Too Much Noise -- Too Little Hearing God's Voice

Back to reality from being away in our favorite fishing location. Wifi is spotty there – so not the place to be for being entertained by current world events. But, who cared? We were immersed in the beauty and sounds of creation. It just seemed God’s quiet voice could be heard there so much easier.

So, back to my routine here at home. Instead of choosing the silence to hear His voice, I put in my new cordless ear buds, silenced the sounds of the great outdoors and let my upbeat Christian music blare in my ears. The first song was too loud. I turned the volume down. Second song was too slow and I got the message from Heaven Central. I could sense God wanted my undivided attention. As soon as I “unplugged” while walking westward at 5:55 am – the most incredible view of the moon going down came into vision. It was like the Man in the Moon was winking at me – all bright with his orange glow. Then I looked eastward, and there was God showing off His artistry with an incredible sky painting. It took my breath away.

I posted those two heaven-sent views yesterday with the confession that I almost missed it all because of the noise. I posted: “I think God is saying something to me and you. Let’s shut out the noise and listen and watch for Him in the middle of it all.” I sincerely got the message: “less noise – more Him”.

I’ve come to terms with God being a quiet God. Yes, He speaks, but He seems to say it best when He chooses to communicate through His creation. I know He is free to speak loud and boisterous like when He blasted out: “I Am that I Am” to Moses, but He most often chooses to speak in quiet ways. Though He wows our eyes with His masterpieces, He usually reveals Himself to our ears -- quietly.

All around us, humanity is shouting and screaming about something they agree or disagree with -- while God whispers His presence and reveals His character through the brother and sisterhood we are witnessing as well. This noisy world, and our quiet God, are a reason so many people don't believe God is real or loving. Having not heard from Him, they assume He doesn’t exist. But He does…He just speaks with a softer voice than the crass, loud voices.

If ever humanity needs to pay attention to hear God speaking, it is today. If we aren’t intentional in seeking to hear His voice, we will likely never hear Him. Not in this culture. Not in the noisyness of our times. I am convinced that our gracious heavenly Father speaks to every one of His children constantly, giving us all the information and guidance we need to be total overcomers. There isn’t a problem with His transmitter; it’s our receiver that needs help.

Most people are imploring God to speak, when it’s our hearing that needs to be adjusted. Taking this faith-stance that God is speaking and then learning to listen and obey will transform our relationship with the Lord. It could save our lives.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27

A Daily Epiphany

Last Sunday we celebrated Epiphany – the manifestation of the Lord – when the magi’s eyes were opened to the King of kings. I desire a daily epiphany when my eyes are opened to my King.

I post my blog for today. Now I’m in my cozy chair with my throw blanket tossed over my lap. I reach for my well-worn Bible, my daily devotional and my journal. A deep breath in and a slow exhale. It’s my time, it’s His time. It’s our time to be together.

Before the electrician arrives to do some repairs. Before I go on errands. Before I go to Weight Watchers. Before the day’s activities are in full go-mode, I get to be with Jesus. For a few quiet moments, I don’t have to share Him with anyone. The words are always fresh to me. A new reading in His Word and a new reflection. What will He show me today? What will be my “epiphany” today? I take it in like it is a required prescription to keep me alive. After all, it is the Bread of Life – physically and spiritually.

But, sometimes, my mind is overactive with my to-do’s and it’s simply a “routine” that must be done. Please forgive me, Lord, for those times when I only give you a quick glance. Sometimes I have an “aha” when I read a verse that I know was written with me in mind. Other times -- not so much. I pause and whisper, “Lord, open my eyes to see the wonderful things in Your Word. Help me understand what You’re trying to show me.” I don’t want to miss a single thing that God has for me. I don’t want the distraction of the clock or daily assignments to pull my thoughts away from His. I really do not want my time with Jesus to be a quick “meet and greet”. I really do want to pray, ponder, understand and respond.

