hearts full of wonder

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Walt Disney was a visionary who understood early on that by blending heartfelt emotion, a little imagination, and some big dreams, he could create timeless tales that deeply resonated with audiences of all ages. For over 75 years, movies like Cinderella and Peter Pan have transformed lives and impacted the world by inviting people to dream beyond their circumstances and embrace a world full of wonder. For over 75 years, these stories, and so many more, have connected with us deeply because, they are representative of the bigger story we are living in.

God created us as emotional beings, designed with vivid imaginations and the capacity to dream. Our emotions allow us to experience the depth of His love, the weight of His truth, and the wonder of His creation. Through our imaginations, we are able to envision the possibilities of His kingdom, inspire hope, and take part in the creative process He began at the start of time. Big dreams fuel our passions and help us align with His purposes, motivating us to serve, create, and build for His glory. God uses these gifts to draw us closer to Him, to cultivate our character, and to empower us to live out His plans, both in our individual lives and in the larger narrative of His redemptive work in the world. Through these unique aspects of who we are, He invites us to partner with Him in transforming hearts, restoring the broken, and reflecting His love and beauty to the world.

I've heard it taught that to follow God, means to suppress our emotions and abandon all of our desires and dreams. We may think this keeps us humble and focused on God's will, but God didn't choose to make us robots, with a master remote control. This mindset actually stems from the enemy's desire to pull us away from the beautiful partnership God intended for us—one where we are co-creators with Him, using our unique gifts, dreams, and emotions to reflect His glory and bring His Kingdom to earth. No, the Bible does not say it is wrong for a Christian to imagine, dream, or desire. In fact, Scripture speaks to the importance of aligning our desires and imaginations with God's will. In Psalm 37:4, it says, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." This verse suggests that when we find our joy and satisfaction in God, He aligns our desires with His purposes. Ephesians 3:20 also encourages us to dream big, stating, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. In Proverbs 16:3, it says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." So, imagining and dreaming aren't inherently wrong, but it’s essential to align them with God’s plans for our lives, ensuring that our desires honor Him and reflect His will.

As we embrace the imagination, creativity, and big dreams that God has woven into our very being, we open ourselves to a deeper sense of wonder. Just as Walt Disney’s stories invite us to dream, so too does God call us to imagine a world that reflects His goodness, beauty, and grace. When we allow ourselves to feel deeply, dream boldly, and create passionately, we step into the adventure of partnering with God in His grand story. As we rediscover the wonder in our lives, we align with God's redemptive plan, co-laboring with Him to reflect His love and beauty to the world.  

Add something else about finding things we are passionate about to experience the wonder of doing it with Him.

Eden Option and The Story of With and also, the Lion Den one

 Sections 

Hearts of Wonder - Guard your heart

Restoring Wonder maybe the same as childlike wonder?

Awakening Childlike Wonder - The Gift of Wonder book/ Wonder Struck Who over Why

Wide-eyed in wonder - Beauty, color and light

Created for Wonder - Personality type and emotions

Taste the Wonder - Taste and See  Food, delight

Delightful Wonder?

Feasting on Wonder - He sets a table in the presence...

Worship in Wonder - include Oedipus story

Freedom to Wonder    Wonder in the wild, wilderness to wonder Healing Books

Rooted in Wonder? Raising kids and education, kids books, nature

Wonder-full Conversation  Voice of God

Resting in Wonder  Grace

Promise of Wonder -

Wonder of Victory!  Maybe could open with story as example of His voice?

Celebrate Wonder? Look for ways to celebrate! 

Dreaming of Wonder? Walt Disney/ All things New. Dreams for now and eternity

Anchored in Wonder  stuck vs anchored  Story with Tracy in Boat. 

Wonder found is guard your hearts and love God!!!

 To restore our wonder, we have to believe WHO God says He is and do what He says. 

 THE LORD TAKES DELIGHT IN YOU AND REJOICES OVER YOU WITH SINGING ZEPHANIAN 3

 Lewis believed that the wonders of creation and life were signs pointing us toward a greater truth, a greater reality — the reality of God's presence in the world. If we become numb or indifferent to the beauty and mystery around us, we also risk becoming indifferent to God’s presence. Likewise, if we become awakened to wonder, we awaken fresh to His presence. 

