Yesterday at our ecumenical Bible study we looked at listening. Part of our discussioon:

12 Easy Ways to Improve Your Listening and Make Others Feel Heard (writer had explanations):
By Blake Glosson

1.  Look people in the eye.
2.  Face people.
3.  Put down your phone.
4. Ask engaging questions.
5.   Ask clarifying questions.
6.  Smile.
7.  Give nonverbal feedback while he/she is talking.
8.  Don’t assume you already know what she/he is going to say.
9.  Write down key details.
10. Set aside time for distracted listening.
11. Pray. (before you meet someone)
12. Follow up.

Our Bible verse was “Don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little…..” (James 1:19 a).

The Bible Commentary: “When we talk too much and listen too little, we communicate to others that we think our ideas are much more important than theirs. James (writer) wisely advises us to reverse this process. Put a mental stopwatch on our conversations and keep track of how much we talk and how much we listen. In our conversations, do others feel that their viewpoints and ideas have value?”

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Jesus Calling:  Enjoying Peace in His Presence” by Sarah Young from yesterday, September 1:
 

“Seek Me with your whole being. I desire to be found by you, and I orchestrate the events of your life with that purpose in mind. When things go well and you are blessed, you can feel Me smiling on you. When you encounter rough patches along your life-journey, trust that My Light is still shining upon you. My reasons for allowing these adversities may be shrouded in mystery, but My continued Presence with you is an absolute promise. Seek Me in good times; seek Me in hard times. You will find Me watching over you all the time.”

~ Taken from Deuteronomy 4:29; Hebrews 10:23; Psalm 145:20

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When we read the Bible, it is pretty easy to trip over something which is pretty relatable to our everyday lives. Such is today's 'korner':

"And because we are His sons, God has sent His Spirit of His Son into our hearts, so now we can rightly speak of God as our dear Father. Now we are no longer slaves, but God's own sons. And since we are His sons, everything He has belongs to us, for that is the way God planned."

~ Galatians 4:6 -7 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "Under Roman law, an adopted child was guaranteed all legal rights to his father's property. He was not a second-class son, he was equal to any other sons, biological or adopted, in his father's family.

"As adopted children of God, we share with Jesus all rights to God's resources. As God's heirs, we can claim what He has provided for us---our full identity as His Children."

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"Thank You, Father, that we can be adopted into your forever family.  
We are rich!
In Your Son's Name. Amen."

Something written by Paul for the Thessalonians, which was good news for them.......and for us!

"I can tell you this directly from the Lord, that we who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet Him ahead of those who are in their graves. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a mighty shout and with the soul-stirring cry of the archangel and the great trumpet-call of God. And the believers who are dead will be the first to rise to meet the Lord. Then we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with Him forever. So comfort and encourage each other with this good news."

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:15 - 18 LAB

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Bible Commentary on these verses:  "Because Jesus Christ came back to life, so will all believers. All Christians including those living when He returns, will live with Jesus forever. Therefore, we need not despair when loved ones die or world events take a tragic turn. For God will turn our tragedies to triumphs; our poverty into riches; our pain to glory; and our defeat to victory. All believers throughout history will stand reunited in God's very presence, safe and secure. As Paul comforted the Thessalonians with the promise of the resurrection, so we should comfort and reassure one another with this great hope."

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This is today's message from Max Lucado. He says to think outside the box and pray bold prayers. I don't think I do that, but I want to listen to Max and God!

DARE TO THINK THE UNTHINKABLE

"Dare we think the unthinkable? That God will hear our prayers, that he will listen when we speak? If you were to pray a faith-empowered prayer, what would you say? Then say it! Let faith fuel your prayers. And let prayers put starch in your faith.

"Will God give you what you request? Yes, he will. He may do so in a different form than you ask for or a different time frame than you prefer, but “it is [Jesus] who is the ‘Yes’ to all of God’s promises” (2 Corinthians 1:20 GNT).

"Let’s renew our commitment to unreasonable, unquenchable, unthinkable prayer.  Let’s ask God to resurrect hope that has perished and dreams that are buried."

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My sister, Jill’s doctor, told her to drink two glasses of water first thing each morning to ‘wake up’ our internal organs. Especially as we age.

I don’t always do that but I do drink at least one early.

