Listening to a Present Day Giant of the Faith

It's good to listen to people who have made a huge difference for Christ. Moishe Rosen is one of those people. He founded Jews for Jesus, a ministry that exists to make the Messiahship of Jesus an unavoidable issue to our Jewish people worldwide. I've been receiving the Jews for Jesus newsletter for years and enjoy it very much. A lot of times the newsletter includes what they call "Moishe's Musings." This month the title caught my interest right away. After I read it I felt led to share it with you. It's titled, "A Capsule Lesson On Witnessing."



I Peter 3:15 provides an ideal pattern for witnessing: " . . . sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."



1. Sanctify or hallow God within your heart. This reminds us that a good witness come from a right heart relationship with God.



2. Be ready. The opportunities to bear witness are according to God's schedule, not ours. They can come at any time, anywhere, in any situation.

3. Give an answer. You can't answer something that has not been asked. Ideally, witnessing comes as a response to a question or problem that God wants to answer.

4. The hope that is in us: we witness based on a reasonable hope, "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1b). That hope cannot be our wishful thinking, but must be based on the promises of God in Scripture. It is an inside hope, not an outside chance.

5. The attitude of the witness must be with meekness and fear. This refers to a dual approach--humility toward the person to whom we tell the Good News, and reverence toward the God of whom we tell.

I hope you enjoyed hearing Moishe's lesson from God's word. HAPPY WITNESSING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Listen for His Thunder

At this my heart pounds

and leaps from its place.

Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,

to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven

and sends it to the ends of the earth.

After that comes the sound of his roar;

he thunders with his majestic voice.

When his voice resounds,

he holds nothing back.

God's voice thunders in marvelous ways;

he does great things beyond our understanding.

JOB 37:1-5

Listening to the roar of his voice thrills my heart. He continually does great things beyond my understanding. The biggest is that salvation belongs to him. With his blood he purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. God has made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on earth (Revelation 5:9-10).

As 2007 comes to a close, it's exciting to think about the future we have in God. Let's watch his marvelous ways together in 2008 and keep our minds on things above. While remaining heavenly minded, let's be of earthly good at the same time, serving our God honorably.

ONLY THE BEST TO YOU AND YOURS IN 2008! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

"While they were there, the days were completed

for her to give birth to her firstborn son;

and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger,

because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:6-7).

The unnamed innkeeper must have been a can do kind of person. He figured out a way to put up a couple in desperate need of shelter, even though his business had a "no vacancy" sign outside the door. His simple act of kindness set the stage for the most wonderful reality of Christmas--that the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world would be born in a manger. A mysterious foreshadow of his purpose for coming to earth. In 33 short years he would again be laid in a box made of rock and wrapped in strips of cloth.

How can we follow the innkeepers lead and make room in our hearts for the king of the universe? While reading 1 Timothy 1 I found two simple ways to help us open our hearts and allow God to work through us in verse 19:

1. Cling tightly to your faith in Christ. When we cling to faith in Christ we cling to truth. We can refute Satan's lies. These are just a few of the lies our enemy tells us:

• If you obey God, you'll be miserable.
• The abundant life is trouble-free.
• Unbelievers don't want to hear the gospel.
• You couldn't help yourself . . . the temptation was too great.
• If you fail, you're a failure.
• You are what others think of you.
• God can't use you.
• You can't obey God.
• If you do certain things, God will be pleased with you, and you will earn his affection.*

Faith in Christ will release you from the lies Satan constantly spews out to bind us. The sad reality is that these untruths are often delivered through those most important to us. When the lies are cleared away, we leave room for Jesus to teach us how to live in freedom. For Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

2. Always keep your conscience clear. Too many times, a regular time of confession is forgotten. I know because it happens to me. When I feel an uneasiness in my spirit, I then realize I had not taken the time to pray and ask God to cleanse me of my mistakes and fill me with his Holy Spirit.

Two of the most effective cleansing Scriptures I know of are found in Psalm 139:23-24 and 1 John 1:9-10

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives" (1 John 1:9-10).

Let us make room in our hearts for Jesus every day by clinging to him and keeping our consciences clean. Have a very Merry Christmas!!

*list taken from The Search for Significance: Seeing Your True Worth Through God's Eyes, by Robert S. McGee.

What is my purpose for living?

I read about Paul's purpose this morning. He wrote the following to the church in Colosse:

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart

and united in love, so that they may have the full riches

of complete understanding, in order that they may know the

mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the

treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Colossians 2:2-3

Could my purpose be the same as Paul's? If so, who is my "they?" Is it my fellow church members? My family? Orphans in Peru? Muslims in W. Africa? Do I have enough "complete understanding" to share Jesus?

Because I know how much I need encouragement and love, I figure most everyone I meet needs a hefty dose. I can start serving it up right at home. As soon as I wake up, I have a husband, a son, and two daughters to love on and tell how special they are to God--so special Jesus died for them.

How can "they" know Jesus unless I share what little I know about him? I doubt there is time for me to gain the knowledge I think I need before starting to share, either. The mystery was revealed over 2000 years ago when Jesus died on the cross. Time is running out!

So for now, I will continue to dig for the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge during my time spent alone with Jesus studying his word. I will ask Jesus to fill my heart with his indescribable love and take the encouragement his promises deliver and give all that I gather to "them," that is whoever crosses my path. This is my purpose for living.

Keep Your Sword Sharp.

To stay focused on the fundamentals requires keeping our swords sharp. At salvation we are issued a two edged sword, we are granted ears that can hear his word, for it is written:

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power-

making it active, operative, energizing and effective;

it is sharper that any two-edged sword, penetrating to

the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal]

spirit, and of joints and marrow [that is, the deepest parts of our nature]

exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very

thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12AMP

God's living word will activate and energize our lives when we spend time with him listening. Listening keeps our swords sharp. While there we can praise him for equipping us with his two-edged sword. Daily Meditation on his word combined with praise of our almighty God makes for powerfully effective days. We can ward off our enemies successfully.

And while spending time alone with him, his word exposes where we are in error, sifting, analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of our hearts. We can then confess and asked to be filled with his Holy Spirit. Cleansed and filled children of God change the world in miraculous ways. The ripple effect spans the globe. Let's remain accountable to each other to keep our swords sharp, shiny and by our side. The world needs to hear the magnificent word that God speaks.

