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Listen to the sound


I just googled information on our 5 senses to support what I found in Scripture this morning. Here's a direct quote: Hearing empowers us and helps us lead our everyday lives without limitations...and it keeps us safe by warning us of potential danger. I'm especially interested in that last part about danger. Here's why...

I've been reading through 1 Samuel this summer, and as I came to Chapter 15 this morning I noticed something. In the very first verse, Samuel urges King Saul to listen to the words of the LORD. When I simply read through these words, I get that I'm supposed to listen when the LORD speaks. But the literal translation here is listen to the sound of the words. That's so interesting to me. It's as if Samuel is saying, "When God speaks, it is a sound like no other in your ear; distinctive and certain. Listen for the sound. Wait for it before you move".

Saul didn't listen to the sound. He spared what the LORD commanded him to destroy, and he was not willing to destroy what he thought was good. He listened to the sound of his own words, and those would ultimately leave him powerless before his enemies. He missed the sound of what would keep him safe from danger; what the LORD knew was for his good.

I wonder how many times I miss the sound. How many times do I delight in the burnt offering and sacrifice, and miss the sound of God's voice beckoning for something much deeper, like obedience? How often do I rush upon the spoil of my accomplishments and actually do what is evil in the sight of the LORD? Am I guilty of listening to the voice of others and ignoring the sound of God's voice?

Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; my ears You have opened; burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Then I said, "Behold I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:6-8).

His word is in my heart, so I will listen for the sound that is distinctive from every other voice.

And with my whole heart I will delight to obey the notes.

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About Me

I am a learner.  I have an insatiable desire to learn, so I read a ridiculous amount of books.  And, because I love to read, I process my thoughts through journal-writing. 

I guess this would also make me a writer.  

I think that a writer puts their time into something they want to read again, and hopefully invite someone else to read as well.  The words mean something to them, and they want those words to mean something to others, too.

I believe that readers and writers are also pretty good story-tellers, and there is nothing I love more than a good story.

Stories tell us the things we need to know, and not just the facts we seem to think define us.  I am more interested in someone who drives a 95 Astro van than someone who drives a new car with a personalized license plate, because I know there's a story behind it (and I love that I am married to the one who drives the van).

So I wrote a book called Tell Me a Story.  In it, you will find stories of people that most don't sit and listen to; maybe because they've never traveled out of the country in order to hear them.  Or maybe they've never really thought about the importance of just listening. 

I didn't listen because I thought I was special; I listened because I believed they were. 

I've taught high school Bible for more than 20 years, written curriculum for all of my classes, led mission trips around the world, taken lots of pictures, made lots of journal entries, and prayed every single day for the people whose faces appear in my heart.  Each blog post will take you to a story; some will be from my memory, some from my journal posts, some from people I'm around every day, and others will be from the best Story-teller I know, Who wrote a book long before I did.   His story keeps writing new stories in mine.  I hope someday to get mine published so that others will be encouraged to read more of His.

 

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