5/17/10

Listening to God

For the past few weeks I've been asking God the same question -
             "What do you want me to do for You?"
I teach from time to time in a class that is really a great bunch of people. Very diverse folks...people way on the left and people way on the right and people who either are truly moderate, or just aren't sure, which is OK, too.

So, I get an email from a someone who I don't know very well, but consider her a friend nonetheless. I knew her husband before I knew her and his parents are friends who sit in the class that I mentioned. Anyway, she extended an invitation to my family and me to move to Texas and be a part of a core leadership team to plant a church. I was blown away by the invitation, and was also taken aback. Was this God answering my question?

A week or so later I got a phone call from the brother who seems to be the one who spearheads this church planting dynamic. We talked for about 30 minutes or so and had a very good conversation. I told him that I (we) were willing to go wherever God wants us to go, but He would have to make it VERY clear, leaving no questions or doubts about it.

The past 2 years (give or take a couple of months) have been difficult for my family. We have experienced some serious financial difficulties, but thanks to some incredible friends, we stayed solvent. We experienced no loner being a part of a business/ministry that seemed to go in a direction that was not part of the original plan. This was partly my fault and partly our partners. I have had questions for God with no answer. I have been angry with God with no response from Him. This last Friday our washing machine went down for the count, so my wife had to run to a local laundromat to wash some clothes. So I went to the garage to check out the washer...to no avail. So I started on a rant to God..."What are doing to us? What have we done to deserve all this crap that's happened? God, if You don't show up soon, I'm just gonna walk away!" The whole time I was just angry and spoke out of that anger...so it didn't mean much...just the ramblings of an idiot.

Later, after my wife got home and I had calmed down, I received the phone call from the ministry guy I mentioned earlier. Very good, calming conversation. After the call I stepped outside for fresh air. It was nice, but cloudy, so cloudy that even in the dark you could see the clouds...except directly over my head. I looked up and there was a hole in the clouds and centered in the hole was the Big Dipper. I smiled as saw it and heard in my head, "I'm going to pour out a blessing on you." Just like that.

I don't pretend to know what that meant, I'm not even sure what it could mean, but it was real...more real than the lunatic rant I went on only a couple of hours before. He made me aware of His presence and interest in my life and that He has something planned. I write this for those of you who may be in the same situation as I've been in the past couple of years.
He's there...He cares...and He has something for you.

Think about it.

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