Fundamentals

I once read a memorable story about Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers. He was a fanatic about fundamentals. One time when his championship team lost to an inferior squad, he called a practice early the next morning. The team had no idea what to expect from the man they feared the most. With gritted teeth, staring holes into each athlete, Lombardi began the meeting with: “Ok, we go back to the basics this morning . . . .” Holding a football high enough for every one to see, he continued to yell: “. . . gentlemen, this is a football!”

In our Christian life, we lose to an inferior squad every now and then. Satan and his team can get the best of us at times. During those losing days, we may need to get back to the basics: Keeping our eye on Jesus, our Master Coach and keeping our hands on the ball. Our football is the Holy Bible. I’m not a yelling football coach, but if you could see me now, I’d hold my Bible high and say, “Christians, let’s stay focused on the basics of our game—the Holy Bible at all times.”

May God grant us Victory in Jesus more and more each day.

A P.S. for Today's Entry

After I wrote today's blog I ran across a quote (in my personal journal) that confirms today's entry. I felt I should share it with you. Enjoy!

When we live life centered around

what others like, feel, and say, we lose touch with our

own identity. I am an eternal being, created by God.

I am an individual with purpose. It's not only what

I get from life, but who I am, that makes the difference.

Neva Coyle

Prayer for Confidence in One's Identity in Christ

This week I am asking God to give you confidence in your identity in Christ. Many Christians are in an identity crisis. Our human nature causes us to be driven by a desire for approval. I pray you will seek to derive security from Christ alone.

People-pleasing makes me think of Paul’s questions in Galatians 1:10: “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

O Dear Jesus, our Rock and Salvation,

I lift up the precious readers of this blog to you in prayer. May their souls find rest in God alone; their salvation comes from you. You alone are their rock and salvation; you are their fortress, they will never be shaken. May each one find rest in God alone; their hope comes from you, dear Lord. Their salvation and honor depend on God, no one else. You, God, are their mighty rock and refuge. May they trust in you at all times, pour out their hearts to you for you are their refuge (From Psalm 62:1, 2, 5-8).

Remind them that they have been selected (Ephesians 1:4), saved (Ephesians 1:7-9), sealed (Ephesians 1:13), seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:6), are secure (Ephesians 2:19), and strong (Ephesians 3:16).

In the powerful name of Jesus Christ I pray all these things. Amen.

Worshipping a Worthy God

One of the hindrances of true worship is attempting to double up in service to make up for quality time spent in prayer and praise. Sadly, this problem prevails in most churches today. Our sovereign God knows that the opposite—placing worship as our top priority, describes his best for us. He has told us so through the familiar story of two sisters—Mary and
Martha.

According to the gospels, Jesus visited Mary and Martha’s home on a regular basis. On one occasion, Martha was running around frantically trying to serve everyone while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet hanging on his every word. Finally, Martha became so overwhelmed that she went to Jesus and complained. She asked Jesus to make Mary come and help her, but Jesus’ reply to Martha’s complaint was, “Mary has chosen what is better” (Luke 10:42).


God considers worship seeking him. Mary chose to seek the face of Jesus. To God, the act of seeking him far outweighs non-stop service. The Hebrew word for seek is baqash. It means to search out by any method, specifically in worship and prayer, to strive after, ask, beg, beseech, desire and enquire. Let’s pray for each other that we will strive after our Lord and take time out of every day to sit at his feet and enquire of him.

(Definition found in the Hebrew Dictionary in the Strong’s Complete Word Study Concordance, Expanded Edition, James Strong, LL.D., S.T.D., Editor Warren Baker)

Spiritual Disciplines

A good conscience is a tender conscience. The consciences of the godless may be so calloused that they scarcely ever act at all; but the healthy Christian conscience is constantly in operation, listening for God's voice in his word, seeking to discern his will in everything, active in self-watch and self-judgment. The healthy Christian knows his frailty and always suspects and distrusts himself, lest sin and Satan should be ensnaring him unawares; therefore he regularly grills himself before God, scrutinizing his deeds and motives and ruthlessly condemning himself when he finds within himself moral deficiency and dishonesty.

The healthy Christian has a sense of God's presence stamped deep on his soul, trembles at it, and tests and reforms his life daily in response to it. We can begin to assess our real estate in God's sight by asking ourselves how much exercise of conscience along these lines goes into our own daily living.

J. I. PACKER

Dear Lord,

Please teach me how to be a healthy Christian. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24). Forgive me of my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Fill me with your Holy Spirit so I can follow where you lead and serve the way you want me to serve. In the powerful and precious name of Jesus Christ I pray all these things. Amen

Time Alone With Jesus

My church has a prayer ministry that I'm a part of called Bridge the Gap. Church members make up a team that pray for our church 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In our intercessor update for October/November there is a section on how to pray for your pastor and church staff. There are seven great prayers that really apply to any of us that belong to Jesus.

I have decided to customize them and pray each one of the suggested prayer requests for you, too. Each week will find Scripture that goes along with each request. For this week I’m praying over your solitude and personal prayer lives. I love this first week because it is the theme of my ministry-The Listening Heart.

I pray you and I won't ever allow the pressures of everyday life to replace crucial one-on-one time with God.

Dear Lord,

Please inspire myself and each reader of this blog to give ear and come to you, hear you that their souls may live (from Isaiah 55:3).

Like Jacob did near the ford of the Jabbok, I pray that each one of us will get alone with you to wrestle out our issues and daily challenges (from Genesis 32:24).

That we would listen expectantly, waiting in silence for God’s counsel (from Job 29:21).

That we would be still, and know that you are God; You will be exalted among our churches and the nations, You will be exalted in the earth (from Psalm 46:10).

In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ and in fellowship with the Holy Spirit I pray all these things. Amen.

Have some awesome one-on-one time and a blessed week. :) :)

Setting Our Hearts

"For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord,

and to practice it . . ."

Ezra 7:10NASB

If only Ezra was available to ask questions like, "How do you set your heart to study the law of the Lord? How do you go about practicing it? What do your daily disciplines entail?"

As I write and talk about The Listening Heart, I would love to have Ezra's insight because setting your heart on Bible Study represents part of a Listening Heart's life. When you love God with all your mind you keep it busy in God's word. I am praying as I write this blog and at this very moment the Lord has impressed upon my heart that you and I have something better than an interview with Ezra. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us, we have the mind of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:6-16).

I believe God will do for us what he did for Ezra. If we feed our desire to know God better, he will put a flame in our hearts set on studying his word and strengthen us to obey it. For God's word promises:

"He wakens me morning by morning,

wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears,

and I have not been rebellious;

I have not drawn back.

