Listening

Listening:

In the hustle and bustle of today's world it is easy to become distracted, and not to be present to those around us.   I think the writer in Hebrews is telling us to listen for God and what he might be telling us.   How often do we really listen actively?  Do we listen for God?

I think to listen for God requires quiet time when we are not occupied or distracted with other activities.  We can ask ourselves, what is God  telling us by the things that happen to us and through other people by what they do and say.  We need to give ourselves quiet time to absorb and analyze these things. We need to be open to what we hear.  Let us not be afraid to pray for direction.

I think Hebrews 3:15 also encourages us take some time to think about really being present and listening to those who are speaking to us.   By listening to others we can identify opportunities to say a kind word or be helpful to someone else in some way.  By being present we place ourselves in a position to be Jesus to someone.   

Here are some skills that are used in effective listening:

Listen for God, listen to others, you will become closer to both.   The late Bishop Fulton J. Sheen explained our relationship with God and others as a wheel with spokes.  God is at the hub of the wheel and we and others are on the spokes.  Notice that as we come closer to God at the hub, we also come closer to one another on the spokes.  

God love you!

Another Chance

Another Chance:

Here we are at the beginning of a new year, 2015.  It is traditional to make some New Year's Resolutions even if they are quickly broken and forgotten.   I like to think it is a time to check our course and make some corrections.   Where have we strayed off course?  What things do we know we should do, but have not been doing?  What things are we doing that we know we should not be doing?  I think chances are, that for most of us our fallings and failings are recurrent.   We very often keep making the same mistakes.  Lucky for us God is a God of second chances. 

In Psalm 86:15 it says, "But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness."  In Micah 7:18 it says, "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?  He does not retain his anger forever because he delights in steadfast love."  This is God's incredible patience!  

In Romans 5:8 St. Paul tells us, "God demonstrates His own love towards us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."  In Ephesians 2:8-9 he says"For grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourself, it is a gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  

God never tires of forgiving us.  We must never tire of asking for his forgiveness.   Our God is a God of second chances.   He is always ready to forgive us and give us a chance to try again.   In like manner it is incumbent upon us to give second chances to the people in our lives.   Colossians 3:12 tells us, "Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  There are some resolutions for you!

God love you!  Happy New Year!