart?  When you ask Christ for forgiveness, does it translate to a feeling of freedom?

Here are the symptoms of the Saul Syndrome that Floyd shares in his book:

1-     Withdrawal or isolation: We cut ourselves off from other people.  Withdrawal can be a way of covering up or justifying our refusal to forgive those who have hurt us or compromise with those with whom we disagree.

2-     Possessiveness: The mentality of “my ministry” “my group”, “my opinion”, “my job”,  or “my place in the church” is selfish and stems from an attitude of independence. This “me-first” attitude is sin.

3-     “Us-versus-them” mentality: When we are caught up in the Saul Syndrome we start thinking in terms of “us” and “them”—those with whom we agree versus those with whom we disagree.  This thought pattern signals we are not just disagreeing but are judging other people and creating factions in the church.

4-     Manipulation:  Proud and independent people can be manipulative by refusing to cooperate, demanding their own way, criticizing, or constantly judging what others are doing.  We spiritualize our reasons, of course and that is why our manipulation can be all the more dangerous.

5-     Unteachableness: The Saul Syndrome causes us to be closed to other people.  We refuse to accept correction and instruction.  We become very hardened.

6-     Critical and judgmental attitude: We justify this in many ways, but it all boils down to slander and judging the motives of others.

7-     Impatience: We think our way is better, and we refuse to wait for others who don’t agree or understand.

8-     Distrust: The Saul Syndrome results in distrust.  We accuse others of not trusting us, but that is often a projection of our own mistrust.  It reflects our independence and has more to do with our needs than the needs of others.

9-     Disloyalty: This involves playing on the doubts, wounds or needs of other people to win them over to our own point of view—rather than seeking to build unity, love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

10-   Ingratitude: We focus on what we think should be done for us instead of how much has already been done for us.

11-   Unhealthy Idealism: We idolize a method, standard, or program and put it above people—particularly people with whom we disagree.  Ideals become more important than unity or correct attitudes.

These are painful symptoms to face in our lives.  Yet we only find freedom as we address them, and ask God to forgive us, then to fill the empty places in our hearts that cause these destructive tendencies.  Open your heart and ask him to reveal his amazing love for you.  He’s waiting.

Don Riling

Lead Pastor, Mosaic

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Wait!  You mean to tell me God isn’t that big mean “headmaster in the sky” just waiting to punish me when I make the smallest mistake?  Jesus told us to pray, “our Father” because he was introducing this amazing idea: that God loves us as his children and HE’S ON OUR SIDE.

After you listen to the podcast (

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) here are some further ways to dig into this topic:

Take a piece of paper or your journal, and meditate on this scenario, then write down your impressions:

If God showed up at your front door tomorrow morning (you didn’t know He was coming) what would be the look on His face when He saw you?  What would be the first words He’d say to you?  Your responses will tell you a great deal about how you view Him…and what you think His view of you is.

The book “Father Heart of God” by Floyd McClung made a huge impact on me several years ago.  Floyd and Sally McClung served the communities within the Red Light District in Amsterdam for many years.  They found so many people who had been wounded and abused in their families of origin.  I highly recommend this book.  Also:  “Fathered by God–Discovering what your Dad could never teach you”, by John Eldredge.  I love and recommend any of Eldredge’s writings.  The guy is deep, practical and bases his writings from scripture.  His book, “Wild at Heart” for men is one of the best ever for guys.

Here are the verses from the message, if you’d like to read them and dig more deeply:

2 Corinthians 6:18, Matthew 6:8&9, Hebrews 12:7-9, Psalm 68:5, Psalm 103:13, Luke 15:17-19

I’d love to hear your feedback, questions, ideas, struggles around this series. Write to me: Don@MosaicRochester.com

Remember: there’s only one source of love that will ever FULLY satisfy…

-Don Riling

Lead Pastor, Mosaic

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