How hilarious! But seriously, do people with whom you often converse with, really hear what you are saying?
I struggled with my own question above that I am asking you to answer. And I believe this is because of the way I was brought up by my adult relatives as a child. My paternal grandmother would always admonish her grands and great grandchildren by saying, ‘children should be seen and not heard’. To a child this meant you would be in big trouble if you dared to ‘butt-in’ to grown folks conversations. (No matter that this old English proverb dates back to the 15th century.)
While I am on the subject of reminiscing about my childhood with you, let me share with you another mis-step in learning from my peers. My grandmother also liked to be known as The Mother Hen. And she would often gather her little chickens (us grands and great grands) around her and teach us bible songs. Grandma’s favorite was “Bringing In The Sheaves. I always thought she was crazy because we didn’t have any sheep! Take a listen to the song below and tell me what you think a child heard. Especially if the singer had an accent.
Now, can you see why God wants to know if we are really listening?…
The skill of understanding others helps us predict what people feel in a certain situation. It also allows us to make sense of how people react. Perhaps God is looking down from Heaven with irreverence at our reactions to life’s circumstances, and is wondering if we listened to the right gospel message concerning his Son, Jesus Christ. For it is certain that many of us are not operating as God’s ambassadors.
How do I actively listen? To find out just click the yellow box below and watch this short video.
00:29Use door openers00:56Take notes during important conversations
My prayer for us all:
Dear Heavenly Father. I confess that I do not thoroughly know Your word although I am earnestly trying to hear, learn, apply and live out its principles each and every day. Why? you might ask. Because that is also Your desires for me. I truly realize that there is so much insight and wisdom locked up in Your Word that perhaps I will never quite understand it all. Nevertheless, please help me to study to show myself approved, rightly dividing Your Word. Unstop my ears so that my listening skills are sharp. Guide me to scholarly Christian commentaries so that I may gain a deeper understanding of Your life, death, burial and resurrection. In so doing, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I will be more equipped to know my Bible and use it to answer people’s trick questions. I ask these blessings in the Precious Name of Our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. Amen
Scripture Lesson: “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance. Proverbs 1:5
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Conversations With God Using Scripture 
Sister Fowler, again I am amazed how God uses your Blog to actively teach me and show me things I need to do and things I need to improve at. Watching the video, I found myself doing a lot of the things that showed I am not a good active listener and with the help of Jesus, strive to do better.
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Sweet Cathy, your comments are so rewarding and encouraging to me. How blessed we both are that our Teacher (the Holy Spirit) directs me to blog about something one of His children needs to hear and also encourages those who receive a blessing to let me know. Many times God’s people are obedient and do what God says, but never know if their actions truly blessed someone else. I am so glad that little video confirmed the message I was trying to convey. Stay tuned…the Lord is in the blessing business.
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