This Book Belongs To

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L I S T E N I N G TO G O D
Listening to God is an art form of prayer that brings out your creativity and draws you into the presence of Jesus. It allows the Holy Spirit to work through you, as you read the Scriptures, to discover the treasures that are in the written Word of God. Once discovered, this art becomes a way of life as you journey with Jesus on your own road to Emmaus. You soon discover your eyes are opened and life becomes a communion with Jesus as you break bread together. Listening to God is a healing form of prayer, where your expectations come from Jesus rather than from yourself. In listening, you receive a personal message -for Jesus is always whispering to you.

LISTENING TO GOD SERIES BY GLEN S. R. CARLSON: Listening Listening 2 A Journey with Jesus Day by Day Devotions for EACH DAY (2007) Reflections on Psalm 23 Listen to Jesus in Psalm 23 During Milestones.(2009) Planting Feet - Listening to Jesus through Martin Luthers Small Catechism. (2009) Listening to Jesus in the Book of Hebrews Jesus: Prophet, Priest, King (2010) Kingdom Focus - Focus for the Church in the New Apostolic Age. (2010) Listening to Jesus in The Book of Colossians Bible Study for individuals and small groups Listening to Jesus in The Book of Colossians With DVD Listening to Jesus: Study in the letter of First John Bible Study for individuals and small groups

Listening 3 Listening 4 Listening 5 Listening 6 Listening 6 Listening 7

Listening 7

Listening to JesUs
Study in the letter of FIRST JOHN

Listening to God Ministries

Glen S. R. Carlson

7 Listening to Jesus Study in the letter of First John Copyright 2010 Glen S.R. Carlson All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the author and publisher. Unless otherwise indicated the Bible quotations are taken from the New Living Translation of the Bible. Copyright 1996 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. All rights reserved. Published by: Listening to God Ministries Glen S.R. Carlson Box 2572 Stony Plain, AB Canada T7Z 1X9 listeningtogod@canadasurfs.ca ISBN 978-1-897544-36-5

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ACKN OWLED GE ME NTS

When you surround yourself with people, whose lives have been transformed by the love of Jesus, showing this by reaching out to the HOMELESS and, others in need, it cannot but affect you. There have been such a group of people in my life lately. I wish to show sincere gratitude, to the many that have influenced me in this way. First to my beloved wife Joan of 48 years together, who has always been my encourager in my ministry, willing to listen to my dreams. I thank the people of Emmaus Lutheran Church, who were obedient to God when one day they were called to reach out to the homeless. I thank the team at Mosaic Center, whose hearts were touched by Jesus. They willingly opened up their own hearts - working hard developing a safe place in North East Edmonton for people to gather for support and encouragement. The Kingdom team: Emmaus Lutheran Church, Trinity Reformed Church, Steele Heights Baptism Church and E4C were the initial team that God formed making Mosaic a reality. Thank you for your obedience. I thank my publisher Dale of PageMaster who has been so willing to offer suggestions to make the work of the Kingdom effective in publications. Also I thank Beryl St. Germaine, a pastor and teacher in Saskatchewan for her love for Jesus and her meticulous editing. Glen Carlson

DeDiCAtion
I dedicate this book to the journey of Papa John ( a person who brought personality to the homeless people in Edmonton Alberta). He died in a bicycle accident two week after he moved into his own apartment.

PAPA JoHn
In Memory of Papa John by the Mosaic Center
Written by Linda Deveau

John, Papa John, as he was introduced to us. We have learned many things through Johns beautiful, crystal blue eyes. John taught us about life-life thats not always pretty but life that is valuable. He taught us that sometimes the most beautiful moments are found in the roughest places. We first met John six years ago when we went to invite him and his friends Rick, Barb and Jeff to a dinner at the church. At that time the four friends were living at the Canada Packers stack on Fort Road, also known as shanty town. John and Rick greeted us and welcomed us into their humble home. They offered up a chair and lively conversation and thus, began a great friendship. John taught us about love about a hug and a genuine eye filling smile that would warm the coldest place on a winter evening. He taught us about acceptance and He accepted us. As green and stupid as we were, John accepted us for our heart value and taught us a lot that we needed to know. I reStudy in the letter of First John

