Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

When to be Quiet

 My preacher father once paid a visit to an elderly couple who were members of his congregation. Dad listened for some time as the woman spoke enthusiastically about many different subjects. Finally, during a    momentary lull, her husband perked up with a question for my father. “Have you noticed my wife’s speech impediment?” he asked.

     “No,” said my dad, “I haven’t noticed her having any problem talking.”

     “She has to stop for breath,” replied the old fellow.

     Could it be that God would talk more if we would listen more? If we’d stop for longer breaths? Oct 11, 2016 06:00 pm, Devoted from Pacific Press

 During my devotions this week, I realized this was what I was lacking….so I thought I would share a few thoughts about listening to GOD.

How do you and I listen to God?

In a way listening to God is like listening to anyone else. How do you listen to your spouse, kids, parents, loved ones or your closest friends? You spend time in their presence hearing what they have to say. So whether you are praying, quietly meditating on the word of God, or studying the bible, sometimes you might just want to stop, turn down the volume of the world, and intently listen for God to speak into your life.

The problem is that many of us don’t spend time with God in His word, the bible, and therefore can’t hear what bible verses about listening to God are really trying to say to us. You can’t hear what someone says without spending time in there presence or being connected to them in some way. And it is no different with God and His word.

Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

To listen to God, you should find a quite place to open His living word and prayerfully search the treasures found within the bible verses about listening to God.

Ideas for teaching listening skills:

*Enhanced Hearing

Roll a piece of poster board into a cone and tape it. Instruct the children to get into pairs, or work with a single child. Tell your children that God gave pets such as cats and dogs excellent hearing but humans must try a little harder to hear what he has to say. Have the child put the cone up to his ear. Whisper inspirational phrases into the cone, and ask if he heard you. Try several times whispering phrases with the speaker being closer and farther away from the cone. The partners should switch places when ready

*Bible Game: Listening to God

Play this Bible game with kids to help them learn how God spoke to Samuel–and how they can listen to God, too.

Form groups of three. Have one person in each group close his or her eyes. Have the other two take the person at least 20 feet away from their group.

Say: You have one minute to get back to your seat with your eyes closed. Your friends in your group will guide you, but listen well.

The “blind” people can’t be led by the hand; they must follow only their group members’ instructions. Play three times to let each group member have a turn being the blind one.

Then ask: How easy or difficult was it to listen to your group members’ voices? How did other people’s instructions affect you? What techniques did you use to listen well?

Say: Listen to this story about a little boy who learned to listen well — and heard God’s voice.

Read aloud 1 Samuel 3:1-11.

Ask: Think of the techniques we used in our game to listen well. How can we use some of those same techniques to listen well to God?

Danielle Bell  Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Calendar Updates:

                        October 21-23             Couples Retreat @ Camp Kulaqua speakers: Stan and Angie Hardt

                        October 31                  Community Out Reach @ Forest Lake Church (Halloween evening in the parking lot)

                        November 5                Creative Ministry Workshop @ North Miami SDA Church

                        November 18-20         Blaze @ Lake Yale Baptist Convention Center (for Pathfinder and Youth Leaders)  find information on the Florida Conference/Youth website

I know our lives are really busy as we approach another time change, plus the holidays.  My prayer for you is to take time for yourself and avoid burn out.  Your church and family will be thankful you did.

Also pray that God’s hand will be in the deciding vote for the future of our country, church, and lives.

Please come and join us in our travels (see calendar above)we always love to meet you and share with you.

Next week will find me in Colorado at the “Future of the Church” Summit so my weekly update will take a week off and be back November 2.  

Looking forward to sharing what I hear and learn in the near future.

Enjoy the cooler weather they are predicting for the upcoming days!  Keep smiling too.