Hi, Akita here - These three messages are related to questioning ourselves about being willing to stop, look, and listen, for the Holy Spirit. Here is message three:

Are We Willing To Listen?

I was halfway through a walk today when my mobile phone rang. I answered it, and talked while I kept moving, talking business and getting exercise - I am very clever. But many times I had to stop walking, cover my other ear and try very hard to listen to what was being said, it was important business information and I need to hear it clearly.... the person on the phone was talking very well but where I was and what I was doing was distracting me from listening well.

I found myself concentrating so hard that I nearly burst a blood vessel, and I also came close to getting run over by a car on the street. I was really suprised at how much effort it was for me to listen, while I was attempting to do other things and walking my usual way.

This really challenged me about if I am giving people my full attention while trying to listen - if I am busy caught up in my own world or walking my usual way - do I really hear clearly? Also, do I actively listen to the Holy Spirit? Am I waiting, am I expecting to hear from Him, and am I really listening?

If I am not listening then it makes co-working with the Holy Spirit very difficult as I can not hear what my partner may be saying. Communication is not one way - I must be choosing to listen. It reminds me of sometimes communicating with a little shy child; you sometimes find yourself bent over to get as close as possible and trying hard to hear what they are saying. It is the adults choice, they can make an effort to hear the child, or they could remain in their normal stance and just nod, not fully aware of what was trying to be said and then return to do things their own way, not knowing what the child's comment or suggestion was.

I want to be effective working with the Holy Spirit, so I have to choose to stop nodding, and stop going off to do what I think is right, and instead I need to get close to Him, bend a little, and try very hard to listen to what is being said.

Listening with you,

Akita.
12-4-07

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If you have any praise points, encouragement, favourite verses, or short teachings you wish to share... please send me an email (I know there are some out there) and we will try to include.

praise: for the huge Student Battle of the Bands rally planned for Bunbury young people WAS A GREAT SUCCESS. Thank you for all prayer for this project. To look at some photos of the event visit the site:
Check out the Elevator website: www.oxygenyouth.com/elevator

prayer: that young Christians around the world will hear clearly God's voice, learn to stay tuned in, and be bold enough to respond.

.... if you have any requests you would like added here, please email me, contact details below.

John 10 v 27

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.".

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Akita Olsen - Youth Pastor
Email: olsens@westnet.com.au

Bunbury Vineyard Church.
PO Box 1475, Bunbury,
WA 6231, Australia.
Office phone: (08) 9721 3379
www.bunburyvineyard.org.au

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