Isaiah 50:4-5

This promise is open to all of God's children. If it has come true in my life, I am convinced it will come true in yours, if it hasn't already. All we have to do is ask him to awaken a teachable mind and heart in us.

"Do you not know?

Have you not heard?"

Isaiah 40:21

Choices

Choices can change our lives profoundly.

The choice to mend a broken relationship,

to say "yes" to a difficult assignment, to lay aside

some important work to play with a child, to visit

some forgotten person--these small choices may

affect our live eternally.

Gloria Gaither

I have found that the most important choice I have to make every single day is whether or not I will answer God's invitation to come and spend time with him in his precious word. For he says:

Come, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Give ear and come to me;

hear me, that your soul may live.

Isaiah 55:1 & 3

These verses have become the theme to my life and ministry. It hasn’t always been easy to answer his invitation, but over the years the habit of spending part of my day with God has not only become an absolute necessity, but the most enjoyable part of my day—I can’t go a day without retreating to pray and reading God’s love letter written to me and you, the Holy Bible.

As I share about the life of a Listening Heart, I hear many of your struggles in the area of spending time alone with God in prayer and Bible study. Most of you desire help. I know the challenges of taking time every day for God. All of us are busy and it’s easy to become over committed. We have spouses, children, jobs, church, and aging parents vying for our time. We also have opposition, fighting against long “to do” lists, illness, and our enemy, who works hard at stealing our day. Our hamster-wheel days make us feel like we have no time to sit still. Satan does his best to block us from finding the abundant life found when spending time alone with God.

With 24 hours in a day, 365 days in a year we all have 8,760 hours to do with as we see fit. But the final answer is--the choice is ours. God gave us free will to spend our day on what we choose. I'm grateful to God that he made me curious enough to want to know what this soul living that he promises in Isaiah 55 is all about. And like Gloria said, it's those small choices that affect our lives eternally.

Always Listen.

Need Reviving?

With my mom’s recent hospital stay and many other daily challenges, I am physically, spiritually, and emotionally exhausted. I know you, too, face many challenges each day. Each of our cups is full. That said, the Holy Spirit led me to pray Romans 12:9-21 over myself and you as my reader. I am asking God to especially renew, revive, and blow his life into our spiritual fervor.

Dear Jesus,

May our love remain sincere. We want to hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Help us to be devoted to one another in brotherly love. To honor one another above ourselves. That we would never be lacking in zeal, but keep our spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Always be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. May we continually share with God’s people who are in need and practice hospitality.

Help us to bless those who persecute us; bless and not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Crush our pride and help us to be willing to associate with people of low position, not being conceited.

You tell us not to repay anyone evil for evil and to be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on us, live at peace with everyone. We should never take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give
him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap
burning coals on his head.”

By your power may we not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
( from Romans 12:9-21)

O, Jesus, in the power of your word and in your precious name we ask all of these things. Amen.

Have You Heard About God's Celebration over YOU?

"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills will burst into song before you

and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

Isaiah 55:12

While celebrating our 25th anniversary my mom went into the hospital, thinking she had possibly had a stroke. My sister chose not to call me until the next morning. My going out in joy came to a halt, or so I thought. My sister's son (my precious nephew) was getting married that Saturday night. My mom, Nanny to most, had to miss her second grandchild's wedding. When it rains it pours, as the old saying goes.

My mom lost vision in her right eye. The hospital tested her all weekend for stroke, but all the tests came up negative. By Monday, frustrated by no answers and an encounter with a difficult-to-deal-with nurse, I insisted we get her to the eye doctor. He quickly informed us she had a stroke in her eye, which resulted in permanent blindness. To top it off, she was scheduled to have cataract surgery on her eye not affected by the stroke the next week. For now, she is three-fourths of the way blind.

Being in the hospital can be described as a waiting game. But as we waited and friends visited, God's joy and peace permeated the room. We laughed and joked. During a visit from the Hospital Chaplain, my mom smiled and told him, "Well, I know I'm going to heaven. The Lord's taking me one piece at a time." We all laughed some more. For God's children, when stress hits its highest level, the Lord steps in. He causes us to go out in joy and be led forth in peace, no matter the circumstances.

I love you, Lord, with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. Thank you that weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

Do you want to know the way?

This morning God spoke to my heart through Psalm 5:8

"Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness
because of mine enemies;
make thy way straight before my face."

A desire for God to lead me and go His straight way immediately welled up in my heart. He directed my prayers. I asked him to lead not only my daily activities, but also my praise and prayers, my thoughts, and my emotions.

I can't wait to see what the day holds. My husband and I are finally celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary with an evening on the town and a stay in a resort for the night. We have so much to thank God for. After a stressful time of waiting, my health has returned and my husband got his permanent position back at Coca-Cola (where he has worked for over 17 years).

Praise God. He is Jehovah Jireh, the Lord who provides.

Always Listen, Susan

Does God Live with You?

During my daily reading I ran across one of those verses that caused me to stop and think:

"I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite
and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly (humble) and to
revive the heart of the contrite" (Isaiah 57:15).

Does God live with me? Am I one who is contrite and lowly in spirit? I had to look up the original Hebrew and do some investigating to find out: Daka (contrite) means to crush, literally into powder. Figuratively it means to be contrite, which is someone who is feeling regret and sorrow for one's sins or offenses; penitent. Shaphal (lowly in spirit) means depressed (literal or figurative), base, humble, lowly.

Am I truly crushed over my sins, humble before the high and Holy One? I have to admit sometimes I get complacent over my position as a saved and forgiven child of God. When God catches me in my complacency like he did when I came across this verse, I do get depressed, literally and figuratively.

O Lord, I so want you to live with me while I'm here on earth struggling with the ins and outs of daily living. I need you desperately. When I think of all you did for me on the cross of Calvary I am overwhelmed with sorrow. How can I ever thank you enough for staying close to me and saving me (Psalm 34:18)? Just thinking about you as my Rescuer, my Savior, and my Lord revives my spirit and my heart, just like you promise in Isaiah 57:15 above. Thank you for being the ultimate Promise-keeper. I love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.

The Seventh Thing to do for Jesus

7. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17NIV).

Thinking about all that we do in the grand name of Jesus causes us to ask some questions about how we spend our day. How can I do my job or serve my family in the name of Jesus? Is there a way my recreation can be done in Jesus’ honor? Analysis of our daily actions and a regular check on our priorities will go a long way in helping us obey. Personally, I have a hard time wrapping my brain around this one—whatever—do all. Does this mean we even do our dishes in the name of the Lord?

