How do you see God today?

What is your impression of God?  When you think of our Father, does an image come to mind?

Many times our image of God is affected by our relationship with our earthy fathers.  For example, if they were cold and distant, we will see God that way. 

Because of my distant relationship with my own father I had trouble seeing my Heavenly Father at all.  My first year being saved, I talked to Jesus, He was easier for me to relate to simply because He is God, but also a man.  And that was one of the reasons he came.  To help us see God. 

But my heart desired to know God as my father, and I was challenged by this verse.

"Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."

"Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. " John 14:8-9 (NIV)

They are the same.  
If Jesus is loving and approachable, then God is as well.  When I began reading the bible with that revelation in mind, the Holy Spirit slowly replaced my wrong view of God the Father with the image closer to the one revealed in Scripture. 

Yet even today, some 30 years later, I am still blown away with how personal and loving He is. 

"The Lord your God is with you,

    the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

    but will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

Mighty Warrior who saves, yes I can see that clearly!  Even, He will take great delight in you I can grasp.

But rejoice over you with singing... that one stops me dead in my tracks.

I used to sing to my sons when they were small.  Little songs I wrote just for them.  That image comes to mind with this verse and I must admit... seeing God love me that way...  wow!

There is so much of Him I still need to learn, to get from my head to my heart.

How do you see God today?