Trust

Speak, Lord, We Are Listening

I have been consistently starting my day with a devotional, prayer, and quiet time like I talked about last week. It amazes me how, so much of the time, each devotional feels like it was written just for me. Do you experience this, too? I'm sure you do.

Isn't it SO awesome how God is able to speak to us? Even when we are dealing with things that no one else knows about, God knows. He cares about us and wants to help us through it.

God has used so many different things to speak to me throughout my life. I love how He is able to communicate with us even though we aren't able to audibly hear His voice. He uses the Bible, the tuggings and nudgings in our heart, and even that still, small voice we feel/hear within ourselves.

I know that I've heard from many people who say that they've never heard from God.

Be still.

Wait.

Listen.

Most likely, you will not hear an audible voice but pay attention to the things I listed above. I've even had what felt like bells or alarms ringing in my head as a "wake up and pay attention" kind of message.

I don't think God only speaks to certain "special" people. He speaks to us all. We just need to recognize that it is God speaking and trying to get our attention.

We also need to slow down and listen.

Sometimes, I am guilty of being busy and not hearing one of my kids when they are talking to me. I'm not ignoring them, I just truly don't hear them because I am thinking about other things and trying to rush around and accomplish my plans. They are talking but I just don't hear them.

It's the same thing with hearing God speak to us. He talks but we just don't hear Him because we are thinking about other things and trying to rush around and accomplish our plans.

I urge you to take time to listen. I know that it is hard in the world we live in today. There is not a lot of "quiet" time to be had but if nothing else, quiet your soul and think on the Lord. We don't need to be in actual quiet to hear Him.

Just be listening ...

God has SO much to tell us. He wants to help us through this crazy life. He WILL help us if we let Him.

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10

The Birth of Jesus

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Give Thanks ... His love endures forever

Psalm 136

 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. 
            His love endures forever. 
2 Give thanks to the God of gods. 
            His love endures forever. 
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords: 
            His love endures forever.
 4 to him who alone does great wonders, 
            His love endures forever. 
5 who by his understanding made the heavens, 
            His love endures forever. 
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, 
            His love endures forever. 
7 who made the great lights— 
            His love endures forever. 
8 the sun to govern the day, 
            His love endures forever. 
9 the moon and stars to govern the night; 
            His love endures forever.

 10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt 
            His love endures forever. 
11 and brought Israel out from among them 
            His love endures forever. 
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm; 
            His love endures forever.

 13 to him who divided the Red Sea[a] asunder 
            His love endures forever. 
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it, 
            His love endures forever. 
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea; 
            His love endures forever.

 16 to him who led his people through the wilderness; 
            His love endures forever.

 17 to him who struck down great kings, 
            His love endures forever. 
18 and killed mighty kings— 
            His love endures forever. 
19 Sihon king of the Amorites 
            His love endures forever. 
20 and Og king of Bashan— 
            His love endures forever. 
21 and gave their land as an inheritance, 
            His love endures forever. 
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel. 
            His love endures forever.

 23 He remembered us in our low estate 
            His love endures forever. 
24 and freed us from our enemies. 
            His love endures forever. 
25 He gives food to every creature. 
            His love endures forever.

 26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. 
            His love endures forever.

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What if you woke up this morning and had only the things you thanked God for yesterday?
                          - Max Lucado via Twitter
 

Everything You Do

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 NIV


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEqdDdvFXZ0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

What Does God Ask of You?

This passage really spoke to me this morning. Verses 12 and 13 especially stuck out to me. I don't know about you but I find myself trying to do too much. Even if I think it's a good thing or helping others, it doesn't necessarily mean I should do it. I felt like God was saying "Don't drive yourself so crazy. This is all I ask you to do, concentrate on this." Thank you, Lord, for Your word.

I hope this touches someone else today as well.

 12 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to observe the LORD’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?
 14 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. 15 Yet the LORD set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. 16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. 17 For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. 19 And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. 20 Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. 21 He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. 22 Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 NIV

A Good Reminder

So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up.Galatians 6:9