Well, back on the Big Trip across the USA, A@ron, introduced me to some people in Ohio. They were all really nice people, but I had no idea the effect that they would have on my life. God had something brewing for Cheryl and I... in Ohio!
Warning: Sidebar on Ohio follows...
Ohio... let's talk about that. I have always hated Ohio. When we went on trips outside of Michigan, we had to drive through it and it always took forever. I remember on our Senior Trip in High School that I fell asleep as we were leaving Michigan and woke up hours and hours later and said, "Where are we?"
"Still in Ohio," the driver replied and the entire class groaned.
They also have Ohio State University, notice I didn't say "THE" Ohio State University, because that really bugs Buckeyes... hence another reason to hate Ohio. I grew up watching Michigan Football and Ohio State has always been the biggest rival we have. Cheryl graduated from University of Michigan (Dearborn... it still says U of M, so shut up!) and I always wanted to go there, but let's just say I decided to go to a now defunct college (another story for another time).
I used to listen to sports talk radio back in the early days and there was this lady called, "the Fabulous Sports Babe," on WDFN and when people from Ohio called her show, she was say they were calling from, "the plumber's butt of America." I loved that... I still say it today. Then while visiting a friend in Columbus last year, I was treated like garbage by the Buckeyes as I drove through town with my Michigan plates... Don't get me started on the Police in Ohio... they're everywhere! I guess that could be a good thing unless you're up to no good...
Back to our regularly scheduled programming...
So, for the past two months now we have been heading down to Ohio for a Friday night service at the Vineyard Church of Marysville called Desperate. Cheryl and I attended a Vineyard church in Holland, Michigan back when we were first married a couple of times and talked about how much we loved it. We were warned of the evils that the Vineyard church had in it with all it's Charis-whackiness, so we were scared off... sad. Years later I see that none of those fears had any merit.
The thing that is so amazing about Desperate is that a group of us get together, pray and speak to one another about whatever God lays on our hearts to share with each other. Crazy idea, huh? We pray and more importantly, listen to hear what our Father has for us. We pray, read His Word and LISTEN to what He says... I am amazed at what happens when we do this. God speaks and reveals things to each and every one of us. Is this really how simple it is? Did God really literally mean it when His Son, Jesus said:
My sheep listen to My voice; I know them and they follow Me.
- John 10:27 (TNIV)
I think the obvious answer (from my experience) is YES! God really desires an intimate relationship with all of us. One where we hear His voice. When He calls us, we answer. We have grown so jaded and skeptical of how God moves. We have seen His name slapped on so many things and misused to further peoples agendas, that we are missing out on something that God intended for us to share with Him. Once again the enemy, Satan, has tricked us. I can even hear people now, "Well how do you know when it's His voice?" Well isn't it a good thing that each and everyone of us, who call Jesus our Savior and Lord, has the Holy Spirit living inside of them to help discern when He speaks? Will I miss it sometimes and screw up? Yes, but I am learning. God doesn't expect perfection, we expect it of ourselves.
Cheryl and I heard some amazing things from God this weekend. I don't want to go into them in detail at this point, but I want you all to know this. God loves each of you, you are His favorite son or daughter. He looks at you and smiles and delights in you... everything about you. He doesn't see you the way you see yourself, imperfect and messed up. You are righteous in His eyes because of His Son, Jesus.
Wow!
Take a moment and let that settle down into your very core, the deepest parts of you.
There is a song by Misty Edwards that really touches on this thought, it's very simple, but it speaks volumes if you take it to heart...
Jesus, here I am your favorite one
What are You thinking?
What are You feeling?
I have to know
For I am after Your heart
After Your heart
I'm after You
It's an amazing thought. We are His favorite one. We are coming before Him and begging to know more of Him. What does He think and feel? We are desperate to know and that is the way it should be. We hunger for Him and all He has to offer us. We are not only after His heart, His love, but we are men and women after His own heart. Just like David, a man after God's own heart. We can be the same. It's hard to think of yourself as His favorite, but you are the best you he ever created. You are His favorite you. I know that sounds weird, but think about it, King David says:
For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
- Psalm 139: 13 - 14 (TNIV)
David knows that God made him wonderfully. He knew him as He put him together in his mother's womb. God delighted in making us, we need to delight in knowing that we are WONDERFUL in His eyes.
I know this is a lot to pour out into one Blog session, but it just came out. There is more, but I will save that for another day...
Just know this, God is speaking. He is calling us into a deeper relationship with Him. He is letting us know that He loves us and delights in us, we just need to listen.
Just like Samuel cry out:
Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.
- 1 Samuel 3:10b (TNIV)
Give it a try... you may even enjoy it.
6 comments:
Scott,
It sounds--reads--like God is really speaking to you. Thank you so much for sharing what you are hearing and learning about our Heavenly Father.
Did you know that Sarah was born with a big red birth mark on her forehead? As her mom, because I love her desperately, when I looked at her I never saw that blemish I just saw my precious child. I believe that is how God sees us. Sure we are blemished by sin but when He looks at us, when we are covered by Christ's blood that is what He sees, not the blemish!
Its really cool.
Your church gathering sounds like the way worship is described in the New Testament. It also sounds similar to how the worship services we grew up with were organized.
Will you be moving to Ohio soon? Its not that bad of a place after all. I lived there for a few years and managed to survive.
Take care.
If God decides He wants us to move to Ohio, there is no place else I would rather be.
I like your analogy... someday I will know what that is like!
Dude what did you guys smoke down there that made you all loving and crap?
Only the best Kurt... they grow the good stuff in Ohio...
You're a dufus.
"There just ain't nothin' like a Holy Ghost party, cause a Holy Ghost party don't stop!"
Keep your ear to the ground.
Scott-(man I miss you guys)...
His Voice is the most precious voice to hear!! If only we would shut up and listen. He LONGS for us. God desires to speak to us personally. He wants us to hear Him, understand Him and obey Him.
In the words from Prisillia Shirir, in her study He Speaks to Me, she says, this...
"Could it be that our inability to hear God call our names and speak clearly to us has less to do with His ability or desire to speak clearly (to which we often attribute it) and more to do with our lack of desperation and preparedness to hear Him? The Lord speaks clearly and emphatically to those who have correctly positioned themselves to hear from Him."
As Misty Edwards sings...
"But when I heard Your Voice, and when You said My NAME...my heart, it yearned!"...
Keep yearning, keep listening...praying for you and your beautiful wife!
Stace
But you are a CHOSEN people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
I Peter 2:9
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