Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Week 3: Listening to the Father

Listening Cleanly and Clearly—And So I Listen.

Week 3, Day 4

What hinders our listening?

One of my own biggest hindrances is my own thoughts...
And so I listen.
My prayers have been transformed from a rambling conglom-eration of words to moments of silence, listening to what God speaks to my heart. I have realized the value of being in the pres-ence of the Lord instead of always feeling like I have to have something to say, or have the perfect words to express whatever is on my mind.
And so I listen to His heart.
After several years of friendship, while driving on a road trip, a friend commented, “I’m glad we have reached the point in our relationship where we don’t feel like we have to fill the silence with noise. We are comfortable with ourselves, with each other, and with our relationship that it is enough to just be here together.”
I think I have finally reached that point in my communication with God. He has more important things to say than I do. His wisdom is infinitely beyond mine. His thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are not my ways (Isa. 55:8-9), yet I long for them to be more aligned.

Week 3: Listening to the Father

Listening for My Name

Week 3, Day 3

Fill in the following two blanks:
I am most excited to hear my name when it is called __________________________________.
I most dread hearing my name when it is called ______________________________________.

John 10:3 (NIV)
The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

My mom has a unique name. Not many people are named Jocelynn and if they are, they even more rarely have two N’s at the end. When we hear her name, we immediately turn, thinking that it is in reference to my mom. We know her name and smile when we hear it spoken. My name, however, is not as unique. At a family retreat in Cochabamba, Bolivia, there were three “Michelle”s in attendance: a toddler, a teen, and myself. Needless to say, the toddler was most often the Michelle being called, but I turned to look. Every. Single. Time. And since I know that Michelle is not a unique name, I shouldn’t be surprised when there is more than one Michelle around. The funniest time there was a confusion of names was when I was in Bogota, Colombia, on a Sunday. There is a brother there named Michel (French for Michael, and how my name is pronounced in Spanish). So when the announcement came that Michel would be leading singing this morning, I froze, until I remembered that I was not the only “Michelle” in attendance.

Week 4: Listening to the Son

Listening in Layers

Week 4, Day 5

Jesus taught in parables. He wanted us to understand on a deeper level and He realized that we would not all be at the point of comprehending the layers of His teaching all at once. The Parable of the Sower is an excellent example of Jesus’ style of teaching, especially as He responds to the apostles’ question regarding His chosen style.

Read Matthew 13:1-23.
Whether this is your first or twenty-first time reading the parable, what aspect of it jumps out at you today?

What is the application for the farmer who plants a seed?

What is the application for us as sowers of the seed?

Going back to verses 10-17, why does Jesus teach in parables?

Based on what you have heard through this parable today, what is your prayer, in thanksgiving or request, on your behalf and on behalf of others? Be sure to listen to Jesus’ heart and His desire through this parable, in expressing your prayers.

Additional notes, drawings, or thoughts from listening to the Son:

We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.

This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.

Week 3: Listening to the Father

Listening through the Word

Week 3, Day 1

This week, we will be listening to God, the Father. Can we listen to the Father without going to His Word?

As we listen to and for the voice of God, let us remember the following truths:
Isaiah 40:8 (NIV)
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV)
20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Week 5: Listening to the Spirit

Listening to and for wisdom

Week 5, Day 3

The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth and, as a Counselor and Guide, directs us on a wise path. Wisdom can seem like an elusive concept. We may not have the opportunity to be as wise as Solomon, but James 1:5 promises that if any of us lacks wisdom, we can ask for it and God promises to give it. The book of Proverbs is filled with descriptions of the merits of wisdom, warnings against rejecting it, and images portraying of the value of wisdom. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are often used interchangeably in the book. Proverbs 8 gives us a personification of wisdom. Wisdom itself is speaking. Read the entire chapter and notice the language with which wisdom speaks. Make note of phrases that jump out at you.

Sketch or summarize the points you see wisdom making.

And then answer the following questions:
Who/what does wisdom align herself with?

Who/what does wisdom hate or detest?

Looking back at verses 22-31, who/what else could be speaking? (Hint: Who are we listening to this week?)

What do wisdom and the Holy Spirit have in common?

Additional notes, thoughts, or drawings from listening to wisdom and the Holy Spirit:

We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.

This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.

Week 1: Listening to the Good Shepherd

Listening to the Voice of the Good Shepherd

Week 1, Day 7

“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me—”
John 10:14

Take some time to meditate on this verse. You can color the picture or draw your own. Re-write the verse in your own hand-writing. Spend some time in the arms of the Good Shepherd, listening to His voice. Feel free to make notes on what you hear.

We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.

 This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.

