Yesterday morning my brother in law left this earth to be with Jesus and a host of others welcoming him.  It wasn’t a surprise to his family, but as loss is–it still must be grieved.  My nieces and nephews asked if I’d conduct his service.  I’d done this a few years back when another brother in law passed.  That was the only time I’d ever done something like this.  Now it is happening again with Sterling.  Of course I said yes.  As so many others, I loved this man.  He was so unique in character and skills.  His service will be a time of reflecting and celebrating.

This morning’s devotional–“Every Day in His Presence” had a profound, yet simple message.  Its title is:  It is not enough to listen.  It goes on to say that listening is only a start.  It says, “True listening has a crucial companion:  obedience.”  This message hit me like a sledge hammer–not in a negative way, but one that wakes you up.  There has been so much about God’s Word that speaks to me–to us.  As we read/hear it, we are to obey it–what it is saying to us.  Much of God’s word I would obey.  However, there were times when I knew I should do something like share a message with someone and I’d shy back from it.  This was particularly true before I’d opened up about my past.  Even after I’d begun to speak of it I’d be paralyzed with fear of telling.  I’ve learned a great deal about obedience in this area.  God nudges us to take these steps of obedience to help someone else that needs our words, our support–whatever it is.  God has our paths cross so that we can shed His Light where they are experiencing darkness.

Satan often has a heyday with us in the arena of obedience.  He can plant so many seeds of doubt.  Even our own pride gets in the way with this.  This morning I was awakened once again to this truth about God’s voice speaking.  I want to be a good listener and an obedient servant to Him.