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member the time that we gave John and some other friends a care package filled with necessities. The heart behind the care packages was genuine, but our brains werent engaged since we had purchased and loaded the goodies into some very bright, fluorescent coloured tote bags. We thought they were so perfect and nice. Without saying a negative thing, John and his friends graciously accepted the neon flashing bags. Only later did it dawn on us that the last thing they wanted was something brightly coloured so that they could be easily seen in the parklands. Duh! But John never said a mumbling word. John opened up a world to us that we hadnt known. He showed us people, places and circumstances that needed attention. Knowing John inspired us to search for a way to offer a small amount of help and inspired us to begin the Mosaic Centre ministry. Throughout the years that we knew John we would tell him about our dream to have a centre like Mosaic. He would always encourage us with his words, Yes, you girls are going to do that. When we finally opened the doors to Mosaic Centre we looked forward to the day that John, our inspiration, would come and visit us. He did, finally, start coming and he attended our open house. From then on he would, occasionally, stop by for a coffee but mostly for hugs and a friendly chat. Just 2 weeks before Johns accident he was able to move into his own apartment. He was nervous but happy, and, I think, more than a little relieved about being off of the street before the winter. The day before the accident, John came by the centre and invited us to come to see his new place so he could make us a coffee. We promised we would come because we were so excited about his apartment, and we wanted to visit him to bring him his special Mosaic quilt for his new bed. Im sorry that we werent able to follow through with that promise. Instead, we found ourselves visiting and praying at Johns
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hospital bedside. We know that he has now moved to his new and eternal home where one day we will be able to visit him. John taught us about honesty, even when it hurts he would said, Look ladies, I aint gonna lie to you. I know what Im doing isnt right, but I aint gonna lie to you. And he didnt. He was always straight up, brutally honest. John was always a gentleman. He showed respect for the church and his ladies when we would meet. Even if he slipped up with a swear word or two, he would always profusely apologize and tell us how his mom taught him that wasnt the proper way to talk in front of a lady. He would always remove his hat in the church and be very respectful, reminding others to do the same. John taught us class. John showed us generosity to a fault. No matter what John had, if he thought someone else needed it he would give it to them, - even the shirt off his own back or his new bed in his new apartment John was, not only generous in material things, but also generous with his smiles and hugs and encouragement. We could all learn about giving from John. He taught us about God and about holding on to our faith even when things werent going really well. I was always able to find Jesus in Johns eyes. John knew the Lord and accepted him as his Saviour. John walked with God beside him and knew the Lord never left him. John wanted to attend church services. No matter how often we would invite him to come to a Sunday church service, and no matter how much he really wanted to be there, he just couldnt allow himself. He didnt want to come to worship, in what he described as unclean, unshaven and wearing dirty clothing. We would assure John that he was beautiful and his heart was beautiful and that was what God wanted him to bring to worship. But, for some reason John didnt feel that he was good enough to come to church on Sunday. I promised John, many years ago, that the day he attended church on a Sunday
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at Emmaus, I would stop whatever I was doing and dance with joy to the Lord. John may not have attended or worshiped in a church on Sundays but he did worship the Lord. I remember being gathered around the back of my mini van, in a parking lot by the office one evening, and John requesting that everyone sing Amazing Grace. Everyone joined in the praise and I looked up to see John, blue eyes glistening and tears running down his beautiful cheeks his eyes were filled with love for the Lord. For quite a long time, John would come to Emmaus on Monday evenings while our worship team practiced for Sunday services. He didnt feel too shy to come to church then, because there wasnt a congregation that might judge him. Quite often, he brought his friends and ushered them into the sanctuary, properly instructing them to take off their hats and mind their language because they were in Gods house. Those evenings were wonderful times of worship. We shared many prayers and shed many a tear together. No matter what fresh new worship songs we would sing John would always come back to his favourite and request that we please sing Amazing Grace... his tears would roll and we knew that he was praising the Lord and thanking Him for His amazing grace that he found even while he was living a very hard life. At the end of most Monday evenings, we would walk out together and I would tease him that he owed me a dance, so he better come on Sunday. I always assured him he could sit right up front with my husband and me so that he wouldnt have to focus on anyone but God. John assured me that one day he would. John did come to church one Sunday morning, with his good friend Stacey and brother Marvin in tow. I was so happy to see John and went to greet him at the entrance, but I didnt dance in church that day. It was the day after his son, Tyler,
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had gone home to be with the Lord. Instead John, Stacey and Marvin accompanied me to one of the front pews in the sanctuary, where together we worshiped and prayed. You see, even then, in that dark hour, John knew where to find comfort. He found it in the arms of Jesus. I continued to challenge and tease John about the dance that he owed me, and yes, he still owes me one today. But I know that I will collect that dance, because, sooner or later I am going to meet up with John in the presence of the Lord, in the biggest Kingdom church that we cant even imagine. And we will dance. Papa John- he may not have realized it, but he was a great teacher, preacher, gentleman, friend and child of God. I know that he no longer worries about a place to stay. He has finally gone home and will never be out in the cold again. Thank-you God for blessing us all with knowing John. We miss John. His hugs. His smiles. His sense of humour. His honesty. His Love. And his beautiful blue eyes that, in the midst of everything, reflected his heart.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see.

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed. Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come; Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures;
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He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace. When weve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, Weve no less days to sing Gods praise Than when we first begun. My chains are gone Ive been set free My God My Saviour has ransomed me And like a dove, His mercy reigns Unending Love, Amazing Grace

Mosaic Centre
Connecting People Ending Poverty
12758 Fort Road Edmonton, AB T5A 1A9

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