Week 4: Listening to the Son

Make the Way Straight and Welcome

Week 4, Day 1

One cannot listen as clearly when there is interference. A muffled sound creates confusion and doubt regarding the clarity of the message. When John the Baptist came onto the scene, the priests and Levites were sent to ask him who he was and what he was doing. John affirmed that his purpose was in fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah, “a voice crying out in the wilderness, ‘make straight the way of the Lord’” (John 1:23, ESV). What does it mean to make straight the way of the Lord?

When building a normal road, the twists and turns, rises and falls of the road follow the lay of the land and the curve of the mountains. However, when a road is prepared for royalty, the way is made straight. Mountains are moved, curves are straightened, the path made smooth. When we prepare our listening ears, how can we make the way straight for the Lord?

Week 6: Listening through the five senses

Not Even a Hint of Smoke

Week 6, Day 4

Smell is one of our strongest memory senses: fresh baked cookies at Grandma’s house, honeysuckle in Louisiana each spring, and the air pollution in Caracas. Each of these smells brings back special memories and triggers all the emotions associated with each one.
Listening to God through the smells of nature is an obvious way to listen through our sense of smell. Paul compares his visit from Epaphroditus and the gifts sent by the Philippians to a fragrant offering, like the sacrifices the Israelites made to God (Phil. 4:18, ESV).
18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. What do we offer to the Lord that is like a fragrant offering before Him?

How are His words like a fragrant offering to you?

One of the most powerful stories in which we hear God’s answer, evidenced by the sense of smell, is found in Daniel 3. I
encourage you to read the entire chapter before I highlight a few specific portions of the story for our listening exercise today.
Any notes from Daniel 3?

After refusing to bow down to the golden statue, we see the response of the three Jewish servants of God in Daniel 3:16-18 (NIV).
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
Wow! What faith! But this is not where our story ends, nor is it the focus of our listening today.
Daniel 3:26-27 (ESV)
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.

Campfires, fire pits, bonfires, even a barbeque grill... no matter how far away I sit from the actual flames of the fire or from the smoke, my clothes and my hair always smell of smoke after a few brief moments. Yet for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, “No smell of fire had come upon them.”
What was God’s message for everyone that day, evidenced through the sense of smell? (Or as heard by Nebuchadnezzar, seen in his decree, Dan. 3:28-29?)

God’s power is unrivaled. And His ability to save uncompro-mised, no matter what the circumstances. May that truth be a fragrant offering and encouraging reminder for you today.

Additional notes, thoughts, or drawings from listening through the sense of smell:

We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.

This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.

Week 4: Listening to the Son

Only Speak What the Father Has Told Me / You Have Heard that It is Said...

Week 4, Day 2

Jesus had a lot to say. But He knew what to say, when to say it, how to say it, and when to keep silent. What wisdom! John 12:49 (ESV) 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. How was Jesus able to speak only His Father’s words and
remain clear in what the Father intended for His people to hear?

The Son of God made it a priority to set aside time in communication with His Father. In Luke 6:12, we see that Jesus “went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God.” All. Night. The Son of God, who was one with the Father, spent all night in communication with Him. How does that reflect the importance of spending time talking and listening to the Father?

Like the teachers of the law, many of us fall into the trap of not listening—or sticking stubbornly to what we thought we heard the first time. They had lost the spirit of all God had taught them through the commandments. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus rectifies the errant teaching and clarifies the truth of God’s message to His people. “You have heard that it is said, but I tell you...” There were a number of things that the Israelites had gotten all wrong. And before we quickly condemn them, we must recognize our confusion at some of God’s teaching as well. We listen through the filter of past understanding or current circumstances and muddy the waters of His clear message. 

Week 5: Listening to the Spirit

Our Personal “Hearing Aid”

Week 5, Day 7

As has become evident throughout this week’s listening exercises, an important part of listening is remembering what you hear. The Holy Spirit serves as our personal listening assistant or “hearing aid,” especially when we forget what we have been told, just as we read in the verses from John earlier this week. As we keep in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25), we will reflect the fruit of the Spirit (v. 22-23) and improve our listening. How does each facet of the fruit of the Spirit aid us in our listening, to God and to one another? Feel free to draw, write, or quote other Bible verses as part of your answer.
Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-Control

Additional notes, thoughts, or drawings from listening to the Spirit and contemplating His fruit:

We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.

This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.

Week 3: Listening to the Father

Prophets  Christ  Spirit

Week 3, Day 7

Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV)
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

This past week, we have been listening to the voice of the Father, most recently as He spoke through the prophets. Next week, we will focus on listening to Jesus, the Son. The following week, we will be listening to the Holy Spirit. As we have seen, and are reminded by the author of Hebrews, God speaks in a plethora of ways, showing the importance He places on listening and how much He values communication in our relationship with Him. And as the writer of Hebrews continues in chapter 2:1 (NIV):
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Reflecting on the first half of our listening exercises (today starts Day 21 of 40), how have you heard God’s voice?

