As we continue the Lazarus series at church, we just wrapped up Chapter 4 on hearing the Voice Of Love. I loved this chapter and so far, probably my favorite.
If you haven't read the Lazarus Life, by Stephen Smith I would highly recommend it! It is an easy read with a powerful message.
The question was posed yesterday. How does God speak to us? The message was simple, straight, and to the point.
1. God speaks through chance encounters. I believe that there are no such things as coincidences, but instead God-incidences. Times when things appear to happen by chance or luck, when really it is all in the master plan. If you are not paying attention you may miss them. Often times we look back in retrospec to realize the grasp of what happened. In our family, we call those moments 'mini miracles'. For a GREAT mini miracle story, check out a post in January of 08, called 'It's a Mini Miracle'. It is a great story about seeing how God works in the VERY small things of life.
2. God speaks to us through scripture. The times that I doubt and wonder what to do, are times that through His Word I am affirmed and given direction. Sometimes a verse will pop in my head or while reading scripture, it will 'jump' off the page. In those moments I KNOW that God is talking directly to me. In order to have God speak to you through scripture, you have to get in the Word. The most effective learning tool for me was to join a scripture based bible study. Not one that followed a book, but one that ONLY used the bible as the study. Books are good, but the absolute TRUTH is the BEST! Bible Study Fellowship was the vehicle that I used for 7 years, until I 'graduated'. I very intentionally and indepthly studied the entire Bible. It is an international organization with studies all around the world. If you click on the web site below, I bet you will find one in your neck of the woods! They also have an amazing children's program. I believe a lot of Madison's faith base came from being involved with BSF! Check it out! www.bsfinternational.org
3. Conversations with other people. Are you paying attention to the conversations you are having every day? There have been times when a friend or even a stranger says something to me that 'just sticks'. Just a few weeks ago when interviewing for an administration position, I was able to spend an incredible hour with a man of faith. Obviously, I am in a very prayerful time of my life as I seek direction on job opportunities and the growth of my Reveal business. I believe that I was meant to have an encounter with him that day. Although we never directly discussed my situation, it was one sentence that he said that reaffirmed the steadfast direction I am pursuing. He said, 'I believe that you are a very gifted person, who knows exactly what your gifts and talents are. I believe that you should embrace those gifts and continue to follow the path in which they are leading you down.' It was in that exact moment that I believe God used him to give me the affirmation I was seeking on the continue pursuit of Reveal. I was called back for a second interview, but I didn't get the job.
4. God speaks to us through circumstances. I believe EVERYTHING happens in life for a reason or a lesson to be learned. Because of our free will, we sometimes don't make the right decisions and those choices lead to results that are negative. We live in a imperfect world, negative things happen like floods, earthquakes, and diseases. Because Adam and Eve ate the apple, things are just messed up. Sometime we suffer as a result of things we have no control over. Other times we suffer as a direct result of a poor choice. No one is immune to suffering, it is part of the journey. But whatever the circumstance, there is always HOPE! Sometimes those lessons are good and sometimes those lessons are painful. But the ABSOLUTE end result will be INCREDIBLE! We just have to continue to walk this journey, enduring the detours and bumps, and gaining insight with the lessons learned along the way. God can lead us through ANYTHING! Had the failing economy not affected us through a recent job loss, I don't believe we would have grown in the incredible ways that we have over the last 2 months. Painful... absolutely! Enriching.... beyond words!
This is a prayer that I wrote that was used at our services yesterday. I hope that it blesses you.
I believe that I am a unique and extraordinary person, created by You my Heavenly Father.
I am created for a life filled with change as You mold, shape, and walk with me through this transformation.
Father forgive me for I know that I have filled my life with busyness, alienating myself from fully experiencing your love.
I have allowed self-rejection to fill my head and heart with the lies. I have sought and gained knowledge of You, yet I remain the same.
Help me to experience that nothing is more important than learning to love others and receive love in return.
Today, I ask that You take my knowledge of Your love and sink it deep into the depth of my heart. I no longer want to be sidelined from true transformation.
Silence my surroundings and thoughts, so I can only hear Your Voice.
Swell my heart with Your love as I accept the invitation to be my authentic self for You and for others.
For You are the one true Voice, who gives me unconditional love, a love that has no end.
Amen
Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by."
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. 1 Kings 19:11 - 12
When God spoke to Elijah, He wasn't in the hurricane, the wind, the earthquake or even the fire. He was in the gentle and quiet whisper.
Sometimes in order to see and hear God communicate with us, we must pray, watch, listen, observe, and truly be aware of His daily presence in our lives. How are you witnessing His workings and communication to you, TODAY? Many times it is in the subtle, quiet things of life.
