Who Is Listening?

 

I was listening to a business program this morning.  They shared that many employers are not necessarily looking for experience for a position; they are looking for more of the ‘soft skills,’ behaviors that bring success.  One of the skills they focused on was good listening skills.  I laughed a bit to myself as I have been a big supporter of this theory for many years.  Throughout grade school, high school and even college, our focus is to drive knowledge into our children.  Yet, one of the most important communication skills, listening, seems to be left to chance!  If you hear, you must be listening.  We all know that is not necessarily the case.

Developing strong listening skills, active listening skills, can be a characteristic that can follow someone in every aspect of their life, and assist in more developed and healthier relationships.  There are many distinct aspects of listening:  active, passive, empathetic, selective, etc.  My mom and I used to joke that Daddy had selective listening!  Active listening can seem counterintuitive, but true listening and responding by asking questions and gaining insight is a large part of listening. 

Active listening means the recipient is spending time seeking understanding what the person is saying.  They do this by asking questions, paraphrasing, and if asked, providing feedback and guidance.  I thought about some of the great listeners I have had the experience to speak with over my career and all of those traits stand out.  If necessary, the listener acted from the conversation.

The greatest active listener?  None other than our wonderful Lord.  Today’s verse clearly reflects God’s ability to hear and to answer when we approach Him.  Our God is an active listener, responding with questions, paraphrasing our thoughts, and answering our requests.  There have been times when I have questioned whether God was truly listening to me – actively participating in the conversation.  In God’s own unique way, He let me know that He has heard me and provided exactly what I need in exactly the right time. How does God actively listen?

·        God will ask me questions when I share thoughts with him – helping me to reflect on the situation.

·        God will paraphrase and provide me guidance and peace – helping me to navigate the situation.

·        God will speak to me – through answered (or unanswered) prayers of the situation.

God’s listening skills exceed all of our expectations.  He hears words we have not spoken, “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him,” Matthew 6:8.  Believe that our Heavenly Father is not just hearing us but is actively listening to us.  He is actively involved in our lives, every moment of every day.  Call on Him – He is waiting to listen!

Dearest Lord, thank you for being the greatest active listener.  We can go to you with all we have to say, and you gladly listen and respond with exactly what we need.  Help us to turn to you when we need to share and guide us to the direction of grace.  In your name we pray, Amen!

 

Finding Peace to Sleep

 

Sleep – experts say it is one of the most important aspects of life a human need in order to live a healthy life.  Yet, sleep tends to be evasive for many of us.  I know this is the case for me.  Over the years, when life is difficult and there is so much to be concerned about, sleep is the thing that is the first to go – and the one that is the most needed.  As I reflect on this, I have always concentrated on the labors of the day, and the stressors of the world, instead of finding rest in my pillow.  I may get to sleep, but by mid evening, I am up, trying to solve the problems that were on my mind when I put my head on the pillow.   I will mull over every single situation in my head, providing answers to all of them, to no avail.

I know, of those of you who are reading this, that I am not alone.  In fact, according to The Cleveland Clinic, up to seventy million Americans every year deal with insomnia and other sleep disorders.  Sleep disorders cost America’s health care system over $94 billion a year.  Yes, BILLION!  I have attributed to that, trying to find the ‘magic combination’ that will help me get to sleep at night.  Whether it be medicine, meditation, yoga, exercise, or hot milk, people all over the nation are trying to find out what can help them to get a good night’s sleep.

After all these years, I have found that the winning ingredient is not a pill or an app, but the love of my Jesus.  Having been on medication for years, I made a commitment that it was time to rid myself of that and focus on a more natural way to sleep.  The answer, as it always is, was sitting in front of me – my Bible.  There are many verses in the Bible that help us to remember who is in charge, who can take our worry and anxiety, and who can give us the safety of His arms to sleep in.  Jesus is the only one who can offer me the peace and rest that my body needs. 

