Shhh, do you hear it?  

Scripture for the day: 1 Kings 19:11-12 And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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 a still small voice.
Thought for the day: Sometimes I wish God would shatter the trees around me or surround me with clouds and speak in a thunderous booming voice and say, “Bill, this is the answer.  This is what I want you to do; now go!”  That may be common for you, but it’s certainly not for the majority of us.  No, the Lord simply doesn’t tend to work that way.  But He does speak doesn’t He?  
          The Lord spoke to me last week.  There was no dark cloud, no voice from the heavens, no earthquake or wind or fire.  There was a sunrise so beautiful as to be almost unimaginable!  I was in the process of getting ready for work and happened to glance out the window at the Eastern sky.  There were fine wispy clouds scattered across the heavens in various shades of red, ranging from a delicate light pink to deep crimson.  Contrasted against the deep shadows of the tree line the sky seemed almost on fire and I just had to pause long enough to thank the Lord for the reminder of His presence (yes, I know the scientific explanation as to why the clouds appear red and how all that comes about – isn’t it amazing how God put that science into place?).
          The young man had lost his job and didn't know which way to turn. So he went to see the old preacher.  Pacing about the preacher's study, the young man ranted about his problem. Finally he clenched his fist and shouted, "I've begged God to say something to help me. Tell me, Preacher, why doesn't God answer?"
          The old preacher, who sat across the room, spoke something in reply -- something so hushed it was indistinguishable.  The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked.
          The preacher repeated himself, but again in a tone as soft as a whisper. So the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher's chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn't hear you."
          With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to hear Him."  This time the young man heard and he understood. We all want God's voice to thunder through the air with the answer to our problem. But God's is the still, small voice. . . the gentle whisper.
          Perhaps there's a reason. Nothing draws human focus quite like a whisper. God's whisper means I must stop my ranting and move close to Him, until my head is bent together with His. And then, as I listen, I will find my answer. Better still, I find myself closer to God.
          “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). Could it be that the reason we struggle so often to know God’s will is that we’re so busy we can’t hear Him speak to us?  Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His teaching while Martha scurried about making sure the table was properly set.  Mary heard what Jesus had to say; Martha was consumed by her hectic schedule and had no time to listen.  Mary was rewarded for choosing the better way; Martha missed out.
          Take some time today – I say again, TAKE some time today (the world won’t give it to you) to sit at the feet of Jesus and simply listen for His still small voice.  
Now go take on your world.  -  Bill