In yesterday in church minister-Lou encouraged us, ‘Quit carrying a wallet-sized picture of God, when the universe cannot contain him.’
God’s picture in my wallet? As the picture of my wife or children – the reminder of a loved one? I think of myself as a ‘card-carrying Christian’ – my driving licence and bus pass have my picture; perhaps my metaphorical Christian membership card includes a picture of God…?
On Saturday we enjoyed a heated, robust and entertaining discussion at Men’s Shed… extreme Muslims, the evil practices of the church, Henry VIII, burning witches, the difference between religion and faith. Was the God I was defending just a wallet-sized picture of God?
With the children we used to sing ‘My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing that he cannot do’. We taught the children about our great big God of Psalm 8:
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! …You have set your glory in the heavens.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
How big is my God? Wallet sized picture? Certainly much bigger than that!
We shared yesterday with three Christian friends that we have known for many years. We’ve shared good times – weddings, children, grandchildren, holidays. We’ve also shared tough times… life-changing physical and mental illness, bereavement.
We’ve shared our faith that has stayed with us through our lives… the naïve, enthusiastic teenage faith through to the more mature, measured faith of folks in their seventies. Yesterday there was laughter, there were tears. Life isn’t always that straightforward.
This morning I read Psalm 91: ‘Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty… He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge…’
Whatever has happened through life we have experienced our God. How big is my God? Big enough for each of us.
malcolmsmusings.org 
I’m reading a few posts after reading my Bible while I finish my coffee before I go on my morning walk before I then get ready and go to work. I’m glad I read this one, Bro. I love the admonition that we rid ourselves our “wallet-sized pictures of God” when all creation cannot contain Him. By God’s Grace, I’ll simply worship and obey Him today!
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Years ago, Mark I read the book ‘Your God is too small’ by J.B.Phillips. It seems to be the same principle – that I often need to be reminded of.
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Your post sent me back to my journal to find an F.B. Meyer quote:
“It is not a question of how much God can give, but how much we can use.”
How big is God?
Much bigger than we think, but also as big as we need Him to be.
A thought provoking post, Malcolm. Thank you, and God Bless.
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‘Much bigger than we think, but also as big (or small) as we need him to be.’ Thanks, David. That sums it up well.
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