Be Faithful

Simply be my disciple.
Learn from Me by reading my Word.
Do what comes naturally to you.
I have given my children many gifts.
Each excels in their own way.
Be faithful.

 We can read in 2 Corinthians 6 of some of Paul’s peaks and valleys experienced in the course of his ministry. One day I want to stand before my wonderful Lord and say like Paul….

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” 2 Timothy 4:7 (NLT)

Do Not Worry

 Do not worry, do not despair!
I will be with you and we will walk and talk together.
It can be a joyous day and evening.
Take your time with each task and enjoy it.
Go slowly, you may accomplish more.
I love you!

 As I “listened” to God in my devotional time, I realized I often worry unnecessarily about many things which never happen. There is a passage in Matthew 6:25-34, an excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus spoke to his disciples and the crowd that gathered.

 Matt 6:25 (NLT) “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?”

Matt 6:34 (The Message) “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

What a blessed hope we have and it is true, God has always been there through the hard times. He tells us to stop worrying and start trusting. I want to simply relax knowing “the God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day is still God in the night.” (Line is from the song, God on the Mountain, by Lynda Randle.)

Comfort

My child, I love you!
You will always be my child no matter how old you are.
I know it is difficult to keep up with everything.
You are simply one person.
Look at my life down on earth.
I did not worry or hurry.
Sometimes my plans were disrupted because I saw the needy around Me.
Our Father in heaven gave Me the strength and power.
He will do the same for you if you but ask!

This summer my devotions centered around Gordon MacDonald’s book “Ordering Your Private World.” In the book he quotes Salvation Army evangelist Samuel Logan Brengle who also enjoyed listening when he did his devotions:

“I do a lot of listening. Prayer, you know, is not meant to be a monologue, but a dialogue. It is communion, a friendly talk. While the Lord communicates with me mainly through His Word, he gives me a great deal of comfort in a direct manner. By ‘comfort’ I do not mean …coddling, but assurance – assurance of His presence with me and His pleasure in my service. …I have to be comforted that way a great deal. I don’t just assume that God is near me and pleased with me; I must have a fresh witness daily.”

He is willing to comfort anyone who takes time to pray and listen as He speaks in that still small voice as well as His precious Word – the Bible.

The Power of Love

 My child, I have not given you a spirit of fear but of power
and love and a sound mind.
Prove Me now and I will open the windows of heaven and pour out
My blessings.
Things are not as bleak as they look.
You are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who tell you their story
 of the miracles in their lives.
I am the rock and all can firmly plant their feet on Me.

2 Timothy 1:7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.

Some time ago, I began to memorize this scripture. It was very important for me to learn not to be afraid. During the past months I began to understand I could broach difficult subjects and discover there simply was no reason to be fearful. Actually many things improved because there was honest communication. God gives us many blessings when we learn to trust His Word!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thorns

I did say I would be with you and protect and help you.
I will give you sufficient strength, even with the thorn of depression.
Many of My servants – David, Elijah, Martin Luther and Paul Bunyan
have been subjected to the debilitating scourge of depression.
Why do you feel you should be exempt?
There are many lessons to be learned through these times.
I said I will never leave you.
I know you are tired and weary.
I will give you My strength.

 “…God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b (NIV)

There were a number of times, years ago, when I experienced bouts of depression. It was difficult and I did seek help from counselors and doctors. Sometimes medication worked very well but did have to be changed frequently. But through it all, God was faithful. I learned much through those difficult years which helped me later in life when I became a marriage and family therapist and counseled others. God uses all things throughout our life to help us and others.

 

I Came to Bring Peace

I am your peace.
I can mend broken bones, broken hearts
and broken dreams.
I am Alpha and Omega.
I was here before the world began.
When it is dissolved, I will still be here.
Heaven waits for you.

There are so many times in my life, when I need God to speak
to my heart and give me His peace. Our world, if we allow it,
will bring stress and anxiety. We need to still the clamor and noise
of our civilization and seek the quiet Jesus can bring. When
we come to His garden alone to nurture and grow our relationship
with Him, He meets us there.

Learn My Ways

My child, I came to bring you life – more abundant life –
not a mere existence, but life –
Life flowing easily, not despairingly!
Life, not burdened down with heavy loads.
I want to give you energy, laughter, light and love.
Come and learn My ways!

  “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10b (KJV)

 It seems to take a lifetime to learn the Lord’s way. I am so glad Jesus came in bodily form and understands us . It is in the stillness I begin to understand more of His ways.

 

Our Relationship is Important

Although you are often surprised and
and even stunned about many life events,
it is not new knowledge to Me.
I have known you before you came into this world.
I will meet you on the other side
when you breathe your last breath.
None of the world’s happenings are crucial.
Only your relationship with Me truly matters.
I will bring peace to you.
Bring all your questions and concerns to Me.

Sometimes when we read of the violence in the world with terrorists, countries going bankrupt, it is good when the Lord reminds us that He is in control and will bring us peace.

John 14:27 (KJV) “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

 

 

Following Him

To follow in My footsteps is often a difficult and lonely
journey in the world where you live.
It was the same two thousand years ago.
I was often misunderstood, yet was the Savior of sinners.
I came only to establish My kingdom in the hearts
and lives of people.
However, even My faithful followers could only envision
earthly symbols of power and might.
Be faithful to the truths you have been given
and one day we will meet face to face.
It will be a glorious day!

Since I have decided to only publish the “listening” part of my devotional at the first of each month, I trust these few words will bless your heart as much as they strengthen me.

Thank Me

My child, it is useless to question your past decisions.
You need to turn your thoughts to the present.
“This is the day I have made.
Let us rejoice and be glad in it,”
should be your motto for today.
You are healthy and strong and your mind is alert.
You are one of the fortunate ones on this planet.
I want you to consider all the benefits in your life at this moment.
Learn to give Me thanks.
You have so much!
You have meaningful work to do and the necessary
abilities to complete it.
You are very blessed.
Thank Me for your health and strength and do My will today.

 Psalms 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 103:1 “Bless the Lord, oh my soul and forget not all his benefits”.

It is often easy for me to look back with regret at many of the decisions I have made and think over possibilities that have been lost because of my choices, but I believe God wants us to focus on the present moment as that is all we have been allotted. We can ask ourselves, “What is it that I can do now?” to give us direction for this day. For the next month or so, I will endeavor to live more simply and will put the blog on hold. I want the time to discern God’s direction and that means creating space for reflection and prayer.

Thanksgiving brought back to me the simple truth we are all part of His family and that is such a blessing. It has been my privilege to share my devotional times with you during the past three years. Thank you so much for reading them and sharing some of the ways they have enriched your journey.

I called my blog “Listening to Hear.” The writings were a collection from the past thirty years, of time spent talking and listening to my Savior. I trust they may have inspired you to listen to that “still, small voice” which offers us love, acceptance and guidance. I have enjoyed the friendships formed through publishing the blog and once God’s direction has been affirmed to me, I will let you, my friends, know. God is good.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.