How do we rest in His arms to gain the necessary sleep?  We pray, we focus on Him, we breathe in and out, knowing He provides each breath for us.  Please, I do not profess that I have ‘locked this one in.’  I still have nights when I chase the sheep forwards and backwards.  After spending time thinking, I change to spending time praying.  I visualize being held in Jesus’ safe arms, knowing that He will not let anything bad happen to me.  Whatever I worry about, whatever I am stressed about, I know will work out the way HE wants it to be.  It may not be my way, but it will be His way – the best way.  Tragedies and sickness happen.  Loss of job and loss of finances happen.  Yet, Jesus will always be there for us, to hold in His arms, and bring us peace and safety.  Trust in the Lord, for He is good!

Dearest Lord, we need rest.  The pressures of the day keep us awake at night.  We are unable to get the rest our bodies and our minds need.  Help to remind us to turn to you, Jesus.  May we give our worries and our pressures to you and realize being held in your arms is the truest peace and rest.  Amen!

Supply Chain Blessings

 

Supply chain woes – they have plagued our buying needs for the past couple of years.  For the first time in many years, our store shelves were bare, especially as we were searching for toilet paper and cleaning disinfectants.  Our need for that special Christmas gift always seemed to be the one on a slow boat – making us realize that ‘Santa was going to be late.’   Then we have had issues with baby formula and other items.  What was once a well-oiled supply chain machine has turned into a difficult experience, with congestion in our ports and tough transportation situations.  Many of us were frustrated with this and wondering if things would ever ‘fix’ themselves. 

It made me think about the blessings we receive.  When our lives are in turmoil, we turn to prayer and our Dear Lord to ask for help.  We may ask for large blessings, like healing for loved ones, assistance with financial strains or faith for those who have lost their faith.  We may also ask for smaller blessings throughout our days such as rest when weary or a word of encouragement when a bit down.  The blessings we ask for are lifted to God – the One who blesses us with all that we need.

The good news is that God’s supply chain never hits congestion.  His shelves are never empty.  God’s blessings flow freely as if we deserved each and every blessing we receive.  We know, as Christians, that we do not deserve anything from God for we are sinful.  Our God is a loving and gracious God, filled with mercy.  He provides for our every need ensuring that our needs are fully met.

God’s blessings are bountiful.  I always am amazed when the Dear Lord provides what I did not even think I needed.  Most days, it is a friendly smile.  The days get busy, and I keep on moving, ensuring I am getting everything done on the list.  As the minutes turn into hours, I may not stop for that necessary break.  In walks a special person to my office to ‘check in.’  I immediately find myself breathing again, looking up from my computer to greet a smiling face.  God provides!  Yes, He provides for the large and small blessings we ask for, but He provides so much more.  He provides for our every need, even those of which we are not aware.

Our needs should not be confused with things we want.  God certainly knows the difference and provides for us.  We need peace.  We need love.  We need joy.  We need hope.  These needs flow freely from God.  He flourishes those needs to us with no barriers.  He freely gives to us the peace that passes all understanding, unconditional love, joy that is every present and hope in our heavenly kingdom.  Nothing on earth can fill our supply chain of those needs other than God.  Let us stop and give thanks for all the blessings in our lives, for they all come to us through our gracious and giving God.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being our constant supply for all our needs.  May we turn to you ask and give thanks for all you provide to us.  We deserve nothing but have everything.  Amen!

Freedom to Love

 

July 4^th, the day that those who fought for the beginning of our country declared us the United States of America.  Since then, we are viewed as a country where many freedoms that are not seen in other countries are realized here.  Recently, we held our annual Citizenship Celebration at work.  Every year, around the 4^th of July, we celebrate those associates who received their citizenship that year.  It is one of my favorite days at work.  These associates, who worked hard to receive their citizenship to this country, shared their stories on their home countries and WHY they wanted to become a citizen.

One shared that he had lived here for about 20 years and realized all the freedoms that were here that were not available in his homeland of India

Another shared that his home country of the Congo in Africa did not offer the freedoms that were here in the US.

·        Others shared that they wanted a better life for their families and wanted to be able to work hard and gain success.

As I listened to these stories, I realized for many of us, the freedoms of this country came to us easy – we were born into them.  We did not have to study for hard tests or be interviewed.  We are citizens and have all the freedoms that this country offers.  We can use our freedoms in many ways and should never take them for granted.