My sweet mother-in-law, Lydia, has been that kind of pray-er and ponder-er. Every time I read Acts 16 where a woman named Lydia is introduced, I think of Mom. Lydia and her friends are having a prayer meeting on the riverbanks. The Apostle Paul and his traveling companions stop by the prayer meeting. Lydia is already a worshiper of God, but as Paul shares the Good News of Jesus and His redeeming work on the cross, Lydia has an “epiphany”: “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention and to respond to the things said by Paul”. (Acts 16:14).

I absolutely love that: “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention and respond.” Oh, how I desire that my heart is opened to pay attention and respond to my Lord. Lydia’s mind is opened and she receives a fresh revelation of Jesus. He deposits a desire in her heart to learn more about the gospel of grace that Paul is sharing. I think of an old song that is actually a prayer. May it be our prayer today.
“Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus,
to reach out and touch Him, and say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.”

May this be our heart’s greatest desire — today and every day! May we open our hearts wide so we can receive a fresher revelation of Jesus. No matter how much we think we know about Him, let us long to know Him more!

Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word.”

Slow Down and Listen to the Frogs

My inspiration for today’s blog came from a friend’s FB post. These were her words that captioned this precious photo so beautifully: “When I’m really trying to get a workout in (aka, not stopping every 2 minutes), I’m reminded to slow down when my daughter wants to listen to the frogs. I know one day she won’t ask to go with me, so for today, I’ll slow down and listen to frogs.” I thought, “This is the stuff that brings us to a place of gratitude and embracing the gift of this moment in this day!”

How’s that for a wake-up call? How’s that for conceding to cherishing the most precious moments that will never pass our way again? This sweet mama understands how important it is to slow down and “smell the roses” AND “listen to the frogs”.

Then, yesterday, I had my own “stopping to smell the roses” moments when my two Frisco grandchildren (ages 17 & 18) called me for a date night to see the new Dumbo movie with them. I was on a mission to getting off some important emails, making some necessary calls about an upcoming event and finish working on a script for a play I'm writing, but I was reminded to slow down to watch a flying elephant!

As I began typing this blog, my thoughts turned to how Mary, the Mother of our Lord, must have slowed down to prioritize her time with her boy! She was probably overcome with the responsibility of raising this boy. After all, he was no ordinary boy. He was the Son of God. No doubt, she poured time into him while being a devoted wife to her husband and his carpentry business, but I like to think that she savored the moments when her boy was a little guy, too! Remembering how He played in the water when she heard Him saying “I am the water that when you drink of it, you will never be thirsty again.” She watched Him playing with His friends and when one of His pals fell, I'm sure she noticed Him lovingly care for him. I'm sure she lived in the moments when she saw Him caring for and playing with animals. Can you imagine that she was thinking “He created them”?

That’s why, when my grandchildren take me by the hand and say “Nana, let’s go…….” that I rarely put them off. This Frisco grandson is presently writing a book and starting up a new business. He often comes to my home for serenity. I love that. He acknowledges my “peace zone”! He understands how inspiration and being present in the moments happen here. I love to imagine that he’ll remember that he received inspiration at Nana’s home one day – long after I’m gone.

I started out speaking about a young mom who is keeping her priorities in order. I’m desiring to keep mine in order too! Watching for God’s favors and signs along the way! Knowing when I recognize Him in my children, my grandchildren, and the frogs and flowers along the way, there will be plenty of time for making up the time on everything else!

The Perfect Date or BORING!!

Perfect Date -- being entirely without fault or defect : flawless; satisfying all requirements, accurate.

When my daughter and I were posing for this photo, we meant it to be funny, and it is, but I started giving it more thought. Here are two women with two men who don't see us or speak to us. What boring dates! LOL! On the other hand, some might say -- the PERFECT DATE -- we didn't need to dress up or put on make-up, and we could talk and talk without resistance.

I know there are many women AND men out there who live in that existence. Women feel like their husbands could care less about them, how they look and what they say. Those men stay glued to their computer or TV, with little thought for giving their wives or children attention. It's also the case for many men who feel that their wife gives more attention, concern and care to their children and others than to them.

