You're Not Listening

Has God ever whispered in your ear before? At first I just ignored it. God spoke louder. Then I explained it away. God came back. He thumped me on the head and spoke even louder. Finally, I listened. Finally, I got it.

I’ve always believed in the importance of giving to others and I have participated in giving my time and money to charities in the past. But I kept getting the sense that God wanted me to do something bigger. I went to my friend Chris and told him I was feeling that God wanted me to give in a more meaningful way. He then turned to his computer and showed me a draft of an email that was addressed to me. Chris had written the email the week before but he decided not to send it until he thought about it some more. To my surprise, Chris’ email said that God was telling him that he should encourage me to do something in Africa through Family Legacy Missions. Both Chris and I were a little stunned about this. In the same time frame God was telling me how big He was. I kept hearing the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.(Matthew 14: 13-21). I heard it in a sermon at church; I heard it on television; I heard it on the radio; I opened my Bible to, what else, the feeding of the five thousand! I asked Chris what was happening. He said God was talking to me. Well what’s he saying? I don’t know, He’ll tell you. How will I know what He is telling me to do? He’s God. He’ll tell you. Just keep listening. Frustrating and weird, but I kept listening. At first I thought God wanted me to go Africa with Family Legacy this summer and minister to the Zambian orphans. I explored that idea, but God said, “No, think bigger Fred. I am big! Not just a few kids, a lot of kids. Not just a week, a lifetime. ” However, the message was starting to come together. For a long time I’d been thinking of running this crazy 220 kilometer marathon through the heart of the Amazon Rain Forest. But that requires incredible motivation. I needed a purpose to keep me going on that kind of endeavor. I talked to Chris. He suggested I sponsor a Zambian orphan. I said no, it has to be bigger. God is telling me big. Chris, said build a house in Zambia for the orphans. The light came on. The purpose of my run will be to build a house in Family Legacy’s Tree of Life Village. God I hear you!

Next week I will tell you about the kids that will live in this house, how their lives will change, and how we're going to make this happen. Stay tuned!