how God speaks

My kids at home are always asking me how God speaks. This last week he gave me a great example to share with them about this very thing.

I have been praying about whether or not to return to my full-time teaching position next year. There are many factors weighing into this decision - was this a forever calling, or just for a season? is this the best thing for our family? is this the mission field that God has called me to? and on and on.

I have been looking in His Word, I have been seeking wise counsel, I have been weighing the pros and cons. But more than any of those, I have simply been asking God to show me. I wish sometimes that He would use big things, like maybe a neon billboard to make it obvious. But He most often uses the little things, all the while teaching me to listen and to seek Him.

On Sunday, during church I felt some pretty clear direction. I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart, "Well done. Finish strong." Meaning he called me to this for a very specific season to meet some very specific needs, and that it is over for now. That he has something else in mind for me next. I very much felt a peace in my heart, and felt more like myself than I have in a long time.

So this week as I was preparing my resignation letter and preparing to talk to my coworkers and boss, I kept praying, "Lord if I heard you wrong, please stop me." One afternoon as I was doing car duty and helping kids into their cars, a young man came up and was very excited to see me. I don't even know the kid's name, but for some reason he is always excited to see me. This time he made sure to tell me, "Coach Harris, I'm in 2nd grade now. " I laughed at his energetic spirit, and my heart was touched by our special connection. But as soon as I closed his door, it dawned on me - that this kid is going to be in 3rd grade next year and I prayed, "Lord, am I supposed to stay for him?"

I started second guessing myself and if i was making the wrong decision. I couldn't help but wonder if that kid was my new mission. But as I prayed, I truly felt a peace about stepping down, so I went forward with turning in my resignation.

The next day, as I was in the office making some copies, I overheard the secretary speaking with a parent about withdrawing her kids to take them to a new school. Out of curiosity, I popped my head around the corner to see who would be leaving, and low and behold, it was THAT young man. It's like the Lord knew that I needed to know that this one was not my responsibility, and that he is someone else's mission. God knows I would have worried the rest of my life about that kid and whether or not I did him a disservice, so He gave me the gift of being able to see that this one did not need me. I just happened to be in the office at the right time and it just happened to be that kid. He used this "coincidence" to reaffirm what He had already showed me.

So how does God speak? Any way he wants, that's how. He can use circumstances, earthquakes, burning bushes, dates, times, "coincidences," people and prayer, whispers or shouts, storms or stillness. And when He speaks, it will ALWAYS line up with what He has already said in His Word.

I share this not to say what a good listener I am. No, the reason God has to go out of His way sometimes for me with really cool things like this is because I'm just a dumb sheep. The Good Shepherd often has to put fences up to make sure I stay within the sound of His voice. I share these things to bring HIM the glory. He is so patient, loving, and kind, and POWERFUL. He never ceases to amaze me, and for His VOICE I am thankful. The stories I could tell.........

why church

A lengthy post that's been many years coming, but I hope it will encourage someone.

Rob and I both grew up in homes where we did church. Every Sunday morning, every Sunday night, every Wednesday night, every time the doors were open, we were there. We continued that pattern with our own family for several years. We served in youth ministry, taught Sunday School, led small groups, etc, etc, etc. Every time the doors were open, we were there, and so were our kids.

After 15 years of that, I'm pretty sure the appropriate word for our feelings was "burnt out."

Our move to Tyler, and the search for a new church home gave us the chance to step away from all those commitments for a while. These last couple years, we've really been re-evaluating all the "busy-ness" of church life, and whether or not we're going to continue doing things that way. Is all of it really necessary, or are we just doing it because it's what people do? Are we truly doing all this for Jesus, or just because it's what we've always done? With three children, and an ever-growing list of activities and to-do’s, we did not want church to simply be one more thing on the list. And if we’re going to do church, WHY?

