Interrupted

 

(picture from ar.inspiredpencil .com)

When our hearing gets interrupted… by the voice of the holy God.

I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m often listening to what’s going on in my own head more than to what’s going on around me.

I hear the voice of God when He speaks to me.

Sometimes.

The voice of God, as well as the voices of the people around me often fades away as I contemplate my own thoughts. I’m guessing that might be true for a lot of us. Talk to me while I’m reading a book? Don’t expect me to respond. I can get lost in what I’m reading. Sometimes I’m focusing hard to understand what I’m reading, sometimes I’m imagining the scenes unfolding around me as I delve into a story.

There are many times I don’t seem focused at all; times I seem to tune out and disconnect from the world around me. That might be normal too, in a world where there are so many distractions thrown at us from every direction. Maybe that’s why I love hiking through the mountains, it’s easier to disconnect from the world out there. Do I bring my phone? Of course! I have to take pictures of the beauty that surrounds me! Or do I? Sometimes God interrupts my glee with a whisper suggesting that maybe I don’t take a picture of that flower or mountain view or creek bed – that He made it just for me to enjoy, not to share. Sometimes I think He creates certain flowers just for me. I can almost feel His hug as I bask in His beauty, like it’s just the two of us and the rest of the world spins on without us.

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I believe God is always communicating with us, whether through nature, His written Word, a voice we “feel” or even in an audible voice. He speaks to us through the people around us, He speaks to us through circumstances, He talks to us through the stories we find in history. He speaks through science. He shouts through the arts. Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything He can’t use to speak through. As He relates to us, He’s always seeking to draw us closer to Himself, where He can protect us and keep us safe and love on us more intimately.

Sometimes, whether we’re listening or not, He interrupts us.

Have you ever been working diligently at something, then absent-mindedly looked up from what you were focused on to gasp in wonder at the sight of something (or someone) beautiful?

Have you ever been worried or concerned about a situation, only to discover the solution was within you the whole time?

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Have you ever been so staunchly convinced that your viewpoint was correct, then suddenly realized that you were looking at it wrong, that your perspective was off, all without anyone needing to persuade you?

Have you ever been sincerely praying for someone from the depths of your heart, then furrowed your brows, almost in confusion as you began to pray in a different direction?

God’s interruptions can be gentle or abrupt. He will surprise us, maybe taking us in a new direction, and He will confirm things for us – sometimes all in the same breath.

The only lenses we can see through are the ones we’ve seen through in the past, until we’re interrupted with a new lens.

This is one of the many exciting benefits of having the God of the Universe living within us!

And yes, He interrupts those who don’t know Him yet, too. His interruptions will captivate our hearts and on some (maybe unknown) level, we’ll feel His love quieting our hearts and healing our wounds and guiding and directing us through His perfect peace.

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“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord.” 

– Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV)

His thoughts are not ours – but He’ll share them with us! Hallelujah!

Tell me about some of your divine interruptions. Where has God turned you around – or simply surprised you?

How Did We Not Know?

 

(picture from lovethispic.com)

I’ve been exploring “the lies we believe”. This may take forever.

There are plenty of sources for news around the nation and across the globe, which ones do we trust? Personally, I think they all stretch the truth or spin it to their own advantage or to back up their viewpoint. It happens on a local level, too. Putting a spin on the truth has been around since the Serpent lied to Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Pick a day or evening this week when your schedule allows, and sit down with your Bible in your lap, close your eyes for a minute and ask your heavenly Father to show you what lies you believe. He may have you pick up that Bible and show your in specific verses, or He may whisper to your heart. He may not seem to respond at all, but the next morning, you may read it in a devotional, or hear it from a friend. You’ll know it when you hear it.

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You may want to do this once a week, because we all believe things that simply are not true. He won’t dump everything on us at once, it would overwhelm us. And we may think He’s dismissing us when He only reveals one lie at a time, but He knows how long we’ll need to process these revelations.

Years ago, I discovered that not everything I believe is actually true. Yes, it came as quite a surprise to me. I dared to test the thought by asking God, “What lie am I believing?” (As if there was just one.) Immediately, He replied, “That Joanne (my sister) is the pretty one.” Joanne is beautiful; the lie was tucked into my beliefs was that she was the pretty one and I was the ugly one. I giggled. I’m pretty, too? The lies may be that simple. And the revelation that joyful.

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Or, the lies may center around doctrine we’ve been taught, or about a relationship we’re in, or some other life fact that we somehow got wrong. Those kinds of revelations can be a crushing blow.

Either way, lie by lie – truth by truth, we’ll be set free. We might cry tears of fear or tears of joy. Not to worry; He’ll wipe away our tears and show us the truth. And as the saying goes, the truth will set us free.

“And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces…” – Isaiah 25:8

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:23                        

(picture from lovethispic.com)

Marvel - ous!

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There’s a story in the Bible that always catches my attention, one that sends my brain into a tizzy of ponderings.


When you’re in the presence of someone you perceive to have greatness, there’s a secret longing in your heart to capture their attention, if only for a moment.


