God Is. I Am.

In our pastoral theology class, we continue to examine our congruency between our theology and our pastoral functioning. Am I functioning in a manner that reflects what I believe? How do I make sense, theologically, of what is happening in my pastoral interventions? How is my spirituality informing my interpretation or providing insight to meaning making?

Here are two more tools from our supervisor to think about God. And me. Through all these tools, my goal is deepening congruency between my "embedded theology" and my "deliberative theology."

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GOD IS:
GOD IS ___________________________
GOD IS ___________________________
GOD IS ___________________________
GOD IS ___________________________
GOD SOUNDS LIKE _________________
GOD SOUNDS LIKE _________________
GOD SOUNDS LIKE _________________
GOD SOUNDS LIKE _________________
GOD’S FRAGRANCE IS LIKE ____________________
GOD’S FRAGRANCE IS LIKE ____________________
GOD’S FRAGRANCE IS LIKE ____________________
GOD’S FRAGRANCE IS LIKE ____________________
GOD FEELS LIKE ______________________________
GOD FEELS LIKE ______________________________
GOD FEELS LIKE ______________________________
GOD FEELS LIKE ______________________________
GOD IS ______________________________________

So much has been written about God. I'm including only a few of my favorite references...

"When these confirming signs are accomplished, you'll know that you're ready: Whatever job you're given to do, do it. God is with you! - 1 Samuel 10:7

Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We're free of it! 2 Corinthians 3:16

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I am:

I am ___________________________

I am ___________________________

I am ___________________________

I am ___________________________
GOD whispers to me___________________________

GOD whispers to me___________________________

GOD whispers to me___________________________

GOD whispers to me___________________________

GOD delights in my __________________________

GOD delights in my __________________________

GOD delights in my __________________________

GOD delights in my __________________________

I know God is with me when _____________________

I know God is with me when _____________________

I know God is with me when _____________________

I know God is with me when _____________________

I am _______________________

God as the I Am is one thing, but how I am vis-a-vis God also informs who I am with my patients, families and staff. I have so much to learn.

Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me—it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me in my troubles. Philippians 4:10

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; - - Psalm 139:13

Who is God to you? Who are you to God?