Top

What are we seeing?
Unworthily, at Best?
Our Heavenly Father's Love
If I Can't Take It To Heaven, Don't Need It!
When the Devil Attacks!
Praises in Prayer
The Desert
God's Character
God's Glory
Talk, Talk, and the Voice of God
Time to Study, Look Circumspectly
Worship

What are We Seeing?

 Is what we are seeing and hearing really what is going on?  Or, is it something else? Let us ask ourselves, "What are we really seeing?" We saw two air planes fly into the Trade Center building complex. We saw an airplane fly into the Pentagon. We heard about a plane crashing into a field, in Pennsylvania. We heard about a terrorist attack, with anthrax in the mail, about all the investigations and talk about who, when, why, how, and many other items.     We are hearing about the United States taking sides with the Palestinians; strangers in God's Land that He gave to Israel.  Do we have a right to make such big errors in the Face of God? We are seeing and hearing about our valiant men and women of the armed forces being used mightily in Afghanistan; chasing after a man who lives in caves, not a mansion. We are seeing death and destruction around the world, as well as starvation, wars, rumors of war, and many other happenings; like earthquakes, storms, and seas boiling with high tides. Confusion is everywhere, trying to solve many problems, here, on earth. Well then, what is really happening?  Is there more to the rest of the story?  Is that the real story? Open up your minds, your imaginations, and your knowledge of history. Open the Bible, God's Holy Words.  Study to show thyself approved by God, our Heavenly Father.  Rid your mind of old concepts, of narrow minds, pre-dawn conclusions, and following our leaders blindly. The Bible is the greatest source to be found (on the face of the earth) for the past, present, and future of all mankind.  It is the only book that you can trust completely, knowing the truth of the future of mankind.  God's Word says that the whole duty of mankind is to (Ec. 12:13) fear God and keep His commandments.  The Bible teaches us many things concerning the days in which we are living. Joseph died in Egypt. His bones were carried, by God's people, from Egypt into the promised land and buried there.  His grave site was not disturbed, from that date until the year 2000.  In the year of our Lord, 2000, the Arabs destroyed Joseph's tomb.  They not only destroyed his tomb, but further desecrated it by raising their flag over it and joyfully proclaiming victory.  This incident was overlooked by many people, the world over. Now, think and reason, consider and weigh what it means.  Simply put, it means ... the date of the starting point of the decline of the Gentile period!  "Incredible," you say. Well, consider what has happened since; tragedies world wide, especially the western nations that are descendents of Joseph, descendents of Jacob ... the descendents who migrated westward and settled in all the western nations of Europe, Canada, and the United States.  Read Genesis, chapters 48 and 49. 

The tragic events, that have occurred since that date, have changed the way of life in all these countries.  Possibly, the greatest change is in the United States.  We have been attacked, lost many lives, with many others living in fear.  We are about to give God's land away to the enemies of our Heavenly Father, calling it 'peace making'.  That will bring forth more judgments for our rebellion against Him.

The truth is, we are in a spiritual warfare, with Satan and his crowd against Israel and the Christian.  We are living in a time when Satan is attempting to build his kingdom, called the 'New World Order', where there is no place for Jew nor Christian.  The prophesies, concerning our day and time, are coming true.  We are in the time that those will murder God's people, with the concept that they are doing God a favor.  But, the god of their lives is Satan.  We worship the Almighty God, Our Heavenly Father, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.   So, there is no room for us in the New World Order. The New World Order offices are in Switzerland.  They direct world governments.  Those that refuse are attacked and destroyed.  We, as God's Children, will, one day soon, be declared the enemy and have to be eradicated.  Look up, your redemption draweth nigh. Ask God for His divine protection, provision, and guidance in these troubled times.  Choose to walk in victory, in Jesus Christ, and not to fear. God Bless anyone who reads this and researches the truth.

So many of us feel unworthy and not fit to enter God's presence, to go to church, to teach, to participate in worship, and especially the Lord's Supper.  There is so much confusion concerning our unworthiness, which causes many of us problems in our Christian walk. 