 But if we pause, if we shift our perspective, we might begin to notice the colors in the sky, the way the light shifts, and the sense of awe that can come from something as simple as a sunset. Similarly, in our relationships, we may become so accustomed to a person’s presence that we forget to see them as a unique individual, full of mystery and wonder. Lewis suggests that to truly experience the wonder of life, we need to step outside our habitual way of seeing, to view things not as ordinary, but as extraordinary, and to allow ourselves to be amazed by what is right in front of us. This shift in perspective invites us to reconnect with the wonder and joy that is embedded in the everyday world and in our relationships with others.
Here, Lewis reflects on how the everyday beauty and glory of creation can become dull or unnoticed because we have grown so accustomed to it. Familiarity can cause us to overlook the awe-inspiring nature of the world, but when we take a step back and look with fresh eyes, we can rediscover wonder all around us.

 

Beauty demands an answer. 

Love demands an answer

.....

The questions we focus on will determine the state of our heart. 

 Billy Graham once said, "Each of us is a combination of two natures—the old sinful nature and the new nature given us by God. The one we feed is the one that will control us." 

Feed our hearts with WONDER

1. Let the Who of God shape your why, not the other way around.
2. Let your understanding of Who God is guide your why, not your questions.
3. Let the truth of Who God is inform your why, even when the answers aren’t clear.
4. Let the Who of God's love be your anchor, and don't let the why pull you away.
5. Let the Who of God's goodness redefine your why, regardless of the circumstances.
6. Let the Who of your identity in Christ hold you steady, even when the why is unknown.
7. Let the Who of your Creator’s heart lead your why through confusion and doubt.
8. Let the Who of God's nature be the foundation of your why, so your heart remains secure.
9. Let the Who of God's sovereignty shape your why, and trust His perfect plan.
10. Let the Who of God's promises be louder than the why of your struggles.

1. Let the Who of God lead your why.
2. Let Who God is guide your why, not the other way around.
3. Let the Who of God’s love help you understand the why.
4. Let your Who in God help you through your why.
5. Let Who God is remind you of your why.
6. Let the Who of God’s truth show you the why.
7. Let the Who of God's heart change your why.
8. Let the Who of God's love help you see the why.
9. Let the Who of God's goodness be more important than your why.
10. Let Who God is keep your heart strong when you ask why.

 Without wonder, we fail to see the world with the eyes of a child, eyes full of curiosity and awe, and we fail to experience life in the fullness it was meant to be lived. To recover our wonder is to rediscover life’s meaning, the depth of its beauty, and the richness of a relationship with the Creator.  

  Because the Bible tells me so is not sufficient reason to believe if you don't yet know the Bible to be true. Sometimes the pain is so great, the loss so deep, or the confusion so blah, wonder is the only voice we can hear. Wonder is an anchor of hope when we can't make sense of Add a section about abuse, religious abuse, and the church's role If you don't perceive God as good, start there.  There are some aspects of God we will never be able to grasp It is critical that we think of God as He really is, for this is the only way we will fully experience   
When we are hurting, confused, etc...the place to start is what we can depend on...creation demands an answer and the truth of scripture must be the starting point 

 Faith has been foundational to my life for as long as I can remember, so I was shocked the day I first realized I had never made loving God my top priority.  Serving Him...yes. Obeying Him...for sure. But loving Him was far down the to-do list, if it made the list at all. I knew loving Him was something we were "supposed" to do, but how do you intentionally love someone with your whole heart? I realized, if Jesus commands us to do it abaove all else, I should probably take it more seriously.  How do we even go about it? Maybe Tozer knew what "comes into our minds" when we think of God is the most important thing about us because it will directly influence how well we  love Him?  

 The only one with authority to declare our identity is the One WHO knit us together in our mother's womb. Through humility, we acknowledge our dependence on God, but when we embrace these truths in confidence, we align our hearts with God's heart for us. we walk in the identity He's given us so we can become a radiant light, drawing others to the wonder of His love.  God calls us to lift our heads and live confidently in His love, knowing that He created us with purpose and worth. 

 "The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it."  Waking the Dead  

Also quote eldridge about killing your heart and calling it sanctification

In the very beginning, God created us with hearts designed for a beautiful, unbroken relationship with Him. He made us in His image, with hearts full of love and wonder, capable of knowing and experiencing His goodness. In the garden, Adam and Eve walked closely with God, their hearts perfectly aligned with His love. They were created to be His children, to trust Him completely and love Him with all their hearts. Everything was good, everything was as it should be.