One of the most wonderful things about Jesus can be found in the fact that while attempting to serve him by doing these seven perfect things, he provides the strength we need to do them. In God’s amazing grace, he continually turns the blessings back on us. Simple, consistent obedience on our part delivers satisfaction beyond our wildest imagination. Let’s work together doing perfect things for a perfect God.

I hope you have enjoyed this seven-part article. Colossians sure has inspired me. I have another idea brewing that I will share with you soon. Always Listen, Susan

Number Six

6. “. . . and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16NIV).

I’m not a singer, but I love to pray the words of hymns. And haven’t we all experienced comfort in troubled times while reading, praying and singing Psalms? Our contemporary spiritual songs have a lot of repetition. Some of us may not like singing the same thing over and over. Most of the time, I don’t mind repeating choruses, but recently, while studying the book of Revelation, God corrected my thinking on the matter.

In chapter four of Revelation, John describes four living creatures who surround the throne. He wrote:

“Day and night they never stop saying:
Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come”
(Revelation 4:8NIV).

Imagine that! Day and night the same chorus. Apparently, singing is a huge part of heaven. I get the feeling it would be a good idea for us to start practicing down here to get ready for our arrival.

Thing No. Five

5. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. . . ” (Colossians 3:16NIV).

We are able to let God’s word live in us if we remain faithful to our Bibles. Making a goal to spend time in God’s word daily brings a richness to our spiritual lives that Paul wrote about here. All of us are challenged with the discipline of daily study. Having an accountability partner, who will ask regularly about our study, helps us meet that challenge. Whatever it takes for us to keep our appointment with God is worth it. The rewards are innumerable.

The Fourth Thing to Do For Jesus

4. “And be thankful” (Colossians 3:15NIV).

Sometimes we erroneously think we have to be thankful for every good and bad thing that comes our way, but this is not true. God is not asking us to be thankful that our dog died or that our daughter wrecked her car, he is asking us to be thankful in all circumstances. No matter what happens to us, we can find something to be thankful for, the biggest being our salvation.

According to a recent article[1] I read, new scientific studies have proven that an attitude of gratitude benefits our well-being in many ways. To name a few, we have more joy, more energy, are more optimistic, and have fewer illnesses. With God, this is not new science at all. He has always known that when his people fill their hearts with gratitude, their souls are restored and lifted to a higher level. I’m reminded of an old song that cheers my heart: “Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count your blessings see what God hath done. . .”

[1] Deborah Norville, How the New Science of Thank You Can Change Your Life (Reader’s Digest, October 2007), 147-151.

Thing No. Three

3. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace” (Colossians 3:15NIV).

Like forgiving others, letting the peace of Christ rule in our hearts is easier said than done, but not impossible. Doing so calls for a conscious decision to guard our hearts. According to Ephesians 6:16, protecting our hearts requires us to hold up our shield of faith, with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

If our arms feel weak, we can follow the example of the disciples and ask Jesus to increase our faith. Growing faith strengthens spiritual muscle and causes us to stand firm. This allows God’s peace to permeate not only our hearts, but our minds also.

Thing No. Two

2. “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossian 3:13NIV).

How do we forgive as the Lord forgave us? Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, God has forgiven us completely of all sins, past, present and future. As Paul reminded us in verse 12 above, this makes us chosen, set apart, and loved. These graces bestowed upon us bring a solemn responsibility to forgive others.


As we forgive, it’s important to remember that forgiveness does not condone the offender’s bad behavior, but brings healing and restoration to the one harmed by evil and hurtful actions. Forgiveness is a strange gift that can only be opened by giving it away.

Seven Perfect Things To Do For Jesus

We are studying the book of Colossians in my Sunday School class. As I prepare to teach my lessons I am inspired to write about them. The first one I want to share with you is on Colossians 3:12-17 I found seven perfect things we can do for Jesus there. I want to share one "thing" a day with you until we are done. Here we go:

The moment we belong to Jesus, the Holy Spirit sparks a desire in us to serve him in some way. We often struggle, however, knowing exactly what we should do. I know I did. I started out by saying “yes” to every opportunity that came my way and, boy, did I get tired and discouraged.

We tend to complicate things. Jesus simplifies them. When asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent” (John 6:28-29NIV). Did you notice how he changed works to work? Can our work really be that simple?

Jesus gives us numerous ways to show we believe in him—following Paul’s teachings represents but one. Tucked away in the book of Colossians, six jam-packed verses provide good reason to believe in Jesus and can keep us busy for the rest of our lives. And to think, we have the whole Bible!

Colossians 3:12-17 gives us seven perfectly simple things we can do, day in and day out, that are guaranteed to put a smile on our Savior’s face.

1. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. . . And over all these put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12 & 14NIV).

As God’s chosen people we are all dressed up and have plenty of places to go. Anywhere we go clothed in the attributes of Jesus will make a huge difference in the lives of others. Who around us needs compassion? Kindness? Humility? Gentleness? Patience? Love?


If we take the time to notice, people who need a lift are all around us. How about writing a note to an employee’s supervisor who provided that rare commodity, excellent customer service? Or hugging that hard to love family member? Our possibilities here are endless.

As we go about our day dressed in our Jesus clothes, blessing others, we can rest assured that God will bless us in return for he said, “Blessed is he who stays awake and keep his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed” (Revelation 16:15NIV). Don’t leave home without garments of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and love.

Are You Blessed?

"Jesus replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it' " (Luke 11:28).

The Greek word for blessed is makarios which means supremely blessed; fortunate, well off-blessed, happy.

Oh Lord, am I truly listening to your magnificent voice when I read your word? Am I obeying the instructions I find there? You often speak a verse straight to my heart. I so desire to follow where you guide. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. So I'm holding on to your promise that your amazing grace is sufficient for me, for your power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). In the powerful name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Why be accountable?

Why should we have to answer to other people? Why is depending only on the television for church not o.k.? The answer to these questions is clearly laid out in Hebrews 3:

So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul.
Hebrews 3:12-14 The Message

Do you have someone to keep you on your toes when it comes to spiritual things? I pray you do. Even though we may think we can stay on track without the help of someone to be accountable to, most of the time, regular time alone with God in the word doesn't happen by accident. Discipline is tough and there are lots of things tugging at us, diverting us from the living God. If you haven't done so already, ask God to lead you to a partner who can encourage you to stay on your toes. You can do the same for them. The results are amazing. I know. I have experienced them for myself.

