Listening for The Voice

Early June has been our daughter Katie-Beth's favorite time of year since she was two, it's dance recital time! She loves all types of dance; but ballet, pointe and lyrical rank among her favorites. We have the awesome privilege of being involved in a Christian dance studio, with a goal of praising God and declaring the message of Jesus.

During recital week, rehearsal is intense. Last minute run thrus polishing each choreographed move is vital to each dancer. One day, I was watching one large group as they finished up their rehearsal. Several teachers were involved and it seemed as if some dancers didn't quite know whose voice to listen to. Each giving instruction just as important as the others, yet many voices were speaking all at once. Don't get me wrong, I didn't see this as a negative sight. You guessed it, I saw this as a spiritual application!

Sometimes, our lives become overrun with the voices all around us. Some voices very good and worth listening to. Some, not so good. People in your life are always going to have something to say. It's up to you to decide who to listen to. You can evaluate the opinion of those who speak into your life by asking yourself a few questions like this:

How's their walk with God? Is this a person you would call to pray?
Do they live what they say they believe? How are their personal relationships?
Do you value this person and their opinion in your life? Are they trustworthy?
How are they raising their kids? (especially in light of giving me parenting advice...would I want my kids to turn out the way theirs have?)

I could probably go on with this list, but you get the idea. If the voices in your life do not meet your criteria, you might want to consider making some changes.

Most importantly, listen to The Voice. His is the One that matters most. This world makes A LOT of noise. We've got to get still and get familiar with the sound of the Savior. Knowing His voice will guide our life's direction. You can start with the Word. This is His Voice written down for us.

John 10:1-5 Message
Jesus tells of the shepherd and the sheep
“Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good—a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter because they aren’t used to the sound of it.”

Be encouraged.
Jesus cares for us just as the shepherd cares for the sheep. He knows us, just as we should know Him, and recognize the sound of His voice.

m

A 5 Dollar Bill

My son, Peyton, loves money, what teenager doesn't!?? He likes to earn cash. He does yardwork at our house, occasionally at his grandparents and their neighbor's homes as well. To my surprise today, he came in with a 5 dollar bill and asked me what it was worth. (In my head, I'm thinking, where is this going? He's good at coming up with a plan to make more dough.)

I answered, "It's worth 5 dollars."

He kept going.

Peyton, "Mom, what if I crumpled it up?"
Me, "Still 5 dollars."
"How about if I stomp on it and roll it in dirt?"
"Still 5 dollars."

Then he gets to his point. "Ok, see even if your life is crumpled up, rolled in the dirt of sin, you still have value to Jesus. You are still worth something to Him."

Awesome. And I thought this was going to be a 'make a buck' scam. I'm impressed.

He's absolutely right on. You have worth, you are loved and valued. Don't let the stink and dirt of sin in this world tell you different.

John3:16-17 MSG
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help , to put the world right again."

Simple reminder, you are loved.

m