Does God speak to you? What was the last word you heard from God? What did you do with it? Did you respond in obedience or did you simply ignore it? Do you want to hear from God at all? Some people from the earliest times did not what to hear from God. Can you believe that? Remember these words from the Israelites in Exodus 20:19 when they addressed their spiritual leader Moses? “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” They were afraid to hear from God. Are we?

I challenged The First Church Family to join me, along with your fellow brother and sisters in Christ, on a six week journey to help equip us better to hear from God and prepare our hearts for our Spiritual Life Weekend March 2-4, 2012. The study was written by Henry Blackaby of Experiencing God fame and is entitled “When God Speaks.” We officially began that journey last night with a good group of people and a wonderful time of hearing how God is speaking to individuals in our First Church family today! I believe it will be a rich time of growth for all involved, but more importantly for First Church itself.

Last night one good friend shared how God had spoke to him on Tuesday to pray for a neighbor in the ICU at St. Anthony’s Hospital who was in a coma. He relayed how God had sent him “signs” on the way to work. He called me and we, plus his wife, went during the lunch hour to pray for their neighbor. Their neighbor’s wife was so very appreciative. Another member shared last night how she had invited The Good News Class to pray for that very man last Sunday! God is speaking to us First Church.

I met a woman this morning at my office, who told me how she had woken up one morning after searching for work with no luck to the words “Innovative Design.” She quickly looked in the phone book in the Yellow Pages for the business but couldn’t’ find it. She woke up the next morning and the Lord told her to look in the business pages. She did and discovered a business by that very name . She was a seamstress and called to inquire about a job. They told her they had an immediate opening for a seamstress. She began work the next day. Just ask Peggy King if God speaks to her! She hears from Him most every day!

What have you heard Him say lately to you personally? Jesus said, “He who has ears, let him hear.”

In CB lingo; “Have you got your ears on?” There’s a place at table just for you this Wed. night!

I can’t wait to see you this Sunday too!

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Mark

PS – Fifth Sunday Pot Luck Dinner coming next Sunday January 29!