Welcome to Riveted! Attention matters. What captures my focus captures my heart and affects those I love. My name is Jack Anderson. And there is
no one I love more than God. Or so I say. But I've noticed lately that I haven't noticed Him lately. The one most worthy of my attention. I want to give
God what He gives me. The kindness of my attention. It's what my heart needs anyway. To see more of Him. I pray this site helps you do the same.
no one I love more than God. Or so I say. But I've noticed lately that I haven't noticed Him lately. The one most worthy of my attention. I want to give
God what He gives me. The kindness of my attention. It's what my heart needs anyway. To see more of Him. I pray this site helps you do the same.
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Two Hearts: One Journey (Blog)
Random reflections from my own up and down friendship with God |
Glimpses of His Heart (Devotional)
Devotionals on the heart of God as He reveals Himself in Scripture. |
First fall in love ... then change the world
Excerpts: Before God says ‘Go’, He first says ‘Come’. Friendship matters more to Him than ministry. I get it backwards. I value fruit-bearing over abiding. Impact over relationship. Result: Zero impact and artificial fruit. My son captures this truth well in a song he wrote ‘First let’s fall in love'. God alone can change the world. But He wants to do it with His friends. Fearless lovers who would rather make Christ known than make a mark. If ministry's all about me, all you get is me. When what you need is God. The Me I See
It’s hard to love me as I am if no one else does. Or if I don't feel they do. For I tend to see me as others do. Or as I think they do. The question is: Do I see me as God does? For He sees me as I am and loves me as I am. The sweet joy of being liked - Part 2
How do I see myself? Is my view of me true of me? Is it who God sees? I want to see the me He sees. The me I really am. Yet I tend to only see who I’m not. I also tend to think that's what you see when you see me. The sweet joy of being liked - Part 1
Why do I lack confidence? Question my worth? Maybe I lack confidence because I question my worth. What's amazing is that God never has. He thinks I'm worth dying for. What He does question is my self-judgment. The sweet comfort of your undivided attention
"The greatest gift you can give is the purity of your attention." R. Moss Attention matters! Why? People matter. And attention affects people. The mirror between us
I carry a mirror inside my head. If honest, I look at it more than I should. Downside is: I can’t see God, you, the beauty around me. All I see is me. A wake-up call for the soul
I get distracted by what I want and don’t have. Or what I have but don’t want. And I miss what I really want most: God. The God who wants me. Together all alone
How quickly I lose awareness of Immanuel, God 'with' us. I haven't left Him. I forget Him. I’ve not lost His presence. I've lost my awareness of it. Our astonishing God + my un-astonished heart Over-familiarity is a sedative. It dulls the senses. Nothing affects me. Not even God. It’s not beauty or God that changes. It's the heart I see with.
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Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Excerpts: Anyone ever made assumptions of you that you are not true? Like ‘You don’t love me’ when you know you do. I do it to God. A crisis I don’t understand can make me question His motive. The God I trusted yesterday seems cruel or unfair today. I’m not sure I can trust His heart. Behind Mom’s ‘No’: “If I say no, you say I don’t care. Yet I said it because I do. When you don’t believe it, you’re not the only one in pain. Nor the only one in tears. You cry believing I don't love you. I cry because I do.’ So what's God up to on cold winter nights?
My head knows God watches over me. Why can’t my heart rest in that? Why these anxious thoughts? As if finding the 'solution' will let me rest. And yet God offers no solution. He offers Himself and His watchful care. But I need love with skin on - Part 2
The loss of love hurts. Yet I can't prevent it nor un-break my heart. While God comforts, He doesn't remove our grief. He grieves with us. If I lose you, no one can 'take your place'. And God doesn't try to. He takes His place. As my God. Beside me in my grief. A place no one else can take. But I need love with skin on - Part 1
I’m glad God loves me. But I also want love with skin on! Yes, this desire can eclipse my desire for God. But the desire itself is no offense to God. He gave it to us. Unlike Elkanah, He doesn't say 'Isn't my love enough?' The God who Notices
Ever felt invisible? Ever wonder if anyone ever wonders about you? The beggar in Jn. 9 can't see. Nor is he seen. A beggar is invisible. To all but himself. How does He see himself? Unworthy of notice. Until the day he is noticed by God Himself. Unaware his broken heart has broken God's. Total Eclipse of the Son
A total eclipse illustrates what goes on in my soul when anything other than God consumes my attention. Anything that fills my vision can hide anything. Even God. Is there a ‘moon' that's come between God and I? The glory of God is His heart. I see it best in the human face of His Son. |