God is speaking, moving and stretching us. We’re in an exciting time these days as God’s presence is so evident at Vintage. As God speaks, we must be people who listen, who recognize the voice of God, and the move of Holy Spirit.

What God has been speaking to me about lately is LISTENING, In 1 Samuel, it tells us the story of…who else…SAMUEL! surprise surprise. In particular chapter 3 tells us the story of when God was trying to get Samuel’s attention. The First time God said his name, Samuel was sleeping and thought it was Eli, the priest calling him so he got up and went to the priest…long story short, it took 3 times of waking and going to Eli, until Eli realizing it was the Lord, said “go and lie down again and if someone calls you again say ’speak Lord your servant is listening’. Finally, Samuel understood that is was God who was calling him. I love this story because it shows just how human Samuel was, and how we aren’t that much different from this man who lives hundreds of years before us. We may not realize or recognize the voice of God, however He is patient, and continues to whisper our name. Another great part to this account of Samuel, is that Samuel was obedient, and he was blessed and honoured for this. It goes on to say in this chapter that “As Samuel grew up the Lord was with him”. There is blessing in obedience…there is also sacrifice in obedience. Sometimes what God is speaking to us, may not be what we want to hear, there may be sacrifice involved in the speaking, but when we are obedient in what God calls us to, there is BLESSING!

What the Lord told Samuel, wasn’t exactly a sunshine and rainbows kind of message, however he was obedient in delivering the message to Eli and he was blessed for doing so.

When we position ourselves to LISTEN and HEAR from God-Great things happen…

If you were at lakemount on sunday morning…WOW! The Team’s obedience to hear what God was saying and then walking it out opened the door for LIFE CHANGE. 40+ people were baptized that morning. It felt like something straight out of the bible.

What would our lives look like if we truly learned to listen to what God was speaking to us? What would Vintage look like if the people in it refused to just “get through” life, but took a stand for the voice of the Lord, knowing that His wisdom, grace and love bring LIFE. What would our highschools look like? our jobs? our friends? our communities?

My challenge to each of you would to spend some quiet time with God, with all the voices, distractions and noise that come at us, it’s easy to get buried under it. MAKE the time for God, instead of just talking to him, praying to him, just take some time to listen-don’t be afraid of the silence, it may not be an audible voice, but as you seek God with your whole heart, you will find him (Jeremiah 29:12).

We Are…

LISTENING!