As a pastor of a new church with seekers and new believers I am presented with a unique opportunity to instill some life long spiritual practices in my congregation. One of these practices I work on is "Becoming God sensitive" I want my congregation to be aware that God IS taking care of them. To achieve this we take time on Sunday for every member to answer this question "Name one thing that God did for you that was good." For new believers that question is hard for they are thinking of big miracles. Yesterday one of our members took awhile to answer then he finally said "I have heat in my home!" I was so proud of him for I pointed out that the last five days it has been 8 degrees below zero and God provided him heat!! He has to buy propane gas for his home and God provided him work. Are you God sensitive, how can we help others in our churches and outside of our churches become "God sensitive"

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2002

Answers

ONE WAY I BECAME GOD SENSITIVE WAS BY KNOWING THAT MY LIFE CAN ALWAYS BE WORSE. KNOWING THAT SOMEONE OUT THERE WOULD LOVE TO TRADE PLACES WITH ME, REGARDLESS OF HOW BAD I THINK MY LIFE IS. SOMEONE HAS NO WHERE TO SLEEP, NOTHING TO EAT, NO SHOES, NO NOTHING. WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN. GOD HAS BEEN GOOD TO US. WHETHER GOD BLESSES ME "MATERIALLY" OR NOT, HE IS STILL GOOD. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GOD TO GIVE US MORE "STUFF", MORE CLOTHES, CARS, HOUSES ETC. IF WE DON'T HAVE THOSE THINGS PEOPLE SAY "YOUR NOT BLESSED". FOR ME, I HAVE TO SAY. I AM PROBALY ONE OF THE MOST GRATEFUL PEOPLE AND THANKFUL TO MY LORD. YOU KNOW I SAY I AM TRULY BLESSED AND I DON'T HAVE A CAR TO BRAG ABOUT, I DON'T EVEN HAVE A BANK ACCOUNT, I DON'T HAVE THE HUSBAND AND 1.5 KIDS YOU KNOW THE "SO CALLED AMERICAN DREAM". I DON'T HAVE ALOT OF CLOTHES OR MATERIAL THINGS. BUT I AM TRULY BLESSED BEYOND WHAT I DESERVE. I BELIEVE GOD HAS ALLOWED ME TO BE IN A PLACE IN MY LIFE WHERE HE WANTS ME TO SEE "HIM" AND NOT HIS "HAND". HE WANTS ME TO SEEK HIS FACE, NOT WHAT HE CAN DO FOR ME.

I THINK WE ALL NEED TO GET TO THAT PLACE IN OUR LIVES, WHERE WE CAN SAY THAT "JESUS IS TRULLY ALL I NEED". I AM NOT SAYING WE SHOULD NOT HAVE MATERIAL GOODS, BUT I THINK PEOPLE FOCUS SO MUCH ON "GODS HAND" AND NOT "GODS FACE".

HE SAID: SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND ALL HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO US.

IF GOD NEVER GIVES ME A CAR, BANK ACCOUNT, ETC I STILL CAN SAY I LOVE HIM, AND HE IS GOOD. BECAUSE WHAT HE HAS GIVEN ME FAR OUT DOES ANYTHING I CAN TOUCH OR SEE WITH MY EYES. HE HAS HEALED MY BROKEN SPIRIT. HE HAS HEALED MY SOULED. HE HAS GIVEN ME A PLACE NEXT TO HIM IN HEAVEN, WHAT MORE CAN I ASK FOR? WHEN I DON'T DESERVE IT. NONE OF US.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2003

Sis. Nikki thank you for your beautiful testimony. You are a powerful witness for God. I am 51 and I have never owned a car. But I am getting a car. I always lived in big cities until 11 years ago and did not need a car. Then I moved to a small town. You really do need a car in my town for it is rural with no public transportation. My daughter has a car and she drives me or I walk. Well we are planting a church 500 miles aways hecause several people from Africa (Kenya, Namibia, and Ghana) asked for an AME church to be planted. Our Bishop said yes! So now I am going to be a circuit rider. I always wanted to be a circuit rider. My daughter's car can not go over the two mountains passes we have to climb, we have to go up to 12, 000 feet above sea level then down to 5,000 feet. A car dealer in town came up to me and said Rev. Rogers I am giving you a car to do your ministry. Everything we have needed to do ministry God has supplied us. Sis. Nikki, if you need a car ask God for one. For with your heart and love for him you will do ministry for him with the car. Thank you so much for responding to my post. Your love for God pours through the internet.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2003

Well, Rev. Denise, another great question. At the first class of our Membership Class, I assign a homework assignment.I ask each person to be extra sensitive to what God does for them throughout the week. I tell them to review the day and jot down the blessings of the day. They report back to the class the following week. My purpose is two- fold. It brings their attention to God acting in their lives and it offers an opportunity for testimonies. It shows them how much God is involved in their daily existence. They get to understand the importance of testimony and learn to give them in a small group setting. The exercise brings joy to the instructor as I see eyes light up as the class comes into understanding. God Bless Bob McCain

-- Anonymous, April 22, 2003