If you haven't read the Lazarus Life, by Stephen Smith I would highly recommend it! It is an easy read with a powerful message.
The question was posed yesterday. How does God speak to us? The message was simple, straight, and to the point.
1. God speaks through chance encounters. I believe that there are no such things as coincidences, but instead God-incidences. Times when things appear to happen by chance or luck, when really it is all in the master plan. If you are not paying attention you may miss them. Often times we look back in retrospec to realize the grasp of what happened. In our family, we call those moments 'mini miracles'. For a GREAT mini miracle story, check out a post in January of 08, called 'It's a Mini Miracle'. It is a great story about seeing how God works in the VERY small things of life.
2. God speaks to us through scripture. The times that I doubt and wonder what to do, are times that through His Word I am affirmed and given direction. Sometimes a verse will pop in my head or while reading scripture, it will 'jump' off the page. In those moments I KNOW that God is talking directly to me. In order to have God speak to you through scripture, you have to get in the Word. The most effective learning tool for me was to join a scripture based bible study. Not one that followed a book, but one that ONLY used the bible as the study. Books are good, but the absolute TRUTH is the BEST! Bible Study Fellowship was the vehicle that I used for 7 years, until I 'graduated'. I very intentionally and indepthly studied the entire Bible. It is an international organization with studies all around the world. If you click on the web site below, I bet you will find one in your neck of the woods! They also have an amazing children's program. I believe a lot of Madison's faith base came from being involved with BSF! Check it out! www.bsfinternational.org
3. Conversations with other people. Are you paying attention to the conversations you are having every day? There have been times when a friend or even a stranger says something to me that 'just sticks'. Just a few weeks ago when interviewing for an administration position, I was able to spend an incredible hour with a man of faith. Obviously, I am in a very prayerful time of my life as I seek direction on job opportunities and the growth of my Reveal business. I believe that I was meant to have an encounter with him that day. Although we never directly discussed my situation, it was one sentence that he said that reaffirmed the steadfast direction I am pursuing. He said, 'I believe that you are a very gifted person, who knows exactly what your gifts and talents are. I believe that you should embrace those gifts and continue to follow the path in which they are leading you down.' It was in that exact moment that I believe God used him to give me the affirmation I was seeking on the continue pursuit of Reveal. I was called back for a second interview, but I didn't get the job.
4. God speaks to us through circumstances. I believe EVERYTHING happens in life for a reason or a lesson to be learned. Because of our free will, we sometimes don't make the right decisions and those choices lead to results that are negative. We live in a imperfect world, negative things happen like floods, earthquakes, and diseases. Because Adam and Eve ate the apple, things are just messed up. Sometime we suffer as a result of things we have no control over. Other times we suffer as a direct result of a poor choice. No one is immune to suffering, it is part of the journey. But whatever the circumstance, there is always HOPE! Sometimes those lessons are good and sometimes those lessons are painful. But the ABSOLUTE end result will be INCREDIBLE! We just have to continue to walk this journey, enduring the detours and bumps, and gaining insight with the lessons learned along the way. God can lead us through ANYTHING! Had the failing economy not affected us through a recent job loss, I don't believe we would have grown in the incredible ways that we have over the last 2 months. Painful... absolutely! Enriching.... beyond words!
This is a prayer that I wrote that was used at our services yesterday. I hope that it blesses you.
I believe that I am a unique and extraordinary person, created by You my Heavenly Father.
I am created for a life filled with change as You mold, shape, and walk with me through this transformation.
Father forgive me for I know that I have filled my life with busyness, alienating myself from fully experiencing your love.
I have allowed self-rejection to fill my head and heart with the lies. I have sought and gained knowledge of You, yet I remain the same.
Help me to experience that nothing is more important than learning to love others and receive love in return.
Today, I ask that You take my knowledge of Your love and sink it deep into the depth of my heart. I no longer want to be sidelined from true transformation.
Silence my surroundings and thoughts, so I can only hear Your Voice.
Swell my heart with Your love as I accept the invitation to be my authentic self for You and for others.
For You are the one true Voice, who gives me unconditional love, a love that has no end.
Amen
Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by."
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. 1 Kings 19:11 - 12
When God spoke to Elijah, He wasn't in the hurricane, the wind, the earthquake or even the fire. He was in the gentle and quiet whisper.
Sometimes in order to see and hear God communicate with us, we must pray, watch, listen, observe, and truly be aware of His daily presence in our lives. How are you witnessing His workings and communication to you, TODAY? Many times it is in the subtle, quiet things of life.
Shhhh....can you hear that?
Blessings.
Jill
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