This week was not your normal week as we all went to a church to hear Steve Sampson, author of the book we are studying, speak.  He didn't speak on the subject of hearing God and yet he did more than talk about it he demonstrated it.  Those who came mentioned how humble (or NOT full of himself) he was and yet passionate about God and His people.  I had heard him many times and thought it good for others to "meet" the author of this book.  I think it's easier to understand what a person is saying in written words when you have met them.  You know their spirit and can interpret what spirit/tone of voice, etc. that they are speaking in.  This is sooooo true for the Bible too.  We need to meet the author.  Then you can translate written words into the spirit of the message as you know what their character and spirit are like.  Which gets us back to our whole purpose of "relational christianity". 
I have heard people quoting God sometimes from the scripture in the meanest, most arrogant way.  And I think sometimes, "Do they know Him well at all?"  Cause if they did they would know He would never mean for His words to bring anything but grace to who was listening.  Even if His words cut deep there is life in it and you feel freed that He cut off something that was killing you and are glad.  We have substituted condemnation for conviction.  And thinking God condemns and is critical and run from Him because of it.  Sorry, rabbit trail.  But maybe it needed to be said.  !!

I don't claim to know everything about God.  I've been a believer for 32 years now and realize the more I seek Him the less I really know. And yet I've found many who claim to speak for Him really don't. We've got to find Him ourselves. There is LIFE in the words HE speaks to us.  And I can honestly say the times I've heard Him communicate/speak, whatever you want to call it, my heart has been melted and overcome with a supernatural love and wisdom that is no where on this earth!!! 
I realize stating these things about God really doesn't cut it.  You have to hear for yourself.  Which is what happened at the meeting with Steve.  He didn't just tell us God wants to speak to you, He was a vessel for God to speak.   He walked around the room asking God who HE wanted to minister to.  He walked by my chair, turned back and put his hand on my head and began to pray.  He said that God knew the hard times I had been having and that He was using it all to strengthen me, that I was not just going to get through it but that I was going to go over the top, and that in a few months I would be amazed at all the wonderful things God was going to do.  Oh, and that God was moving in ways that I don't see right now. Something like that.  I felt such love and peace confirming what he was saying.  I cried and cried.  And felt the hand of God on me for sure.  hahah  God does speak.  And through whoever He wants.  When He wants.  And I DO think 3 months from now I will be in awe!!! 

God showed me some time ago that I was an intercessor.  I wondered what that meant and others told me it was my job to take people's needs to God and that was interceding for them.  BUT, I've found it is more than that.  I've found that when I do this (take needs to God) that I'm moved with His heart for others and that God will actually show me a bit of what HE is doing in that person's life as HE did with Stever for me Sunday night.  And part of "intercession" is to bring back an answer to the person from God as part the standing in the gap part.  We need to learn to how to walk in this!  And when we do the body of Christ will find such healing! 
We DO need to be careful for sure what we are telling people God is saying.  As I mentioned earlier we've all heard people say God said......  and you think are they nuts.  God is not like that.  And yet we don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water as they say.  God does want to communicate with us.  We just need to sort out what He is or is not saying.  It may sound difficult or even impossible but the more we sharpen our hearing skills the more life becomes an adventure and we find what He intended for us which is intimacy with Him and abundant life.  Which none of us are experiencing right now.  Let's go for it!  Let's learn to walk this out, k? 
Geee, so much I want to say and yet my fingers are numb already and I'm sure you are out of reading time.   Bummer.  To be continued as I always say.
Well, we will be at MSC again this Sunday.  Hope you can come hang with us.  xooxoxoxo