Encounter is an invitation to engage God with an open heart. God pursues our hearts, and we respond: it is a sacred encounter.
We open to God in deeper and broader ways as we engage with our whole hearts: our relational creative right brain and cognitive analytical left brain. Visual images and metaphors are one way to sink deeply into the truth God has given and defined in his Word. Jesus often used pictures in his teaching. Some of the familiar images in Scripture are sinking roots into God's love (Ephesians 3), abiding in the vine, Christ our true vine (John 15), and responding to the hands of the potter, the master craftsman (Isaiah 64). Let these images capture your heart and deepen understanding.
This devotional will engage your heart on multiple levels: through Scripture, attention to emotions, reflection questions, visual images, prayers, and journal pages.
Thoughts on Encounter
As we develop as humans, first we sense—and only then do we make sense of what we sense. Too often our life with God languishes as we too quickly make sense of God in our left brains before having robustly sensed him in our right brains. Into our deeply imbalanced spiritual reality enters Christine Labrum with Encounter, a devotional offering whose very artistic presentation exudes the beauty into which our author invites us to join her. For those who have eyes to see and hearts that are open, this is a book that God will certainly use to transform us and our communities into the very beauty to which we are being introduced.
Curt Thompson, MD
Psychiatrist and Author, The Soul of Shame and Anatomy of the Soul
Actively engaging the mind and opening the heart through imagery and the Word of God, Christine skillfully provides an adventurous and deeply reflective encounter with the Living God. Poignant reflections and brilliant artwork will invite engagement in a journey unlocking emotions and drawing you to the loving heart of the Father in deep-rooted intimacy. Allow this masterful devotional to transform your heart and awaken your faith afresh with a renewed peace, joy, vigor, and freedom in Christ!
Wendy Walters
Director of Student, Alumni and Church Relations, Missio Seminary
“Just read your Bible and pray to grow in your relationship with God.” How many times have you heard that as the “what to do now” from the Sunday morning service? “But how do I do that?!?” Christine’ Labrum’s Encounter meets this question with gentleness and authenticity. From beginning to end, from the words aptly spoken to the artwork adding its own dimension to the pages, this devotional invites you to genuinely seek God, and find him – more precisely, allow him to find you – right where you are.
R. Todd Mangum, PhD
Clemens Professor of Missional Theology and ThM Program Director, Missio Seminary
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