The Birth of a Prince

On American magazine covers recently was headlined about the birth of the new baby in line for the throne of England.  It is fitting for a prince to be born with celebration and announcements, loud and proud!  But when Jesus, the King of Kings, was born it was very different.  God saw fit to keep it hush-hush.  But God allowed those who were looking for him to find him.

It is the same today with the voice of God.  It is not the loudest voice we hear.  The bible calls it a “still, small voice”.  It is not catchy like a commercial, or commanding like the wizard of oz.  It is the little “nah” inside when we are tempted.  It is the “I love you” when we are rejected.  It is the “lean on me” when you are down.  And when you speak his name, it is the “here I am”.

You can make God’s voice easier to hear and recognize with bible study.  God wants us to use his written word to get to know him better.  Even Jesus often spoke using scripture instead of his own words.  It can help to make a list of scripture that touches your heart.  It is best to start in the New Testament.  But here is one of my favorites from the Old…

Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.”  And behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after that an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after that a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after that

a still small voice. 

                                                                                                            1 Kings 19 11-12

In this loud confusing world God’s voice can be hidden.  

 He can seem quiet as snow, and soft as a whisper.

But he promised that he would be found by those who earnestly seek him.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me.      Proverbs 8:17

Inspired by the song “Winter Snow” by Audrey Assad (written by Chris Tomlin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gy29mQfiavg

We’ve got personality!

 

 I have read that there are 4 basic types of personalities:  choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholy.  It is very interesting to study the differences and guess which category my children, friends, and especially my husband, fall into.  I apparently am a melancholy.  It brings me comfort to know that there are others who think like I do and that I am not alone in my, umm, quirks.  So being a melancholy I naturally want to know how I got like this and did God make me this way.  So I asked him. 
            I prayed “Lord, what am I?” 

The Spirit brought a thought to my mind immediately.

"An overcomer." 

Wow!  That was unexpected. But a much better option, I think.

"How, Lord?" 

"By the word.

By the blood of the lamb and the word of your testimony. "

The word says, “In the world you will have trouble but be of good cheer I have overcome the world.”  Be of good cheer?  Not easy for a melancholy.  But the word also says, “This is the day which the Lord has made.  REJOICE and BE GLAD in it.”  And, “Jesus came that we may have and ENJOY life in abundance.”  So the bible gives me permission to focus on joy instead of my natural inclination to be melancholy.

All these things have been brought to my mind when I ask God what I am:  A disciple, his daughter, a sheep, a worshiper, an intercessor.  That is how He sees me.  Funny that He never once said, a melancholy.

Don't Bother God?

Do you ever feel like your issues might be pesky to God?  After all, He has some global things to work on.  I often find myself praying small prayers throughout the day then wondering if I am becoming like a gnat to God.

But then the Holy Spirit reminds me that He is my daily bread.  And believe me I am a grazer.  I can eat all day long!  When Jesus said to "give us this day our daily bread" obviously he wasn't just talking about food.  It was a metaphor for all our needs but most importantly our spiritual ones.  Remember when he said "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word from God"? 

In Genesis it says that God met with Adam daily, taking a walk together in the cool of the evening.  I imagine they were talking about management issues since Adam was in training for taking care of the Earth.  If Adam needed it then, how much more do I need it now? 

God is not stressed out.  He is not too busy for me.  He can handle anything I come to him with.

We are like a sweet fragrance to him.  Always welcome.