Have you ever heard someone say they thought they should be going to heaven because they were a good person?

Why would Jesus bear the penalty for our sins on the cross if we could get into heaven just by being a good person?  He endured tremendous pain and suffering so that we could go to heaven and be with God, but only through belief in what He did for us on that cross.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father but by me.”  Have you given your heart to Jesus?  If not, why not do it today?

Voices in my head.  Voices in my ears.  Voices in my heart.  How do I sort them out?

God says that He speaks to us in a still, small voice, but how do I hear it above all the other voices that come at me each day?  I went to my Joyce Meyer Everday Life Bible and looked to see what verses she listed for Hearing from God. Listen to what the bible says in these verses from the Amplified version.

Deuteronomy 28:1 If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey [Your law, a more valuable service than] burnt offerings and sin offerings [which] You do not require.

Psalm 95:7-8  For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.  Today, if you will hear His voice, vs 8:  Harden not your hearts as at Meribah and as at Massah in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

Psalm 119: 129-130  Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].  vs 130:  The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

Jeremiah 7:23  But this thing I did command them; Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you.

Matthew 7:24-25  So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will  be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.  And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Matthew 13: 19, 23  While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is what was sown along the roadside.  vs 23: As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty.

John 10:5, 27  They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.  vs. 27: The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

Romans 10:17  So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).

James 1:22-25  But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].  vs 23: For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully on his [own] natural face in a mirror; vs. 24: For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.  vs 25: But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

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When you read these verses together, you can see a common thread of listening to God through reading His word, of being obedient to His word, His commands, His ways.  We must not harden (close) our hearts to what He says in His word.  We must not listen to strangers, those who do not know God and His word.  We must listen for His voice.  We must obey Him.  We must be doers of the Word.  We must sow the seeds of our life on good soil, which is the Word of God.

In doing all these things, He will give us ability, understanding, and a harvest in our lives.  Then and only then will we be able to hear His voice above all the other voices that come at us each day.

When I call, give me answers God, take my side!  Once in a tight place, you gave me room; Now I’m in trouble again: grace me! hear me!

You rabble–how long do I put up with your scorn? How long will you lust after lies?  How long will you live crazed by illusion?

Look at this: look Who got picked by God!  He listens the split second I call to him.

Complain if you must, but don’t lash out.  Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.  Build your case before God and wait for His verdict.

Why is everyone hungry for more?  “More, more,” they say.  “More, more.”  I have God’s more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees.  At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, for you, God , have put my life back together.

Psalm 4, The Message

Questions, questions, questions.  That’s how I learned from my dad; I would ask questions.

I loved helping my dad work.  As a young girl, I remember helping my dad build our screened-in back porch.  My older brothers were nowhere to be found, not at all interested in helping Dad, but I was there, intrigued by how and why Dad was doing what he was doing.

Hold this for me right here.  Hand me that hammer please.  Why Dad, why?  What is the purpose of this piece Dad?  Why do you do it that way Dad?

Isn’t it that way with our heavenly Father too?  He gives us His word so we can know Him, but we must seek and ask, read and apply, desire to know more.

Why Father, why?  Why did you let my baby be born a stillborn?  Why, Father, why?  Why did you call my husband home at such a young age, leaving me to raise three children without him?  Why, Father, why?  Why did you wait so long to send me another husband?

God in His goodness knows all things and works them all together for our good if we trust Him, seek Him, follow Him.  Everything is for His glory but also for our good, even when we don’t understand.  We will understand when we are finally with Him, spending eternity in His everlasting arms.  Praise Him!!

Are you ready?  Do you know Him?  Do you trust Him?  Do you seek Him?  Do you follow Him?  You can trust Him TODAY!

Walking in the rain today, my umbrella covering me to keep me dry, I found myself looking around at all the people who did not have an umbrella.  Even though they were getting wet in the rain, they did not seem to be bothered by it at all.  This got me thinking about my covering from the Holy Spirit, the One who protects me and guides me through each and every event in my life, good or bad.  Many people go through life without Him to guide them and yet they are oblivious to how much better life could be if they knew Him.