But then, the enemy—the one who had once walked in the presence of God but was cast down—came with a lie. He whispered into the hearts of Adam and Eve, casting doubt on God's goodness. "Did God really say...?" he asked, planting a seed of mistrust in their hearts. The enemy knew that if he could cause them to question God's heart for them, their relationship with God would break. And so, he deceived them, and when they chose to listen to his lies, their hearts were turned away from God. The beautiful, trusting connection was shattered, and with it, the relationship they were made for. Sin entered the world, and everything changed. The enemy’s mission was clear: to separate our hearts from God, because he knew the power of a heart fully devoted to its Creator.

But God, in His incredible love, did not leave us without hope. He sent His Son, Jesus, to restore the broken relationship. Jesus came with one powerful message: love God with all your heart. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made a way for our hearts to be healed and reunited with God. He showed us that God desires not our perfection, but our hearts—whole and undivided, filled with love for Him. Jesus’ sacrifice opened the door for us to return to that intimate, trusting relationship with our Creator, just as it was in the beginning.

Yet, even now, the enemy is still on the attack, working tirelessly to steal our hearts and keep us from the love God offers. He continues to whisper lies, trying to make us doubt God’s goodness, to twist our perception of who God is and who we are. The enemy wants to keep us distracted, discouraged, and disconnected from the love that can heal and restore us. He knows that when we fully embrace God’s love and live in the truth of who we are—children of a loving Father—we are unstoppable. But God, in His love, calls us to remember that we were made to love Him with all our hearts, and with His help, we can keep our hearts close to Him, despite the enemy's lies. In the end, it’s the hearts that are completely His that will experience true freedom, and it’s in those hearts that God’s greatest wonder unfolds.

Our hearts are the wellspring of life because it's from our heart that we experience love, our reason for living. what better way for the enemy to take us down than to convince us our hearts are wicked. 

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) – "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

This verse emphasizes the importance of protecting our hearts, as they are the source of our thoughts, actions, and attitudes. The heart is seen as the wellspring of life, influencing everything we do, think, and feel. It’s a reminder to nurture and protect what we allow into our hearts, as it shapes the direction of our lives.

Our hearts are the wellspring of life because it's from our heart that we experience love, our reason for living. 

Knowing information about God gives us head knowledge. Experiencing God through wonder changes our hearts...and God said to love Him with all our hearts. 

  where through its wonders, God calls us back into a deep relationship with Him—a relationship that begins and grows in the hearts He’s made to long for Him. In order to love God with all our hearts,  Wonderland is a gift, inviting us to draw closer to Him, discover His goodness, and fall in love with Him with our whole heart.      

 This lens influences the very foundation of WHO we are and how we live because it shapes our identity, our choices, what we believe about the world, who we trust, and how we love.   

 
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." " John 10:10    In this verse, Jesus contrasts the destructive intentions of the enemy with His own purpose to bring abundant life to His followers.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."This verse reminds us that our battle is not with people, but against spiritual forces that seek to influence and oppose God’s work in the world. maybe seguay here into how he does this by attacking our hearts and move to that
God's desire for His children is abundant life. If we stay fixated on the why, we can miss the opportunities to encounter God's comfort, meaning, purpose, and healing. The invitation into wonder remains, even in the loss, the pain, the confusion, but again requires a shift from why to who. Who list a bunch of things here we see in nature WHO makes beauty from ashes, WHO crafter the seasons to move from winter to make all things new in spring, WHO shines llight in the darkness, etc...The awareness of God's presence, the comfort in WHO He is, and the confidence in WHO He says we are, can take our eyes from our circumstances to His promises, and begin to heal our hearts
Wonder invites us to marvel at God’s creation, to see His beauty, power, and love reflected in the world around us. It opens our hearts to experience the depth of God’s heart for us, leading us into deeper relationship with Him. But when the enemy steals, kills, or destroys our hearts, he dulls our sense of wonder, clouding our ability to see God’s hand in the world. Without wonder, we lose the ability to appreciate the beauty of creation and the profound love God has for us.  

Wonder plays a significant role in guarding our hearts because it helps keep us focused on the beauty and awe of God's creation and His presence. When we experience wonder, our hearts are drawn to something greater than ourselves—it stirs a sense of reverence, curiosity, and gratitude. This kind of wonder opens our hearts to God and His truth, reminding us of His greatness, love, and the purpose He has for us.