I love this verse in Galatians.  The freedom that Paul is talking about in this verse is our freedom from sin.  Although we have been freed from sin by our Savior Jesus, this does not mean that we can go about doing whatever we please, especially to indulge ourselves.  Paul states we should use this freedom to serve others, humbly, in love.  The freedom to love and serve others is one that we also can use in many ways and should never take for granted.  The Christian love we get to share came at a high cost, the blood of our Jesus.  On July 4^th, and every day, may we remember the freedom of the United States along with the freedom of our sins.  May we daily be grateful for our citizenship in the US and our citizenship with Christ.  Let us love each other and serve each other with pride.

Dearest Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross for our freedom from sin.  Because you took the long walk to Calvary, I am able to stand tall in freedom.  Help me, Jesus, to use that freedom for the benefit of others.  May I humbly serve and love others in your name.  Amen!

Blanket of Love

 

I have a half hour commute to work.  I ride down the same highway every day.  I pull onto the highway and then the chase begins – who can drive faster than the next person, who can get the prime spot in just the exact lane they want to be in.  I am a victim to this and typically get that spot I want (many who know my driving skills do not find that unusual).  The other day was different.  Something caught my eye.  It was the beautiful wildflowers, mostly daisies, which had returned for the spring and summer season.  Not just a few that popped up, but blankets of wildflowers everywhere.  They were in full bloom, and they were gorgeous.  They bring such beauty to the concrete of the highway.  Since that day, it has been less on the perfect highway lane and more about reveling in the blanket of beauty. 

I have pondered much on the blanket of beauty.  I knew there was a blog post in that beauty and today it is about God’s blanket of love.  There are so many ways that God lavishes this blanket upon us.  There are times when we need the blanket to envelope us when the world is against us.  I remember when I was going through my divorce, as much support as I might have had, I felt as if I would never be loved again.  Many evenings I cried thinking that love would evade my life moving forward.  Yet, I also remember the feeling I had when I read of God’s love always being with me.  I pictured His blanket of love enveloping me, and I knew that whatever path He would take me, His love would always be enough.  God then blessed me with Juan’s love.

God’s blanket of love is not just for one person, though.  His blanket extends to each and every person on this earth.  Thousands of generations, as our verse for today points out, leads us to know that His love touches each and every person, and together that blanket of love is as beautiful as the blanket of daisies that greets me each day.  His love for us covers all of us in beauty.  It envelopes us in goodness.  It brings us peace.

There is much dividing us lately.  Even as recent as this weekend.  Yet, there is one thing that truly brings us all together, the love our Lord has for us and wants us to have for each other.  We will have differencing of opinions.  We will have our own statements of truth which may not be seen by the next person.  We have plenty to ‘write off’ the person standing next to us.  God does not want that for us.  Our job, our sole job, is to love each person – everyone – the way God loves us.  It is not easy.  I am sure I am not easy for God to love most days.  Still, I know His love is always there for me.  Let us be there for others.  Let us create a blanket of love!!

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the blanket of love that you graciously given me.  I feel that blanket often, especially when the world around me is cold.  Let us be your blanket of love here on Earth.  May we show love, grace, and mercy to all that we meet.  May our love be the blanket that someone needs.  In your loving name I pray.  Amen!

Judging Words

 

I heard two people speaking with each other a few days ago.  The way they were talking, you would believe that they were judge and jury.  The spoke about a friend as if the person could do no right and every word the person spoke and action the person took was so wrong.  It was 35 minutes of this constant back and forth, only to have the ‘friend’ arrive and the entire conversation changed. 

I thought about the conversation I heard and immediately became the ‘judge’ that I had just heard:

·         How could people judge another person the way they did?

·         How could they not recognize there may be other circumstances the person is dealing with?

·         How could the conversation change so radically when the person showed up?

As I walked through the scenario, it was time for me to take a self-reflective look.  Have I ever experience being the person people were judging?  To be honest, there have certainly been times when this was the case.  I remember how awful I felt when I recognized people were judging me.  Yet, and more importantly, were there times when I was the ‘judge’ in a scenario or with a person?  I have to admit that there have been times when I was playing judge.  

