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

Are We Willing To Stop?

Has you ever walked your dog and noticed that while walking around your neighbourhood the dog stops and sniffs at certain points? The dog can not help it's self and seems compelled to check out if there is something worth waiting and sniffing, so it pulls on the lead and drags you over. Trees, poles and letterboxes are my dog's favourite places to use her special sense.

I find this annoying as my focus is then taken off my walk and drawn to the dog sensing things I can not even see. I feel my daily walk is important and getting from point A to point B is all that matters, and all of a sudden there is this interruption. Frustrating! As we walk together there is generally a nice rhythm, things are predictable, and I am looking straight ahead ... then all of a sudden the dog runs straight to the tree to the left and I am pulled off course again and must wait until it gets and interprets the message from the tree trunk. Sometimes I feel that my arm is going to pulled out of it's socket!

The question has popped into my head about if I am taking the dog for a walk or is she taking me for a walk. Most of the time I let her stop and smell for 5 seconds then I get impatient of staying still and I pull the lead so she rejoins me. Often when I try to hurry her, she digs her feet in and lowers her body to gain extra strength to resist my pulling. She only weighs 20 kilos but when positioned close to the ground she is very strong and it becomes a battle of tug-of-war.

I was thinking today about how sensitive I may be to the Holy Spirit and questioning whether I allow much time for waiting to hear from Him. Am I open, am I listening, am I allowing time to pass in waiting on Him? ... or ... Am I busy off to point B on the most direct route possible, and not allowing any distractions or loss of time to occur? Am I aware of my surroundings or the little messages dotted along my path? Do I march straight past the messages, am I oblivious to the signs I have overlooked?

Why are we so fixed about our day to day activities that we prefer not to stop and wait? In my daily Christian walk, am I able to stop doing things the way I have for many years and wait on the Lord? Before I rush in and pray for someone, can I stop and wait on Him? I want to constantly co-work with Him, but I must be willing to stop and wait.... and I want to walk with Him but my pace may not be the same as His, and am I willing to walk at His pace and stop frequently?

When I take my dog for a walk, I feel the tugging. If you feel the Holy Spirit tugging, you always have the choice whether to stop, and receive, or you can tug back and keep going your own way.

He wants to spend time with you + walk with you? Are you willing to spend time with Him and stop?

Walking with you,

Akita.
29-3-07

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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.

prayer: for the huge Student Battle of the Bands rally planned for Bunbury young people THIS SATURDAY NIGHT - March the 31st 2007. Prayer for the working team of this project. Prayer for positive behavouir and response.
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 3+4

"The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.
He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them,
and his sheep follow because they know his voice."

Please feel free to forward this email-newsletter to friends + family.

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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