More clari-TEA needed

3/28/13 Kitchen table chat yesterday had JoLynn reminding me that hearing from God is a spiritual communication. Neither of us have ever heard a “deep grandfatherly” sounding voice speaking audibly to us---rather we have “heard” our own thoughts revealing truth from Him. The voice of the Lord seems to come to us in our own thoughts. Like an impression, a nudge or a check. To me a “check in my spirit” is like a mini-warning---a “better slow down and rethink that! If I don't have peace about it---that’s my “check---I know I need to look at the options….until I hear the voice of peace.

All of these thoughts are mine alone--gleaned through experience, nothing more. God’s voice might not come to others in this way.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." (Rev 3:22, NIV) Believers make up God’s church, so we need to “listen for His Spirit.

GOD’s WORD--In order to actually “hear” from God we need to know about who God it. That helps us determine His character, thus making it easier to discern His voice. The Bible, God’s Word, is the only true source for that information. Too often folks see God as what they want Him to be or as culture labels Him to be. Those views can impair one’s “hearing.”

OTHER PEOPLE--God can use other people to “speak” His truth to us and offer godly counsel. He can use anyone BUT it’s safer to be lead by other believers. How can one even discern a true believer?

The Spirit itself beareth witness with (testifies to) our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16) That spirit is recognizable in others---it’s how we recognize ourselves and others as God’s children.

CIRCUMSTANCES---God uses these BIG time in my life. My cancer journey taught me lessons in forgiveness and trust. All were from Him---without me ever “hearing” an audible word.

Circumstances, advice from others, nudges.  How do I know they are from Him. Every “message” needs to be filtered through His word. Does it align with scripture? Does it promote His purpose by glorifying Him? The Bible is our most important tool in hearing God’s voice. His Word is like our policy and procedure manual.

God wants us to “get to know my voice”, as John 10:4 states, his “sheep follow him because they know his voice.” Discerning His voice will take time and work---but it’s so worth it.

Praying for my readers today that God will “pour out clari-TEA” on this topic.

clari-TEA

3/27/13

clariTEA---much is needed to concisely and accurately answer the question, “How does one hear God’s voice?” One will need to “sip” along with me these next few days in order to “strain” out the truth. A big gulp, all at once, could be “too hard to swallow.”

clariTEA needed from Thee to me!

Let’s start with examination. 

• Examine your heart. Ask, “Do I really want to hear what God has to say to me?” 
• Examine your mind. “Do I have God’s Word implanted there?” If not, ask self “Am I willing to do the work and study the scriptures?” 

If those answers are yes, then start here.

Examine surroundings---are they conducive to listening---not just hearing but really listening? A busy lifestyle isn’t very conducive to hearing God’s voice---though He can “speak” anytime, anyplace.

Monday night at BSF, Sally Jones shared an acronym for “busy.”

B eing

U nder

S atan’s

Y oke

Busy-ness is what keeps us there in that wrong place---“yoked to the ways of the world.”

Psa. 46:10 might be a good place to start to “tune” our spiritual ears to hear the voice of God. Stillness in one’s spirit is more conducive to hearing Him speak in that “still, small voice” as He did to Elijah. (1 Kings 19:12, KJV)

But, the stage was set for Elijah to hear so as to listen. There was a need. He was zealous for the Lord. He was alone. Elijah was willing to go out and stand “in the presence of the Lord.”

Then God spoke to Elijah---after the great wind that tore mountains apart and the earthquake and the fire---“in a gentle whisper.” (I Kings 19:10-15)

One must pray for clarity (our clariTEA) as God’s word is read. 

BIG OOPS!

3/26/13 Seeing God's Hand Column"disappeared"---couldn't undo---last 2 posts wouldn't work so I tried to delete 2012 entires, thinking it was memory problem. Now, nothing is left. Some saved from this year, I hope. But God....maybe He's scaling me back. Was His voice "speaking" thru this incident with my computer? Now there's a great question. Just NOT sure of the answer. I do know God can speak thru circumstances. 

Maybe my "techie" Molly can help.

3/25/13 Corey's gift, an Easter CD w/ Fernando Ortega's, "I Will Sing of my Redeemer" on it!! Love it----I met Fernando in Nov. at "The Cove."

/26/13 Gift from girls at the Neighborhood Christian School (and their Miss Nancy) which enhanced my morning cuppa with a bit of Dove chocolate.3

intentionali-TEA---інтенціональність

3/26/13 The stage is set. A steaming "cuppa" of a full-bodied assam, brewed from loose tea, in my Aubry/Susan teacup, "Positively Easter" CD playing (gift from thoughtful son-in-law, Corey) and an open Bible.

A "cuppa," Corey's CD & My special teacup & open Bible on my lap"set" with specific intention---hearing from God.

Why this setting? My time with the Lord today is purposeful so I have consciously (intentionally) "set" the stage to prepare my heart to hear His answer to my question. 

The question isn't really mine. The question comes from one of my lovely Ukrainian ladies. "How do I hear God's voice? How do I "hear" Him like you do?

That question can be difficult to answer in any setting. But.....when the answer will be translated in part to both Russian and Ukrainian. I need conciseness. I need clarity. I need God's answer.

I probably need a whole tea pot of intentionali-TEA to keep me focused.

I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:8)

intentionaliTEA (умисний чай)---I hope it works for me today! 

