The House at the End of the Lane

I visited the house at the end of the lane this past weekend. It was sweet and cozy, generous and loving.

This is Jamee and Jim's new home at the end of Freeman Street. It has a wrap-around porch with a swing on it. There are big old trees all around the house. In fact, you look out any window in their home and all you see is a meadow out front and trees, trees, trees.

Jamee is in the midst of launching her executive coaching business. Check out http://www.thejsagroup.com/

We worked on preparing her database for the publication of her first e-newsletter issue. This newsletter will be announcing "the working partnership that has been formed between The JSA Group and OMM Prodeuctions to bring leadership training to your desk. Two trusted names with over 80 combined experience telling the story of the Red Shield." How about that?!

We also spent some time talking about our desire to hold a G3 Summit EAST this spring. We believe God is opening the door for us to procede with the scheduling and planning of this weekend. At the moment the we're looking at April 17-19 or April 24-26.

Jamee has a list of women from North Carolina who she feels would benefit from a G3 Summit. Ideally, we would love to sit out on her porch for our sessions. I want to invite each one of you to attend. I'm hoping those of us in the DFW Metroplex and beyond will be able to secure an airfare that won't break you and you will be able to attend.

Having said that the original G3 Summit in Texas will still take place this fall at The Salvation Army's Camp Hoblitzelle,

October 9-11.

Write these dates on your calendar and, even if you can not attend the G3 Summit EAST, keep this Summit in prayer. We are praying that the way will be cleared and the path be made straight for those God wants to attend both Summits.

Can I just say PRAISE GOD right now?

I sit here and really can't believe I'm talking about a G3 Summit EAST! God is doing wonderful things. It is all a mystery and wonderous.

Listening in All Directions

You and I both know God speaks to us in a variety of ways. Actually, not just through sound, but also sight, smell, touch. But, today let’s talk about our hearing.

Microphones have different pick-up patterns...so it is, I believe, with our heart hearing.

Omnidirectional Microphone

Cardioid Microphone

Shotgun Microphone

Bi-Directional Microphone

For most of us, I think we struggle with our heart hearing. In the din of this modern world, we become very selective in our hearing. Sometimes our hearts only pick-up certain voices, messages, truths.

My father is hard of hearing. He wears hearing aids...it helps. But, we find that he hears best when we are facing him and looking at him directly when we speak. In other words, his hearing is very directional.

Is that the case with you sometimes? Is your hearing very directional? Does it sometimes take a friend or loved one to be looking you straight in the eye when speaking to you for you to truly hear?

As you know, many times God speaks to us through another human being...like a Shotgun Mic...receiving a truth from friend or loved one. Those times, when we actually do hear them, causes us to pause abruptly, and if we’re honest with ourselves, we stop and regard that profound moment of hearing God voice (although it may sounds like your friend’s voice).

Then there’s the voice of the Holy Spirit. Kind of like the Cardioid microphone, His voice is often a still small voice coming from within. In a quiet moment of reflection or in the midst of worship, we hear His voice in the depths of our souls.

These two voices we tend to hear most easily. Our hearts are usually attuned to these expressions of and from God.

But, what about the voice of that small child in the Sunday school class, daycare or homeless shelter? Maybe it’s the voice of a woman in the grocery store or dry cleaner. Or the neighbor who’s rather abrupt or reclusive. What was it that that guy said that other day waiting in line at the Post Office? Something about running out of unemployment benefits? Or what about the young woman at Starbucks talking about what a promising day it was and oh did you see the way the sun broke through the clouds that early morning.

God is speaking to us from so many different directions...from within...from outside of us...in front of us and even from behind us—within our past. He is speaking need, speaking hope, speaking encouragement and speaking His presence into our lives. At the vary least we should acknowledge His voice.

From there, I think, should come action.

A pat on the back and a word of encouragement to the man in the Post Office. A friendly wave or a batch of cookies to the self-absorbed neighbor. A smile and voiced gratitude to the woman in Starbucks because she reminded you to experience God’s creation and His presence as it unfolds around you.

And all should be followed up with prayer and worship. As we begin to acknowledge the creative approaches God takes in His communication with us, our hearing becomes keener, sharpened and Omnidirectional in scope.

Here’s the kicker: Being ever present in spirit in order to hear from whence the voice or Word comes. To be disciplined in that. Now that is some resolution!