Everyone is familiar with the mobile cellular phone advertisement. The gentleman walks to various places, asking, “Can you hear me now?” What if God were asking the question, “Can you hear me now?” rather than the man in the commercial?
Your life is great. You work in a satisfying job, making a good salary. You own a nice home, a new car, and have beautiful, smart, well behaved children. You have close friends and a full social life. When life is just perfect, do you hear God asking the question: “Can you hear me now?”
Later your business is not doing well. You get the dreaded pink slip. You’ve had an argument with your best friend who no longer speaks with you. Your children think they know more than you and rebel. You and your spouse don’t communicate the way you used to. Nobody seems to understand how you feel. Can you hear God’s question: “Can you hear me now?”
Your unemployment has run out. You may lose your home. You have been ill and fear it may be something serious. You have to sell your car. Your life seems totally out of control. Can you hear God’s voice: “Can you hear me now?”
When times are tough we listen. When everything is going wrong and we have no out control, we finally turn to God for guidance. Then we ask Him for help. Then we listen for His voice.
Yes, Father, we can hear you now. It’s not the connection that’s bad. We often fail to listen. Help us to listen more.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.”
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
A Thunderous Voice
The bible tells us that God speaks in a still, small voice. But sometimes when I enter a still, small state, His voice shouts and thunders: How can my people be so blind? How can you be so deaf? Open your eyes! Open your ears! My glory is all around you and you ignore it.
Look! Behold my glory in the sky: The brightness of the sun, the vastness of the blue dome overhead. The moon and the host of stars glow at night; all these reveal my glory. Open your eyes to see Me! The majestic, snow-topped mountains and the heaving waters of the oceans, their waves crashing against the shore, are all shouting out my greatness. The brilliant bolt of lightning electrifies the night sky. How can you not see Me? Look in the eyes of an infant, in the caress of a loved one. Look at your own skin and hair. My glory is everywhere. See it, and glorify my name!
Listen! Everywhere you hear testaments of my greatness: The rumbling thunder in the midst of a storm. The early morning songs of the birds and the rushing waters of a mountain stream proclaim My majesty. Listen! You will hear my voice. Listen to the laughter of a child. Listen to the wind in the trees. Listen to music: the piano, guitar, violin, and saxophone all sing of my glory. Hear the voices of those who love you. Listen to your heartbeat. Hear your breathing. All these provide testimonies of my greatness. Open your ears; glorify my name.
O my people, how can you be so blind? O people, how can you be so deaf? Open your eyes; open your ears. My glory resides all around you! See it. Hear it. After you finally see it and hear it, do not be mute. Tell others how great I am. Open your mouth and glorify Me.
Father, forgive me. Forgive me for the countless times I fail to notice your glory all around me. Forgive me for not listening for your voice. Keep my eyes and ears open that I may behold your glory. Let my mouth open in praise of my almighty God.
Job 37:2-5 “Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heavens 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”.
Look! Behold my glory in the sky: The brightness of the sun, the vastness of the blue dome overhead. The moon and the host of stars glow at night; all these reveal my glory. Open your eyes to see Me! The majestic, snow-topped mountains and the heaving waters of the oceans, their waves crashing against the shore, are all shouting out my greatness. The brilliant bolt of lightning electrifies the night sky. How can you not see Me? Look in the eyes of an infant, in the caress of a loved one. Look at your own skin and hair. My glory is everywhere. See it, and glorify my name!
Listen! Everywhere you hear testaments of my greatness: The rumbling thunder in the midst of a storm. The early morning songs of the birds and the rushing waters of a mountain stream proclaim My majesty. Listen! You will hear my voice. Listen to the laughter of a child. Listen to the wind in the trees. Listen to music: the piano, guitar, violin, and saxophone all sing of my glory. Hear the voices of those who love you. Listen to your heartbeat. Hear your breathing. All these provide testimonies of my greatness. Open your ears; glorify my name.
O my people, how can you be so blind? O people, how can you be so deaf? Open your eyes; open your ears. My glory resides all around you! See it. Hear it. After you finally see it and hear it, do not be mute. Tell others how great I am. Open your mouth and glorify Me.
Father, forgive me. Forgive me for the countless times I fail to notice your glory all around me. Forgive me for not listening for your voice. Keep my eyes and ears open that I may behold your glory. Let my mouth open in praise of my almighty God.
Job 37:2-5 “Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heavens 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”.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Seeing the Dawn
After an unusually difficult two months—several lingering illnesses that left me constantly fatigued, my father-in-law’s serious stroke, caring for my mother-in-law—I was feeling tired, stressed, and discouraged. Driving to work, I shed a few tears of self- pity. As I turned to the east, a gorgeous sunrise greeted me. The thin clouds created a golden pink wash against a pale blue sky. Nearer were several larger, thicker clouds. The light behind them, made them appear black.
“Thank you, God,” I whispered, “for the gift of a beautiful sunrise.”
“The darker clouds”, God whispered to my heart, “represent your trials, troubles, and fatigue, tiny compared to the splendor around them. In the midst of your trials I am all around you, surrounding you with my light and my glory—loving you through the hard times.”
As I continued to drive, the sun rose higher, casting its light on the darker clouds in the foreground, turning them a brilliant pink, far brighter than the clouds in the background. “This too shall pass,” the Lord whispered in my heart. “Brighter days are ahead.”
God is with us, through good times and bad. We only need to open our eyes to see him.
Psalm 30:5b “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
“Thank you, God,” I whispered, “for the gift of a beautiful sunrise.”
“The darker clouds”, God whispered to my heart, “represent your trials, troubles, and fatigue, tiny compared to the splendor around them. In the midst of your trials I am all around you, surrounding you with my light and my glory—loving you through the hard times.”
As I continued to drive, the sun rose higher, casting its light on the darker clouds in the foreground, turning them a brilliant pink, far brighter than the clouds in the background. “This too shall pass,” the Lord whispered in my heart. “Brighter days are ahead.”
God is with us, through good times and bad. We only need to open our eyes to see him.
Psalm 30:5b “Weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Saturday, June 4, 2011
My Boat Has Sprung a Leak
Oh Lord, help me—my boat has sprung a leak!
The hole is very small, but the water trickles in.
My bucket scrapes the bottom, scoops the water it can get,
But still the water trickles in; my feet are getting wet!
Oh Lord, help me—my boat has sprung a leak!
The hole has gotten bigger and the water bubbles in.
I fill my bucket full and toss the water overboard.
But still the water bubbles in; my arms now grow like lead.
Oh Lord, help me—my boat has sprung a leak!
I’m bailing and I’m bailing, but the water gushes in.
It’s about to swamp my boat and my back is awfully sore.
Truly I don’t think that I can do this anymore.
Oh Lord, help me—my boat has sprung a leak!
I’m weary from the bailing, and I’m far too weak to swim.
The water churns around me and it takes away my breath.
How do I save myself from certain drowning death?
“Yes, child, I’ll help you—I know about the leak.
I‘ve listened to your prayers, and I know the plight you’re in.
Rest now from your labors; trust Me unconditionally.
You cannot save yourself; salvation comes from Me.”
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