Still Pondering Paul's Prayer for the Colossians

As I completed my study on Revelation this week, the Holy Spirit kept bringing to mind patient endurance. Great endurance and patience is part of the prayer for the Colossians. Paul asked for God to strengthen them with all power according to his glorious might so that they may have great endurance and patience. I followed Paul's example and prayed this prayer over the Christians God places in my life AND over myself. Just as God regularly does, during my study I was reminded how much I need God to answer that prayer.

As God reveals his judgments on the inhabitants of the earth throughout Revelation he stops the commentary twice to say how important endurance and patience is. He says, "This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints (Revelation 13:10). And again in Revelation 14:12, "This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus."

I am truly grateful Paul reminds us to pray in this way. We need it to remain faithful to Jesus, even to the end. It probably would be a good idea to pray this prayer over ourselves more often. I so want to hold tight to to the testimony of Jesus. Amen.

Praying for Other Christians

In Colossians 1, Paul has written a wonderful prayer that we can borrow to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters. Like Paul, we can continuously pray this prayer for the members of our church or any other Christian we know. It's such a good prayer, we should pray it for ourselves, too:

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus

and of the love you have for all the saints. . .

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped

praying for you and asking God to full you with the knowledge of his will

through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in

order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please

him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the

knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to

his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,

and joyfully giving thanks to the Father. . .Colossians 1:3, 9-12

1. We can always thank God for our faith and love for all the saints
2. We can pray non-stop for God to fill us with the knowledge of his will, asking him to help us know what he wants us to do.
3. We can ask God to give us deep spiritual wisdom and understanding.
4. We can pray that we may live lives worthy of the Lord.
5. We can ask him to teach us how we may please him in every way.
6. We can pray to bear fruit in every good work.
7. We can ask God to give us more knowledge of himself.
8. We can pray pray for God's gospel power in our everyday life according to his glorious might.
9. We can ask God for a heart that patiently endures and is full of joy and thankfulness.

Now that we are prayed over, we can serve God and wait expectantly to see all that God will do. Paul's purpose in praying was to destroy heresy that had developed in the Colossian church. What stronghold in your life needs to be broken down? If you ask God, he will show you.

Live Strong,

Susan

Does someone you know need deliverance?

While reading "Tired of Trying to Measure Up" by Jeff VanVonderen, I ran across a statement on Spiritual Warfare that made me stop and think. I asked myself, "Does someone I know need deliverance?" I bet all of us could answer that question, "Yes."

Jeff wrote, "Sometimes we need those who can aggressively bring the power of God's kingdom to bear on our life and our past, and to get us beyond the blockages that hinder full deliverance . . . I'm not talking about Dear Jesus, please help so-and-so feel better. I'm talking about Father, pour out your Spirit in power upon this person. Do supernatural surgery on the wounds that are here. Minister your love and grace to his heart so he can begin to trust you. And Satan, in Jesus' name and by his authority, be gone! You're trespassing. You have no right to be here. This person belongs to Jesus. He's private property.

Have you thought of someone who could benefit from a prayer like this? I did. I customized this prayer for my loved one and prayed it out loud to my Father in heaven. I know he heard me. Satan did too, if he was around. Just in case he was, I followed the prayer with leaving my xm channel, Spirit, playing loud and clear. A constant flow of praise to my Lord with no commercials. :)

My hope is that you, too, would stand in the gap for someone who needs to experience the full life Jesus promises. Some of these strongholds have been up for years. No matter! Jesus is stronger. He is quite capable of breaking his children free from bondage, as long as we continue to use our weapon of prayer (see 2 Corinthians 10:4-5)

Always Listen, Susan

Ears That Hear

After Jesus told the Parable of the Sower, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear"(Luke 8:8). So, how do we get ears that hear? The answer is clear in the very next verse: "His disciples asked him what this parable meant" (Luke 8:9). If we want to possess ears that hear we can follow the disciples examply by praying and asking Jesus to explain what we read and study in his word. Just like Jesus did for the disciples, he will take the time to explain it to us if we take the time to sit still and wait for him to do so. But don't we have to be disciples for that to happen?

". . . But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop (Luke 8:15). Disciples have noble and good hearts that listen to God. There is only one way to become a disciple and that is to be saved. "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him (Jesus) from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" (Romans 10:9-10). "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

The Listening Heart is noble and good only because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. There is no other reason. Hearts are regenerated by the power of the resurrection and immediately granted the ability to hear.

Thank you, Jesus, for giving me a noble and good heart that can hear your precious word. You did not repair my old heart, you gave me a whole new one. Praise the Lord! Help me to persevere every day so I can produce a crop worthy of your holy name. I don't ever want to take advantage of my ability to hear. Speak to me loud and clear and remind me to ask you what your word means. I love you, Lord, with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Great and Precious Promises

Psalm 126 holds a wonderful prayer request and some of those great and precious promises Peter wrote about in 2 Peter 1:4. The request goes like this: We ask God to restore our fortunes or bring back our captives. Since we are not in captivity like the Israelites were, we can customize this request for us today and ask God to restore what Satan has stolen from us. Satan loves to steal our time, especially our time alone with Jesus. He sets up roadblocks of all kinds to stop us from spending time with Jesus. He knows time alone with Jesus is the child of God's greatest treasure.

The second part of this request says to restore our fortunes like streams in the Negev. The Negev is a dry and barren land. For streams to flow there takes the miracle work of God. I feel an urging here to pray expectantly waiting for God to supply his life-giving water into my daily life.

And then comes the promises . . .

Those who sow in tears

will reap with songs of joy.

He who goes out weeping,

carrying seed to sow,

will return with songs of joy,

carrying sheaves with him.

There is so much to weep over in this fallen world. These promises inspire even more requests of my Father in heaven.

Dear Lord,

As I read and study your word, you have filled me up with your seed. I carry it with me wherever I go. Give me your songs of joy so when I share I will return carrying sheaves with me. Thank you, Jesus. I love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.

Starting Over, Yet Again

I'm so thankful we have a God of second, third, and fourth and even more chances! He never gives up on us. I keep trying to make a commitment to write in this blog more regularly and then life happens, which lately, for me, has been a whirlwind of change. My husband, Greg, got laid off after 17 and 1/2 years of service to Coca-Cola. He has been off work now for two months. I have been devoting as much time to my husband as I could. Although he feels like I'm never home, I was just doing my regular stuff to take care of business. Then my surgery finally happened on June 29th. I found it hard to concentrate while waiting for that to be over with. And then there is my parents who need more medical care as time goes on, which means more office visits and procedures--sitting in hospital and doctor's waiting rooms, waiting, waiting, and more waiting. I have been frustrated, confused and worried to say the least.