In 1st Corinthians 11:23-33,  we find the whole event laid out for us to read and understand many things about the communion with the Lord, as participants.  It is a time of prayer, communicating with the Lord, and listening to His voice and leading.  Many times, it is a time for forgiveness, rededication, commitment, obedience, and many other exchanges with our wonderful Lord. 

We all know that we are unworthy and some feel it more than others.  When you read the word unworthily, in verse 27, we realize many have difficulty.  When you went to school and studied grammatical construction of English language, you learned that words ending in ly were adverbs.  Therefore, unworthily, in this case, says it is not what we do, but what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us.  He is our righteousness and worthiness.  Therefore, all Christians are made worthy by the actions, teachings, and example of Jesus Christ: who was crucified, buried, rose again, and soon coming again.  He makes us all worthy. 

Additionally, it is a time of self examination: to see what we need to repent of, ask forgiveness for; giving all our hurts, weaknesses, and short comings to Jesus and let Him take them from us. 

It is also a time for private worship and sharing in His Glory, as He sheds it on you ... a time of receiving strength, healing,  blessings, and encouragement to continue on as obedient followers ... a wonderful time to totally surrender and obey His Word and the leading of the Holy Spirit. 

Wherefore, my brethren, when you come together to participate, tarry one for another ... the time to share our love and concerns for others ... a time to encourage the weaker ones and ones with problems, that need lifted up by loving them. 

You are all worthy by the things Christ Jesus has done for us and continually doing to keep us strong, protected, and provided for.  

You are worthy, because He purchased you with His own blood and you have entered into a blood covenant with Him, which can not be broken. Ye are all worthy, so let us move on to praise, worship, and sharing in His eternal glory.  Let us realize that blessed hope has been purchased for us by our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.  Let us all rise up and praise Him eternally. 

© 2002 by (Howard) Vern Nicholson
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Our Heavenly Father's Love

"In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth."  This is just the beginning of the story of our Heavenly Father's great love.  The whole creative story shows on display; His wonderful love for man, who He created in His image.  In the Gospel of John, we find the same thing and the subject is Jesus Christ.  He states that 'All things were made by Jesus Christ and, in Him, was life and the life was the light of men.' 

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth His handiwork.  Psalms 19:1 declares that all of His creation reveals the Glory of God and reflects the love of God for His creation.  When He created man, Adam and Eve, He created the highest type, because He created them in His image ... also showing His great love, in His creation of mankind, to have a relationship.  The relationship was based on the love of the Father and Lord, Jesus Christ, for the creation to occupy the earth.  This creative process has continued for many years.  The entire process reflects the love of God for His creation. 

When the fall took place, by the disobedience of Adam and Eve, our Heavenly Father went about His plan to  bring mankind back into a right relationship.  He finally sent His Son, the Lord, Jesus Christ, to be His Lamb of God, to satisfy the sacrifice for sin.  His giving, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, enables mankind to be free from sin and death (mankind's biggest enemies) and to reestablish the right relationship with God. 

The center piece of the creation is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ at Calvary; the revealing of God's love for mankind, the paying the penalty (thus, restoring, for once and for all time, the relationship that was broken in the fall of mankind) ... proofs of our Heavenly Father's love and the love of Jesus Christ for all mankind ... to those that believe, the Glorious Gospel of the Kingdom.  They did all that was necessary to redeem mankind and give life, and that, more abundant, that mankind could enter into this close relationship with God (as a closest of friends) and have a Lord and Master who loved them to the uttermost and unconditionally. 

The character of our Heavenly Father and Lord, Jesus Christ, is perfect in all ways and is love in the highest degree.  He made it so simple and, yet, unless we come and humble ourselves as little children, repent, and obey His words, and enter into the blood covenant with Him (through the Blood of Jesus Christ) we can never enter, little alone see God. 

