Email forwards, Listening and God

A very good friend sent this to me recently. I have read it before and forwarded before but this time I paused to read it and think about it. Before I continue, please take a moment to read another persons forward.

This will give you the chills........ GOOD chills. A young man had been to Wednesday Night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, 'Does God still speak to people?' After service, he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different people talked about how God had led them in different ways. It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, 'God...If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey.' As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought to stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, 'God is that you?' He didn't get a reply and started on toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk. The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. 'Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk.' It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home. As he passed Seventh Street, he again felt the urge, 'Turn Down that street.' This is crazy he thought, and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down Seventh Street. At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, 'Okay, God, I will.'He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in a semi- commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed. Again, he sensed something, 'Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street.' The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. 'Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid.' Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk. Finally, he opened the door, 'Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something, but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here.' He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, 'Who is it? What do you want?' Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. 'What is it?' The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, 'Here, I brought this to you.' The man took the milk and rushed down a hallway. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half crying, 'We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk.' His wife in the kitchen yelled out, 'I ask him to send an Angel with some. Are you an Angel?' The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers prayers.

(THIS IS A SIMPLE TEST.... If you believe that God is alive and well, send this to at least ten people and the person that sent it to you!!!!!!!! This is so true. Sometimes it's the simplest things that God asks us to do that cause us, if we are obedient to what He's asking, to be able to hear. His voice more clear than ever. Please listen, and obey! It will bless you (and the world). Phil 4:13 This is an easy test - you score 100 or zero. It's your choice. If you aren't ashamed to do this, please follow the directions. Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father.' Not ashamed...Pass this on. )

I am not ashamed of believing in God. Nor am I ashamed in passing this along. My point is the listening. The most difficult part of listening is the noise in today's society. Noise from the street, radios, friends, children, TV and more. There is noise in our minds and hearts. Noise that stems from worry, anxiety, fear, happiness, etc. All of those ricocheting emotions that we experience daily.

Taking time to peacefully listen to the world and self will enable us to hear God. Whether that is through meditation, prayer, quiet walks or just plain turning off the radio when driving. I think that if I try to do that I may experience less stress. More time for myself (that I crave).

Maybe I will even hear God.

Dancing in my Dreams

You know that commercial where the young man is walking on the sidewalk and his shadow is dancing. I have the same day dream. Except in my day dream, I am spinning, arms open wide, in a field of daisies under a bright blue sky. So what if in my heart I'm a flower child.

Tomorrow I have decided to indulge a dream. I have been dreaming of travel. Buying a camper and driving the country. Stopping for long periods and really exploring. Spending time with family -- building memories.

Fridays is my day with my son. We spend the whole day together. So I am going to go camper shopping. Granted we are no position to buy a camper right now. But I want to continue my fantasy. I think it is important to have that fantasy. Believe in that dream.

It's worth a half tank of gas.

And Another One

Now that life is taking a turn for me I hope to blog more often. I slowed down over the summer -- taking the time to enjoy my family. The kids are in school and I am ready to write again. In fact, I need to write again. So postings will become more frequent and cover a variety of topics. This is actually a good outlet for me. Cathartic.

Live Like Your Dying

I want to live like I’m dying.

Or so the saying goes. I think it’s a title, saying or maybe a phrase. I’m not sure which. Not that it matters.

I understand the above phrase. It’s about living. I want to know how to live when you are dying.

So many people would say to me -- you are not dying. And they would be right. But so would I.

In the logical part of my brain I understand that part of this is my depression talking. I know that these negative thoughts is depression weighing on me. I think that I have a right to that just now.

I have every right to rage, cry, bitch, complain and mope. I have all of those feelings and more. Because what I am facing just plain sucks. No two ways about it. Sucks.

Putting aside that right, I also know that somehow I have to comes to terms with how I live now. Another part of that logical part of my brain. How do I live knowing there is a time bomb waiting to explode?

I am seeking help. I started antidepressants. I am seeing a psychologist. I am reaching out to friends. And talking with my family. All the right steps.

The negative thoughts are starting diminish. There is still work to do. I still need to adjust to life in this new reality.

I thought I was taking it all pretty well but the day to day boredom got to me in face of what I want to do. I don’t have the adrenaline of the immediate threat to get me through.. Now I have the day to day everdayness looking at me. I want more.

But that’s another blog.