Who am I following?

Sundays message at North Point:
I have been doing Sermon Notes for small group leaders off and on for about a year and I will be posting them Monday or Tues, and if you are interested in listening to the message the website is:
http://www.northpointchurch.net/
then go to media downloads - 9/20

Luke 9:23 If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Exodus 13:20-22
They moved on from Succoth and then camped at Etham at the edge of the wilderness. God went ahead of them in a Pillar of Cloud during the day to guide them on the way, and at night in a Pillar of Fire to give them light; thus they could travel both day and night. The Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night never left the people.
In these verses God lead in a very visible sense. They saw the cloud by day and fire by night, and it was always in front of them. The way we are lead now is different and yet God is still our guide. He does not lead us by a cloud or fire but have you experienced a time were God was very visible to you?? Maybe a sunset that really captured you or maybe an awesome time of worship where you thought about only Him.

Isaish 45:2 - I will go before you and level the mountain's, I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.
Jason said that the people of God did not go before Him and when God moved they moved. As I read this again and again and thought about how many times I try to do my own thing, and the words in this verse become real. When I make my own path and go before God I am climbing a mountain, breaking through gates or cutting through iron. All challenging tasks. Yet when I follow God he levels the mountains breaks the gates and cuts the iron. What a great visual that God's word provides.
Not saying that when we follow him life is always easy but at least we are not going at life on our own agenda.
Is there anything in your life that you are doing that you have jumped ahead and not waited for God?

Jason asked us to pray and ask the Lord to help me(you) listen to the spirit. When I read this over I thought about when I tell the girls to use there listening ears. I usually pray this for Olivia now in first grade and yet is it not something I pray for myself. I know that in school you can get distracted and talking and forget to listen to instruction. So true in our own life too. We get so caught up in excitement or get distracted and forget to listen to the Holy Spirit.
John 14:26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

I pray we all use our listen ears this week - Jaime