Jesusluvsall's Blog

One of my favorite TV shows began last week. I like how on The Voice the four coaches do not see the person auditioning until they decide they want the person on their team and push the I Want You button and their chair turns around. The coaches make their decision by listening to the person’s voice.

Jesus talked about his voice and us in John 10:

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.”

and

 “They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

There are many competing voices in life. Some try to tell us it won’t work, that we aren’t good enough, there is no hope, and remind us of our past.

Jesus came to give us life not to cast us down. His voice is gentle to those who follow him. His voice says with him all things are possible. His voice tells us we are loved. He voice tells us there is always hope with him. His voice tells us our past is forgiven.

My hope is to reflect the voice of Jesus to those who don’t know him. That is why I try to learn greetings in the languages of my refugee and immigrant friends. They have been through things we can’t imagine.

My Yazidi friends have endured unimaginable things. They lived under oppression for centuries. The genocide in 2014 was the most recent, but there have been other times. They were discriminated against for centuries. They never felt welcome anywhere they went except among themselves.

That is why I walk around the small lobby area outside the classrooms and greet them with ‘Choney Havalemah’, (attempt at phonetic spelling), which means Hi how are you my friend. I do that because I want them to feel welcome.

By listening to them share their experiences, I give them the respect of being heard. I try to give them a voice, a right, to share.

We can use our voices to build up or to tear down. By choosing to build up others, we can reflect the love of Jesus and his voice to those around us.

Do you know of someone being bullied? Reach out to build them up.

Do you know of someone who has been abused? Reach out to build them up.

Do you know of someone struggling with an illness? Reach out to encourage them and let them know you are there.

Do you know of someone struggling with memories of the past? Remind them Jesus forgives and gives new starts in life.

Thank you for reading. God Bless.