Are You Horton or Are You Jane and the Whickersham Brothers?

The other day I was watching Horton Hears a Who with my mom. She mentioned that she compares this movie to getting a word from God and someone else stealing your joy when you tell them! God is really here and you can really talk to Him! 

My parents are very in to God and very close with Him. Talk with Him daily and go to church twice a week. I'm not saying this to brag, I'm saying this because when you're around my parents it just radiates off of them. Who doesn't want to be around someone like that. They don't shove their beliefs off on anyone by any means, they will talk about it if you ask, but they aren't going around with signs around their necks and shouting from the corner. They live it daily and I think that's how we should show the world the love of God.

Sometimes I feel like we have to deal with "Janes" and "Whickersham Brothers" when it comes to telling or showing people that God is oh so very real. You may not be able to see Him or hear Him when you're not listening, but that doesn't mean that He's not real to that person. I'm not just talking about people who are unsaved either...I'm talking about people who go to church every week too!

I also think as believers we need to quit criticizing other believers just because we think they are hearing something that we're not. God might not want us to hear what they are hearing. If someone tells us something that they think we should know, pray about it and if it doesn't sit right with your spirit man, dismiss it! That's all...it doesn't have to be this whole up heave the church because of this person type of thing.

If you've seen the movie, you know there's a scene in there where all the birds fly around and gossip about Horton and how strange he is because he's talking to Mr. Hoovy on the little speck of dust. Don't be like that. Please...that's not uplifting...that's not love. That's hate and bashing and bringing others down. Right?! I want to show people the love of God. I want to smile all the time. I want to bring others happiness and love. Peace and grace just like God shows us. God can't move and talk to you when you're in hate. He can't show you His love and His plans when you're certain that someone else is doing something wrong! :)

I have to admit...I haven't been faithfully attending church lately. I have a ton of excuses of course...summer, friends, work, hubby's work, the list goes on and on. So, I haven't necessarily been the best witness in my walk or in my life. {yikes} This hit home with me because I'm just like the Whickersham Brothers a lot of the time. I steal other people's joy sometimes because I think they are making things up or because they're happy about something God said to them. I wish that He had told me. So, I take that joy and I throw it into a big pile of other joy {you will understand if you see the movie} for them to go searching for it again. Hopefully they are like Horton and don't give up until they find it!

Sometimes God is talking to us and we just aren't listening. I have to admit something else. A lot of times I am so wrapped up in my blogging, texting, tweeting, facebook, whatever that I don't take the time to read my Bible. I realize that if I don't spend time on just one of them that I could be spending my time in the Word, refueling myself for the day. God is shouting for me to listen...then one day, you here, "Well, thir," {again you have to watch the movie, this is the funniest part,} and He lets out a cry! "We are here, we are here, we are here." In the movie they get the whole town involved and finally a breakthrough. The people of Horton's town hear the Whos and don't destroy them or lock Horton up. Sometimes I have to take a step back and open up my ears. Listen...quit distracting myself and listening to others around me.

So, please be encouraged by this post.

Just because someone else hears a word from God doesn't mean that He's not trying to talk to you. Open your heart and listen, get quiet!

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27

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