Today...

Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts....  I know that I had a post on this verse just a few days ago.  But Today is another day, a new day, a day that the Lord has made.  Are you rejoicing?  Are you giving Him all the glory?  Have you spoken with Him this morning?  Every day is another day that you can give over to the Lord of the Universe or a day that you can be in charge of yourself.  Which will it be?

"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24 (ESV) This morning and every morning, commit your day to Him.  Allow Him to direct your minutes and your hours.  Let Him decide what is important, what should be done, who should be ministered to, who needs your help today.

"Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the LORD, I teach you today, even you."  Proverbs 22:17-19 (NIV)

"The Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it. It doesn't diminish or weaken over time. It's the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you. From the very first day you heard and recognized the truth of what God is doing, you've been hungry for more. It's as vigorous in you now as when you learned it from our friend and close associate Epaphras. He is one reliable worker for Christ! I could always depend on him. He's the one who told us how thoroughly love had been worked into your lives by the Spirit."  Colossians 1:5 (The Message)

"You've been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you'll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God, Savior of all men and women, especially believers."  1 Timothy 4:6 (The Message)

"Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we're the house! That's why the Holy Spirit says, Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in 'the bitter uprising,' that time of wilderness testing! Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way; over and over they tried my patience. And I was provoked, oh, so provoked! I said, 'They'll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road.'  Exasperated, I vowed, 'They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest.'"  Hebrews 3:6 (The Message)

"So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul. These words keep ringing in our ears: 'Today, please listen; don't turn a deaf ear as in the bitter uprising.'"   Hebrews 3:12 (The Message)

"For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God's goal for us, we need to be careful that we're not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn't do them a bit of good because they didn't receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we'll experience that state of resting. But not if we don't have faith. Remember that God said, Exasperated, I vowed, 'They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest.'  God made that vow, even though he'd finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it's written, 'God rested the seventh day, having completed his work,' but in this other text he says, 'They'll never be able to sit down and rest.' So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient. God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David's psalm, centuries later than the original invitation: 'Today, please listen, don't turn a deaf ear...'"  Hebrews 4:1-7 (The Message)

"And so this is still a live promise. It wasn't canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn't keep renewing the appointment for "today." The promise of "arrival" and "rest" is still there for God's people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we'll surely rest with God. So let's keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience."  Hebrews 4:8 (The Message)

"Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness."  2 Peter 3:11 (The Message)

"For he says, 'In a favorable time I listened to you,and in a day of salvation I have helped you.' Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."  2 Corinthians 6:2 (ESV)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  Hebrews 13:8 (NASB)

Dear Lord,  Thank you that You keep renewing the promise and setting the date as TODAY!  Let us listen to You today; let us ask You what You would have us do today.  Thank you that You are the same yesterday and today and forever.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Is God Speaking?

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."  Romans 1:20 (NIV)

"See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. As has just been said:   'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.^'  Who were they who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? And with whom was he angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the desert? And to whom did God swear that they would never enter his rest if not to those who disobeyed?   So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief."  Hebrews 312-19  (NIV)

If God is speaking, do not harden your hearts.  God can speak to you in a myriad of ways.  He can speak to you through His word, worship, or wonder, but He can also speak to you through the kindness of a friend, through a phrase that you have read somewhere, through a thought that you are thinking through.  He can use anything He wants to speak to you.  How do we know when He is speaking?  The more we are listening, the more likely we are to recognize His voice when He speaks.  What are we listening for?  We are listening for His character, His ways, His will and all according to His word.  It becomes fairly easy to know when He is speaking if you know His voice.  In John 10:27 (ESV) Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

"I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too. They'll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one Shepherd. This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down; I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority personally from my Father." John 10:14-18 (The Message)

"We couldn't be more sure of what we saw and heard—God's glory, God's voice. The prophetic Word was confirmed to us. You'll do well to keep focusing on it. It's the one light you have in a dark time as you wait for daybreak and the rising of the Morning Star in your hearts. The main thing to keep in mind here is that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of private opinion. And why? Because it's not something concocted in the human heart. Prophecy resulted when the Holy Spirit prompted men and women to speak God's Word."  2 Peter 1:19-21 (The Message)

"You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God. You're blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him. That's right—you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road he set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it. Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; Then I'd never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I'm going to do what you tell me to do; don't ever walk off and leave me."  Psalm 119:1-3 (The Message)

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all this."  Proverbs 3:5-12 (The Message)

Dear Lord,  Thank you that Your sheep can hear Your voice.  Help us to listen and follow where ever You lead us.  Teach us to recognize Your voice among  the throng of voices we hear every day.  Teach us Your character, Your ways, Your will, and Your word that we might not harden our hearts when we hear Your Voice today...

Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.com.

Where He leads Me...

This life can take us many places including places very far from the place we call home. I remember the first time we left our home state and moved to the other side of the country. Although it was a move we chose, I never understood how difficult it would be for me until I was there for a while. I loved all of the new experiences especially the first snowfall. I loved meeting the new people in my neighborhood and the school that we selected for our children. I loved the day trips to the Shaker Village, Plimouth Plantation, and Sturbridge Village, all living history museums. But the move was difficult for me because I was a homebody and a creature of habit. I liked knowing my way around and I didn't like getting lost. My first experience driving in the snow was skiddish! I mean I literally went skidding around the road nearly plowing into the side of a car turning left across my path when I wasn't left enough time to come to a full and complete stop in the snow. Thankfully, they made it past and I was able to stop. After that we put an antique iron drill press (I think it was a family heirloom) in the back of the station wagon to prevent fishtailing... And then we had studded snow tires put on.

It was when my neighbor across the street was praising me for finally becoming acclimated to New England that I suddenly realized how hard this had been on me and that I had finally moved on. I asked her what had clued her in to me being used to my new home. What she said surprised me.

"Oh, you don't talk about California very much any more. For months it was, 'In California, we do it this way...' or 'In California, the people are like this...'". She said I talked constantly about California! The odd thing is, I didn't even realize I was doing it! I must have been completely obnoxious...

Within four years, we had to move again, this time not by choice. I was devastated. I had grown to love New England and the people and the weather and the history. I did not want to leave. We put our house on the market, packed up a few bags, and moved to Southern California.

In November, we came back to pack up the house and say good bye to our neighbors and friends. I walked from room to room crying. We had so many happy memories within those walls and some very formative years in the lives of my children had taken place there. And me? I had grown tremendously. I had learned to trust God more, and I had learned to serve Him and His children. I think we depended on Him more because we had to. We didn't have any family or even friends to begin with. We had to rely on the Lord and we found Him completely reliable. We had learned to trust Him for everything.

In less than two years, we were moving again, from Southern California back to Northern California. I thought I had survived those two years quite well although it never felt like home. When the news came that we'd be heading north, I was confused and tired. I think that it was even harder for me than moving back to California because the time frame had been so short and I didn't want to return to the area where I grew up. This is when the song, "Where He leads Me" by Twila Paris became so important to me.

Where He Leads Me

There's a great, broad road * Through the meadow * And many travel there * But I have a gentle shepherd * I would follow anywhere * Up a narrow path * Through the mountains * To the valley far below * To be ever in His presence * Where He leads me I will go * Where He leads me I will go * * And there are many wondrous voices * Day and night they fill the air * But there is one so small and quiet * I would know it anywhere * In the city or in the wilderness * There's a ringing crystal clear * And to be ever close beside Him * When He calls me I will hear * When He calls me I will hear * * There is a great, broad road to nowhere * And so many travel there * But I have a gentle shepherd * I would follow anywhere * Though the journey take me far away * From the place I call my home * To be ever in His presence * Where He leads me I will go * Where He leads me I will go * Where He leads me I will go...

I realized then that as long as I was in His presence, my physical location didn't matter. I knew that when He calls me I will hear and where He leads me I will go...

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23 (KJV)

Dear Lord, Where You lead me, I will follow. When You call me, I will hear.

You Talk, I'll Listen...

Do you have someone in your life that does all the talking? You end up nodding your head or laying the phone down and doing chores while they continue to talk? And they never even noticed that you were gone? Or how about the one that talks right over you on a consistent basis? You can never get a word in edgewise and when you try, it's like talking into the wind... We all have someone like this in our lives but after one such phone (non) conversation, I thought, "I wonder if that is how the Lord feels with me?" Do I do all the talking while He is relegated to just listening. The definition of conversation is: an informal interchange of thoughts, information, etc., by spoken words; oral communication between persons; talk; colloquy. The implication is that a conversation involves the give and take of ideas, thoughts, and information. A conversation should involve at least 2 people! One person should not be doing all of the talking. So I propose that our conversations with God should also be two-way. We should talk to Him but we should also listen! How can you have a real relationship if one person is doing all the talking?

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,I will be exalted in the earth!" Psalm 46:10 (Esv)

"Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8 (ESV)

"O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips." Proverbs 8:5-7 (ESV)

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand." John 10:27-28 (NASB)

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come." John 16:13 (NASB)

"As it is said, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.'" Hebrews 3:15 (ESV)

And finally, "Behold, I stand at the door and know; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20 (NASB)

Dear Lord, Today, let me let You do the talking and I'll do the listening. Open the ears of my heart so that I might hear your truth and discern Your voice. Teach me to be still and know that You are God.