The wonder of it all . . .

I am currently on vacation in Eureka, KS. Usually I am up for trying something new, especially on vacation. So last night, I loaded up the sail boat with my cousin Bryce and headed out across the lake. Let me reassure you from the start that we managed to stay upright and not capsize the boat. In the midst of 'tacking,' 'steering the rudder,' 'adding tension to the sail,' and 'making turnabouts,' the realization hit me once again, everyone of us needs that quiet space that we can spend time in to pray, meditate, reflect, and in general to relax and be still. Maybe for you it's the sail boat. For someone else it may be the mountains or a hiking trail. Wherever and whenever is not important. The important thing is that you go there. Turn off the sounds of this world and tune into the voice of Jesus and the wonder of His creation.

yup . . .

Lately, I have had the desire to write more. I have an idea for a small book that has been churning for some time now. It goes to reason though that before I dive into some form of a book project that there should be a fair amount of practice, right? With this new desire though, I am coming to some realizations. The realization that writers have blocks when they don't know what to say (write) is becoming very apparent! Frankly, I struggle too on what to write. Let's you and I be honest, you don't want to read all of the thoughts and feelings that I have. Honestly, I don't want to read about all the thoughts and feelings that I have - and I live those thoughts and feelings every moment of every day! So here is my thought, feeling or question for today -

"When is it apparent that someone is spending too much money?"

Feel like a random question?

It is not - it is a thought that I have had today as I have looked at the news!

The Power of a Whisper

"Had saul not obeyed His whisper from God, Ananias could not have obeyed the one he himself received."

For me, this is one of the lessons that I am taking from Bill Hybels new book, "The Power of a Whisper: Hearing God. Having the Guts to Respond."

I live about 2 miles from the home of the Goodyear blimp. Rarely does a day go by when I do not have the privilege to see this rather gracious vehicle glide through the stunning blue skies of Northeast Ohio. Frequently, the pilots are projecting some sort of message on the massive display screen that is located on the sides of the blimp. Usually, there is some form of an advertisment or congratulatory message. When we have the rare honor of seeing the blimp at night, the messages that are displayed are particularly bright and easy to read. I'm not sure about you, but this is often how I want God to speak to me about the matters of life - send the blimp over my backyard in the middle of the day with a bright message that gives me specific instructions. So often though this is not how God speaks to us. Rather, God chooses to speak to us in the slightest of whispers.

Pastor Hybels spells out the importance of listening to God's voice for us in his newest book. One of the reasons that it is important for us to keep our ears in tune to that 'still small voice?' Our obedience to the whisper creates opportunities for others to obey the whisper that they hear.

Thank you Pastor Hybels for sharing with us the lessons that you have learned from your many years of listening to the whisper.