What is the overarching, consistent message you have been hearing from the Father as Good Shepherd and Creator?

How has this transformed your relationship with God?

What do you hope to hear through the next half of our listening exercises?

Take some time in communion with the Father, thanking Him for the many ways in which He has spoken throughout history. Thank Him for the consistent messages He has always expressed—enumerate them, draw them, or celebrate them in song.

We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.

This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.

Week 3: Listening to the Father

Rebellious Ears Mean Broken Tears

Week 3, Day 5

Throughout the Old Testament, we hear the voice of God the Father more than that of the Son or the Spirit. And He spoke, most often, through prophets. However, the Israelites provided us with countless examples of those who did not listen... or if they listened, they did not obey.

When God speaks through Isaiah in chapter 48, He addresses the “house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel.”

Isaiah 48:8, 17-19 (ESV)
8 You have never heard, you have never known,
from of old your ear has not been opened.
For I knew that you would surely deal treacherously,
and that from before birth you were called a rebel.
17 Thus says the LORD,
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you to profit,
who leads you in the way you should go.
18 Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!
Then your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea;
19 your offspring would have been like the sand,
and your descendants like its grains;
their name would never be cut off
or destroyed from before me.”

Week 4: Listening to the Son

Red Letter Edition

Week 4, Day 4

In order to emphasize the priority of listening more attentively to the words of the Son, some editions of the Bible present all words spoken by Jesus, printed in red letters. Today’s listening exercise is thus referred to as the “Red Letter Edition,” because we will be listening only to the words of the Son. Read the following words of Jesus as He demonstrates His authority, compassion, power, and love. Listen to His words as they were spoken during His time here on earth and picture Him saying them to you today. We already looked at His seven “I AM” statements from the book of John during week 1, so today, we will focus on some of His sayings in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

“You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Matt. 8:26)
“Follow me” (Matt. 9:9).
“Do you believe I am able to do this?” (Matt. 9:28)
“Do not be afraid...” (three times in Matt. 10:26-30).
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30).
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39).
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (Matt. 26:41).

This month will be divided into two different themes. The first half of this month, we are going to look at the theme of Rest, Renew, and Refresh, leading up to our Destination Retreat, Called to Listen, September 15-17.

If you have not yet signed up, we would love for you to join us in this opportunity to step away from the noise of normal life and be renewed by time in communion with God and with one another—listening! There are still remaining spots in the cabins for housing, and we welcome you to just come out for the day on Saturday, if that is what your schedule allows.
At times, we need to hit “pause” and make physical rest, spiritual renewal, and mental refreshment a priority.

The retreat will also serve as a springboard for the theme through the second half of the month and October. We will walk together through forty days of listening, using Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. These posts will continue for forty consecutive days, not only Monday through Friday, as we normally share the blog posts.

This book contains forty interactive listening guides and six Weekly Reflections to be done in a small group setting. Each week emphasizes a different way we can listen:
Listening to the Good Shepherd
Listening to the Creator
Listening to the Father
Listening to the Son
Listening to the Spirit
Listening through the five senses

The Destination Retreat will be the kickoff for forty days of listening together. The IRSM blog posts for the forty days following the retreat will be the same listening exercises as found in the book. Here in Searcy, for example, we will meet on Thursday evenings, starting September 21st, in order to share in the Weekly Reflections together.

And we want to encourage you to invite other women to participate in listening together, specifically through the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. Join with us, starting on Monday, September 18. Additional copies of the book will be available at the retreat, or you can order a set of books through our website ahead of time: http://ironrosesister.com/index.php/resources/store/called-to-listen

Week 4: Listening to the Son

Sin-clogged ears

Week 4, Day 3

My hearing was excellent. Or so I thought. While in college, I had my ears checked and the audiologist informed me that my hearing was not as stellar as I had projected. She further clarified that part of my problem was the wax buildup clogging my ear canal. Not knowing that my ears were clogged, my pride mirrored the waxy hindrance to my listening. I was so confident that my hearing was just fine that I was not open to hearing that there was any problem. The Pharisees and teachers of the law had a similar problem. And the strongest admonition or tongue-lashing that Jesus issued was to the sin-clogged ears of this group of people. Christ’s language in Matthew 23 is clear and uncompromising in His disdain for their hypocritical actions and attitudes (v. 27-28, ESV). 27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Week 6: Listening through the five senses