While at a Reba McIntire concert a few years back, my youngest son screamed out to her from the crowd at the foot of the stage, “I love you Reba!” To his great pleasure, she looked right at him, pointed and said, “I love you, too, darlin’!” For an instant, he had Reba McIntire’s attention. He’ll cherish the memory forever. Reba? Maybe not. She just doesn’t know the greatness of my son!


The Bible story (here) is one that most of us will quickly recall. Jesus was talking with a crowd of people when an unnamed Centurion approached Him, asking for healing for his servant. Jesus made Himself immediately available and said that He’d come heal the servant. The Centurion stopped the whole incident in an instant when he stated simply that he wasn’t worthy of the Master’s presence in His home, but that because of Jesus’s authority, His Word would be enough to heal the servant. 


What happened next? 
What was the reaction on Jesus’s face? 
Where did the conversation go after such a statement?


We don’t get to see the faces in the crowd, or of the disciples, but we can conjure up imagery of what splashed across the face of Jesus. The Bible tells us that He marveled.


Ponder that.


Jesus marveled. 

Jesus marveled over the faith of a believer. Other versions of the Bible say that Jesus was amazed, or that He was astonished, or taken aback; surprised.


We don’t have any record of this Centurion ever interacting with Jesus again. 

The story is brief, but always commands my attention, every single time I read it. How could I make Jesus marvel? What about my faith would cause amazement to rise up on His face?


What was it about this Centurion’s faith that allowed him to take Jesus at His Word?


We don’t read that he sat at the feet of Jesus, listening intently to every teaching He shared. We don’t have any other account of how this guy chose to believe on Jesus, but he clearly demonstrates faith like few of us have, or have even seen.


If we could grasp ahold of this, and simply believe, like the Centurion, we might just cause Jesus to marvel. And we’ll definitely see what we ask for come to pass, because this is the kind of faith Jesus is looking for. 

Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being sure of what we do not see. - Hebrews 11:1 (NIRV)


Who believes like this?

Pretty Woman

(Photo from dreamstime.com)

Lately, I’ve been overwhelmed from every direction with messages about God’s grace.

Andrew Wommack calls the gospel of God’s grace, the nearly-too-good-to-be-true news. Sometimes I find myself in overload mode, breathing quickly and so shallow, with excitement over how much and how unconditionally God loves me.

Quick story. While at a Thursday morning Bible study learning even more about God’s amazing grace through the book of Romans, God took me back to a distant but beautiful memory.

We lived in Rome, New York at the time. (Is it coincidence that we’re going through the book of Romans?) I’d turned my back on God for a season and was wallowing in pathetic guilt and shame and reasoned that there was no way God could allow me back into His arms. Now, I know that Satan was behind that message, but at the time, I couldn’t imagine God even wanted to look at me.

While driving down a lonely road, I was feeling insanely depressed and afraid that I could never make my way back to the loving God of the universe, because I’d betrayed Him. Tears of fear were quickly replaced by tears of joy as God sang through my radio to me. You may think this sounds crazy or even corny or unbelievable, but, He spoke to me, clearly through lyrics that melted my heart as I realized He was still pursuing me, still reaching out to me – He still wanted me; He still loved me!

(from aol.com)

The song seemed to play for an eternity as I took in the words:

“Pretty woman, walkin’ down the street. Pretty woman, the kind I’d like to meet…..

Pretty woman, stop a while. Pretty woman, talk a while. Pretty woman give your smile to me…..

Pretty woman, look my way. Pretty woman, say you’ll stay with me….. ‘cause I need you, I’ll treat you right, come with me girl, be mine tonight

Pretty woman, don’t walk on by. Pretty woman, don’t make me cry. Pretty woman, don’t walk on by…

I guess I’ll go on home, it’s late, there’ll be tomorrow night – but wait! What do I see? Yeah – you’re walking back to me!”

(photo from videoblocks.com)

Now, I realize the original intent behind the song is a man just trying to pick up a pretty woman. I get that. But, God knew how to reach out and catch my attention. He knows my heart. He knows the words that press buttons in my brain. He knows how much I long to be pretty – and I’m pretty to Him. I don’t care to be beautiful, I long to be pretty. So, He called out to me, Hey – Pretty woman! Stop what you’re doing and come back to me! Talk with me, stay with me, be mine!

Then, as my heart turned whole-heartedly to Him, He chimed in with the line, “What do I see? You’re walking back to me!”

How can that story not reduce you to tears? Well, maybe it doesn’t make you cry – but, I was bawling like crazy. I probably had to pull off to the side of the road.

That was many years ago, but still, God continues to woo me, to pursue me, to teach my heart about His unending grace; His forever love!

He’s continuously calling out to you, too –

Listen for Him.

Respond!

(photo fro videoblocks.com)

Psalm 139:1-18

¹ O Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me.
² You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
³ You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
    You know everything I do.
⁴ You know what I am going to say
    even before I say it, Lord.
⁵ You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too great for me to understand!

⁷ I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!
⁸ If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave,^[a] you are there.
⁹ If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me.
¹¹ I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night—
¹²     but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you.

¹³ You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

¹⁷ How precious are your thoughts about me,^[b] O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
¹⁸ I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!”

New Living Translation (NLT)