LISTENING TO GOD'S VOICE

Have you ever heard God's voice?  I mean really heard Him?  I know I have.  But I am not always listening to Him. Sometimes He has to shout at me, not like you and I shout, but speaking in a way I can't ignore.  Sometimes He chastises me, some times He lovingly speaks in words to remind me of what He promised in order to comfort me.
The most important thing is, He always speaks to me in love.


Never does He say I am bad, or even wrong, He just always reminds me of the truth, of His love and how much He cares about me.


He has guided me out of danger with His small still voice. He has told me "no" before I could do something that would bring me harm.
He has consoled me when I have had pain in my heart and He has filled me with joy when He has blessed me with something I have wanted and never expected to get (I call these blessings, or gifts of love).


So how about you, has He spoken to you lately, or are you even listening?

Where was Our God on 9-11

Where was God on 9/11?





      Have you ever thought, "Where was
God on 9/11 when the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon were attacked?" Well, I
know where my God was on the morning of
September 11, 2001, and He was very busy!

      He was discouraging people from taking
those four flights. Together they could
accommodate more than 1,000 passengers,
yet there were only 266 aboard. He was on
those four flights giving the terrified
passengers the ability to stay calm. Not
one of the people who was called by a
loved one on one of the hijacked planes
mentioned that passengers were panicked,
nor was there any screaming in the
background. And on one of the flights, God
gave strength to the passengers to
overcome the hijackers.

      God was also busy creating obstacles to
prevent people who worked in the WTC from
getting to work on time. The work day had
begun, more than 50,000 people worked in
the two towers, yet only 20,000 were at
their desks. On that beautiful morning,
God created scores of unexpected traffic
delays, subway delays, and commuter train
delays. A PATH train packed with commuters
was stopped at a signal just short of the
WTC and was able to return to Jersey City.
And far more meetings were scheduled
elsewhere than was usual.

      God held up each of the two mighty towers
for a half hour so that the people on the
lower floors could get out. And when He
finally let go, He caused the towers to
fall inward rather than to topple over,
which would have killed so many more
people. The foundations of six surrounding
buildings were demolished by the fall of
the towers, but God held them up for many
hours until all the occupants were safely
evacuated.

      And when the WTC and Pentagon buildings
went down, my God picked up almost 3,500
of His children and carried them to their
home for all eternity. He also sat down
and cried that 19 of His children could
have so much hate in their hearts, that
they did not choose him, but another god
that doesn't exist, and now they are lost
forever.

      He sent people trained in dealing with
earthly disasters to save those that were
injured. And he sent in thousands of
others to help in any way they were
needed. And He brought people together
across the world in a way that moved
thousands to tears and hundreds of
thousands to prayer—and caused millions to
turn to the one true living God.

      He still isn't finished. Every day He
comforts those who lost loved ones. He is
encouraging others to reach out to those
who don't know Him or believe in Him. He
is giving the leaders of our great nation
the strength and conviction to do the
right thing, to follow His will, not a
popular poll.

      So if anyone ever asks, "Where was your
God on 9/11?" you can say, "He was
everywhere! And, in fact, he is everywhere
today and every day." Without a doubt,
this was the worst catastrophe most of us
have ever seen. I can't imagine getting
through such a difficult time without God
at my side. Without God, life would be
hopeless.
     

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Some More Thoughts...
As you might know, the head of one company
survived 9/11 because he took his son to
kindergarten.
Another fellow is alive because it was his turn
to bring donuts.
Another lady was late because her alarm clock
didn't go off on time.
One was late as a result of being stuck on the
NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One more survivor missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take
time to change.
One's car wouldn’t start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn't get
ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't get a taxi.
The one that, struck me was the man who put on a
new pair of shoes that morning,
went to work by his usual way but before he got
there, he developed a blister on his foot.
So he stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today.

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Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an
elevator, turn back to answer a ringing
telephone...
all the little things that annoy me....
I think to myself, this is exactly where God
wants me to be at this very moment.

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Next time your morning seems to be going wrong,
the children are slow getting dressed, you can't
seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic
light, don't get mad or frustrated; God is at
work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you with all those
annoying little things and may you remember
their possible purpose. 

Come back to your God, your maker, provider, and Savior...

Hosea 4

 ¹Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

 ²By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

 ³Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

 ⁴Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

 ⁵Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

 ⁶My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

 ⁷As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

 ⁸They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

 ⁹And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

 ¹⁰For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

 ¹¹Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

Does this sound familiar, does this remind you of the people of this day.  How we have walked away, no, run away, from our God into the arms of the sins of the world, were we find our own contentment, our own happiness, that is empty of love, mercy and joy.  We are happy for but a moment and then we become bored, and seek more entertainment, which leads to more discontentment.  How long will we search for happiness in the arms of Satan and his pleasures, the pleasure which will condemn us at the judgement seat of the Most Holy God.
But redemption comes in the morning:

Hosea 6

 ¹Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
 ²After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
 ³Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
 ⁴O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
 ⁵Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
 ⁶For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
Proverbs 9¹⁰The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. ¹¹For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Philippians 3

 ⁸Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

 ⁹And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 ¹⁰That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Let us therefore rejoice in the knowledge of Our Lord and God, let us seek His justice and compassion that He gives to all those who seek Him and follow His paths of righteousness, into Life in Christ Jesus!  AMEN!