In a world that often tries to pull our hearts in many directions, wonder helps redirect our attention to the Creator. It inspires us to seek Him, marvel at His works, and recognize His hand in everything around us. When we embrace wonder, we allow our hearts to remain soft and receptive to God’s guidance, helping to guard against negativity or distractions that might lead us away from His truth.

So, wonder isn’t just an emotion—it’s a way of connecting with God, keeping our hearts focused on what’s pure, beautiful, and true. It’s an act of reverence that keeps our hearts aligned with His will and fills us with a sense of awe that strengthens our relationship with Him

 What if EVERYTHING in life really does flow from our heart?  (Proverbs 4:23) If everything else they do really does flow from it, how can we capture the hearts of our children in a world of constant distraction and deception?  
Why would our Creator use wonder to rescue the hearts of His children?Wonder is a universal language.  The wonders of creation are like a language from God to His children, speaking directly to our hearts. When we pause in awe of a flower, a mountain, or the vastness of the sky, our hearts are reminded of the Creator who designed it all with purpose and love. This connection between our hearts and God’s wonders helps guide us toward gratitude, worship, and a deeper understanding of who God is and who we are in relation to Him.
but we have to choose to pay attention to it.. put about focus here
This verse emphasizes the importance of protecting our hearts, as they are the source of our thoughts, actions, and attitudes. The heart is seen as the wellspring of life, influencing everything we do, think, and feel. It’s a reminder to nurture and protect what we allow into our hearts, as it shapes the direction of our lives.   

so many of the  things that keep us from seeking, trusting, and loving God  are a result of misbelieving who he really is.  

Good transition - One analogy we see that God designed with us in mind is the idea of seasons and flowers blooming. New Heart..Ezekia. The old dies, the new is born.  

section about obedience and if you love me you will keep my commandments

 Even more importantly believing that we are unworthy or inadequate in a way that keeps us from embracing God's love and grace is actually an offense to Jesus because it implies that His sacrifice on the cross was not enough to redeem us. It as though His work to make us whole, forgiven, and worthy wasn’t complete. When we hold onto these lies of unworthiness, we deny the power of His finished work.   

1. God calls us “redeemed”: While we may have been lost, through Christ we have been redeemed and are no longer slaves to sin (Ephesians 1:7). Our identity is rooted in the grace of God, not in our failures.
2. God calls us “worthy”: Through Christ's sacrifice, we are worthy to come before God with boldness, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of what He has done for us (Ephesians 3:12, Colossians 1:22).
3. God calls us “beloved”: God does not see us as unlovable. In fact, He calls us His beloved children, and nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:39, 1 John 3:1).
4. God calls us “royal priests”: Rather than insignificant, God sees us as His children and heirs to His kingdom. We are royal priests, part of His holy family, chosen to represent Him (1 Peter 2:9).
5. God calls us “forgiven”: Even when we fall short, God forgives us. Our sins are washed away, and we are cleansed by Christ's blood (1 John 1:9, Colossians 2:13-14).
6. God calls us “whole”: We are made whole in Christ (Colossians 2:10). While we may experience brokenness, God is the one who heals and restores us. Our past doesn't define us, but His love and forgiveness do.

When we believe these truths, we align our hearts and minds with God's heart for us. The lie that we are unworthy or broken is shattered when we embrace our true identity in Christ, who has redeemed and transformed us. God wants us to live confidently in His love, knowing that He created us with purpose and worth. Through humility, we acknowledge our dependence on God, but we must not allow false humility to hold us back from stepping into the fullness of who God says we are.

Somehow tie this to the wonder of salvation...

1. Whole Heart:
   
   • A "whole heart" typically refers to a heart that is undivided, complete, or fully devoted. It suggests integrity, sincerity, and wholehearted commitment. For example, loving God with a "whole heart" means loving Him with complete devotion, without distractions or divided loyalty.
   • Biblically, loving God with a "whole heart" often signifies a wholehearted devotion to Him, where our love and commitment are not partial or divided (e.g., Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37).

1. Full Heart:
   
   • A "full heart" generally refers to a heart overflowing with emotions, such as joy, gratitude, or love. It often conveys a sense of abundance, where the heart is filled to the brim with positive feelings or spiritual experiences.
   • For example, having a "full heart" might refer to the deep joy or contentment one feels after experiencing God's goodness or love, similar to when someone says, "My heart is full of gratitude." It can also suggest a heart that is full of God's presence and blessings.

