Ting!

                    Ting! Did you hear that? Listen again, “Ting!” That’s the sound in the Spirit when the Lord gives us ideas. “Ting!” Ah, there it is again. It’s not big, it’s not a boulder in your living room, but the sound of the Lord passing us dreams and visions, like seeds planted in us that will grow into fruitful things in it’s season. (Ting!)

As a little boy, a very little boy, my dad decided it would be good for me to begin learning to play catch. He got me the smallest glove he could find and we went into the backyard, him on one side, and me on the other. i was totally clueless as to what i was supposed to do. i was already thrilled that i was outside with my dad, but had no idea what was next.

i remember this like it was yesterday. He said some foreign words to me, like, “i’m going to toss you the ball, and you try and catch it.” i was clueless what he meant by “toss you the ball” and clueless as to how i was going to do an odd thing called “catch”, nor was i coordinated enough to actually catch anything. He carefully tossed me the ball and, of course the ball bumped my chest and fell to the ground. Then he said some other foreign words to me like, “now throw it back.” This went on and on until i began to get the idea of something as simple as “playing catch”. Eventually, i learned to volley with him, and i think we need to learn to volley with God. Ting! There it is again, that sound of God tossing us the ball.

You know, if the Lord doesn’t reveal Himself to us, we just won’t see Him, afterall, how do YOU relate to God? Say. How DO YOU relate to Him? God gives us ideas of Himself so we can relate, and they are often small, like a leaf floating on the wind in front of us, ideas which He blows across our mind. He keeps on passing the ideas in front of us, until one day, Ting!, we begin to get the picture. i have to chuckle to myself sometimes when i hear another believer say, “Hey, i just came up with this great idea.” You came up with it, huh? All by your self? Really?

The Lord speaks to us in unlikely places and at unlikely times and we need to get better at playing catch. (Ting!) He has the uncanny ability to inspire us with ideas that use our talents no matter where we are.

George Frideric Handel was a German musician and composer, and powerful people paid him to compose music for celebrations, musical productions, and worship. One of Handel’s most famous works, Messiah, is about the life of Christ and includes an orchestra, choir and solos. Handel wrote Messiah in just 24 days during the summer of 1741, alone in a room. A servant overheard Handel say, “I did think I did see all heaven before me and the great God himself.” When we hear the “Hallelujah Chorus,” we can also feel like we’re getting a glimpse of heaven. i’d bet anything, it all started with a little melody way, waaay back in the back of his head somewhere, and it got louder, and he felt a little motivation rising, and clearer, until it was prevalent and present. Then one day he had another great idea to write the music out. Ting!

Pay more attention to the Lord than Facebook or Instagram! For me, God has a lot to say and i’d really like to hear it. Remember that time you had the little thought to call so-and-so, and when you did, they were really encouraged? (Ting!) That’s right, it was God tossing you the ball. How about that time you had the idea to sit next to that kid on the bus, and you were kind and were genuinely interested for the short ride? (Ting!) That’s right, it was the Lord tossing you the ball. Remember that time you had the idea to take some friends to a movie and it was a great time? Yup, (Ting!), it’s highly likely it was God giving you the idea. There was the time you suddenly had the idea to send someone a greeting card and write some nice stuff inside, and much later you found out they were having a hard time and that little bit of niceness just sweetened their day. (Ting!)

Now, not ALL ideas are God ideas and, it’s the truth, we need to practice a little discernment. i’m just saying, hey friend, God is communicating with us, are we paying attention? Not all His communications happen on the scale of a large billboard sign in bright lights. If we were honest, haven’t we all asked the Lord to talk to us, maybe even admitting to Him that we don’t understand so could He make the words or vision more plain? Sure! i think there’s another side to that which says we’ve also got to be more interested to pay attention and look around a little better. His opportunities absolutely abound. Are you listening with eyes looking? (Ting!)

On a parting note, texting, social networking, watching TV, or playing computer games can rob us of His opportunities and steal lots of time, and don’t you know the enemy loves for us to be so occupied with everything other than the Lord, we miss opportunity after opportunity. Being in a position to volley with God (Ting!) is a gift, and if you miss the ball, don’t let it get to you, “I guess, now that i’ve missed God’s opportunities, He won’t come knocking on my door anymore. Oh well. i guess i’ll just go stand in the rain.” C’mon man, just try again, and try and try and try, because eventually, you’ll get good at catching the ball and even be able to throw it back. God is not brittle and we can’t run Him off. Nobody has that power.

What do you think?

i’m Social Porter with Living In His Name Ministries

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