Big Ears and Ruffled Feathers

Does God speak to you?

If so, is He personal?

Have you ever hesitated sharing what 'God said to you'?
This has been on my mind so I thought I would ask my two readers these questions. I've noticed on blogs and occasionally when a pastor talks about something God spoke to him or her that sounds personalized, they tend to shrink back. No sooner than those words are out of their mouth, they feel compelled to explain God's voice.

"No, it wasn't the audible voice of God. It was an impression. A small still
voice. A tug inside. He spoke to my heart." The list goes
on.
Do we always need to share how He spoke? I realize this can be a
teaching moment, helping people know how to hear His voice. Is that the
reason for the statements or are we trying to make sure no one thinks we are strange? When you say, "God spoke to me" ears of all sizes perk up.
A couple of weeks ago, I was speaking at a charity event. I shared a story that included something 'God said' that was personal to me but applied to all of us. Trust me. This was not about drinking red Kool-aid or anything that wasn't grounded in the Word of God. A man came up and introduced himself at the end of the event. He wanted to know my story with the Lord. We had an uplifting conversation about Jesus. He told me I ruffled some feathers at his table that night.

Me??? Ruffle feathers!! One man was not so sure about my story, the part where I shared what God said to me. He asked people at his table, "Do you think God spoke to her like that? "Yes" this man answered. Then the man looked at him and said, "Do you think God would speak to me?"

My intention was never to ruffle someone's feathers. That's not my mission. I am supposed to share His words. I believe the Holy Spirit was ruffling the feathers. I think this man heard that he wasn't hearing. God wanted it to bother him. For a Christian, hearing the Lord speak, that's normal.
Jesus said:
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

I have been debating whether to post this, and He confirmed it this morning. Listen to this in today's Jesus Calling. My desire is that My "sheep" hear My voice continually, for I am the ever- present Shepherd. He wants us to hear!

Here is a Q Tip for today: Quiet time with Jesus. Pull away from the computer, tv, your cell phone and open your Bible. Pray. Find refuge under His feathers. Listen. You may have the opportunity to share what God said to you. If your hearing is good, share it with confidence that God will use it to speak to someone's heart.

B His Girl

Stories From A Turtle Girl: The Master's Work

Meet B and her friend Tiffany, the turtle.

Turtle Tuesday is a little different today. I usually feature a turtle from my collection however, I do not own Tiffany, the turtle. I saw her picture in a magazine. This turtle is inspired by the legacy of Louis Comfort Tiffany, an artist best known for his work in stained glass and mosaics.

B got all choked up when she saw this turtle. She had to tear the picture from the magazine. You may think B is crazy! Why would she cry over a turtle picture? There has to b more to this turtle story than you can see with the natural eye.

THIS TURTLE HAD A MESSAGE For B. Here is what washed over B's heart the moment she saw this turtle. Tiffany is looking at Bee and smiling. "Everything is Beautiful" is the song she sings. B recalled the lesson from her mosaic cross on the post below. He makes everything beautiful in its time. (Eccl 3:11) Coincidence? B did not think so.

B looked up the meaning of the name Tiffany. In the Greek, it means Manifestation of God. B felt His Presence in this picture. The Lord, the real master of all 'stained' glass, wanted B to see His smile and know His love for her.

That is how Jesus sees you too...through eyes of love! You are a beautiful piece of His workmanship. Read His words to you. Plant them in your heart.

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great
delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you
with singing Zep. 3:17

B His Girl

Part 3: The Girl In The Mirror

The Finished Project.

Hundreds of mirrors were used to make this mosaic cross. Each mirrored piece is unique in appearance, however all of the pieces have one thing in common. They're broken! The silver lining is scratched from underneath some of the mirrors, leaving black spots. Other pieces are chipped, cracked, and their jagged edges made it look like their break was traumatic. As I was gluing the mirrors on the cross, I kept looking for a 'good' piece, but there were none.

I had to take a peek after I finished a section of the cross to see if I looked broken? Inside I heard these words, "Barbara, quit looking at your broken self and see what I have done." Stunned, I picked up my cross from the floor and leaned it against my kitchen wall. God let me see the cross and the broken pieces from His viewpoint, the 'Most High' viewpoint there is. The more broken pieces I added, the more beautiful it became. I saw my brokenness in a new way. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Eccl 3:11

When God rocked my world eight years ago, I had a Bible, but I never read it. I didn't even know where it was. How sad is that! That moment in God's Presence changed everything. I KNEW God was real and He KNEW who I was. I found that Bible. The girl (me) looked in the mirror of God's word and saw Jesus. I 'B'ecame His Girl that day. Joy! Joy! Joy! I needed to know who He was and what He wanted from me. I remember this moment from that day so clearly . As I left my house that afternoon, these words I grew up singing in church ran through my mind....Let others see Jesus in you, Let others see Jesus in you. I was beaming! My mirror was clean. The overwhelming JOY of that moment has never faded. I pray that it never will.

You maybe the only mirror some people look into today! Dust off your mirror! Shine.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor 3:18

B His Girl

Turtle Tuesdays: Waiting On A Post

Meet B, the turtle post :)
B tends to step out of her Box on Turtle Tuesdays and today is no exception. You may expect this post to b a little tongue and cheek, but it has a point. This week B has been traveling on the Blog and she found a post after her turtle girl heart. It wasn't a regular inspiring post, although she read many of those. It was about a turtle on a fence post. Check out AnnieBlogs post:
http://annieblogs.com/2008/10/05/a-turtle-on-a-fence-post/

Seeing two turtle post within two days of each other made B sit and think. Some things are worth 'pond'ering over. B tries to pay attention to signs ,especially when she keeps seeing them. Are there any signs you keep seeing ? "Maybe, just maybe, there were many turtle girls on the post" B thought.