In summary:

• Whole heart emphasizes integrity, devotion, and wholeness.
• Full heart emphasizes abundance, overflow, and emotional richness.

 When our hearts are in alignment with God's, we are free to live in the fullness of His love and His plan for our lives.  

Ezekial New Hearts...

Freedom from Condemnation in this section. 

 When we think of God as distant, angry, disappointed, unloving, or indifferent, they live in fear and condemnation.  Feeling unworthy of His love, they will either rebel or live a life of constant striving.  Either way, their heart grows hard and bitter over time,  

   If we view God as loving, good, and all-powerful, we begin to approach life with confidence and hope. But if our view of God is distorted, it can lead to fear, shame, or confusion.   
- "If Jesus came to set people free, why do I still live in sin, shame, condemnation, captivity, fill in the blank_____"  also, if God loves me so much, why did he allow.... 

The Steps to Freedom in Christ is a document/ministry John talked about that helps to identify steps of vulnerability

 From the very beginning, God created us to live a full, abundant life in relationship with Him.  This intention has never changed; God’s longing is still for us to live with hearts that are whole and full. However, the enemy seeks to disrupt this beautiful relationship by targeting our hearts, knowing that they are what God desires most. His primary goal is to steal, kill, and destroy our hearts, because
     In this verse, Jesus contrasts the destructive intentions of the enemy with His own purpose to bring abundant life to His followers.  

  “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3 This verse emphasizes the importance of adopting a childlike attitude, which involves humility, trust, and dependence on God.
John 1:1-5 :1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been mad. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

 Remedies for Finding Wonder

Richard Rohr's quote, "Wonder is the beginning of wisdom," emphasizes how the act of awe and curiosity is not just a pleasant emotional experience, but a profound gateway to deeper understanding and spiritual growth. Rohr, a Franciscan friar and spiritual writer, often reflects on the transformative power of wonder. His statement suggests that when we open ourselves to the mystery of the world and the divine, we begin to perceive things in a new way — not through the lens of control, rationalization, or certainty, but through one of openness and humility.

Wonder, in Rohr's view, invites us into a state of receptivity. It challenges the habitual human desire to know and understand everything, and instead, it asks us to sit in the mystery and be present to what we do not yet understand. When we approach life with a sense of wonder, we acknowledge that there is always more to know, more to experience, and more to encounter, not just about the world around us, but also about God and ourselves.

This quote also suggests that wonder serves as a kind of foundational spiritual practice. The reason wonder leads to wisdom is that it teaches us to let go of our need to control or have all the answers, creating space for God's presence to work in our hearts. Instead of seeing the world through the narrow and often cynical lens of "I already know this," wonder allows us to look at the same things with fresh eyes, a childlike gaze. In doing so, we begin to learn something deeper — about God, life, and how we fit into the grand story of creation.

Moreover, Rohr connects wonder to a deeper spiritual journey, encouraging us to see the world with open hearts and minds, fully engaged in the mystery of God's creation. By cultivating a sense of wonder, we are led into humility and openness. Wonder, in this sense, is not passive. It invites us to respond to the world with gratitude, with reverence, and with an awareness of the divine in all things. As we live in wonder, we also live in the presence of wisdom, because the recognition of mystery — both in the world and in our relationship with God — is what opens us up to the deeper truths that guide our lives.

In essence, Rohr’s quote invites us to embrace wonder not just as a fleeting emotion, but as a transformative force that leads to wisdom, spiritual depth, and a renewed sense of connection to God and the world around us. Wonder, when fully embraced, moves us beyond intellectual knowledge to a place of spiritual insight and awareness, where we are deeply attuned to the sacredness of life.

playfulness

If we fail to believe that God is playful, we may struggle to embrace the joy and freedom He intends for us in life. We might see Him as distant or stern, rather than as a loving Father who delights in our joy and creativity. This could lead to a more rigid, fearful approach to faith, missing the lightheartedness and wonder that God offers. Without recognizing His playfulness, we may also miss opportunities for spontaneous moments of connection with God, overlooking the beauty and joy He brings to everyday life. This could stifle our creativity, our ability to enjoy life's simple pleasures, and hinder a full understanding of the relational nature of God.