They have abundantly proved their love for mankind in so many ways that a man has to be totally blind not to see the love of God in the creation and in the faces of His people.  We see the reflection of the Father in the face of Jesus Christ.  May you enter into this great love in relationship with our great God, Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ ... so you can share in their praise, worship, and their glory, now and forever.  Amen.

© 2002 by (Howard) Vern Nicholson

The invitation that Jesus gives to us, in Matthew  11:28-30, is an invite to live in heavenly places and in His presence.  All ye that labor and are heavy laden, I will give you rest!  Why do you labor for that which is not profitable?  Why sin so it can weigh you down and put you in bondage?  Why try to do it all by yourself?  Why?  Why? Why? There are many Whys we have to answer, sometime along the way. 

Is it because you have not had Jesus Christ proven to you?  If so then read John, Chapter 1 thru 20:31, until He has proved Himself to you.  Or, is it your rebellious nature to neglect all the proofs and facts that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ has given to you.  Why do you disregard all the proofs and facts so you can keep on doing your own thing, trying everything and accomplishing nothing.  "The wages of sin is death" is working whether you know, believe it, or not.  Sin must have a just recompense of reward! 

Take my yoke upon you and learn of me.  He commands us to take that yoke and study, to make ourselves approved of God, to be able to learn of Him and His plan for your life ... the whole purpose of why you were born, which you have been looking for all your life!  You can find it only in obeying Jesus Christ and coming to Him for fulfilling of that purpose. 

There are always rewards awaiting you, when you obey and come unto Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master ... such as, the perfect peace you always seek but can't find, the rest from anxiety, worry, tension, angriness, and forces that control you and the wasting your life on alcohol and drugs, and anything else you depend on to escape. 

If you can't take it to heaven, you don't need it.  There is nothing in this world worth the value of your soul.  Jesus Christ died for you and offers life, and that more abundant.  He offers peace, joy, happiness, victorious living, success, and a home in heaven (in His eternal presence)!   Without Him ,you have nothing; no hope, no life, no joy, no peace, no nothing of any value that you can take to heaven.  You can't even go there.  It is only reserved for His own and you have missed the greatest opportunity you will ever have. 

Some things we need to do to be ready!    

1.   Establish a blood covenant relationship with Jesus Christ.  Acts 2:38.     

2.  Read His Word and be Baptized into Christ.     

3.  Continue steadily in the apostle's doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in   prayers.  Acts 2:41,42.     

4.  Continue in praising God and having favor with all the people.  Then, the Lord will add to the church daily such as should be saved.      

5.  Cease from sinning willfully.      

6.  Get rid of unforgiving attitudes and any others that hold us back from being totally free in Jesus Christ.      7.  Ask Jesus and our Heavenly Father to use us daily, for the fulfilling of His purposes for us and through us.  8.  We need to be tenderhearted to the lost, those in need, and those needing comfort and uplifting.      

9.  We need to be confident of who we are in Christ Jesus and learn to be content and at peace.     

10. We need to watch our conversation and who we support, not lending support to the devil and his demons. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.  That is what Jesus says in verse 30.  A great truth, because He supplies all the power, opportunities for service, and blessings.   He also has many other rewards to all His people who obey and surrenders  humbly unto Him ...those that make themselves available for His usage, "Here am I, Lord.  Send me." 

Lord, if I can't take it to heaven, then I don't need it.  Please take it from me.  Thanks you, Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen  

© 2002 by (Howard) Vern Nicholson
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The world cannot hate you: but me it hateth, because I testify of it, and the works thereof are evil. John 7:7 When the devil attacks, he does it out of his hatred of our Heavenly Father and Lord, Jesus Christ.  All of his attacks are against   God, because of hatred, born out of jealously, his wanting to be god.  He never will be, because of the judgment of Jesus Christ as the sacrificial Lamb of God.  Jesus Christ defeated Satan, at Calvary, where He was crucified, buried, rose again, and ascended to the right hand of the Father.  He defeated sin and death, man's two biggest enemies, and Satan, the arch enemy of God.

