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I had a weekend that you might call interesting.  I’d call it interesting in a lot of good ways.  An interesting that I’d like to see become even more and more my “normal”.

My husband and I attended the three week Leaders' School of Ministry in Toronto in 2008 and after sending for Dr. Mark Virkler’s DVD set and the books on “How to Hear God’s Voice,” in September 2009 I set up a 'Hearing God's Voice' group consisting of nine of our church members - eight ladies and one man.  Week by week we met together in our homes, watched the DVDs, followed the book and began to journal.  It has been wonderful to see how people have grown and developed such a lovely, intimate relationship with the Lord over that time.  It has been an amazing journey.

Have you heard of cheap grace? Grace was very expensive to obtain in your behalf, but when you proclaim the gospel message to people do they get the impression that they can take this free gift and go on to do anything they please? Thinking this way indicates that they don’t really understand the gospel message. I paid a price you were unable to pay, therefore you are bought with a price and you are not your own. Do you understand that I have a prior claim on your allegiance and affections just because I created you? How much stronger is this claim now that you have received me as savior and redeemer? Therefore glorify me with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

Have you ever visited a church and felt that you were being evaluated as a potential recruit? How your abilities would benefit their programs and how a tenth of your income would benefit their church treasury? Even if they made you feel welcome, did it seem that it was more for their sake than for yours? Have you ever had the same thoughts concerning those who visited your church? In the economy of the Kingdom of God, it is not just about the ways an individual can support a church, for I made each believer with a unique destiny. You should obey those who rule over you but never surrender the pursuit of my will for you alone. Trust me to make these work together in building my church. 

My word speaks of my return. It tells of conditions and events some of which are dramatic and cataclysmic. Yet the exact time of my return is a well-kept secret. You want to know and try to figure it out, but I’m not telling. Do you see my withholding of this information as a departure from my loving nature? If you knew exactly when I was coming do you think it would make your life better or worse? In my love I withhold this burden from you, yet I have taught you how to live now and how to approach this matter. Occupy till I come, be ready at all times, and keep watching for my return. 

Have you noticed that in my word I spoke not only in declarations, but also in questions? ‘What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world if he loses his own soul?’ I was not looking for information, but questions engage thought in a way that declarations do not. I invite you to ponder these questions for out of them proceed the issues of life. In school were you judged by the answers you gave? When you are out of school you are free to frame the questions yourself. Have you discovered that you are judged more by what you inquire of than by what you answer? Ponder the questions of eternity and I will reveal the mystery of faith to you. 

The last couple of days have been an interesting experience as I’ve had the opportunity to evaluate candidates who are seeking to be hired for the Fire Department I work for.  Its interesting seeing people who are in the position I was eleven years ago.  People excited and nervous about starting a career.  It’s a huge deal.   

Students go to school to learn from teachers. The intention is to provide a structured curriculum in a suitable facility with qualified instructors. Everything is structured with deliberate intention for the desired outcome. Those who are wise find instruction in schools, but they find it everywhere else too. Not all students are grateful for the opportunity to be in school. Do you love instruction enough to seek it even when you are not in school? I promised that those who would seek would find, and this promise applies generally, but particularly to wisdom. You have only to ask of me, and then open your eyes and you will see it wherever you look. 

The commonly accepted notion of leadership is that there are a few natural leaders or officeholders who can get people to do what they want and the rest are followers who are subject to the leaders. I told my followers that this was the thinking of the gentiles, but it was not to be so among them, but that he who would be the greatest should be servant of all. All are able to serve. Does this mean that all are leaders? Even I did not seek to force people to follow me but I taught them that this was the way of life and invited them into it. In this way everyone should be both a leader and a follower.