WOW Factor in Meditation

3/25/13 Just finished Anne Lamott's, Help, Thanks, Wow--the three essentials of prayers and though I don't always agree with her "theology," that gal has a way with words. Pastor Cole alluded to her book title in yesterday's Palm Sunday message during our "Festival of Praise." He concludes that "praise" is the "wow" of prayer. He quoted C.S. Lewis, definition of praise. Praise is inner health made audible.
So.....this week's meditation will be on "praise" verses. Verses which for me are easy to find in my "old" Bible because they are marked in purple, per Kay Arthur's instruction in the first Bible Study I ever attended.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalm 150:6, KJV)

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:1-5, NIV)

In KJV, word "bless," translation is used---but as applied to God, bless means to praise, implying a strong love & affection for him as well as a sense of gratitude. It's the chosen translation for "10,000 Reasons" song (Matt Redman) so naturally I love that version too!

A Mom and her special needs son join in the WOW of worship

Sing to the Lord a new song,.....for he has done marvelous things; Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (Psalm 98:1 & 4, KJV)

The entire service was full of the WOW of praise---from scripture readings to songs. A "wow" factor that has me continuing to meditate praise worthy scriptures.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: FLORIDA FLORALS

3/24/13 Florals.....along with some topiaries and live oaks "dripping" with Spanish moss. It was the 20th year of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. A visual feast for us at Disney World.

SO SOUTHERN!

Disney's favorite couple w/ Goofy holding the 20th (floral) cake.

My favorite couple! 

WHAT COLOR!!!

TWININGS---MY KIND OF GARDEN.

A reminder of Beth, who has a "knack" for creative gardening.

Who doesn't love Lady and Tramp!

"MATER"--the boys favorite floral design!

All things bright and beautiful.......,

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens, .....

The river running by,.............

The ripe fruits in the garden,

He made them every one..............

The tall trees in the greenwood,

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell,
How great is God Almighty,
Who has made all things well.
(Excerpts from Maker of Heaven and Earth by Cecil F. Alexander)

Pie Day Confession

3/22/13 "Pie Day".......not Pi Day 3/14 or National Pie Day 1/23)---not even  like the Thursdays of old when Molly and I baked pies to take to folks who could use a lift. No....this is an I could "eat a whole pie" kind of day. I'm a pie kind of gal. I do like a good caramel cake (for the icing) and a coconut cake but given my "druthers," I would choose pie. Today was filled with a few self imposed deadlines as well as calorie counting for hubby and trying to "eat" well for both of us. That's all it takes---thinking I'm going to be deprived, I crave something sweet to eat----hence the desire to eat an entire pie.

Last week's drive home from Disney World had us stopping in New Albany, MS at Sugarees Bakery---to buy a chocolate meringue pie, made with 1 lb. of pastry, 3 lbs. of chocolate filling and 1 lb. of meringue. Now that's what I'm talkin' about!

A pie you can sink your entire mouth into---while "sinking" your entire weight plan. But....they also have a smaller one. Hm-m-m- is it worth the drive??  Probably not---but the memory is sure "sweet."

This entry is in no way spiritual unless the old adage, "confession is good for the soul" is true in a bakery!

HOOP-DEE-DOO!

3/20/13 HOOP-DEE-DOO--great words to describe our time at Disney World last week. Thanks to YaYa & Poppy for the ONLY picture that has all of us in it. Such a happy bunch!

No greater joy ---I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. (3 John 1:4) Living it out in their daily walk, practicing patience and kindness throughout a whirlwind vacation!

  

FAST PASSES---N/A

3/19/13 Fast Passes were available for us at all the "biggie" rides at Disney World last week. They enabled us to avoid waiting, to skip the unpleasantness of long lines, which are so undesirable when you have young children in tow. Too bad such passes aren't available for us as we navigate thru life. At least in our "human" thinking that seems desirable. But God.....is more concerned with our character than our comfort. 

Streams in the Desert's entry (3/19*) clearly points out the "necessity of waiting" in the spiritual realm.  

Many hours of waiting  were necessary to enrich
David's harp with song. And hours of waiting in the
wilderness will provide us with psalms of
"thanksgiving, and the sound of singing," (Isaiah 51:3)
The hearts of the discouraged here below will be lifted
and joy will be brought to our Father's heavenly home.

Waiting---whether in a line or in another unpleasant or hard discouraging place can be an "exercise" in dependence on Him.  Waiting and discomfort can increase both our capacity for "suffering" and sensitivities to others.

No fast passes needed---just Him.

*Thanks to JoLynn for the "Streams" rec this morn--
 On-line entry is 8/27 & underlines are mine.

Purpose of Meditation

3/18/13 Putting God's words in my mind is the purpose of meditation for me. When I have His words  at the forefront of my "thinking," spiritual understanding begins to not only take root but begins to dispel those other thoughts. The inappropriate ones.

In my January BSF notes I had jotted down Charlie Brown's resolution, 'to only "dread"one day at a time.' I can relate to good ole Charlie Brown, because throughout my life, I have had to fight that ugly monster of dread. It used to rear its ugly head way too often. Being retired has helped me as retirement has provided more time for meditation. In the book of Joshua (verse 8) "meditating day and night" on the book of the law is encouraged. That is not without reason. Meditation helps quell the "dread."----at least for me it does. 

Discouragement can be a seedbed for dread. Thus, this weeks verse is a reminder for my thoughts not to linger there. I don't want any new "dread" popping up.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”(Joshua 1:9)

That's my purpose for this week's meditation. What's yours?