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15:18-19

The fact is Satan hates God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and anyone who is chosen to serve them in truth and spirit.   Satan will always do all that he can to stop mankind from obeying, repenting of sins, and entering into a blood covenant relationship with God the Father and the Blood of Jesus Christ.  He will attack all of those who have entered into a covenant relationship in hopes of nullifying it and separating us from our Lord and Master, and our Heavenly Father. 

He attacks us through our faith, believing God's Word, saying, "Surely, you shall not die!" 

He attacks us through our flesh and its desires and appetites; such as gluttony, over indulgence in many things, sexual promiscuity, and other hungers, thirsts, and desires of the flesh.  

He also attacks through the mind, which is not filled with the Word of God. We are to put on the mind of Christ.  Anything less opens us up to satanic attacks through the mind. He also attacks through our pride, ego, lust, greed, and  weaknesses of body and mind ... when we are unregenerated by the Holy Spirit into the new birth workings of the Holy Spirit, also being fed by the Word of the Living God. He also attacks through sickness, disease,  counterfeit  lies, and half truths.  He also attacks our weaknesses of character and areas affected by false teachings.  In our day and time, he attacks through Humanism, the philosophy of Satan, that man is the center of the universe and he can give answer to all things.  The end result is always, "The wages of sin is death." 

This is all brought on by the hatred of our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  That hatred spills over unto us, as the children of the Most High God, and affects us directly; bringing forth all the hurt, misery, sickness, and death we experience in this life.  He always operates in hate, jealously, lies, and deceit. 

Since Calvary, he is limited and defeated.  He has been judged and will enter into hell, with all those who worship, obey, and follow him. 

But, we have the victory, purchased by our Heavenly Father, by giving His only Son, Lord, Jesus Christ as His Lamb of God ... to pay the sin debt and defeat death forever, and purchase us with the price of His own Precious Blood.  He gives to us the victory in Him.  So, when Satan attacks, enter the pavilion of God; retreat into His presence.  The battle is the Lord's. 

God Bless all of us as we Praise our Heavenly Father and Lord. Jesus Christ.  who alone are worthy to be praised. 

© 2002 by (Howard) Vern Nicholson
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Through the years, I have learned a few things about prayer.  Having been like everyone else, I'd ask our Heavenly Father to be at my convenience ... saying 'give me this', 'help me find that', 'bless me above others'.  Then, sometimes, I'd asked not really believing He would answer me; just tempting the Lord to bless me. 

When I began to grow in prayer, I learned some simple don't do's.  One of the first is to not treat God like Santa Claus, or as a slave to my service.  Our Heavenly Father is not to be treated thusly.  He is to be reverenced, stood in awe of, and honored in His rightful place as the Almighty God; the only true God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  They, alone, are worthy to be worshiped, praised, and served by anyone.  They are God and there is none else. 

Then, I began to learn some prayer secrets.  One of them is telling our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, many times a day, "I love you!  I love you!   I love you!"   I learned to pray for 15 minutes and listen for an hour, to hear the voice of God speak to me; to be ever watchful for His answer to my prayer.  Learning to ask for forgiveness, I put my sins under the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  I learned to be ever thankful for the smallest, of blessings, to the largest.   I learned that all others are more important than me.  I learned to be a humble servant (1 Pet.5:6) and how He exalts others and me for the fulfillment of His purpose for my life. 

I learned more of His mercy, longsuffering, sharing our pains, power over illness, His plan for my life, and surrender so He could use be for His purposes.  Learning to look for opportunities all day long I'd witness, encourage, uphold, and help all regardless of circumstance.   Learning that He is greater than any situation I find myself in, I discovered that nothing ever happens to me that is not a teaching tool or situation.

Therefore, I am very, very, happy to know and worship our Heavenly Father and Lord, Jesus Christ, for now until end of eternity ... thankful for every valuable lesson they teach me ... thankful for life, thankful for our relationships, thankful for the most blessed  hope, thankful for salvation, thankful for His amazing grace ... thankful for everything!!!  That is why I love, and love to serve, our  Great Almighty God. May our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ richly and abundantly bless you and all that is yours, now and forever.

