Answers

So in my last post I spoke about the fact that God speaks.  Hopefully some of you also understood the implication that He wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives, His children's lives.  Well, only a few days later He gave me a story to share.  I went away for the weekend to the wilderness, and on my way back to the house, while in the car, I sensed something biting my neck and my arms so started to "slap" myself (yeah, you know what I mean. And yeah it was as funny and weird as you are imagine it to be).  I looked in the mirror and at my clothes but I couldn't see what had bit me.  A few hours later I had over 15 bumps on my face and chin (not counting my arms).  It looked crazy!  At first they didn't itch, but later in the night and the next day I thought I was going to loose my mind I itch so bad (and you know how you are not allowed to scratch).  I tried different ointments but nothing worked.  I was driving on my way to work with all the a/c vents on me, totally desperate.  I realized I hadn't prayed, in this desperation I cried out: "God!! You know all things, You know what these bites are and what could make them stop itching.  Please tell me what kind of thing I need to put on!!" Immediately the response came: "baking soda paste." I'm not kidding, that's all He said.  I got home that day, got some baking soda in a bowl, mixed it with a little bit of water, put it on, and immediately the itching ceased.  HOW AWESOME IS GOD??!!

I know.  This is just a little story.  It might seem insignificant to some of you, but to me it is marvelous.  The God that keeps the cosmos in order cares enough about insignificant ol'me to take time and fix my boo-boos.  He really is close at hand.  What could be more Fatherly than this?  And now, how could I not trust Him with my whole life??

Will you?

"Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees..." (Gen 16:13a)

PS- I should also mention that, a few weeks later, He sent me to England for a little while ;)  More on that trip soon too come

Jesus Speaks

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (Jn 10:27)

I am often asked how do I know when God speaks.  It is a very good questions.
I know God's voice like I know my parents'.  Firstly, I am born of Him and as such we share a personal and intimate relationship.  I know His voice from all the time we've spent together. I know His voice because I know His character (clearly stated in the Scriptures).  I know Him because He lives in me.  It is not a magic trick, He is not an eight ball, He is God- the more time you spend with Him, the quicker you will learn to recognize His voice.

Go, be alone with Him, learn to listen and commune with Him....ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit (to baptize you, if you prefer the term), and you too will know Him, His voice.  But know this: once He speaks you must obey.

“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” (John 10:3-5)