just thots » Communication

Talking WITH God

john — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:49:58 +0000

Prayer is another critically important habit to have in your daily routine. Far too often the only consistent prayer time we have is just before we eat! And that prayer is often routine and rote. I read a book years ago written by a pastor of a very large church. The title of the book: “Too Busy Not to Pray.”

Far too often prayer is something we participate in when we need God to bail us out of some circumstance instead of keeping the lines of communication open in the most important relationship of your life.

If you have children, you know the feeling when one of you children approaches and says, “I love you.” The words are nice to hear, but sometimes there is something about the tone with which they are delivered that you intuitively know that they are about to ask for something. I often wonder how often, when I pray, God experiences that same feeling. I wonder if God ever feels like we view him as a ‘sugar-daddy.’

This week in your pray time, focus on communicating with God, not on asking God for things. Intentionally listen more that talk. Prayer is a conversation with our heavenly dad, not the presentation of our list of wants to Santa.

Valentines – A Clue for the Guys!

john — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:52:19 +0000

A maybe not-so-subtle reminder to the guys out there!

Dancing in the Nude!

john — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:01:40 +0000

Earlier this week I was at a funeral and heard a humorous recollection. The gal telling the story was visiting her grandmother with her father and in the course of the conversation, both father and daughter heard grandmother make the comment, "I was dancing in the nude." It was only after clarification by the son that they determined that is not what she said!

Far too often what we say and what is heard are two different things. Lately I've been dwelling on the saying: "Communication isn't about what you say, it's about what they hear." Anyone who has done any public speaking knows this to be true. The filters that people listen through have an amazing affect on what they hear. Anyone who has raised children knows this to be true! God knows this to be true also. I listen through filters also. God speaks, I often hear what I want to hear instead of what God is trying to say.