Taste and See that the Lord is Good

Week 6, Day 1

Psalm 34:8 (ESV)
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

On a cold Friday morning in January, I took a moment to listen to the snow fall. You may think it has no sound, but that was the beauty of the stillness on that winter morning. I stepped away from the buzz of my hard drive, the melodious ring of my phone, and the ping of notifications that demanded my attention. All of those things could wait. Just as my yard was made new by a blanket of snow, my perspective on life and all my frustrations were made new from my time alone with God, listening to the snow fall. In order to truly and fully listen, I engaged all of my senses. I love the smell of fresh snow and the texture is fun to feel, even on my gloved hands. The crunch under my feet adds to the sound of it falling, but only if I listen carefully through the red hat I have pulled tightly over my ears. Watching the flakes fall of all different weights and sizes, I am enamored by the ones caught by the wind—the ones that tumble through the sky as they fall to the ground. Makes it harder to catch one to taste, but I love the way it melts on my tongue and moistens my breath. Can you hear and taste the snow with me? Are you listening? Listening is more than hearing a sound. Growing up, my parents used to say, “I need you to listen with your eyes.” They were calling for our full and undivided attention. Listening takes place through all five senses, which is our focus for this week’s listening exercises. Today, as you savor that perfect cup of coffee, sip of tea, or morsel of food, may you be reminded to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8).

James 1:17 (ESV)
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

What does it mean to you to taste and see that the Lord is good?

How does taste connect to our practice of listening?

Additional thoughts, notes, or drawings from listening through the sense of taste:

We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.

This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.

Week 2: Listening to the Creator

The Creator Rested

Week 2, Day 7

Yesterday, we reflected in silence. Today, we will contemplate rest.

Genesis 2:2-3 (ESV)
2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Following the lead of the Creator, and the commandment in Exodus 20:8-11, we are told to rest as a celebration of the work that has been done.
However, Deuteronomy presents a different facet of rest that connects with our focus on listening. While we do not see the specifics of the Sabbath commanded in the New Testament, nor the direct command to keep the sev-enth day holy, the spirit and purposes of the Sabbath rest continue, which we will explore today. The Jewish teachers of the law had lost the spirit of the Sabbath rest, as commanded by God, which I hope we can renew a bit today.

The One whose powerful utterances created light, who declared all He created “good,” and breathed the breath of life to form man from the dust of the earth and woman from his rib, is Creator.

In the beginning, God spoke the world into existence. The Eternal Being, who was, and is, and is to come, exercised authority over all creation; His commanding voice created life.

Elohim, God Almighty, also spoke to Adam and Eve. Instructions were given in order that they might always be able to eat from the Tree of Life. They walked and talked in the Garden of Eden.

The Creator of heaven and earth knew what is best for His creation, yet He still granted free will—a choice to trust Him and be in relationship with Him, or to reject His spoken word and distrust His teaching.

As amazing as it is for the Creator to have created all He did, simply by using His voice, what is equally if not more impressive is that He listens.

I AM, YHWH, LORD, as we later learn is His name, not only speaks, but He listens.

How can the clay say anything to the Potter? The Potter knows what the best form for His art is. The Divine Gardener knows when and where to plant, what to prune... How can a rose bush dare ask why He does what He does?

Yet repeatedly, throughout Scripture and in our own lives, we are invited to speak to the One who listens. The opportunity for relationship is with a God who listens. He listens so loudly that He sent His Son, The Word, to earth in order to demonstrate the depth of His relational and sacrificial love, hearing our hearts and knowing our needs.

As we focus on Listening to I AM and Listening to Others, let’s follow I AM’s example of listening:

1. Let’s listen loudly to creation. It speaks of Who He Is.

2. Let’s listen loudly to the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us. It speaks of What He knows.

3. Let’s listen loudly to one another and hear each other’s hearts. It speaks of How He loves.

And when we are unable to listen, may we remember that when we speak, the Creator is listening loudly, and continues to love.

#IronRoseSister #listentoIAM #CalledtoListen #Listentoothers

Week 2: Listening to the Creator

The Creator’s Got This—He’s in Control

Week 2, Day 5

The Creator got things started, but didn’t just sit back and let it all spin out of control. He is still in control—a living and active God that has everything taken care of. In order to meditate on this truth today and listen to the Creator’s voice, we are going to go through the steps of the spiritual discipline known as Lectio Divina. This discipline can be practiced with any portion of Scripture. Before you start, spend some time in silence, preparing your mind to hear what God says to you through that passage of Scripture. Today, we want to pay special attention, listening to the Creator through His Word.

Week 1: Listening to the Good Shepherd

The Gate for the Sheep

Week 1, Day 5
The Good Shepherd has multiple roles He plays in the life of His sheep.

What does it mean that He is the gate for the sheep (John 10:7, 9)?

Let’s reread that portion of John 10:7-10 (NIV).
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. An alternate translation for verse 9 is “...whoever enters through me will be kept safe...”