The Whispers of God

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 1 Kings 19:11-12

There are moments that God allows in our lives in which we are astonished to learn that God has been in control all along! Just like Elijah we have struggled because it has seemed as if our prayers have been denied. Then whether by some event or by a moment when a scripture verse leaps off the page as we are reading alone, God opens heaven’s window and whispers in our ear that He still has plans for us!

Our problem is that we have believed that some specific situation should work out a certain way or else all is lost. We cry and pray as thinking that things are completely out of control. In a way we are right. They are out of OUR control….but not God’s! Just as He did with Elijah there are times when God engineers strange situations in our lives like Elijah’s wind storm, earthquake and fire. After these pass, God certainly has our attention, and we fall silent and from that silence comes a still small voice. The Hebrew meaning reflects a calm such as when Jesus calmed the sea. “What are you doing here Elijah ?” God asked in that moment. What any of us are doing when God is finished is that finally we are listening. We’ve all got problems we want to talk about with God, but are we really listening to His voice? We will never hear the whispers of God until finally we listen, and in the calm after that storm, He has promised to show us way!

Simplicity by the Lake

As promised I’m sharing some of the photos from our getaway to a cottage called Simplicity. Now the funny thing is that most accomodations begin by giving a list of what is included – a pool, cable television, breakfast and free shuttle service. But the wonderful thing about Simplicity what it doesn’t offer!

Having four days of no cell service, no tv, no internet or even a daily schedule were an amazing blessing. Instead we discovered a flock of turkeys sleeping in a corn field, a deer grazing in the backyard by our car and a mist rising from the lake at dawn. Most of all there was time to pray and to talk things over with God. Busyness is often the excuse I use to put off till another day what God wants changed right now.

Last year after our first stay at the cottage I couldn’t wait to go back. Now I am wondering why I can’t allow more space for quietness right where we live. I learned that slowing down didn’t mean doing nothing, but instead allowing time for what mattered most. Simplicity is not just a cottage by a lake. It is a choice that Jesus is calling for us to make. What will you do with the 24 hours He is giving you today?

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 2 Corinthians 1:12 ESV

Becoming Still

and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:12

Have you had some earthquakes and fires pass through your life? Does it feel as if everything has fallen down or burned down this morning? Do not despair but prepare. God is ready to speak if we are ready to listen. Now is the time to be most still and discover that our only true refuge is in His word!

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