A Satisfied Soul has "Spacious Encounters with God" - Stephen Macchia

From the book, God Calling. Part of today's reading:

"Discourage too much talk. Deeds live, and re-echo down the ages -- words perish. As Paul: Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, . . . And have not charity, I am nothing....

Remember that rarely to the human heart do I speak in words. Man will see Me in My works done through you, meet Me in the atmosphere of Love and self-effacement. Do not feel that you have to speak.

When man ceased to commune with his God simply and naturally, he took refuge in words—words. Babel resulted. Then God wanted to do away with man from the earth. Rely less on words. Always remember that speech is of the senses. So make it your servant, never your Master."

"And that ye study to be quiet." 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Even when we pray, do we speak all the time? Do we pause or even stop to wait, to listen for God? The book God Calling is from two women, two listeners, who prayed and then listened for direction from Jesus. They wrote down what they heard. They were blessed. They prayed and listened. As we pray, do we talk to God, which is good, or listen for God, which may be better?

God is patient. He may not interrupt our prayers unless He has to. He will wait for a pause, a biblical selah, in the conversation. Do we do this with our friends? Wait for them to finish speaking before we talk? Or do we interrupt with our "insight" or remembrances? God is a patient, better friend than I am. He waits for me to stop talking before He speaks.

Pray for me that I stop talking, chatting incessantly, and that I pause and quiet my soul and listen for Him.

"But these times are not times when you ask to be shown and led, they are times of feeling and realizing My Presence. Does the branch continually ask the Vine to supply it with sap, to show it in what direction to grow? No, that comes naturally from the very union with the Vine, and I said, "I am the true vine, ye are the branches."

The quote in the title is from Stephen Macchia, Founder and President of LeadershipTransformations.org

The Power of Prayer - The Power of being "Present"

I was asked by my friend Dave, a chaplain candidate in the Army Reserve, to pray for him during his last 10 weeks of seminary studies. It felt a little contrived since it was a requirement of his schooling to ask 10 people to pray for him, but I agreed, with the disclaimer that he'd doesn't know what I pray about. You see, the privilege that God gives us in brotherhood is the privilege to see others in a different light and to pray what the Spirit leads us to pray, not what they ask for or what we think they need praying about.

So I prayed. I prayed about his temptation. I prayed for his support. I missed a few days then I prayed on Wednesday that my friend would would find what God is really directing him to, what the Lord really wants to teach him. Nothing more.

Dave had a fellow blogger, a man he only met once, ask Dave if he was "up for some counseling as he was in need of some help. My reply? "Sure thing - what can I do you for?"

The key is that Dave was there for him if the man needed it. The man never responded to his e-mails. Dave picks the story up here. "... I was corresponding with him, and casually asked what had been going on that had prompted his original request, and his later expression of thanks."It was suicide," he told me. "You were there. That was enough. That was just enough."

The Power of Prayer - God gave me a glimpse of the power of praying for somebody and God's answer to that prayer.

The Power of Presence - God wants us to be there for each other so HE can work through us. His "presence" can work through us being "present" for other people. Small encouraging words, an offer of coffee, a beer. God wants us to be there for each other. My friend learned that advanced theological degrees aren't what God wants, he wants us to use that teaching to shape our hearts. To open them. To let Him use our hearts.

My friend is humbled today that God would speak to him, affirm that it is not our power to preach, to amaze others with our advanced Theological learning. No, God wants us to be there for each other with our heart open to Him so that His Spirit can speak through us.

Cool stuff. Godly cool stuff.

Dave's Blog - http://adonaisemperfi.blogspot.com/