But July is a new month with a new beginning. I have come through the surgery with no problems and hardly any pain. My mind is clearing from the anesthesia and I'm feeling stronger every day. And the day before my surgery we received even more good news. A friend mentioned Greg's name in a passing conversation at the gym to someone who needed someone who does what Greg does--Merchandise Marketing Manager. (Isn't this just how God accomplishes things--by per chance meetings?) Greg interviewed for the job and got it. His new position at Coco-Cola is permanent (not contract), yet temporary and extends his lay-off for six more months. A hint that the job would be longer than six months was implied, but no promises were made. Only time will tell. We have prayed for God to direct our path and he has done so over and over.

While studying Revelation for the summer one of the phrases from the Church in Pergamum keeps rolling around in my mind. As I face all the confusion and an unknown future, the Spirit is speaking the same thing to me that he spoke the churches, "I know where you live . . . yet you are clinging to and holding fast to my name and you did not deny my faith" (Revelation 2:13AMP). Even though I feel like I haven't gotten a thing accomplished, I am clinging to his name with all I have. God knows where I live and what I am trying to do. He will supply my every need according to his glorious riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19) and being confident of this, that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). This is the truth, no matter what I feel like.

Thank you, Jesus, for being a God of countless chances. Please continue to guide my service to you and provide for my family like you always have and always will. I love you, Lord, with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, forever.

The Wonderful thing about Jesus is. . .

This week I started a Summer Bible Study on the book of Revelation. Even though we have only eight weeks to study 22 chapters, I thought it best to study Chapter One all by itself. Now that I have gotten into it, I'm so glad I did. Chapter One is full of good stuff, most verses overflow with the attributes of God.

When John starts to describe Jesus in verse 12 (of chapter one), I was reminded, yet again, how knowing who he is fills us with an inexpressable and glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8). Here are a just a few of the ways God fired me up while spending time in his word.

The first thing John mentions is the seven golden lampstands. Seven represents completion and perfection. Our Jesus is perfect in every way.

Among the lampstands, someone "like a son of man" was dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet with a golden sash around his chest. Jesus walks among us as royalty. Our Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.

His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. Our Jesus is pure.

His eyes were like blazing fire. He sees everything. Our Jesus is omniscient.

He feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace. Bronze represents judgment. Our Jesus is the Just Judge.

His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. His voice can be heard by all who will come to him (Isaiah 55:3). Our Jesus is a communicator.

In his right hand he held seven stars. This one has two: We are in his grip. Jesus engraves us on the palms of his hands (Isaiah 49:15-16) and in his right hand, majestic power (Exodus 15:6). Our Jesus is not forgetful. Our Jesus is powerful.

And out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. Our Jesus sifts and analyzes the very thoughts and purposes of our hearts (Hebrews 4:12). Our Jesus is discerning.

His face shown like the sun shining in all its brilliance. Those who look to Jesus shine, their faces are never covered with shame. (Psalm 34:5). Our Jesus is the S-O-N who saves his people from their sins.

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come. . .and To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. . . to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Revelation 1:4-6.

Have a blessed day full of Jesus, Susan

The Shortest Psalm

During my quiet time this morning, I read the shortest Psalm, number 117. It goes like this:

Praise the LORD, all you nations;

extol him, all you peoples.

For great is his love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.

Praise the LORD.

Taking a moment to think about his love and faithfulness turned into a whirlwind of thoughts. My list of things to praise and thank him for kept going on and on. When I do this, I usually come back around to the same thought, which is also from a Psalm. I place my name in Psalm 8:4 as I pray it. "What is Susan, that you are mindful of her, the daughter of man that you care for her?" His grace never ceases to amaze me.

Dear Lord, You are worthy to be praised. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! You are my God and I am but one of your peoples. Thank you for your faithfulness and your enduring love. When I mess up, you love me despite my selfish, stubborn ways and bring me back to praise you once again. In the high and lofty name of the Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.

Getting Focused

Just returning from the Blue Ridge Mountains Writer's Conference, I am fired up! But while there, realized I needed to become more focused to accomplish my goals. A good place to start would be to become more faithful to this blog, which is what I plan to do.

I have also been inspired to write a mission statement with objectives for Listening Hearts Ministry that I want to share with you:
MISSION STATEMENT:

TO ENCOURAGE CHRISTIANS TO GET ALONE WITH JESUS AND HELP THEM MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TIME WHILE THERE.

OBJECTIVES:

• CONNECT CHRISTIANS TO THE LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE OF GETTING ALONE WITH JESUS.
• MENTOR NEW AND EMERGING CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE A DESIRE TO HEAR GOD’S MAGNIFICENT VOICE.
• HELP CHRISTIANS OBEY THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT: TO LOVE THE LORD OUR GOD WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS, WHICH INCLUDES SCRIPTURE MEMORY, WITH ALL THEIR SOULS, WHICH INCLUDES JOURNALING AND PRAISE, WITH ALL THEIR MINDS, WHICH INCLUDES BIBLE STUDY, AND WITH ALL THEIR STRENGTH, WHICH INCLUDES SERVICE TO THE LORD.
• CREATE BIBLE STUDIES, BOOKS, SEMINARS, AND CONFERENCES THAT PROMOTE SIMPLE CHRISTIAN DISCIPLINES IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY.
• INTEGRATE THE LISTENING HEART WAY OF LIFE INTO THE LIVES OF ALL CHRISTIANS.

Always Listen, Susan

The Listening Heart Desires to Be Searched Out

"The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being" (Proverb 20:27).

God uses this verse to challenge us to be ready for the lamp of the Lord to begin its search. Actually, God's lamp shines all the time. Our part of the search entails looking with him into our hearts to see what is holding us back from a vibrant, on fire relationship with God.

God tried repeatedly to get me to cooperate with him in this process, but I refused to dig up the anger, hurt, and frustration over my brother's murder. During the grieving process, my anger at God over the whole ordeal was buried deep in the caverns of my heart. My relationship with God suffered and my hearing of his voice muffled. I ignored him completely for almost ten years, but things changed at the birth of my son twenty years ago. I returned to God and our fellowship was restored.

