Listening and Doing.

I always say that I'm a "word person." I enjoy having a large vocabulary. Communication runs the world, so speaking eloquently and correctly is important to me.

Having good grammar is not the most important thing, however, although I've always been an obnoxious Nazi about it. Words themselves are the most important. How often the Bible says, "Take my words to heart" and "lay hold of my words with all your heart," isn't something I've noticed before... But it says it over and over again.

When I pray to God, I want Him to listen, to absorb my words and not forget them. IT's so important to me. How much more important is it that I listen to His words? He says it over and over. "Rachel, I'm telling you something. SHUT UP, listen, and then do what I say."

God gave us His words to show us how to live... Righteously, according to Jesus' example. Everything we need to know to live "right" is written in a book that has been around for thousands of years. The times were incredibly different, but the words are so relevant to the "now..." yet still, I'm struggling to remember what this book says?

I can carry on a conversation in movie quotes. How much scripture do I have memorized? I can

sing hundreds of songs by memory, learn a new one after hearing it twice... But I couldn't even manage to memorize Hebrews 4:12 this week for my Bible study? (Ironically, Hebrews 4:12 is about the importance of the Word of God).

I don't want to even touch the subject of my "worship." Worship is my favorite time of any church service I go to, but it's just lip-service. Where's my worship during my every day routine? Certainly not coming out of my mouth. My mouth is too full of complaints about the weather, or the "ugly look" that girl just gave me. Surely those words aren't worship. The heart behind them is not concerned with God at all.

Words are the most powerful thing we have control over. Our words can hurt and mend. God's words can save. Listening to them is LIFE. That's promised over and over.

Proverbs 4:4, 13, 20-24 -> "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go, guard it well, for it is your life. Pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips."

James 1:18-27 -> "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror, and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-- he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

If you read this, whisper a prayer for me, that I can apply His Word to my life. I'll do the same for you.

Much love,

Rach

"Here I Am."

The bush was on fire. The bush was still intact. The bush didn't burn up. Yet, the flames rose from it.

"Moses! Moses!"

"Here I am."

Standing in the presence of God, Moses took of his shoes. This was holy ground.

As I stood barefoot in the grass on campus, one of many students worshipping an unfailing Father, I was reminded of this story. The presence of God was so heavy around us. I was overwhelmed by the fact that if we could feel Him in that small section of the ATU campus, He could be felt on the entire campus. No doubt, all of campus could hear the shouts of "Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, our God reigns!" Over, and over, and over again.

The story of Moses before the burning bush makes me question: When did we become so comfortable in the presence of God that we forgot to be reverent? Yes, God is our friend. Yes, God is our Father. Yes, God wants us to feel comfortable speaking with Him... But He's still God. "Who among the gods is like You, O Lord? Who is like You-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" (Exodus 15:11). He's incomparable, unmatched, holy, and to be revered. Just because He's our friend doesn't mean He's our equal.

No, I don't think we always have to take our shoes off to worship. I don't think we have to pray, "O Thy Thine Doest what Thou Dost." But I do think God expects (and demands) our very best. I do think He expects to be respected and revered. I know that He is God, not our "bestie for the restie" (although He is, but you know what I mean). He deserves our very best, not our mediocre-"I don't like this song, but I'll worship anyway"-kind of worship. He deserves our ALL, no matter what we're feeling, no matter the circumstance... No matter. He expects the attitude, "Here I am," and He expects us to strip off whatever separates us from His holy ground- and His holiness in general. Whether that's our shoes, our relationships, our attitudes... Take it off. Leave it behind. Strip down out of reverence for His holiness and majesty, and say, "Here I am."