Chill Out and Listen
Note: This post is an article I wrote for The Riches of His Glory, a devotional book for the Singles Department at Hermitage Hills Baptist Church.
For I desire loyalty and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. - Hosea 6:6
Something funny occurred to me over the course of today: God has a sense of irony that puts Jane Austen to shame. This realization started this morning when I sat down to write this devotional. I had a busy day planned, so I skipped my daily quiet time so I could finish it and get working.
Guess what? Nothing happened. I could not get a single word onto the page. I finally gave up and went to work feeling rather discouraged. I mean, I prayed that God would give me some inspiration! Where was He?
Well, things didn’t go well at work, either. I finally became so frustrated with everything that I locked myself in my office and prayed. Hard. I realized that nothing had worked all day because I had chosen to skip my quiet time with God. He wanted me to read, so I asked where. Mark, He said. “OK, God, Mark is a big book, where in Mark?” Chapter 9. Go. Now.
So I did…and my jaw hit the floor. Mark 9 happens to be the story where Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to a mountain to have a little chat with Elijah and Moses. Peter, always one to speak before thinking, jumped up and suggested that they build three tabernacles right there in honor of them. He was just so excited he could not wait to do something! But wait, read verse 7: “A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!”
Wow. God had to come down here in a cloud and tell Peter to chill out and listen. How often do we get so busy doing “things” that we forget to stop talking and listen? Not just worldly things, either. Sometimes “Christian” things like writing a devotional can get in the way of your communication with God. We can get so wrapped up in “doing” that we forget that God just wants us to love Him and get to know Him.
After reading that passage, I knew exactly what God wanted me to say in this little lesson. As you go through this week, do not forget to spend time with God and get to know Him. Do not get caught up in doing…just sit down and listen to what He has to say. I promise, it is exactly what you need to hear.
9 Ways to Connect with Your Community
So, you have a bunch of friends that don’t (or won’t) go to church, but you are hurting for a way to connect with them in the real world. Been there many times, my friend. Here are 9 simple ways to connect with anyone:
- Go to a concert/sporting event: Especially in Nashville, there is always live music to be heard. Several minor league sports teams, too. Check your community calendar and go have some fun!
- Volunteer: Go help serve a meal at the homeless shelter or help out at the local animal shelter. Habitat for Humanity is always a great organization to work with and you might even learn a new skill! There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities in and around your community and I’ll bet your friends would love to get involved, too.
- Invite them over to your house for dinner/dessert: People gotta eat, right? Why not feed them on your home turf? Give them a chance to see you and hang out with you at home.
- Invite them to church/small group: They don’t go to church, huh? have you invited them? This one might seem obvious, but it might just be that your friends aren’t coming because you aren’t bringing.
- Go for a motorcycle ride: Maybe you don’t ride a motorcycle. Well, start! Or go for a scenic drive. Or go for a bicycle ride. Get out and spend some time in the world God created.
- Host a Guitar Hero/Rock Band night: Everybody needs to unwind. Break out the PS3 or Wii and rock out!
- Go play (insert your sport here): Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Tennis, Golf. If you have the equipment, why aren’t you using it as a witnessing tool? Huh?
- Start a book club/study group: It’s not as nerdy as it sounds. Surely there is a book that has been written sometime in the history of the printed word that you might find appealing. If you are a student, you’re gonna be reading it anyway. Invite your friend/classmate to talk about it with you.
- Serve Them: Do they need help moving? What about helping them do a full-on cleaning of their house/apartment? Fixing their car? Volunteer yourself to help them get the mundane done; they will appreciate it.
Looking back over this list, I see a recurring theme: these are mostly things I like to do anyway. Theoretically, my friends like to do these things, too (would we be friends if we didn’t like even few of the same things?). Connecting is simple: find common interests and go do them!
9 is a weird number for a list, so I need your ideas to finish it off. What are some ways that you (specifically) can connect with your non-believing friends? Leave your ideas in the comments.
Mother’s Day
I want to take some time and honor my mother today. Here are some things that stand out to me the most about her:
- I know beyond the shadow of any doubt that she loves me to death. I feel it every time I see her. She has always put her children first, and I am very appreciative of that, even though I don’t show it as often as I should.
- I have never doubted her devotion to Christ. She always made sure that a strong grounding in faith was a top priority for all three of us.
- She is the best household manager I have ever seen. Even though I always give her a hard time about her obsessive organization and cleanliness, I know that I will be a much better husband and father because I have learned how to shoulder some of the responsibility of running a house.
Mom, you are the greatest I could ever ask for. We both know that I will always be moving forward with my life, but I promise I will make time to remind you that I love you. Thanks for being my mom.
