When a speaker is talking to an audience he pauses and waits…until the audience leans in and is straining to hear what he will say next…
Silence, then revelation…
For some time now, early in the morning before I am fully awake I hear the Holy Spirit whisper to me…something he wants me to write…but for the last few days he’s been silent…I strain to hear but there is only quite. “Where are you God? Have I done something to offend you? Have I taken for granted that you would speak to me every morning? What’s going on, Papa God?”
And I wait for an answer…
He’s spoken to me through a book or something someone has said throughout my day…but, the still small voice I’ve been used to hearing is silent…
I search my heart and mind…I get into His presence and pray…still silence…
So I trust Him…and I wait…I lean in and strain to hear his voice…not being anxious to hear…but just loving Him anyway…For He is God…If he chooses to be silent then I will understand…I will wait patiently and lovingly on Him.
I ordered a book the other day and when it came it wasn’t the book I had ordered. It was the same author but the book was different. It’s a tiny book and for a few days I let it sit…I’d pick it up to read but I’d get distracted and put it down again. This morning I began to read it…and it said, “I believe God has lovingly directed you to this little book.” I believe it too.
Jesus has little secrets he wants to share with His family, you, his faithful disciples who have followed him here to this specific time and place the place of awakening, the place of the garden where he can speak openly and tenderly what He longs for most…He loves for our hearts to grow and flourish so that we will in turn reach out to other seeking souls and reveal what He is saying.
Lean in close and listen…He is about to speak! Silence then revelation.
He is the author of a great book…in this book is His very own words…open the book and let Him reveal His most precious secrets to you…His very heart to you…lean in close… listen to what he wants to reveal to you.
He is, speaking…
–Marla Shaw O’Neill March 9, 2017
John 15: 1-17The Message (MSG)
The Vine and the Branches
“I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
“I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.
“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.
“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.
“But remember the root command: Love one another.