My spiritual life began to grow and flourish, but not to the fullest degree God promises. A problem remained. I still hadn't dealt with my anger. God would not allow my issues to block the abundant life he went to the cross for me to have. He was like a miner digging for gold, lighted helmet and all. He never gave up. Finally, his lamp shown so bright into the eyes of my heart, I had to look inward. Through lots of prayer, and different books and conferences he led me to, my eyes were opened to my anger at God.

Finally out, the anger melted in his hands and. He spoke to me through his word saying, "Take heart daughter, your faith has healed you" (Matthew 9:22). Since then, I have been tempted to bury anger again, but now I catch it quick before it sinks into the depths. I don't want anything to hinder his plans for me ever again. Up to that point, I didn't understand that life to the fullest means hearing his voice and listening brings more than one could ever imagine. But now I do.

Dear Lord, Keep your light shining, search me and know my anxious thoughts. Thank you for your healing and forgiveness. Lead me in the way you planned for me before the beginning of time. There is nothing in this world like hearing your magnificent voice. I love you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.

The Listening Heart Answers God's Invitation

To study The Listening Heart way we answer seven questions and respond to seven reflections on a chosen passable of Scripture. Since I have just completed studying The Listening Heart with two groups of ladies at my church, I was inspired to blog the answer to one of my study questions (from each chapter). The question I chose is--How can I use this passage in prayer? Since the first chapter involves answering God's invitation, the chosen Scripture is Isaiah 55. God not only gives us an open invitation to come any time, but he also reveals the grand adventure our lives will be if we answer his call and spend time with him in study and prayer.

My heart's cry is that I continually answer God's invitation every day and listen to his magnificent voice. I pray this prayer not only for myself, but also for you, the readers of this blog. (To get the most out of this prayer you may want to read Isaiah 55)

Dear Lord Jesus,

Keep me thirsty. If there is anyone reading this blog who is not thirsty, I ask you to strike her or him with a holy thirst for your word. Help us to understand that if we look for satisfaction in anyone or anything besides you, we're looking in the wrong place and wasting our time.

I thank you, dear Lord, that feasting on your word delights our souls as in the richest of banquets. I pray that anyone who reads this blog who has not given their ear (their heart) to you, made an everlasting covenant with you, that you would draw her or him to yourself right now. We all need you as our witness, leader and commander. Please fill us with your Holy Spirit, endow us with your splendor, so nations will hasten to us. And when they do run to us as your word promises, make us bold to share your gospel, the good news, for you have glorified us. Help us not to leave anything out. You have died to pay the penalty for our sins, which is death. You were buried and rose to life on the third day to give us life that lasts forever.

Thank you, Jesus, for your availability, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. May we take advantage of your closeness and choose to spend time with you every day. Please grant your repentance when we turn away.

Even when we don't understand how you work, you are trustworthy. Your sovereignty stands firm. You supply our every need, seed for the sower and bread for the eater. Use your word to accomplish what you desire in our lives and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.

I pray that we remember who we are--children of the King and we won't allow our enemy to steal the joy and peace you have promised to us. We stand firm on your promises and believe you will turn our hard times, our thorns and briers into everlasting works for all the world to see. All of this will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed. In your precious name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

The Love Connection

“Ruby, come.”

My border collie perked her ears and came running. The moment she took notice of the treat in my hand, she repeatedly leapt into midair. If Ruby could talk, she would say, “Hurry up, tell me what to do. I love you and want to please you.”

Ruby went on to her other trick of grabbing her tail and spinning in circles at lightning speed. I finally gave her a command, “Ruby, jump and spin.” After a leap combined with a 180° turn, with most of the turn airborne, I delivered the tidbit which she gobbled down.

My family and I love Ruby as much as she loves us, maybe more. She adds a special joy to our home that is precious.

Thinking about her love brought a truth planted throughout the New Testament to mind. Jesus tells us that if we love him, we will obey Him. Then why does the word obey conjure up a negative picture of a master and his dog, which turns most of us off? We humans balk at being told what to do and when to do it.

Jesus tells us his love is proven by obedience to God, his Father. Does Jesus make it possible for us to follow His example? He does, even on those days when we feel like an old dog that can’t learn anything new. Otherwise he would not have said, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15).

As long as we take some time out of each day to spend with Jesus, we are never too old or set in our ways to learn what genuine love is all about.

Jesus, I praise you for being my perfect example. Teach me the secret of the love connection by helping me to obey what you command. I do love you with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Amen.

Living Prepared to Hear

". . . And he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God" (Psalm 50:23).

While thinking about living prepared to hear, my mind went to the life of Joseph in Genesis (Chapters 30-50) His preparation was being sold into slavery by his own brothers and then being unjustly imprisoned in Egypt for years. While stuck in the dungeon, Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams of two fellow inmates, one the Pharaoh’s chief cupbearer, the other his chief baker. The interpretations delivered good news and bad news. The cupbearer returned to his position under Pharaoh, but the baker wasn’t as fortunate—he was hanged.

Forgotten in prison, Joseph’s dry spell appeared to be never-ending. Two more years passed, yet Joseph never gave up. He continued to act honorably in all situations, even while in a dank prison.

Then one starlit night Pharaoh had two dreams. Pharaoh told his dreams to all of the wise men and magicians of Egypt, but no one could interpret them.

Meanwhile, Joseph finally pops into the cupbearer's mind. The cupbearer reminds Pharaoh of the events two years prior and how a young Hebrew man interpreted his and the chief baker’s dreams with accuracy. Joseph was immediately dragged out of his jail cell, cleaned up and presented to the ruler of Egypt.

The Pharaoh told Joseph his strange dreams. Joseph responded to the Pharaoh by saying that he was not able to interpret dreams, but God could. Through Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph delivered a warning from God to prepare for seven years of famine that would occur after seven years of plenty. Because the Pharaoh recognized the spirit of God in Joseph he trusted his interpretation as accurate and elevated Joseph from lowly prisoner to second in charge of the entire nation.

Joseph’s new job entailed governing the nation’s food supply. During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. Joseph wisely stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea. There was so much that he had to stop keeping records because it was beyond measure.

God’s promises which came to Joseph in a dream as a child, held him to a higher standard of living. No matter what Joseph did or where he was, both as a slave or a prisoner, he did his best and God rewarded him. Joseph knew God as the promise-keeper and trusted him with his life no matter how bad it got.

God’s promises work for us the same way they did for Joseph, but now his promises are in the complete and perfect Holy Bible. For us, just like in Joseph’s life, what is intended to bring us harm, God intends for good (Genesis 50:20). God uses all of life’s experiences, bad and good, to give us plans to prosper and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future (see Jeremiah 29:11). He shows us his salvation as he promises in Psalm 50:23.

