Excerpt
God Communicates Through Things

Remember that we talked about God talking to us in everyday situations? We're going to do an exercise now that will show you that. Doing this exercise on a regular basis, will help
develop your awareness of when God is communicating with you throughout the day.

Once again, make sure you have a pencil and paper handy. Put your answers in your notebook.

Things Exercise

After reading this, I want you to look up and the first thing your eyes notice, describe it. Now,
ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you from the description. What have you been told?

Example From My Journal
It was one of my sisters' birthdays. She had been going through a rough time and I wanted to
do something special for her. I went and purchased a lot of different bath items, so she could pamper herself. As I was putting them into a gift bag for her, I picked up the bath pillow and
heard the following words:

"Just as the pillow is a rest for your head, so too is My Spirit a rest for your soul. Enter into My rest. Think on Me and meditate in My word and rest your weary soul."
" As the pillow cradles your head, I too want to cradle you in My peace and in My presence. Come to Me for your place of rest."

That word from the Lord for my sister not only was special for me, but it special for her as well. He knew who she was, what she was going through, and wanted to give her His rest and comfort.

Example From My Journal

"On this journal are pictures of: screws, paper clips, clothespins, faucet nozzle and handle, a
child's block, sunglasses, keys, fish, passport, toothbrush, stars, paint and paintbrush, the number 4, an airplane, a fish that is blue, white and red, monopoly money, tape measure, ducks, tree, material, ribbon, a car, a bike lock, lightbulb, hair bow, scissors, popcorn, high heeled shoes, push tack, gift box, alligator and tape. Inside is paper with lines for writing."

" I chose this journal because it spoke to me as a work in progress and that's how I feel. This is what I believe God is saying to me with it: Work or play, Jesus is the key to unlock the answers we need in our lives. So often, our past haunts us and we allow Satan to really put
the screws to us. Not being aware of who we really are, we have pieced together the fabric of our lives the best we knew how."

"We have a picture that we have painted in our minds of how our lives should be, who we
should be, and how we should act. Most of the time, we fall short of that picture so we clean up, dress up and put a smile on our face, hoping no one will realize we’re not who or what
we should be."

"It is only when Jesus comes, shining His light on us that we can begin to see. He illuminates our spirit and our minds. He fills us with His Holy Spirit."

"The Holy Spirit turns on the flow of His Spirit within us, cleansing us, healing our wounds and making us whole."

"Jesus is the passport, our passport into the kingdom of God. He gives us the keys to the kingdom of God. He gives us the building blocks we need to build on day by day. Jesus is the
gift we get to open, every day."

Try doing this exercise with one or two more items. Record the results in your notebook.