While we still don't know what exactly all that is supposed to look like, here's some things we've learned in the process:

1) Jesus > church. Jesus places a much higher value on relationships than just the activities of religion. And just going to church does not make you a Christian any more than going into a garage makes you a car. Jesus Christ is the one who saves, redeems, restores, heals, forgives, and loves perfectly and wholly. We must seek HIM above and before all else.
2) Jesus loves His church, and His people should too. He refers to the church as the bride of Christ. He both cherishes and commissions the church with his love and his power to do his work. When we become disenfranchised regarding the church to the point where we are indifferent or even bitter towards it, we have some heart work to do.
3) We need the community of the church. Spiritual growth will not take place apart from community. The accountability, correction, encouragement, and support that the body of Christ provides in small groups is irreplaceable. We need to know when we’re struggling that we’re not alone in the struggle. We need to hear stories of God’s faithfulness in the lives of others, and to share the stories of His faithfulness in our own trials. This might take place in sunday school or in a home group. But it must take place on a regular basis. The fruit of relationship is directly proportionate to the investment.
4) We need to hear God’s Word being preached. We need to be reminded of God’s bigger story. Very Often. Not once a year, not once a month, but very, very often. Just think. When the Israelites were delivered from Egypt, they had only made steps into their journey before they had already forgotten the miracles and were fearful that they would be trampled by the chariots or eaten by vultures in the desert. How often we need to be reminded of His faithfulness.
5) We need to be a part of corporate worship in the church. God demands and deserves our praise. And when I don’t have the strength or the desire to raise my hands or my voice, I need to be around those who do.
6) Activity does not equal maturity. We are not more mature believers simply because we are more active. As a matter of fact, I believe there are many who are falsely believing their church attendance is what’s saving them. We must listen to God’s voice, not just the schedule in the bulletin to determine what things we should take part in. And sometimes that will mean saying “no” to certain opportunities, activities, and groups. Jesus himself often pulled away from the crowds and went the opposite direction. And every time it was to get alone with His Father, or to follow where the Holy Spirit was leading him.
7) The church is not a place, it is a people. It is indeed important to be involved in the corporate worship, preaching, and work of the local church. But sometimes church just means having another family over for dinner, or texting a friend to check on them. Sometimes church even means taking a road trip to see an old friend.

All these thoughts came to a head last week when we had a particularly rough week in our family. The stress of our schedules and parenting through particular issues was absolutely exhausting. We went to church and we sat in the service and the tears began to flow as I heard and saw the words being sung:
“Oh my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength, always,
I will not fear, his promise is true
My God will come through, always. Always.”

I had spent my week wondering where God was in the midst of that struggle, feeling vulnerable, weak, and fearful, doubting all his promises and whether or not He would come through this time. So in all honesty, I was having a hard time singing about him being a refuge, a strength. I couldn’t bring myself to sing about his promises, or about Him coming through because in this particular situation, I hadn’t yet seen it. I KNOW without a doubt these things to be true, but I wasn’t FEELING any of them. But there were many around me with hands raised, declaring the praises of the faithful one, some with tears streaming down their own faces.

And earlier that week, a friend had texted me a link to this very same song. And later that morning, the pastor preached on God’s faithfulness in these very situations and reaffirmed all that we were doing as parents. Our Sunday school lesson was even more encouraging, as I knew I was not alone in the struggle as others shared, and I was encouraged with real life ways to apply His Word to our situation. Another friend had encouraged me during the week, calling to check on me, and just to tell me she was praying for me.

This is why the church – God’s people – are so important. It wasn’t any one of those things that encouraged me by itself. It wasn’t the song, the sermon, the text messages, or the raised hands that helped me to lift my eyes to Jesus again. It was all of them put together. This is why we so desperately need the church. This is why Rob and I have decided to worship with our church on Sundays and to be a part of a small group. This is why we will have other families over for dinner, and go on dates with other couples. This is why we will encourage our kids to be involved in the student ministries. None of it to be a part of a club, but to be a part of a community. A community of people – the church – building one another up as we live life together imperfectly, looking to the perfection of Jesus Christ in it all.