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Quick Quote: Hearing God’s voice requires clear, intentional listening. ~Randy R. Reed

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Question to Ponder: Do you spending time intentionally listening to God?

Dimming the Din (Seeking the Silence)

Along the way I’ve spent many hours in deep contemplation of God, the mysteries of eternity, the deep, fathomless universe, and the whispers of an all-powerful Creator to the hearts of His children.

I used to hear people talking about their conversations with God, the certainty of His leading in their lives, and the deep impressions they received from the Holy Spirit; and I would wonder why not me?  Why is His voice silent? Why doesn’t God speak to me? Why can’t I hear Him?

In my despair, I cried out to God, begging, pleading, demanding that He speak to me. Yet, only silence greeted my ranting—a deep silence that seemed to mock me. Instead of living patiently in the silence, I turned back to the deafening sounds of this world: the radio, the phone, the television, the computer…and I wondered why God didn’t answer my desperate pleas.

I discovered that the tangled jungle of my mind did not allow silence; its constant murmurings drowned out God’s still, small voice.  I had to learn to turn from the deafening shouts of a desperate world and allow deep silence to enfold me. Only then was I finally able hear the Holy Spirit whispering to my silent soul.

So join me on this joyful and peaceful journey as God teaches me patience and a profound appreciation for the deep, satisfying silence—the silence where heaven touches earth.

Naked and Vulnerable (Thoughts from the Pot): God’s voice can best be heard when we are absolutely still; when we quiet our souls completely and listen intently to the deep silence.

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Bible Blessings: Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. ~1 Corinthians 13:13 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

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Bible Blessings: Today I know next to nothing of God’s amazing love for me, but in heaven I will know and love Him completely, just as He has known and loved me all along. ~1 Corinthians 13:12b (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

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Quick Quote: Half of spiritual growth is learning what we don’t know; the other half is unlearning what we do know. It’s the failure to unlearn irrational fears and misconceptions that keeps us from becoming who God wants us to be. ~Marty Thurber

Painting a Masterpiece (Unlearning Love)

Along the way I’ve discovered that often the hardest thing about learning is the unlearning. I’ve desperately needed to unlearn many things in my life, but the most difficult thing I’ve unlearned is what love looks like.

During my childhood love often yelled at me, called me stupid, talked down to me, and convinced me that I was unlovable. Sure, sometimes love laughed with me and taught me about nature. But more often love painted with the broad strokes of impatience and frustration. It taught me, one painful stroke at a time, that I was unworthy of love and if I didn’t straighten up I would spend the rest of my life alone with only my books as company.

Without realizing it a masterpiece was painstakingly painted—a dangerous picture of love, its dark, distorted shadow painfully stretched across my consciousness, insidiously infecting my every action.

The Bible clearly states that God is Love (1 John 4:8). But, for me, these three words conjured only distorted images.

Thankfully, God is the Great Healer. He too wields a paintbrush, but His is filled with peace, hope, and unconditional love. And with those colors He turned all my pain, all my anger, all my tears, all my hidden frustration into joy—painting a masterpiece called my life.

So join me as I unlearn the hurt, unlearn the pain, unlearn the lies, and allow God to use His delicate touch to make the mess of my life a true and honest masterpiece—a truly joyful journey.

Naked and Vulnerable (Thoughts from the Pot): Broken people produce broken love. Like a shattered glass, love is distorted at every angle, twisted it into something that no longer resembles the original image.

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Bible Blessings: Love puts up with anything and forgives everything. It looks for the best in everyone and it never brings up past failures. Love never stops trusting, it never loses faith, and it never gives up. Love never fails! ~1 Corinthians 13:7 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

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Bible Blessings: Love finds pleasure, not in the vices, but in the virtues of others. ~1 Corinthians 13:6 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

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Bible Blessings: Love is not rude, it’s not selfish, and it doesn’t get angry at the drop of a hat. Love does not keep score of the wrongs other do. ~1 Corinthians 13:5 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

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Bible Blessings: Love is always patient, always kind. Love never gets jealous, it never sings its own praises, and it never shows off. ~1 Corinthians 13:4 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

Discovering My Mission (Loving Like Jesus)

Along the way I’ve been lost, wandering through the desert looking for my way. I’ve discovered that without a clear mission my life is destined to be filled with wandering. Without that beacon of light to illuminate my path I wander aimlessly through the parched desert without water.

Recently, through much prayer and quiet contemplation, I have discovered my mission. With Christ at the center of my life I have discovered that His mission has become my mission. After years of wandering, I have finally listened to His voice whispering, “Trena, take up your cross and follow Me.”

Now each of my actions can be examined against that goal to determine if I am still on the right path. I have found that without living intentionally, I will—perhaps without even realizing it—wander off God’s perfect path.

Finally I listened to the cry from the deepest well of my soul, the cry to follow my mission—to love everyone so completely that by knowing me they will experience the love of God.

So join on my joyful journey me as I continue listening to God and allowing Him to reveal His plans for me. Join me as I listen to His gentle voice speaking to my heart whispering the mission of my soul.

Naked and Vulnerable (Thoughts from the Pot): Only when we listen with our hearts can we truly understand.   

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Bible Blessings: If I donated all of my time to helping others, spent everything I have to feed the poor, and even gave up my life for the cause of Christ, but I didn’t have the love of God in my heart, it would all mean nothing. Nothing can take the place of love! ~1 Corinthians 13:3 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

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Bible Blessings: If I knew everything there is to know about God and I could tell you all of the details of His secret plans, and if I had enough faith to make mountains scatter before me, but I didn’t have the love of God in my heart, I’d be useless. ~1 Corinthians 13:2 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

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Bible Blessings: If I spoke every language in heaven and earth, but didn’t have the love of God in my heart, I’d sound like nothing more than an annoying bell or a crashing cymbal. ~1 Corinthians 13:1 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

Quieting the Lies (Reclaiming my Dreams)

Along the way I’ve often caught myself limiting my possibilities, shrinking my dreams to a tiny fraction of what they once were—even to the point of completely squelching some.

Reality, or my version of it, often rears her ugly head and mocks my attempts to make real change, my attempts to pursue those dreams that lay hidden deep in my heart, my attempts to get up and do something. But nothing is impossible with God. That’s why I’ve decided that it’s time to stand up against the lies whispered in those quite moments of doubt; it’s time to stand up for the truth.

When we have faith, God infuses our lives with an amazing explosion of dreams; He recreates our reality and fills it with limitless possibilities.

I’m ready to take the next step. I’m ready to allow God to give me a new world view filled with His abundant promises, a world where my dreams are simply unfulfilled reality.

So join me as I quiet that nagging doubt and embrace the unimaginable dreams that God has lovingly planned for me.

Naked and Vulnerable (Thoughts from the Pot): God’s reality eclipses my paltry dreams.

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Quick Quote: God is the Great Dream Cobbler. ~Randy R. Reed 

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Question to Ponder: What’s keeping you from turning your broken dreams over to God?

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Quick Quote: Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born. ~Dale E. Turner