Listen - Day Seventy-Four

"But when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd."  Matt 9:36 NKJV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  Matt 11:28-29 NIV

I have been challenged this month of March so far. The stress encompasses some part of my whole life. A bit a here, a bit more there and then some physical, mental, spiritual and emotional bits too. When I tried to introduce my problems, needs, character flaws to Jesus -- as my Jesus Calling devotional by Sarah Young suggests -- I felt enpowered by handing off these struggles to God, to Jesus, knowing He is in control. Unfortunately I got caught up in an unseen tornado. Not sure how either. I felt like Dorothy riding in the house watching parts of her life swirl and circle faster and faster until she landed in Oz. I was good and truly lost.

I am still lost.

But I know God loves me. I know if I can quiet my heart, my mind from the chaos of this world, this life, that I will HEAR His loving voice whispering encouragement. If I can tune out the anxiety and listen for His still small voice. I will hear the voice of my shepherd.

This year has been interesting thus far with My One Word: Listen. I have heard His voice and felt the surety of His direction. Fleeting. Too fleeting. Yet I know the fault is mine. I need to practice more.

And I know this isn't a test or contest or a race.

God loves me no matter what. I am His and He is mine.

I yearn for the time when I can see His face. I want to be home with Him.

But until that day comes, I will seek to be as close to Him as I can.

Join me?

Listen - Day Sixty

.....from my journal 02/18/2014

Lord, let me be senstive to your Blessed Spirit speaking to me, but protected from the world and the chaos of anxiety, troubles, the weight of it....

Child, that is where you go wrong--you separate from your heart--you harden your heart--to protect it from feeling the pain of those around you....and the devil wins when you separate from your heart! You see possible evil in those I want you to reach out to or help, instead of seeing possible Jesus. Put Jesus on each face you see, speak with, offer to pray for, help, all the time.  See my Son in them.  Feel their pain. Carry their burdens. It will be divided.  I am  with you!


....from another journal entry

Who am I?
I am the beloved child of God, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a co-worker.  I value the relationships in my life above my job, my possessions, my influence. My value is based on how well I believe I fulfill these life roles. If I fail at them, then I am a failure.  Even as the beloved of God -- I place requirements in action, in words, in deeds, laws, being.

Can I accept....can I accept that I am Beloved without any requirements at all? Can I accept that I am His and He is mine? Can I accept that Truth? Can I accept His free Grace and His Love for who I am?  Can I believe in Him and Believe Him?  I believe He died, He rose and He lives so that I may be saved and spend eternity in heaven with Him. I believe the gift is free. No strings attached.

How do I live like I believe it?

Listen - Day Forty Seven

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32 NIV

     This is the lesson I have been processing since last weekend.  I want to live in the Promised Land.  Free.  Free to be the me God created, Jesus saved, and the Blessed Spirit guides. This scripture verse says the TRUTH will set you free. 

     And what is the truth? 

     Jesus said... I am the way, the truth and the life. John 14:6 NIV  

     So Jesus is truth.  And the truth (Jesus!) will set you free. And I want to be free.  My conclusion. My grand summation after journaling and reading scriptures and going over my notes from last weekend is...Jesus is the way into the Promised Land of freedom. Simply put: I just want to love Jesus. I just want to follow Him. So I have been praying, then listening. Listening with my ears, and my heart, and my spirit. 

     Jesus wants me to love. "A new command I give you: love one another."

     I have been trying to be more loving, to more people. Love them like I think Jesus would love them.

     To do that I had to surrender myself to Him.

     Oh this is not easy ....not easy at all.

     But I can tell you in the last few days, I have felt this sense of freedom welling up in me as I followed the Blessed Spirit's promptings to send prayers, to ask about a person's day, to cookie brownies, to be present and go and do when what I wanted was a nap, to be selfish.  Yet I pressed on with the Spirit's help and was a freer me. I can't explain it, but even though there was more required of me, there was more of Jesus to share. 

     I won't ever get this completely right. I know that. I hope to make Jesus smile though. But listening is key and it is still my One Word for this year. Follow Jesus with me into the grandest adventure we could ever have. Please! Blessings to all.

Listen - Day Forty - IF: Gathering

.......this weekend I was privileged to be one of the many women who were streaming the simulcast from Austin, Texas, the IF:Gathering.  Powerful. Obedient.  The women who formed this idea, this dream into a live event.  Their obedience is powerful. Their enthusiam and love for Jesus was evident from the prayers they each offered at the beginning to the unity they exhibited at the end.  
     Yes, I heard a number of women speak.   I can't name them all but I give them credit for this blog entry. Jennie Allen, Angie Smith, Christine Caine, Jen Hatmaker, Ann Voskamp, Rebekah Lyons, Shelley Giglio, Tara Jenkins....and more....
     I also heard God calling me to receive their message. I listened. So many women today give and give and give, without ever taking the time to refresh and renew ourselves.  The giving isn't bad, it's just that our race is a marathon and we women need to learn to pace ourselves. We need time to BE WITH JESUS. In His word, in His presence, in the time we set aside to be still and know that He is God...we can be renewed. 
     So, hands opened to receive, heart opened to receive, I listened. I leaned in and surrendered to His ministering.  I heard that "Jesus is better" than anything we can think of.  Of course I knew that but say this aloud: Jesus is better than the most perfect spouse we can imagine. Jesus is better than that house in that neighborhood that we covet. Jesus is better than your dream job, or your dream portfolio, or your retirement travel plans.  So why do we spend our time and energy working to get the one, when The One is better?
     I also heard about Wild Grace. Don't you love that term?
     And "keeping my eyes above the waves" and walking on water.
       These are just the notes the first hour!
     So what did God want me to hear?  That I tuned my spiritual ears to listen for His Sweet Spirit in me to point out? 
     "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Gal 5:1 NIV) It's time for me to cross from the desert wilderness into the freedom of the Promised Land. Thank you Christine Caine for that message!
     So, I will be listening eagerly(I am addicted to my morning listening time now) to hear what direction God, Jesus and the Blessed Spirit have for me.  Blessings to you.

