Tag: listen

BUILDING TRUST

“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.”  –Fred Rogers

 

A music director of a church congregation shared this quote. He was having surgery for cancer the following day. What wisdom can we take away from the quote?

 

 

 

While reflecting on this quote, I couldn’t help but think how God is the perfect model for us.

When we turn to God in our brokenness as we go through trials or when life’s problems seem to overwhelm us, doesn’t God…

…welcome us in the safety of His arms as we share our hearts with Him?
  His huge outstretched arms protect you – under them you’re perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.  –Psalm 91:4  (MSG)

…listen to us with His heart?
  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  –Jeremiah 29:12  (NIV)

…let us know we can trust Him?
  Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.  –Psalm 62:8  (NIV)

…send us encouragement, be it a blessing in nature or a passage in the Word?
  For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  –Isaiah 41:13  (NIV)

…assure us He is with us?
 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  –Joshua 1:9  (ESV)

 

Photo courtesy of Eric Holmes under Creative Commons License (CC0 1.0)

 

What a treasure it is in our lives when, especially in our distress, we first turn to God to share with Him. Knowing that God is always there for us, listening to us, comforting us, and encouraging us gives us true peace. As we trust the Lord more and more, we realize we are never alone. God is with us in the most difficult of circumstances.

It is always an extra blessing to see the people God puts in our path who model those Godly attributes in the human form. Sometimes we need that human connection to feel God’s grace even more in our lives.

Can you think of people who provide that for you?
Who comes to you knowing you are there for them?

 

This week may you be encouraged to…
…reach out to God and share your heart when life is tough, and you need a reminder you are not alone.
…look for faithful, trustworthy humans who will be there when you need them.
…seek ways you can improve yourself in building trust with others.
…praise God by the way you respect and honor those in your path by meeting them in their need.

 

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.  –1 Peter 1:22  (NIV)

FIND THE BLESSING

The sharing here this week is a result of listening to a friend of mine, over coffee recently, sharing an experience she encountered.  We were trying to understand and process the how and whys of it.  In fact, she suggested it might make an interesting write up, so here goes…..

 

Have you ever been in a situation when you felt like you needed someone to share a burden or even a personal prayer request with?  Where you were just at a breaking point feeling overwhelmed dealing with heartbreaking circumstances? Continue reading “FIND THE BLESSING”

SHARE THE PAIN

Each day we encounter people who are hurting deeply, struggling to find their way; dealing with pain in some fashion.

In fact, I think it is safe to say that we all experience pain or some type of heartache at different times in our life. None of us are exempt. Continue reading “SHARE THE PAIN”

TRUE FRIENDS

What attributes come to mind when you think of a true friend?

I think we can learn some attributes of a true friend from thinking about:

–The example Jesus gave us

–Our relationship with Him

–And our own friends who might mirror Christ to us.

Remember too, that a friendship works both ways…

–It is a blessing to have true friends

–And, we have the honor of being true friends to others.

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Photo credit by MICHELLE TEGROOTENHUIS under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

A true friend is:

–Someone who really CARES what is happening in your life

–Someone who WALKS WITH YOU whether you are hurting or happy

–Someone who LISTENS to you with all his/her heart

–Someone who SHARES your ups and downs

–Someone who makes you SMILE and LAUGH

–Someone you can DEPEND on to support you especially in the struggles

–Someone you can TALK to about anything and everything

–Someone who shares their FAITH with you to help you grow

–Someone who ENCOURAGES you in your walk

–Someone who CHALLENGES you to be a better you

–Someone who UNDERSTANDS what you are saying

–Someone who shows COMPASSION when you need it most

–Someone who PRAYS with and for you

–Someone who REACHES OUT to you and forgets about their own needs.

I thank the Lord for His gift and example of being a true friend to us and for the special true friends He has placed in my pathway to share my life with.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.   –John 15:12-15 (NIV)

MARTHA or MARY?

One of the many great stories from the Bible that Jesus teaches us some life lessons is found in Luke 10:38-42 about the story of Martha and Mary. Hearing and reflecting on this story is always a good thing for me.

