So when I hear the same things from different sources in a short amount of time, it unknowncatches my attention.  It happened again this Sunday as I sat in service listening to my pastor.  Like right off the top of my head, I cannot tell you what he was talking about?  I know….that sounded really bad.   What I do remember though is a phrase he used, “Don’t be spoon fed the gospel”.  I got all excited because that is a foundation of my faith journey.  I heard it in 2009, when I went to a women’s conference and heard the speaker, Priscilla Shirer, say it.  I thought about it, and knew that it was important to not only remember it, but to implement it.

What has it meant to me over these years?  Well, it was something that I bought into.  If I wanted to get to know Jesus better, it was in my power to do so.  I didn’t have to go into a church building, listen to someone with a seminary degree or have it told to me.  Now do I go to church and listen to seminary trained pastors?  Yes, of course I do!   I find though that God speaks clearest to me, through my own willingness to seek Him out.

It was pretty fun to hear that in service, and when I got home I pulled out the program from the conference I had attended.  I don’t typically keep that much stuff, but like I said it really made an impact on how I live, so I had put it away.  She had used the story of Jonah for her talk, and I can remember being thankful for Jonah and the second chances that God gives each of us.

images.jpegIt was pretty funny then on Monday when I got a text from my friend, about our bible study group.  It said that we were doing a new study on Jonah, and sure enough, it was by the speaker from so long ago.   No, I don’t believe in coincidence, but I do believe in a God who cares enough about me to speak in a way that I will hear Him.  Ok Lord I get it, I am listening, and I can’t wait to hear what you have to say!