The same thing might be said about ‘waking up’ our spiritual natures. As Christians, the Holy Spirit resides within each of us.

We can start the mornings by reading the Bible, watching a dynamic speaker on television, listening to the radio, repeating a learned Bible verse, offering a brief prayer, or some other acknowledgement of Jesus and God in our lives. Whatever works for us!

 
"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path."  

~ Psalm 119:105 NIV

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Bible Commentary:  "A walk in the woods at night makes it obvious that a light is necessary to prevent one from tripping over tree roots or falling in holes. In this life, we walk through a dark forest of evil in a world that has turned its back on God. But the Bible can be our light to show us the way ahead so we won't stumble as we walk. It reveals the entangling roots of false values and philosophies. We can study the Bible so we can see our way clear enough to stay on the right path."

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I really like reading the book of Psalms. Often I have a tally sheet and mark off what I read, one or two chapters each day. No particular order.

Once again I am down to about two chapters of the 150 chapters, with chapter 119, as one of those two. Why do I leave that chapter as last. Because it has 176 verses. Not that I don't like those verses, I just wind up reading shorter ones first.

I really like Psalm 119, so remind me next time I choose to read Psalms, to pick it as one of the first ones I choose to read.

"Nothing is perfect except
Your Words."
~ Psalm 119:96 LAB

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Bible Commentary:  "God's Word makes us wise---wiser than our enemies, wiser than any teachers who ignore it. True wisdom is not amassing knowledge, but applying knowledge in a life-changing way. Wisdom comes from allowing what God teaches to make a difference in our lives."

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I send out a weekly email newsletter, The Clarion Wire, every week on Friday mornings, of things that are happening in our area.

Last Friday's included an hour meeting with Wright County's Economic Development Director Aaron Budweg, telling us about what is developing in our county. It said the meeting was to be held at Clarion's Senior Citizens Center at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. Only one problem; it was the wrong day!

Where was the mistake made? I don't know. But I am taking the responsibility for it. For that I apologize.

A good thing:  day hadn't passed. It is set for this Thursday, August 27. Same time. Same place. Time to recover the error. But one problem:  I don't have another Clarion Wire newsletter coming out until Friday!

If anyone came the wrong time, they could return on Thursday. The senior citizens center organizers have time to tell others, people could come this Thursday.

And if any of you reading this note, have time or  interest:  Aaron Budweg at Clarion's Senior Citizens Center, 302 South Main in Clarion. On Thursday, August 27 - 1:30 p.m.

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans."

Even our mistakes!!

A week ago Sunday there was a Prayer and Praise time at our local park, praying for our Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Schools as we begin the school year.

On Monday, I included Part 1 from the prayer brochure. Focus was on elementary, middle, and high schools. 

Prayers offered could be for any school. Many schools in our area begin today.

Part 2 today focuses on school Leadership & Staff:

Superintendent, Principals, Deans, Board

Unity Vision: Build teamwork, heal disagreements, and grant wisdom from above (James 1:5, Colossians 1:9).

Rest & Renewal: Strengthen leaders in moments of weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Help them set down work at day's end..

Teachers, Paras, Counselors, Nurses

Learning Environment:  Fill classrooms and offices with peace, resources, and room to heal and flourish.

Discernment & Endurance: Remind staff that nothing separates them from God's love (Romans 8:38-39).

 Coaches, Janitorial, Kitchen, Transportation

Facility & Travel Safety: Protect all vehicles, sports spaces, and equipment. Guard daily commutes.

Support & Health:  Grant physical, mental, and spiritual strength for every role behind the scenes.

CLOSING PRAYER:

"Lord, let your light fill every hall in CGD. Open eyes to your salvation and protect every family represented. In Jesus' name. Amen.

“This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
~ Psalm 118:24 LAB

 
Pretty familiar Bible verse.

I am continuing my reading of the book of Psalms. But here is a second look of the first verse of the same chapter:

 
“Oh, thank the Lord,
For He’s so good!
His lovingkindness is forever.”
~ Psalm 118:1 LAB

Want to know the last verse of that same chapter?
 

“Oh, thank the Lord,
For He’s so good!
His lovingkindness is forever.
~ Psalm 118:29 LAB

 
The introductory theme for the chapter:  “Confidence in God’s eternal love. God’s love is unchanging in the midst of changing situations. This gives us security.”