© 2002 by (Howard) Vern Nicholson
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In Matthew 4:1, we find Jesus in the Wilderness, which was a desert place.  He found it a great place, in His confrontation with Satan. 

Many people find themselves in the desert of their very lives.  So many are dry, withered, sun baked, dreary, lonesome, and uninspired.  What has happened that they find themselves so desolate and unfruitful? 

Some of the reasons are:  

1. They are into religion and man's traditions that nullify the Word of God.  The legalistic, going through the motions as a routine!   They think salvation is obtained by works and has to be earned!

2.  They have never surrendered and obeyed our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, never realized obedience is better than sacrifice! 

3. They have never experienced the new birth and the empowering of the Holy Spirit.  You must be born again into the Kingdom of God! 

4.  They have never humbled themselves and compared themselves to Jesus Christ.  1 Pe. 5:6,  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time! 

5.  They have listened to false teaching and Satan, saying Jesus was everything but God, and many other ways to heaven; many lies of man's goodness and you don't really need Jesus to get to heaven? 

6. They never realized that the Desert is a place of teaching patience, learning the voice of God, cleansing and learning the Holy Spirit's leading, to find the purposes of God in their lives ... a place to teach the commands, ordinances, statues and spiritual laws of our Heavenly Father. 

7.  The foundation laying for service and witnessing; the time to find direction and preparation time for service, decisions for training, schooling, and letting the Holy Spirit lead in the preparation process, surrendering, so the Holy Spirit can lead and speak through each of us, to minister to others. 

8. The place of preparation for a specific purpose that our Father has in their life's work.  Each of us were created for a specific purpose.  It might be a missionary work, preaching, music ministry, counseling ministry, or many other areas with specific leading by the Holy Spirit.  Few will be prepared as witnesses at the Great White Throne Judgment. 

So, like any desert, when the watering by the Holy Spirit comes in abundance, they will bloom and become beautiful children of the Most High God.  Before a desert can bloom beautifully, it has to be watered abundantly.  Likewise, we also have to be watered, abundantly by the Holy Spirit, with the rivers of Living Waters. 

We need to eat the Word, chew the Word, digest the Word, and regurgitate the Word to feed the Sheep. 

The way to get through the desert experience is to obey God's Word in all ways; surrender, humble ourselves, and ask for the abundant watering by the Holy Spirit.  Be prepared to receive, with awe and amazement, the marvelous works of God; fulfilling His purpose through you, as an instrument in His hands. 

You will have an inner burning desire for the Lost souls every where you look and see fellow human beings.  Pray for everyone you see, meet and talk with.  This passion for souls is part of the evidence you have exited the desert.  Praise God in all things and be thankful.  Worship Him in truth and spirit.  Share in His Glory.  He, only, is worthy to be praised and worshiped.  May God richly bless you now and forever.

© 2002 by (Howard) Vern Nicholson
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Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 9-23, 24 

This is a picture of the character of our Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ.  Character does count.  In fact, it means almost everything.  Things of this world don't matter in comparison.  In this time of little importance on character; where lying, stealing, treasonous acts, corruption, violence, drugs, alcohol, weapons of mass destruction, and where death and destruction is abundant, we are led to believe that it had nothing to do with character.  What a lie!

Our God says we are not to glory in our wisdom, strength, nor riches.  If we have to glory at all, we should glory in that we understand and know Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. 

Then, He says, "I am the Lord which exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight." 

These three things are the standards of character.  He first exercises our lives by loving us and being kind and merciful to us.  Without that attitude towards us, our lives would be very harsh indeed.   He loves beyond our understanding and His kindness is so great we can't enumerate them all. His judgments are with the greatest integrity and only to the degree that the sin calls for, so that there is a just recompense.  Therefore, 

His judgments are measured and with the greatest degree, and mostly to bring us back into a right relationship with Him (except when our sin has separated us for eternity). His righteousness means that, in all our relations with Him, He will (in a most right, correct, manner) deal with us.  

