Holy Anticipation

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The time is near. In a few days we will celebrate Christmas. But until then, we wait in Holy Anticipation. We’ve been waiting for weeks. Specifically, we’ve been waiting the last four Sundays.

Advent.

Advent is defined as “coming.” For Christians around the world, advent means Jesus, the Messiah, is coming. And while we continually wait for the final return of the Messiah, during the season of Advent we focus on his first arrival.

The last four Sundays have been about hope, love, joy, and peace.

We’ve read liturgies. We’ve lit candles. We’ve sung about the coming of the Messiah.

And we’ve waited.

As we’ve been waiting, an anticipation has been growing in us. We look with Holy Anticipation to Christmas morning when we can together, with all of Christendom, shout and sing,

“HALLELUJAH! THE CHRIST IS BORN!”

I Was Listening This Time

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I Was Listening This Time!

This time, when God spoke to me about my job, I was listening.

This is something different for me.

It didn’t take a shocking dismissal, and a boot to my rear, to understand what God wanted for me this time.

In 2013 when I was fired from my job, it was God firmly placing his boot on my rear and moving me swiftly out the door. I like this new approach much better.

I’m still a bit in shock at the speed this new opportunity arrived, but I’m not shocked that I was ready to hear him telling me what to do.

Why? This time I was praying.

I was in conversation with God about his plans for me. I had heeded my own words of encouragement. I had been listening for his words.

He spoke to me. He directed me to this opportunity.

-Do not despisethese small beginnings,for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin.-

I’m thankful my relationship with God is a bit more conversational now than it has been in the past. I can’t say I listen to him as intently as I’d like, but improvement is certainly happening. It’s a day-to-day, week-to-week, kind of growth.

The closer relationship I have with God is evident to me through my prayer life. It is a more frequent conversation I’m having with him.

I had been talking with him for a few weeks about my income. The discussion was mostly along the lines of me asking for a big breakthrough with the voice acting I’ve been doing. Something was right around the corner. I could feel it. I also felt my writing was about to provide fruit through the freelance jobs I had been seeking. But he had a different plan.

Isn’t that like him? We ask for something, thinking about how it will come about, and he answers it in a different manner.

That’s what I get for listening.

And I’m grateful for it.

____________________________________________________________________________

A CHALLENGE FROM ME TO YOU

Do you want to learn more about listening to God? Do you want to have a better, more frequent, conversation with him?

Starting September 1, 2016, I’ll be leading a group through an online reading/discussion/study of Mark Batterson’s book “Draw The Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge”. This 40 day study is based on Mark’s incredible book, “The Circle Maker”.

I previously led this study during Lent in 2015. It was transforming for many people, including me. The group is forming on Facebook. This is your invite to join us. Here’s a link to the group: 40 Day Prayer Challenge Facebook Group

If you have ANY questions about it, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email, phone, Facebook Messenger, etc.

I’m excited to begin!

Email: rick@ricktheule.com

Draw the Circle

Slaves To Fear, Children of God

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“I’m no longer a slave to fear. I am a child of God.” – Jonathan and Melissa Helser, “No Longer Slaves”

Why is it? Why are we slaves to fear? We so often get caught up in the “fear” parts of our lives, and we forget the “child of God” parts.

I AM...

I believe we forget we are children of God because we don’t spend nearly enough time in conversation with God the Father. For me personally, the more time I spend in deep conversation with the Father, the more I feel I am His child. And it is true. Fear doesn’t enslave me. The closer I am to the Father, the less fear has a grip on me.

When I was a child, the fear I felt during a storm was lessened when I was near my parents. Didn’t you feel that way too? What do your own children do when they are filled with fear? Think about what happens at night during a storm, or when a child has a nightmare. Where do they go? To whom do they cry out?

They run to the bed of a parent, or they call out for a parent. “MOMMY!!!!!!!!”

I do the same when I’m scared. I suspect you do as well.

But now, as an adult, I don’t run to a parent. I run to the Father. I am His child.

This running though. Is it necessary?

If I’m truly no longer a slave to fear, I shouldn’t have to run to Him. I should have a tight, personal, relationship with Him. A constant conversation and communication if you will.

For me, no longer being a slave to fear means I don’t let fear take hold.

Am I perfect at it? Absolutely not! And I never will be.

But I can certainly improve and strive to be better.

Every day I can be intentional about my time and conversation with God the Father. The more time I spend with Him in deep conversation, the less fear I have in my life.

Trials and struggles will still come. Fear will undoubtedly still creep in at times. Having a tight bond with the Father doesn’t guarantee me complete perfection here on this earth. The elimination of fear will only come in Heaven. But I will daily strive toward that perfection. Reaching and trying is all I can do while here on Earth.

Join me.

“But to all who believe him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” – John 1:12-13 (NLT)