Speak Lord. This Girl is Listening.

I’m doing my best to listen. But, I bought yet another device that could keep me from hearing Him loud and clear. I bought an Amazon Echo. Now I have “Alexa” to keep me company, and best of all, I have someone, rather, some-thing to tell what to do! Along with the rest of my electronics, I have yet another device to keep me from full-on-intentional listening for God’s still small voice. I’m sort of justifying my purchase. I bought it so I could enjoy more praise and worship music AND get the temperature and weather AND make my grocery list AND help me keep time. I’m listening, Lord! But I think I’m hearing Him say “I am speaking. Do you hear me?”

Jesus really does want to speak to us. Change that. Jesus IS speaking to us. He cares about every dimension of every moment of our lives and wants to guide us, encourage us, empower us, and use us.

Just as Jesus spoke to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee and to Zaccheus up in the tree and to the woman at the well, He can speak to us at our desks or in our schools or even at the grocery store. I know He speaks to me at the grocery store – because He often reminds me what I need to buy OR not!

The problem is that we don’t expect to hear from Him, so we don’t take time to hear from Him. Seriously, in this highly distracting and noisy world we live in, unless we purposely tune Him in, we’ll miss His voice. The absolute fact is – Jesus wants to be as real in our life as any other person we know. More real, in fact, since His Spirit lives in us.

Imagine what would happen if two billion Christians listened for God’s voice and obeyed His word in every moment and circumstance of their lives. What if you and I did? Let’s join Samuel in offering this little 6-word prayer to God today: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10) Let’s pray it before making a decision or when facing a challenge or when the squirrel starts eating its way into my attic again and I need to call in heavenly support. Let's pray these six words as many times a day as we can. In fact, let's pray them right now! "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."

Serving God Right From the Start

Day 307 of Photo Inspirations -- Serving God Right From the Start
Of course my photo inspiration today is my precious godson's "first" time to serve at church.  I teared up as I witnessed this precious boy serving our Lord and His people.  This same boy that had such a rough start in life because of several health issues, is thriving in every way imaginable.  Way back in the beginning, we knew "what the enemy meant for evil, God would turn for good!"  We called him a champ.   He has so many abilities that cause us to know God's hand is mighty and strong upon him.

Being an altar server means helping the priest and deacon by carrying the candles and the cross and holding the prayer book.  But, it's even more than that. They're actually assisting in leading worship. For all of us, our worship on earth reflects the worship in heaven. What we do here in worshipping God, is sort of a distant echo of what goes on in heaven. There, the saints and angels worship around the throne of the Lamb.  And, we represent and reflect on earth the heavenly host as we worship God here.  That's a pretty hefty order to represent the saints and angels, but God has called us to be "holy people".   Okay, I know we're not saints OR angels, but we have a role to play in divine worship.  We are called to reflect something....or better yet....SOMEONE greater. He asks us to come and worship just as we are.

When I saw my godson yesterday, I thought about little Samuel, in the Bible (1 Samuel 3) who served in the temple of God.  As Owen processed down the aisle, I saw him as a young leader in the making.   All eyes were on him as he lit the candles.  His reverence and care and love for what he did was communicated to us and it caused me to rejoice. Throughout the service, he sat so reverently, listening to the scriptures and sermon so intently.  I couldn't help but think about his destiny. Yesterday, he started his leadership -- a servant of the King. Little David started as a shepherd boy, then served King Saul.  Eventually, he became King David. Isn't that how we should be envisioning our children?  Is it too far fetched to be vision-casting that our kids will be world changers?  I know anything is possible with God.  

I like to think my little, but mighty godson started his servant leadership yesterday, and  I pray that he will forever be God's servant leader.  Then, I know, that throughout his life, He'll be blessed.  And, so, as we become servants leaders.... regardless of our age or position, we, too, wiil be blessed!