God loves to work in the lives of those who continually prepare to hear from God. Like Joseph we, too, can act nobly no matter what situation we find ourselves in. Where are you? Are you in the waiting stage? Experiencing a dry spell? Reaping a harvest? Storing your harvest for the famine ahead? Take some time to ponder where you are today.

How to Keep Your Way Pure

As I studied Psalm 119:1-24, I came across a question I wanted an answer to. Verse nine says, "How can a young man keep his way pure?"

Some of us (like me) may not be young any more, but if we belong to God he has given us a desire to remain pure. The second part of this verse answers the question: "By living according to your (God's) word.

Well, How exactly do you live according to your word, LORD? Through the Psalmist, God speaks a perfect and complete "how to" list in verses 10-16. God tells us to:

1. Seek me with all of your heart.
2. Ask me to help you not stray from my commands.
3. Hide my word in your heart-memorize Scripture. It will help you not to sin against me.
4. Start your day with praise and pray for me to teach you my decrees.
5. Speak my Holy word back to me in prayer.
6. Rejoice in obedience as one who rejoices in great riches.
7. Meditate on my precepts.
8. Consider the ways I work in the world.
9. Delight in my decrees.
10. Don't neglect my word, ever.

This simple list of how to remain pure sums up how a Listening Heart lives each day. I would love to share my resources with you, to help you meditate on God's Holy word, memorize Scripture, and more. Please leave a comment on how to contact you and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Always Listen, Susan

The Listening Heart Obeys the Greatest Commandment

Some of what you read in this blog will be a journal from my daily prayers and some from my manuscript awaiting publication called, THE LISTENING HEART: YOUR GUIDE TO SPENDING TIME ALONE WITH GOD HEARING HIS LIFE-CHANGING VOICE. Today, you are reading an excerpt.

". . . Love the Lord you God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30).

One day during my quiet time I point blank asked the Lord, “What does it mean to love you with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength?” “Help me understand why loving you is a command.”


As I meditated on loving God, more questions came to mind like, “Why the breakdown?” “Why do we have to love you with our hearts? Our souls? Our minds? Our Strength?” The Promise Keeper kept his promise given in Psalm 21:2. He granted the desire of my heart and did not withhold the requests I made.

I began my search for answers. God spoke to my heart through Scripture I found while looking up the key words of his greatest commandment in my concordance. During my exploration he answered every question.

• Our hearts are known as our center, our central core. In the time of Moses, the tabernacle, symbolizing the presence of God, was commanded by God to be arranged in the center of the 12 tribes of Israel (see Numbers 2). To obey God by loving him with all of our hearts means to place God at the center of our being and lives.
• Our souls are the part of us that live forever. They are made in God’s image (see Genesis 2:7 and 1:26). To obey God by loving him with all of our souls means our lives are set on God’s purposes, which are eternal.
• Our minds are full of thoughts, good and bad. To obey God by loving him with all of our minds means to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. And we are to cleanse our minds continually with his word (see 2 Corinthians 10:5-6 and Ephesians 5:26).
• Our strength comes from our physical bodies. To obey God by loving him with all of our strength means we are to surrender our bodies, which were bought by God’s Son for a heavy price, to his service (see Mark 10:43 and 1 Corinthian 6:20).
  

And then I just so happened to be reading a devotional called, Through the year with Francis of Assisi: Daily Meditations from his Words and Life. In one of the daily devotions he was praying the Lord’s Prayer back to God. He wrote: “. . . Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” that we may love you with our whole heart by always thinking of you; with our whole soul by always desiring you; with our whole mind by directing all our intentions to you and seeking your honor in all things; with all our strength by spending all the powers and senses of body and soul in the service of your love and not in anything else.

If we open our hearts, souls, minds, and strength to love God and allow God to love us with all his heart, soul, mind and strength, we would remain constantly amazed each and every day. I have.

Not so good days

Have you ever had one of those days when you just felt like nothing? When you didn't want to do anything and you surely didn't feel confident or have a positive attitude about anything? I'm in my second day of it. I asked God, "Am I really supposed to start my blog and a down note?" But it doesn't really matter how we feel about things, God remains on his throne, operating the universe with mercy and grace. He even speaks when our attitude and thoughts are not where they should be. This morning he even made me smile when I didn't think I could.

Not working on my study, the only thing I could handle this morning was my daily reading (I read the Bible through every year). During my last reading of the day in Psalm 40, I began to perk up. . . I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. . . I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly. . . I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. . . . Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.

Through this up and down Psalm, God tells us that like David, we are going to have days where even though we know the truth of God's word, we still feel like we are in a pit. I smiled when I read verse 6: but my ears you have pierced (or opened). Yes LORD, you open ears and I thank you for speaking to me, especially when I am poor and needy (vs 17). You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay (vs 17). Listening to you sets my feet on a rock and gives me a firm place to stand (vs 2). Your truth cleanses me and lifts me up. Amen.

The mighty voice of the LORD

I have started this blogspot to invite you to come along with me on a fantastic journey of hearing the magnificent voice of God. Although God’s voice is inaudible, he speaks loud and clear in many ways—to name a few, through creation, our pastors, other Christians, and the most reliable, his Holy word. God’s word says:

“The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the LORD is powerful;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
The voice of the LORD strikes
with flashes of lightning.
The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the LORD twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
The LORD gives strength to his people;
the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 29:3-5, 7-11

If you are anything like me, you need his strength and desire his peace. Spend some time with him and his word, charge your spiritual battery, and go through your day strong, with his peace and calmness.

Always Listen, Susan

The Listening Heart

Not long ago, God reminded me of the time he planted a listening seed in my heart. Rummaging through a junk drawer, I had come across a gift—a small piece of cross-stitched art—that I had received soon after this prodigal had returned home. A found treasure, the yellowed cloth stitched in red held a precious promise open to all: “God’s voice still speaks to the listening heart.”

After God opened my heart, I decided to “come” and spend quality time alone with him in prayer and Bible study. He not only caused my soul to live, but gave me a burning desire to share what this awesome living is all about. This life is not without trouble, but a life of genuine love, strength, purpose, and more excitement than one could ever imagine.

One of the journey’s perks is being part of many lives who, like me, desire to hear God’s magnificent voice. We love, care for and encourage each other and are Jesus-with-skin-on for one another, in good times and bad. The listening heart possesses the key to soul satisfaction.