Hearing God's voice

From 'Creative Commons'

I could be hearing God's voice when:

1. I am reading the Bible and a verse seems to 'jump out of the page'
2. I wake up and remember my dream
3. When  I am praying and a picture or thought strongly breaks through
4. I have a persistant feeling of 'having to do something' which reoccurs (call, send a card etc)
5. I see a lesson in nature that underlines what I am thinking
6. I am meditating and I really do hear a voice
7. An overwhelming emotion takes over
8. A song or piece of music 'fits' the situation I am in
9. An angel appears and speaks to me - wther in a dream or in a vision
10. Someone else brings me a word of knowledge

If I am hearing God's voice then:

1. What I hear will not contradict the Bible
2. God will be exalted through the message
3. The message will flow from love (not to please the other nor to preach to the other)
4. It will keep me humble
5. I should pass it on without interpreting it, being a channel
6. I should avoid predicting the future

Riding on the Father's back

Swan and cynets from 'Creative Commons'

When young cygnets are first hatched, the mother remains on the nest to incubate the other eggs. The young chicks who hatch first keep warm by riding on their father's back.

They are safe in from the cold, stormy waters in the strong wings of the father. The father guides them safely through the flotsam and jetsam of the river, avoiding the weeds that might entangle them and keeping them safe from other river predators.