I also hear much judgment when I turn on the news.  I think much of America has become self-proclaimed judges and juries.  Hearing people speak about others in a judgmental and painful way does not seem to do anything except continue the divide that we see in America today.  People believe their own thoughts and actions are “right” and the other person’s thoughts and actions are “wrong.”  All of that talking has resulted in barriers being lifted up instead of bridges being built. 

Upon reflection, I realized that nothing positive ever came out of those times when I judged.  I remember feeling guilty about it afterwards, thankfully, to the Holy Spirit.  I realized that when I judge and measure others, I will too be judged and measured.  The only One who has the right to judge is our own Jesus.  Because He died on the cross for me, He has the right to judge me and penalize me, for all my negative actions.  Yet, which is one of my most favorite words of the Bible, He looks past my imperfections.  Jesus looks past judging me to the person that He sees on the inside, one of His chosen. 

When we believe the right thing is to judge others, may we take a step back.  Let us realize that the only One who can judge another is the One with no sin, Jesus.  Let us leave the judging to Him and may we take on the building of bridges!  May we take the time to understand each other instead of judging each other.  May we take steps towards building bridges and not barriers.  May we find peace.

Dearest Jesus, thank you for this important verse to help us understand the important of leaving the judging to YOU.  May we reflect on moments when we judge and realize that our job is not to judge, but to build peace amongst each other.  Equip us with the tools to thrive in that environment.  In your name we pray, Amen.

The Missing Piece

 

Puzzles – I love them and hate them.  I see the picture on the box and determine that it will be a wonderful puzzle to spend time putting together.  I eagerly take each piece out, ensuring that all the pieces are turned face up.  I spend time putting the frame of the puzzle together first and then begin working on the middle of the puzzle.  I get excited when one part of the scene is complete, and I can move onto the next.  Then, it happens.  That dreadful moment when I realize I have lost a piece to the puzzle.  I look on the table, on the floor, neighboring tables – everywhere – to see where the lost piece is.  At that moment, I feel defeated.  A couple of days later, I find the piece tucked behind a chair cushion or under the puzzle box – triumph!!

When I was reflecting on that this past week, I realized that there have been times in my life when I have felt as lost at that puzzle piece.  I have felt lost in helping my husband through a rough path at work.  I have felt lost as a mother when my children had a problem that I could not fix.  I have felt lost as a daughter when I could not take away my mother’s pain.  I have also felt personally lost.  I go through times in my life when I feel like something is missing in my life and that the days run into each other without any purpose.  All of these times in my life have been difficult to navigate. 

Difficult, that is, until I realize what I am missing.  It is during those times that I realize that the missing puzzle piece is Jesus in my life.  When I toil with thoughts of how to make things better, where to find my purpose, how to bring joy to those around me, I realize that my goal is to manage it on my own.  I must know something or somehow to make everything better, to find the path.  It is then that I notice the reason I am lost is because I have not gone to the One who is waiting for me with open arms, the One who is seeking His lost sheep.  When I go to my Jesus in prayer, when I open my Bible to seek answers, He never disappoints.  In Jesus I find the missing piece when I am lost.  In Jesus, I am able to get my answers, fill the gap, and the whole picture becomes clear.  In Jesus I triumph.

Life is hard.  Jesus never promised us a carefree life.  What Jesus has ALWAYS promised is to be there for us, to be the missing piece when we are lost.  Just as the shepherd goes after the one missing sheep, just as we seek the missing puzzle piece, Jesus will seek us out if we are lost.  When we have lost direction, the Holy Spirit will nudge us toward Jesus.  All we need to do is seek His name and in Him, find triumph.  The next time you are feeling lost, as if you are not sure which direction to turn, reach out to the find the missing puzzle piece in your life – reach out to Jesus.  I guarantee you He is waiting for you!

Dearest Jesus, thank you for the Holy Spirit who nudges us to find you when we are lost.  When days become difficult and we feel as if we have lost our way, focus us on prayer and worship.  May we realize the lost piece in our lives is you and may you bring us back for the full and clear picture.  In your name we pray, Amen.