Listen - Day Thirty

      I'd like to continue with the How to Listen to God from John E Batterson. On Day Nineteen I shared how he starts by telling truths about God. He ended that list with number 9... Anyone can be in touch with God, anywhere and at any time, if the conditions are obeyed. 
    The conditions are: to be quiet and still, to listen, to be honest about every thought that comes, to test the thoughts to be sure that they come from God, to obey.
     During the past 10 days I have been trying this out, practicing a bit on a small scale, similar to what I have written before. Getting quiet and trying to quiet my thoughts, my body, my mind and listen for the Holy Spirit, for God, for Jesus. 
     I am amazed....and not sure why...but utterly thankful at how personal God is. He always responds to an honest seeker.  Take this for what it's worth to you. To me...it's everything.  I sat with pen in hand and open journal, and a alarm clock set for 10 minutes.  Why you ask?  Jesus Calling author Sarah Young listened for God this way. That day I wrote: Henri Nouwen, my own God Speaking journal, Brighter than sun, Glory of Lord, I am who I am.
     I started rereading Spiritual Direction by Henri Nouwen, I also started rereading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert--- she used a God speaking journal to talk to and listen to God. Our pastor preached a sermon on "I am who I am" saying God always has been and always will be, God is eternal. And I watched a Beth Moore lesson on James yesterday where she talks about the Shekinah of God, the Glory of God is Jesus, brighter than sun.
     How cool is that? 
     I am underlining and taking notes as I read these books and study scripture. At the heart, at my heart, I want Jesus. He knows that!     
     God is listening to me, and I am listening to God. And it is so personal to me. Try listening yourself. Get quiet and open yourself up--open your heart, your mind, your ears, your spirit to the Holy Spirit who lives within us all. Blessings!    

Listen - Twenty

“In solitude and silent communion with God in prayer, I have to kneel before the Father, just as the prodigal son did upon his return, and put my ear against his chest and listen, without interruption, to the heartbeat of God."       

"If we take the time to be still, we will be led to an  inner  place, a place within us where God has chosen to dwell, a place where we are held safe in the embrace of the all-loving One who calls us by name.” 

     Both quotes are taken from Henri Nouwen's book  Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith

     Thought provoking, yes?
     That image….myself kneeling beside a seated God with my head pressed to his chest….listening.  Me seated at His feet, listening.  Me propped up in bed, eyes closed, clearing my thoughts initially and then just breathing in Jesus and breathing out Jesus…..listening.  
     And being led inside our heart to the place where the Blessed Spirit lives. To sit and  have a cup of tea and a friendly conversation about our day, our life and his desires for the life he has gifted us with.
     Thought provoking, yes? What we can learn from listening to God.  

Listen - Nineteen

.....I have mentioned that when my calendar reminder pops up with the word Listen, I try to stop and read my scripture verses, but sometimes I do a internet search. This time I searched "How to Listen to God" and got the best write up I have ever read. Absolutely. It is from John E. Batterson and written in the 1930's. This man's claim to fame, besides this wonderful How to, is being a personal friend of Dr. Bob, the co-founder of A.A.! 

   I love how he starts, by listing fundamental points about God

    1. God is alive. He always has been and He always will be.
    2. God knows everything.
    3. God can do anything.
    4. God can be everywhere - all at the same time.
    5. God is invisible, but GOD IS HERE.  He is with you now, He is beside you. He surrounds you. He is in you right now. He is in your heart.
    6. God cares very much for you. He is interested in you. He has a plan for your life. He has an answer for every need and problem you face.
    7. God will tell you all you need to know. He will not always tell you all that you want to know.
    8. God will help you do anything that He asks you to do.
    9. Anyone can be in touch with God, anywhere and at any time, if the conditions are obeyed.

    Just read those again. I mean I know this stuff, but I never thought to use it as a beginning, an intro into my time of prayer and dialogue with God. Yet, why not? It re-establishes quite firmly and truthfully who God is.  He can reach me, teach me, and guide me, as long as I am willing to: "Be still and quiet, to listen, to be honest about every thought that comes, to test the thoughts to make sure they come from God, and to obey",  also from John E. Batterson.
    There is more, but this is a good start for today. Basic fundamental truths about God and an attitude of heart, mind and body that we must assume in order to listen well and hear. More to come. Blessings!