Listening Day - Spring 2012

We began our gathering with a time of prayer and worship. This was before we retreated for 2 hours of silence. During this time we looked at texts from the New Testament that spoke of "being" and "doing". What is God calling us to be? What is God calling us to do? These two questions are often the focus of listening prayer.

After our time of retreat we returned to report on how the Spirit was speaking to us. Jim Smith started us off recalling Scriptures he had studied earlier in the week from Proverbs 15 & 16 which reminded him of what we are called to "be" and "do". Struck again by how the ways of the world are so different from the ways of the Lord in Proverbs, Jim was reminded we must be not just listeners of the Word, but doers (James 1:22). The world needs us to be a blessing that they might be drawn to the Lord. Cindy saw a picture of us intentionally working for the Lord together like a knitted garment in which each part was inter-woven and important. Each of us has unique and important gifts. She was reminded that our faith in Christ holds us all together which is at the core of who we are (Eph. 4:16).

This idea of going God's way and living God's way was further captured for us in what became the central image of the day - "The Path". Not two or three verses into Jim's sharing from Proverbs (15:10), that the text spoke of God's correction for those who stray from "the path". It seems in various ways the Spirit was saying again and again, "stay on the path". Pastor Dave shared an image given him in his listening time. The vision was of an open field with a earthen levy holding back flood waters. Near the levy ran a path. Not level but concave which forced the traveler to stay in the middle. He could not see where it came from or where it led, but felt compelled to follow the path and was forced by its shape to walk in the middle. He sensed it would be safe to walk there even though the flood waters threatened. There was comfort that came from knowing that the path had been prepared for him to walk in and if the waters overflowed the path maker would make the way safe.

Rebecca Loach, who joined us from Ohio for our Listening Day, then shared what she felt was a prophetic word (see NewWineMission.blogspot.com for full text). Likening our ministry at New Wine to traveling on a foggy road she felt the Spirit saying:

"Hang on. Stay true to the path you have chosen, those things you believe to be true, honorable and right....There were many times when you did not realize that it was My heart and My purpose at work in your life, for there were times when the path ahead seemed very dark, times when the answer did not seem clear. But I tell you the truth, My children, you have taken the right road and I am still leading you. For dear ones , do not forget that I am the One that apprehended you for this course. I am the One who called you to this task."

Her prophetic word ended with words of comfort and assurance that the fog will lift and that the Lord was calling us to "a season of restoration."

Being

Others, too, received a word of comfort calling us to rest in God. Anne felt an overwhelming sense of peace after a recent period of anxiousness as she quieted herself before the Lord. Kate also heard the Lord saying not to fear or fret but rest in Him. She was directed to Psalm 37 which says in part: "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He will do it...rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him, fret not yourself..." Rob who spent time walking a path over in the Flushing Nature Park was reminded of the creative wonders of Our Creator who knows every detail of all that He has wonderfully made. That includes each of us and the gifts He has placed in us. He also has created our unique Christian community which we call New Wine Anglican Mission. He has made us and will sustain us on our journey. (Rob had a very poetic word which is posted separately on our blog also.) Deb found herself reflecting on the image of being under the "Shadow of the Almighty". This was comforting, while she was reminded the the "shadow of fear" often casts a larger image than the actual object or source of the fear. This would suggest that we need not focus too much on the uncertainties ahead but know that the Lord is with us every step of the way. He is bigger than the things that frighten us. He is the light and will light our path (Psalm 119:105)

Doing

Beth spoke of our special calling in the heart of the city, a place of harvest and a need for restoration. She found humor in the fact that where she was sitting was in plain view of the church's "lost and found". New Wine is a place where the lost can be found. This is one of the things we do. June found herself reflecting on Galatians 6:9 "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." And again in Hebrews 13 "Through Him then , let us continually, offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that gives thanks to His name, and do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased." The idea of doing good includes strengthening "the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed." (Hebrews 12:12-13). Pat reminded us that that the Shepherd's Psalm (23) speaks of the comfort of the Lord for those on the path:

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want,

He makes me lie down in green pastures
He leads me beside quiet waters
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths
of righteousness for His name's sake!

Though a small church, we are mission-minded. Judy reminded us that there is much for us to do for "the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few". Anne pointed out that we have been sending many out as of late: Joy to China, Tim Goodrich to Philly, Mike and Amy Cupp to Grand Rapids, even Nick to Columbia and this summer Kate to Africa. As we continue on this path one might anticipate more will be sent.

This reflection does not capture all that was heard or all that was communicated, but has been an attempt to summarize some of what was heard as we waited on the Lord. As we attempt to listen for what the Lord wants us to "Be" and "Do" we need to make time more regularly to seek the voice of the Lord and listen. Near the end of our sharing time Jim Smith shared an object lesson that spoke to him that morning. As he was walking outside during our time of retreat he heard a bullfrog loudly croaking. It was so loud and pronounced that he thought he would have no problem finding it, but as soon as he got close the old guy went silent. He began to think of this drama like his time of seeking God. Initially the thought; "Why would God grow quiet as I got near?" But then he realized "I had it backwards". "I am the bullfrog and when God seeks me out, I tend to want to hide out of fear!" The message seems clear, let us not be hard to find when God wants to draw near and speak to us. Fear not and let us seek His voice as we serve Him on the path He has set before us.