Listen to Him

I'm not good at listening. Being present. I get sidetracked, think about what's next, versus what God is telling me right now. I went back a couple of year's to my first Pentecost Experience and will dig into many of the same verses once again. Here is what I wrote:

"In my quiet time, I am intrigued by God teaching us to listen to him. I will admit in my busyness, it is so hard to quiet my soul down. So, during my quiet time, on the sofa in the corner of our family room looking out into the woods, I will focus my heart on listening to what God desires for my heart."

Here are some scriptures to focus on that listening to God process in the next few days:

New Testament Gospel Verses 

• John 10: 1-18. The sheep know the voice of the shepherd. Do we? Are we walking in deeper intimacy with the voice of God? When the sheep follow the shepherd they find pasture.
• John 15:1-17. Jesus as the vine. We are the branches of the vine to abide in Christ and the Father’s love for us. We are called to be so intimately connected to the vine that we will bear fruit. That fruit is known in love for God and one another. Life flows from the vine to the branches to bearing fruit in this world.

Psalms/Proverbs

• Psalm 32: 1-11. This talks about in vs. 8 God instructing us and teaching us in the ways we should go. If we follow him, he will counsel us and watch over us. 
• Psalm 42: 1-11. I love this one taking the imagery of a deer longing for flowing streams as the way we should thirst for God. There is so much more in this psalm! 
• Psalm 16:1-11. “You have made known to me the path of life.” Life as sheep following a shepherd has privilege and joy in following him. He will show us the path to true life if we listen to him 
• Psalms 119:89-111. “Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” (vs. 105—this is a great one to memorize!) Let the word of God be a joy of our hearts (vs. 111) 

Other verses: 

• I Kings 19:1-18. Elijah has almost given up, tired, exhausted serving his God. God feeds him and tells him to go up to a cave to listen to God. Note in vs. 11-12 how God makes himself known in a “still, small voice.” Some say “sheer silence.” God typically does not come in a theophany like a thunderbolt, lightning, an earthquake or a windstorm, but in a gentle, reassuring voice that is quiet and loving. That voice is the gentle voice of a loving shepherd. 

I pray for alignment of God’s spirit to your hearts spirit this week as you long for his flowing streams. On to some prayer time! Brian

Be Still

Couldn’t sleep last evening and came across your Pentecost challenge on FB - As I sat in silence – prayer – which I always struggle with the thought of how to pray – but sitting in silence for 10 mins this morning was a great experience.  How eye opening that I don’t give myself – and God those 10 mins daily — what a gift.   RMy 10 mins reading scripture was spent googling — Mathew 7 – is one of my favorite and the ability to read the different versions on line  - is a great modern day tool.   My scripture googling “great scriptures”  lead me to Psalm 46:10  - “Be Still”  I guess the message and the blessing for today is clear — be still  - take time to be still and listen to what God is putting out there.     The journaling lead me to “asking” and “being grateful” — I found  it interesting that even though Mathew 7 is one of my favorites – that I really don’t “ask” or “knock”  I seek — but the message today is that I need to get out of my own way — in journal and prayer I “asked” for what I wanted — including delivery from my demons — and I ended today's journey with a two page list of what and who iam grateful for — what an amazing way to start the day  -- and yes – you and your 10 day challenge are on my grateful list --    I was telling my trainer this morning about your challenge — and he made me add a 10 min run  -- so I did that also -  excited to see what I will see on Pentecost — my guess is we will all see the blessings before then! Best, Jeff

Pentecost Experience Begin's Today: Ascension Day

What if we actually practiced spiritual disciplines they did in the bible? Would our lives change? What if we took an ancient practice of spending ten days seeking God in our own “Upper Room? What might happen?

You can’t PLAN Pentecost. (Mark Batterson, In a Pit with A Lion on a Snowy Day, P. 83) However, from the time of Jesus’ ascension, 120 followers of Jesus spent 10 days praying and fasting and seeking God deeply. And Pentecost happened. Miracles happened in Jerusalem and the ancient world was turned upside down.

Are we BOLD enough to believe that God could turn our world upside down in us and through us, if we practiced a Pentecost Experience? In our church…in our community? Brace yourself…this could be a wild ride! (Believe it or not, the Holy Spirit has been called the “Wild Goose” before!)

Why don't you join me beginning today with the Pentecost Experience?:

Spend 10 days from May 17 (Ascension Day)-May 27 (Pentecost) fasting, praying, reading scripture, and journaling into God's presence

1. Praying. Spend 10 minutes a day in your special place of prayer and meditation.  
2. Reading Scripture. 10 minutes a day digging deeper into God's Word. 
3. Journaling. Find a journal and journal only 10 minutes a day. If time send a journal/blog entry to me at revsailor1@gmail.com and I'll post it on the blog at http://pentecostexperience.blogspot.com/   I will be posting my own thoughts daily on my blog at www.readyaboutnow.org. Lastly, post your thoughts to your the Pentecost Experience Facebook account at facebook.com/pentecostexperience or tweet your thoughts and use the hashtag #pentecostexperience. 
4. Fasting. Every day either skip a meal, a favorite food, sweets,technology, etc

Bottom line: 30 minutes a day plus fasting in your own "Upper Room."

End the "Pentecost Experience" on May 27 with an optional time to debrief your experience on Facebook at Facebook.com/PentecostExperience all day long.

Are you IN? Let me know and I will send you a Pentecost Experience packet to your email address. Email me at revsailor1@gmail.com or call or text me at 651.276.1992. You can also use Twittter at http://twitter.com/revsailor1 or facebook at Facebook.com/revsailor1 orFacebook.com/PentecostExperience