A story

"Then he told them many things by using stories.....The disciples came to him. They asked, "Why do you use stories when you speak to the people? He replied, "You have been given the chance to understand the secrets of the kingdome of heaven. It has not been given to outsiders...Here is why I use stories when I speak to the people. I say, "They look, but they don't really see. They listen, but they don't really hear or understand.....But blessed are your eyes because they see. And blessed are your ears because they hear." Matthew 13:3-16
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> The Bible says Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. The Jesus who loved using stories thousands of years ago is still the same God who loves to use stories today. Yesterday, a friend of mine and I went to hear a "story". We went to the FREE, 10 a.m. movie at The Rave ( I highly recommend this) which just happened to be "Horton Hears a Who." There we sat watching this very entertaining Dr. Seuss cartoon with our children delighting in the characters and animation and oblivious to what my friend and I are seeing/hearing as the truths of God being revealed.  Have you seen this movie? Have you heard it? I mean did you SEE it? Did you HEAR it? In Luke 24:31 & 32 it says, "Their eyes were opened and they recognized him...they said to each other, "He talked with us on the road. He opened the Scriptures to us. WEREN'T OUR HEARTS BURNING INSIDE US DURING THAT TIME?"
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> As we sat there listening to this story, our hearts were "burning inside us."
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> Here is what I/we heard:
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> 1. Remember that compared to the HUGENESS of God you live on a "speck."
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> "God sits on his throne high above the earth. Its people look like grasshoppers to him." Isaiah 40:22
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> "Heaven is my throne. The earth is my footstool." Isaiah 66:1
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> Remember how small we are. Our lives are just little stories in the grand scheme. There is another perspective( a much bigger one) on your life.
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> 2. Not everyone hears and believes
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> 3. Believing in God may seem so silly to those who haven't "seen" or "heard" and they may make fun of you or even persecute you for it.
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> "If people hated me and tried to hurt me, they will do the same to you. ..They will treat you like that because of my name. They do not know the One who sent me." John 15: 20 & 21
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> We, like Horton, can expect to be made fun of or possibly even persecuted for believing something the world thinks is silly (Jesus is really God & is alive)
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> 4. People may pressure us to give up, renounce our faith  and quit when the going gets tough. A true believer remains faithful!
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> "Don't throw away your bold faith. It will bring you rich rewards. You need to be faithful. Then you will do what God wants. You will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35
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> 5. It can be very scary to speak of things that seem silly to people. However, speaking them can save them. Be like the Mayor who KNEW he heard the VOICE and SPOKE the  message to the people. It was a message that  ultimately saved/rescued them.
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> "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God for salvation to all who believe."
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> 6. When the Mayor asked Horton to reveal himself and make himself known to all the people- there was no response leading the people to believe there really was not anyone out there listening. That wasn't the reality, however. There was something else going on in Horton's world that led him to be silent. He really was there. He really did hear the people and their request.
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> GOD'S SILENCE DOES NOT MEAN HE IS NOT THERE!!!!! HE IS THERE! HE HEARS YOUR CRIES!
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> 7. The mayor wanted to be great. The way he became great was by being believing the words of the one who was much bigger than him and held his world in his hands.
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> You will not be truly great if you seek greatness apart from belief and obedience to the One True God and his son, Jesus Christ.
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> "Anyone who wants to be important among you must be your servant. And anyone who wants to be first must be the slave of everyone. Even the son of Man did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free." Mark 10:43 -45
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> There was much more I "HEARD" but I'm out of time. I highly recommend seeing the movie and hearing for yourself what God is trying to communicate. If you really HEAR, consider yourself blessed because that is evidence that YOU BELONG TO GOD. Blessings from Bombadil. May your soul be watered and may you water another's soul. May you HEAR His voice! He is real and we truly are just a "speck." Kristy Joy Link

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