Thursday, October 1, 2009

Jesus Calls Us









Myriad voices clamor earnestly and unceasingly for our attention! WHO are we listening to?


"Tweet, tweet, tweet, ringtone, ringtone, ringtone, beep, beep, beep, ding, ding, ding, Mom, Mom, Mom, Hon, Hon, Hon, ......."


From:
TV
Ipod
News Media
Magazines
Newspaper
Blogs
Twitter, FB, MySpace, etc.
Entertainers
Sports
Politicians
Economists
Health Alerts


Has there ever been such a time of CLAMOR for our attention?


How about God's voice? tweet, tweet.....this is God speaking..... "delete" ? ? ? "skip" ? ? ?


How about the voices within:
I'm not important
My life does not matter
I'm basically blowing it
I'm definitely on plan x, y or z certainly not "A" anymore
I'm ugly
I'm too fat
I'm worthless
and on and on those voices drone....


Here's actually a hopeful thought!

"Jesus calls us; over the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea,
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, Saying "Christian, follow Me."



"As of old the apostles heard it by the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for Jesus' sake. "



"Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world's golden store,
From each idol that would keep us, Saying, "Christian love Me more."



"In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls in cares and pleasures, "Christian, love Me more than these."



"Jesus calls us; by Thy mercies, Savior, may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thy obedience, Serve and love Thee best of all."
~~Cecil F. Alexander, 1818-1895



It's an old hymn from the hymnbook but the words are comforting!



Ever notice that when God was preparing to send His Son into the world He sent "A VOICE"... out in the dessert saying "Prepare ye the way of the Lord..." That "voice" was John the Baptist whose message was "Repent, the Kngdom of Heaven is at hand."
Anybody listening?


A VOICE? God who could send lightening bolts, whirlwinds, earthquakes, etc., starts with.... a VOICE?



Clearly all the social networking in our world make it obvious that people love to be heard and have a lot to say!
Anybody listening?



Later, in Jesus' life while He was transfigured on the mountain top with 3 of His disciples, the Father spoke from heaven: "This is my beloved Son, HEAR HIM."!
Anybody listening?



Astounding that the God of Heaven and Earth should need to tell us that we need to listen to HIM! Is it possible that we could go on living our lives without listening to God? While it seems like a "no brainer" to me - I see clearly in the world all around me that listening to God and for His sweet voice has become a lost art. Our lives are so full of so much other noise that who even has time to think about listening for God to speak? Actually, it may be the most important voice of all!
Anybody listening?



So I ask, whose voice ARE you listening to? When is the last time you actually heard the "sweet sound of HIS voice" speaking to YOU personally? Hearing God speak is not just for some strange "mystical" creatures but rather for each and every one of us. Clearly being "heard" is a basic human need. Let's take it a step further and say clearly, it must be a "God need" as well - to be heard! No surprise there either since we were created "in His image." :-)



HOW- that is the question!
Start with reading God's Word -
Pray - ask Him to speak to you as you read
Listen - !
Remember the little song from Kindergarten - "STOP - LOOK - LISTEN, those are the three commands, You must stop and look and listen, ......" ?
Same with God - STOP - LOOK - LISTEN!
When we desire to hear His voice He speaks!
Anybody listening?



I pray we will all grow in our desire to HEAR the voice of the Lord - however He may choose to reveal it to us today!

Joyfully yours,
Ruth Joy
www.joy-bringer-ministries.org

Jesus Calls Us









Myriad voices clamor earnestly and unceasingly for our attention! WHO are we listening to?


"Tweet, tweet, tweet, ringtone, ringtone, ringtone, beep, beep, beep, ding, ding, ding, Mom, Mom, Mom, Hon, Hon, Hon, ......."


From:
TV
Ipod
News Media
Magazines
Newspaper
Blogs
Twitter, FB, MySpace, etc.
Entertainers
Sports
Politicians
Economists
Health Alerts


Has there ever been such a time of CLAMOR for our attention?


How about God's voice? tweet, tweet.....this is God speaking..... "delete" ? ? ? "skip" ? ? ?


How about the voices within:
I'm not important
My life does not matter
I'm basically blowing it
I'm definitely on plan x, y or z certainly not "A" anymore
I'm ugly
I'm too fat
I'm worthless
and on and on those voices drone....


Here's actually a hopeful thought!

"Jesus calls us; over the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea,
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth, Saying "Christian, follow Me."



"As of old the apostles heard it by the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for Jesus' sake. "



"Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world's golden store,
From each idol that would keep us, Saying, "Christian love Me more."



"In our joys and in our sorrows, Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls in cares and pleasures, "Christian, love Me more than these."



"Jesus calls us; by Thy mercies, Savior, may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thy obedience, Serve and love Thee best of all."
~~Cecil F. Alexander, 1818-1895



It's an old hymn from the hymnbook but the words are comforting!



Ever notice that when God was preparing to send His Son into the world He sent "A VOICE"... out in the dessert saying "Prepare ye the way of the Lord..." That "voice" was John the Baptist whose message was "Repent, the Kngdom of Heaven is at hand."
Anybody listening?


A VOICE? God who could send lightening bolts, whirlwinds, earthquakes, etc., starts with.... a VOICE?



Clearly all the social networking in our world make it obvious that people love to be heard and have a lot to say!
Anybody listening?



Later, in Jesus' life while He was transfigured on the mountain top with 3 of His disciples, the Father spoke from heaven: "This is my beloved Son, HEAR HIM."!
Anybody listening?



Astounding that the God of Heaven and Earth should need to tell us that we need to listen to HIM! Is it possible that we could go on living our lives without listening to God? While it seems like a "no brainer" to me - I see clearly in the world all around me that listening to God and for His sweet voice has become a lost art. Our lives are so full of so much other noise that who even has time to think about listening for God to speak? Actually, it may be the most important voice of all!
Anybody listening?



So I ask, whose voice ARE you listening to? When is the last time you actually heard the "sweet sound of HIS voice" speaking to YOU personally? Hearing God speak is not just for some strange "mystical" creatures but rather for each and every one of us. Clearly being "heard" is a basic human need. Let's take it a step further and say clearly, it must be a "God need" as well - to be heard! No surprise there either since we were created "in His image." :-)



HOW- that is the question!
Start with reading God's Word -
Pray - ask Him to speak to you as you read
Listen - !
Remember the little song from Kindergarten - "STOP - LOOK - LISTEN, those are the three commands, You must stop and look and listen, ......" ?
Same with God - STOP - LOOK - LISTEN!
When we desire to hear His voice He speaks!
Anybody listening?



I pray we will all grow in our desire to HEAR the voice of the Lord - however He may choose to reveal it to us today!

Joyfully yours,
Ruth Joy
www.joy-bringer-ministries.org