God still speaks today! Are you listening?

I am blessed.
I am renewed in my relationship with God right now. I don't know about anyone else- but I am very easily "religious". What I mean by that is that I can easily boil my relationship with God down,falsely, to a ritual of routines. I find it easy to forget that I am in a relationship with a living God- who can and will communicate personally with me.
(I was reminded of this probably most explicitly by Chuck Maher of Grace Harvest Church who came to talk to our group about listening to God.)

I don't know about you- but I can even tend to forget who I am praying to. It becomes a language of familiarity- God help me to get through today- or help me with my responsibilities or thank you for such and such. It kind of took me back afresh thinking that God can and will speak to me (and you!). God actually listens to our prayers. He know what we are asking even before we ask the Scriptures tell us. He is also in the business of speaking to us to affirm us and encourage us- (and sometimes to correct us too!)What an awesome God we serve- how blessed we are to serve Him.

Most recently Jesus has spoken to me "Trust me".
This seems like a fairly warm and fuzzy message on the surface- yet underneath as I ponder it- it is a life changing one. Jesus is asking me to trust him- not only with the easy stuff or stuff I already do trust him with- but in all areas of my life- even those where I need to be free- in areas of my life and heart where I hold fear or mistrust. Anywhere in my heart where I hold on to posessions or sin as a way to meet my needs instead of Jesus is what he is asking me to trust Him.
What I found has had the most impact on me through these two words: is who it is that is speaking them. Jesus Christ- King of Kings, Almighty God, - humble servant who loves me. I know that what he wants and plans for me is the very best for me- and to make me more like him and to be a light in this dark world- he is now challenging and calling lovingly for me to walk Him and only Him. Fully; completely. I am ready to take new steps Jesus- help me overcome my unbelief!

Are you trusting Him with every part of your heart? With every part of your mind? With all your strength? plans? everything?

Blessed by Blunders

Ever feel like you are getting ahead on something? Ever feel like you are getting one up on the world- only to figure out that you are actually further behind?
I just did that. I came home after Youth Group and Coffee afterwards. I then decided to get a jump on writing the Sermon for Sunday morning. I went through the passage- actually the whole chapter of 1st Thessalonians. I prayed beforehand and started writing. It felt like a really productive time. This would mean that a bit of the pressure I feel about getting it mapped out before Saturday (when I often do most of my work on writing) would be out of the way.

It did seem to me- not entirely familiar- (as I just read the passage I was preaching on the other day.) I just dismissed those thoughts of unfamiliarity as late night-itus or something. Afterall I was using a different translation than what I read it in last week. After spending about an hour on this- and finishing the mapping out part- (and feeling great) I decided to look up the 1st Chapter of 2nd Thessalonanians. By now you are guessing what is coming next! Uhm... it is 2nd Thessalonains that I am preaching from. LOL or Cry Out loud?! I ought to doubt any thoughts that are in my mind that claim to be getting ahead as almost invariably they are wrong.

Well, in any case- should the occaision arise - I am ready to preach from 1st Thessalonians now- and I was really blessed by God's Word in the process.
I did this once before at Taylor College. I prepared the Sermon on an entirely different text than I was supposed to. I guess the silver lining is that I figured it out now and not Sunday Morning at about 10:55. Anyone in need of a sermon on 1st Thessalonians Chapter 1?

I'm Spiderman!

Hey Phil- I'm Spiderman.

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man 80% Green Lantern 75% The Flash 70% Iron Man 65% Hulk 60% Catwoman 55% Robin 53% Batman 50% Wonder Woman 43% Superman 40% Supergirl 38%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...


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