His righteousness endureth for ever.  We don't have to worry of Jesus Christ changing His mind.  He will always be true, right, and expedient. 

For a bigger picture and one more clearly drawn out, study the Book of Jonah.  It shows the complete character of God, spelled out in His relationship with Jonah. 

First He called, then sent Jonah to Nineveh because of His loving kindness, for He loved them.  Jonah, when he went, preached God's message ... for in 40 days Nineveh will be destroyed.   The people, from the King on down to the lowest heard, obeyed and repented in sackcloth and ashes, and declared for the whole nation, city, and all the cattle to repent. 

They obeyed God's message and God saw their works.  Once they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil that He had said He would do and did it not. 

Jonah became angry and, later, went out of the city and made a booth and sat in it.  God prepared a gourd vine to shade him and, the next day, took it away.  Then, said the Lord, "Thou has had pity on the gourd for the which thou has not labored, neither madest it grow, which came up in the night and perished in a night.  And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein more than 240 thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and also much cattle?" 

Thus, we have a beautiful picture of our God's character, and it does really matter to each of us and His creation.  His character is why we have life and life more abundant.  He Loves us more than our little minds can comprehend.  He Loves the Lost.  Because of His character, let us seek and introduce them to Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, so they can be Blessed by our Great God.  Character counts! ! ! ! 

© 2002 by (Howard) Vern Nicholson
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I attended a high school basketball game, near the Kentucky-Tennessee state line.  One team was from Kentucky and the other from Tennessee.  Well, don't you know, they were about to jump center and start the game? 

The Kentucky boy asked, "Ref, don't you think we ought to play the national anthem?" 

Ref responded, "What is it?" 

The Kentucky boy answered, "I was at the Kentucky Derby, and they played "My Old Kentucky Home".  Everyone stood and  shouted.  That must be it. 

The Tennessee boy said,  "No, Ref.  It is Rocky Top.  I was at the Opry, last Saturday night, and (when they played that) everyone stood up and really applauded.  That has to be it" 

The referee nodded, "You boys are both wrong.  It is Tennessee Waltz.  For, whenever they played it, everyone danced or sang the song." 

The principle, here, we all need to learn is that it is possible the Kentucky man was wrong, that the Tennessee man was wrong, or possible that all three men were wrong.  Thus, it calls us to go back to the Books to find the truth of the matter, then investigate circumspectly before we make a conclusion of what the truth really is! 

The best source for knowing truths, that apply to all areas of our lives, is God's Word.  Apply that principle and study to show thyself approved, by our Heavenly Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Thus, our lives will be in the will of God and receive all His Blessings ... so we can live abundantly. 

© 2002 by (Howard) Vern Nicholson
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Is your worship going upwards?  In some groups, and, or churches their worship can't be seen, heard, or experienced.  Is it because they don't know that worship takes place in two places simultaneously; worship on earth and worship around the throne of God!  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.     

He is speaking to His people, saying, "Listen and learn!" 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power for thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.  Revelation 4-11  That alone should be sufficient for us to worship in truth and spirit. 

When we learn to worship our Heavenly Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, all of God's creation listens.  We need to realize that our worship must be able to reach the ears of God!   He only recognizes true worship.  We have no right to hold anything back,  just pour ourselves out like water before Him.   We need an awakening to hear the voice of God as He speaks to us in our worship. 

I suggest we pray for 15 minutes and listen for an hour.  This will help tune our ear to the voice of God.  He is speaking loudly,  get ready.  Get Ready to meet thy God.  Time is short!  Get about doing His business, winning the lost unto Jesus Christ. 

There are so many lost, hurting, confused, and believing in false gods (which are not God).  If ever there was a time to worship and listen, to do the works He purposed for each of us to do. it is NOW!  Let us begin anew, revived, and led by the Spirit of Almighty God.