At the Home of Martha and Mary

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (NIV)

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                                    Photo: God’s beauty in Bermuda

Let’s take a closer look to see what lessons we might be able to incorporate into our daily lives by looking at Martha and Mary and what Jesus had to say about them.

Martha:

–Opened her home to the Lord

–Distracted by preparations

–Worried and upset about many things

–Approached Jesus to ask if He cared that Mary was not helping

–Wanted Jesus to tell Mary to help with the preparations

–Thought Mary should be busy doing the same things as she was around the house

Mary:

–Did not busy herself with doing things around the house

–Sat at the Lord’s feet

–Listened to what Jesus was saying

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus himself said to Martha:

“But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 (NIV)

I don’t know about you, but I am definitely a Martha as far as trying to always “do” things, especially in the home.

It seems like there are always distractions calling my name, probably like most wives and mothers, and those husbands or fathers who are primary keepers of the house and children.

*Working

*Grocery shopping

*Planning and coordinating of schedules

*Dishes

*Cleaning

*Paperwork

*Bills to pay

*Running children to different events & attending too

*Planning and making meals

*Volunteer work

and the list goes on and on.

But, I must add a disclaimer here….The Lord has definitely blessed me, allowing me to work part-time since the kids came along, AND with a wonderful eldest child who assists me with taking care of so many tasks around the house which allows me more time to sit at the feet of Jesus and spend time writing about Him.

So often, it feels like if I’m not DOING, I’m not being productive or useful.

Reflecting on this story is a great thing to do…

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Photo credit by Unlocking the Bible under Creative Commons License (CC BY-ND 2.0)

**To remember that finding ways to listen and spend time with Jesus are most important….

–Through prayer, which can really be done at any time….I enjoy doing it while driving places

–Through reading Scripture

–Through attending retreats, seminars

–Through small group sharings

–Through Bible studies

–Through visiting the sick, lonely, poor

–Through writings to inspire others in their walk with the Lord

–Through sharing with other Christian friends who can encourage and inspire us

–Through listening to inspiring, worship music.

I think the challenge is to be like both Martha and Mary and to keep that BALANCE in our lives. What a great story to remind us of what is really important in this life!

A GIFT TO GIVE

Most of the time, New Yorkers look after their elderly citizens

Photo credit by Ed Yourdon under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

A smile will do so much

   to brighten someone’s day.

And a hug will make such

   a warm difference in today.

You might send a card

   that says just what you feel.

And the receiver won’t find it hard

   to make the feeling lasting and real.

If you listen for awhile,

   you’ll show someone you care.

When you see that smile,

   you’ll know the problem’s easier to bear.

So let’s begin today

 and reach out in God’s love,

To brighten someone else’s day

   with graces from above.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
–1 John 4:7

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Photo credit by BK under Creative Common License (CC BY-2.0)

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  –Galatians 6:3

FOLLOW YOUR HEART

Are you aware of that still, small voice deep inside of you that helps direct your path?  Do you try to listen to it and follow where it leads? The Holy Spirit is within us helping us to follow God’s leading.

I think it is important to follow your heart, that still, small voice, not necessarily what society thinks is right or correct. We might have to endure hardship because of our choices but that is better than going against where God is leading.

There was one major time in my life when after much prayer, and weighing pros & cons, I ended up following my heart rather than do what was expected. It was a difficult thing to do as I am not one to go against what is expected, but I had to follow my heart and trust God that it was the “right” decision for my life.

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Photo credit by pocketful of perspective under Creative Commons License (by-nc-nd/2.0)

Recently a conversation with a friend made me think about how I followed my heart in another life choice I made. The friend believes there was a choice in my past that was not the “correct” one.  The choice was a difficult one but one that I still stand by. In my heart, I feel it was the “right” decision for my life. Yes, it still had some repercussions but it was more important to follow God’s leading.

Can you think of some incidents in your life where you followed the Holy Spirit’s prompting? Try to be more aware of that small, still voice in your life and follow it. It is so worth the hardships you may endure for going against the norm.

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.”  –Hebrews 3:7-8