"He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught." - Isaiah 50:4
Interesting, I started my day just a bit different today. Since I decided to do this I wanted to make sure, to the best of my ability, that the words I share are “inspired” and not coming from me or ego. Despite the need for affirmation, which is a normal human desire, I don’t want God’s purpose to get blurred. I subscribe to several daily devotionals and to tell the truth despite I rarely read them. Yes that sounds hypocritical. It’s because I AM a HYPOCRITE! It’s not that I want to be It that who I want to be and who I am just aren’t in sync! Most people use the excuse that they don’t believe or go to church because it is full of hypocrites! Of course! The world is FULL of hypocrites, those who both have and don’t have spiritual beliefs. It is so easy to say anything …it’s a whole different story living. So my story is the truth, as I see it.
Anyway, I told you I wasn’t a writer so it’s easy for me to get off on tangents. I’m trying. What was different this morning? I asked God to guide me first and then read this email from Time With God….Right on target! It’s copyrighted so I will write today and ask if I can have permission to quote it on occasion but for today I’ll just include it on bottom and if you are interested the website is there to subscribe yourself…the also have a really awesome (free) spiritual gifts analysis.
Back to story at hand. I have a few trusted friends that I have been emailing concerning these journal notes and one suggested I try and not hurry and just be who I am. I agree. I know most people have short attention spans so until I get to some of the dirt keeping your attention won’t be easy. I also BELIEVE that’s NOT MY JOB! Whoever actually IS REACHED is being called by HIM not ME so I’ll just obey.
Another quick note is that I know a lot of you may leave Facebook because of the conflict with Zynga games so I am going to transfer my notes later today to a blog and that will give you the option to subscribe to it or not although I will still post here as well. I really don’t want to “preach” I want to share. But I know it appears pushy to many so again I am just following what I believe I am lead to do.
The Beginning:
I have to say I come from a fascinating family and background. My parents are long gone but I can only pray that they are with God. They lived the fast lane and I can’t remember any discussions on God except vague impressions that God was only for weak people who could make it in THIS WORLD. Later, I will share that I could be wrong because shame and guilt, I’m certain, grew in them faster than cancer also.
Dad first. You are also welcome to look him up because he was a very famous man in his time. Robert “Bob” Sylvester, writer and drama critic for the New York Daily News for around 40 years. He wrote several books and a few movies including the Joe Lewis Story. The title of his last book really sums up so much though….Notes of a Guilty Bystander…. He was born in 1907and passed away in the 70’s – I found out he had died on the TV news. So much to say…and I miss him so much. Death certificate says Heart Attack …life says alcoholism.
I need to slow down here.
I had him for the first 16 years of my life and wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world. He never deliberately hurt a soul except himself but he was tortured by his addiction. I remember that well even though it is well over 35 years ago. He was never able to break the chains of his addiction and I grew up not understanding that. . I know he tried because I remember him “on and off the wagon” as it used to be referred to, all of my childhood. The world speaks so much of will power ---so it is easy to judge people who have obvious outward flaws and weaknesses. I believe though… if people were really honest then they would have to admit they to suffered from SOMETHING… there is an area in everyone that suffers a uncontrollable weakness! It is just easier for some people to hide. It took me forever for me to find this out for myself. I, like him, blamed myself for not being “strong” enough to overcome my many flaws and I believed I was at just BAD…. It took me until I was over 30 to find out I don’t HAVE THE POWER but God does.
More later…..
The following in BOLD comes from Prime Time With God
reply-to info@churchgrowth.org
to karinsoderstrom@comcast.net
date Fri, May 14, 2010 at 1:47 AM
subject TGIF: A Two-Way Relationships from
Today's Prayer
Dear God, I want to feel your presence in my life in a greater way. I want more of you, to draw closer to you. I want to keep my priorities straight, to have my sight focused on you and my life to revolve around you. Please help me to balance my life--my work, church, family, friends, ministry time, and devotional time with you. Please give me wisdom and strength to do what is right in all that I must do. And I thank you, God, for guiding me and blessing me in so many ways, and for working in me to do your good will. In Jesus' name I pray and praise you. Amen.
A Two-Way Relationship
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
"He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught." - Isaiah 50:4b
The prophet Isaiah describes his relationship to God as a relationship that has two-way communication. Have you ever felt that your communication with God was only one way - you to Him only? Isaiah tells us, "The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary.... The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back" (Is. 50:4-5).
The key to Isaiah's relationship with God lies in four important principles:
1. He had an instructed tongue. Isaiah had given over rule of his life completely to God's purposes.
2. He knew the word of the Lord, which allowed him to sustain and encourage others.
3. He took time to listen.
4. He did not flee from the tough assignments. He didn't shrink back.
If we are to be able to listen to God, we must follow the same principles. Knowing and spending time studying God's Word allows the Holy Spirit to bring to mind His instructions for what He wants for us. Recently, I became very busy in my work and other activities. It wasn't long before I felt distance between God and me. I had to make a conscious decision to carve out more time alone to listen, study, and meditate on His Word. This is the lifeline for the follower of Jesus. When we begin to lose the relationship, we are susceptible to becoming rebellious, going our own way. Invest your life in this relationship so that you may continue to hear His voice and sustain the weary ones around you.
Today God Is First (TGIF) devotional message, Copyright by Os HillmanFriday, May 14, 2010
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