Walking under the protection of my umbrella is a much better place to be than out in the open, in the rain, exposed and vulnerable, and wet!  Just like walking under the protection of the Holy Spirit is a much better place than being lost in the world of sin, floundering around to find my way on my own, vulnerable to the evil around me, lonely and lost.

How I thank God that Jesus sent His Spirit to dwell in me, guide me and protect me, lead me in the best way to go.  I’ve heard it said that we don’t know what we don’t know, but when we DO know, what a difference it can make.

I thank You God that I can know You, that Jesus is Lord of my life, and that the Holy Spirit takes control and leads me each and every day.  Sometimes I still try to go my own way, but You are so patient with me and You always guide me back when I stray.

Thank you Lord for my umbrella that covers me and keeps me dry in the rain.  Thank you for Your Holy Spirit whose love and protection covers me and keeps me safe in the dangerous world of sin.  I pray the person reading this blog post will know You too and the Holy Spirit will fill them and guide them.

Recently I was riding down Main Street on my way to work and smelled that awful smell of a garbage truck, even though none was in sight.  This got me thinking of the way the smell lingers long after the garbage truck has pulled away.

Life can be like that too.  Harsh words, abrupt answers, indifference, criticism; all these can leave behind a stench that affects others in a very negative way.  Maybe I’ve just had a bad day.  Does that give me the right to take it out on someone else?  Does that give me an open door to making someone else feel inferior?  Does what I say leave behind a smell that lingers long after I’ve left the room?

Jesus wants us to love one another.  The bible says that if I do not have love, even though I may have other good qualities, I am nothing!  Nothing!!  In fact, the bible says I am “only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”  Now there is some left-behind garbage!!

I Corinthians 13, the love chapter, shows us how to love others, shows us the importance of love above all other things.  “Love is patient, love is kind.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Lord, help us not to leave behind the smell of garbage in our lives, but instead help us to love others and leave behind a sweet smelling aroma!!  We know that this is pleasing to You and edifying to others.  Thank you Lord for loving us, even when we don’t deserve it!

God has been teaching me how to better deal with conflict, at home, at work, even while resting, and especially with difficult people.  I was reading an article by Lisa TerKeurst where she makes the statement, “Am I trying to prove or improve? In other words, is my desire in this conflict to prove that I am right or to improve the relationship at hand?”

Boy, that really puts it in perspective for me.  So often we are so concerned with the fact that we feel we are right, we lose sight of the value of the other person we find ourselves in conflict with.  I especially find it most difficult when I feel so certain that I really AM right and yet the other person remains unwilling to budge.  I have really had to work at leaning on the Holy Spirit to help me simply shut up!

I have learned that sometimes it is better to simply be quiet, let the subject rest and trust the Holy Spirit to move on the other person’s heart.  Along the way, however, I have often been surprised at the way He has moved on my own heart as well!!

God has taught me that I don’t always need to be right.  I don’t always need to strive to make my point known.  I don’t always need to speak.  Sometimes I just need to allow Him to move in my life situation and help me improve the relationship instead.

To God be the Glory!

How many times have you found yourself thinking, “Not again!  Why must I go through this again, Lord?  When will I finally learn this lesson?”

Isn’t it frustrating to find yourself facing the same battle you thought you won the last time it reared its ugly head?  Surely I’ve got this, THIS TIME!!  But then, it happens again.  You lose your temper.  You shout at your spouse or your child.  You spill that same glass the same way you spilled it the last time.  Didn’t I learn to move it out of the way yet?

Thank God He is patient with us.  Thank God He sees the bigger picture of our life.  Thank God that these things that continue to haunt us are really insignificant in light of eternity.  Thank God there is forgiveness, as many times as we need it.

Thank God!