Today seems like a good day to start. My wife maintains a blog chroniciling the growth of our youngest dauther Hope, and our other children. She started the blog after our youngest was born with a condition that caused her to lose 90% of her small intestine. The combined medical wisdom several doctors told us that she would not survive more than a month after her birth. However, with no further medical intervention Hope is now 16 months old. If you don't believe in miracles then you need to meet our daughter. If you would like to read about her you can do so at http://hopesjourneywithashortgut.blogspot.com/.
In spite of our daughter's miracle sometimes I am subject to the human failing of knowing that God is there, but not listening. This hit home today while listening to our Pastor, Brad, deliver the message. As the message hit home I realized to on more than one occasion I have sat in church and heard God's message, but have failed to listen. This is akin to what occurs when I am engrossed in something, and my wife starts talking. I am aware that my wife is talking to me, but instead of listening to her I remained focused on something else. Instead of casting all of my cares upon the Lord as I should I find myself worrying over them while sitting in church on Sunday morning. By doing this I am esentially limiting my ability to listen and learn from God's message.
Fortunately we have a good God, and he is patient and understanding. As I sat this morning with my worries weighing on me they played right into God's message. It is said that we believe through faith in Jesus, because we can't see or hear him. The truth is that God can speak right to your heart if you are willing to listen. The message for today was from Matthew 7 about discipleship. Brad compared discipleship with apprenticeship. After all the disciples were apprentices of Jesus. All of us who follow the word of God, and accept are salvation through Jesus are apprentices. That is while here on this earth we must continue to learn from Jesus through his teachings. Brad said that in earthly things we eventually move from apprentice to master. That is true only in that we reach a point where we can teach others what we have learned thus far. Only God posseses infinite knowlege and wisdom, there is always something to learn no matter how much we think we know. It is much more so with our journey toward's God's Kingdom, we must listen and continue to learn until we too "enter through the narrow gate."
The outcome may not always be to our liking, but if we follow God in our journey and learn from him then we will know that the outcome is part of God's plan for us.
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Hope's miracle is extraordinary. I believe when Jesus said, "Greater things than me will you accomplish," he was referring to the miracle Chuck and his family in the Branson, Colo., area did in Hope. It is good that you understand when and when you aren't listening. It took me a long time to figure that out in my relationships with God and people. I pray this discovery will further enrich your life with God and others.
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