Annie said, "No one looks at the turtle and thinks the turtle put himself there. Quite the contrary. The turtle was placed there. And it is WAY obvious."

B knows that's true. She could have never climbed that high on her own. She has been placed there, but she knows she has not been abandoned. Sometimes B get a little impatient on her watch post. Patience has never been her greatest fruit, but sitting on the post has helped that.

You may B the turtle in the picture this Turtle Tuesday. B has some post to post thoughts for you.

Your steps are ordered turtle girl and so are the resting spots.

If you look around, the view is pretty good from the fence post; most turtles can’t see what you can. Take in the view. Don't waste your time there complaining. There's always a reason for the layover. When you are removed from your post and yes, yes, turtle girl, you will b, remember what you saw. Keep this lesson in your shell. It will guide you when you can't see the forest for the trees. Keep praising and praying from the post. B an expectant turtle!

Mic 7:7
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

B His Girl

A "She Speaks" God Story

I wrote most of this post in June after She Speaks. Today God nudged me to complete this draft and post it. Only He knows why. I hope this encourages my two readers. God knows where you are and His eyes are on you! Walk confidently in Him. He has you covered friend. Here's my God story from She Speaks:

Wendi and I drove from Florida to North Carolina a few months ago to attend She Speaks, a Proverbs 31 Ministries conference. On the drive, Wendi got a bad headache. She thought her sinuses might be infected. "Barbara" she said, "I need you to take me to an Urgent Care facility after we check in at Embassy Suites." The hotel staff helped us locate an Urgent Care facility nearby. We arrived at the Urgent Care five minutes after it closed. We prayed for relief from her headache, hoping we would not need to go there the next day.

God answered our prayer. The next morning Wendi felt fine and she began her morning leadership session. The Speaker's track, did not start until the afternoon, so I had a leisurely breakfast in the hotel. Julie Gillies, a writer from Florida, joined me at my table. We got to know each other a little. Julie had been to the ER a couple of days before the conference. She had pleurisy, an inflammation in your lungs. She was not feeling too good and was hoping her medicine would make a major difference soon. While we were sharing our stories, it became clear I was supposed to give her the book,The Dream Giver, by Bruce Wilkinson. God nudged me to pack it for my trip. I knew He would show me who should have it. The book would be a surprise for Julie later that day.
That evening before dinner, with the book in hand, I went searching for Julie. Would I find her in this sea of women? As I walked toward the back of the main room, I saw her face. Immediately, I knew something was wrong. A few Proverbs staff members were talking to her. Julie was in major pain. "She needs to go to Urgent Care" the Proverbs staff said.

Listen to this God moment....This was my first visit to North Carolina. I knew the location of our hotel and the Urgent Care facility. I told the Proverbs staff that I would take her to Urgent Care. They did not know where it was located. I checked my watch. We had fifteen minutes to get there before closing. The race began. I ran upstairs and got my car keys. The Proverbs staff called Urgent Care to let them know we were on our way.

They waited for us. Julie was the last patient of the day. As I sat in the waiting room, it hit me that God had set this trip up. I started getting all teary eyed. Breakfast with Julie, the Dream Giver Book, seeing her in pain, knowing where the Urgent Care facility was...He set me up to be able to help Julie. The Lord reminded me that He is directing my steps. I was humbled He wanted me to see His Presence in the whole scenario as it unfolded.

We found a pharmacy and got Julie her much needed medicine. She went to her room to rest. I rushed to catch my last session of the day with Wendy Pope, a P31 speaker. I knew I was late and this speaking session was so important to me. A woman on the elevator told me I had not missed anything. Dinner went past the scheduled time and everything was pushed back.

God let me know at that moment, He did that for me! As I complete this post, I am so touched how personal God is to each of us. Sometimes He lets us see His hand guiding our footsteps. I think we are supposed to remember those moments.

There will be times we can't find a clue that His hand is near, but it is. He
is...The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.
Psalm 145:18

B His Girl

Turtle Tuesdays: The Serving Turtle

Meet B, the turtle with her own personalized towel!

This hand towel was a special gift from another turtle. B has been 'pond'ering what to do with her crisp white towel for some time. Part of her wants to save it. "Save it for what?" you might ask.

B has seen lots of other turtles save their gifts. You may be familiar with the 'Save the Towel' campaign. The turtles wait for a special occasion to use their towel. Many days and even years go by with their towel tucked away in their shell. For some turtles, that special day never comes. Their towel is never used and they leave the pond with great regret.

B thought about hanging up her towel for show, hoping no one would need it. She can't really do that though because she sees the dirty turtle toes around her. She knows how great it is to have your turtle feet cleaned! That's when she began to understand why she was given a towel. "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others." (I Peter 4:10)

B has a riddle for you: What's black and white and red all over? If you answered the newspaper, that's only part of the answer. The real answer is the Bible. The red letters make the purpose of the towel clear. Read Jesus's red words after He used his towel.

"Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:12-17

Don't throw in your towel turtle girls...use it. You will be blessed!

B His Girl

A Word Picture: JOY IN THE MORNING

This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." Neh 8:10

Reflect the JOY you have received in the world.

Pay attention to who is crossing your path. Your footsteps are ordered. Many long for what you have seen and heard.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

B His Girl