That wasn't the case last Sunday when we arrived back from a 3-1/2 day retreat. Those husbands had been in charge of the family for those days we were away, and after the 11:30 am service, I could see husbands AND their children hugging and kissing Mama! I said to one couple who was holding on to each other for dear life "Okay, you need to get a room!" LOL!
.
It’s easy to look back on my past and see all the things I could have done better. My life has been blessed, but it took the death of my sweet husband to realize just how blessed my life really was. That's why I sense such responsibility to pass along wisdom I’ve gained to tell all you husbands and wives to treasure the lives you have together. Treasure them by investing into it.

How many times do you argue with your spouse over the silliest things? The toothpaste lid, who makes dinner, the toilet seat being left up, telling each other how to drive? Trust me when I say, it's not worth it. It's a waste of time to spend time over pointless drama when you can be laughing and smiling at all the joy that surrounds you. Cultivate your relationship by deliberately setting aside time for quality communication, sweet moments of telling each other just how valuable they are to you and the family, and to really listen to each other. Protect your marriage by investing in it with intentional, deliberate times together.

For all the things I regret not knowing or doing before my husband’s death, what I don’t regret is my decision to live a full and passionate life after his death. I’ve promised myself I won't miss an adventure and I will laugh and live life with all the joy and happiness I can find. We can't go back and change the past, but we can all change our present, our future AND the memories we will have with our loved ones. We can learn from our mistakes and we can make sure we LOVE LARGE and we can make sure we live each day in the richest way we can -- in the moments!

Selective Hearing Comes in Handy

My iPhone must have selective hearing. I'll be audibly texting a message and the message comes out not anything like I said. My text message to my sister was supposed to start out "Hi sweet sis!" But, it sent "Hi, sweet the ass." She replied "This is too funny. Read your text 4th word." I have GOT to start reading my texts before I hit the SEND icon!!

My word(s) for today is SELECTIVE HEARING – one possesses this quality when they hear only what they would like to hear. Selective hearing is also known as hearing loss by attention. It affects many people and refers to the unconscious blocking out of sounds while engaged in another stimulating activity. For example, missing the sound of a telephone ringing because of focusing on a TV show.

There are times when I block out what someone is saying because I’m so busy with what I'M saying that I don’t hear what needs to be heard. I was at a conference last weekend and I was so busy in conversation that I failed to hear someone saying grace for our meal. My Selective Hearing was hearing my words, not someone else’s.

Selective hearing loss is not the result of one noise making another inaudible, but a choice by the brain to focus on one stimulus over another. For example: Mom: "Jimmy, clean up your room and them you can go to the movies." Jimmy: "Sweet! I can go to the movies!" Mom: "AFTER YOU CLEAN YOUR ROOM!" Jimmy: "What? You never said I had to clean my room" Mom: "I swear, you have selective hearing!"

Has your spouse, child or someone else asked you about something they had told you, and you don’t even remember them asking the question? At that moment they asked, apparently you had selective hearing and it didn’t SELECT that conversation. Indeed our children have selective hearing. We can call them and call them, and they don’t respond, but if we say “Ice Cream”, they’ll come running. We, also, have selective hearing. We listen to what we love. God is sending us messages all the time, but we’re not listening well. We’re distracted or preoccupied or just maybe, we don’t even want to listen.

Our Heavenly Father communicates with us all the time through His Word, His gentle nudges, signs and feelings, others speaking on His behalf and so many other ways. God is communicating with us all the time. He wants us, like we want our kids, to LISTEN WELL!”

Being a good listener is being present in the moments. Consciously avoiding distractions and honoring that one that is speaking to us. Proverbs 4:20 says "My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words." Such selective hearing is simply paying attention. God is speaking to us. Others are speaking to us. And when we pay attention and are tuned in to the Master's frequency, and when we set aside all distractions, we'll hear! ...When we do, we'll be listening WELL and SELECTING our hearing to hearing God's voice..

"Knock Knock" But No One's Saying "Who's There?"

Carpe Momentum -- Seize the Moment

Often I blog about making moments count. There's a Latin phrase for it: Carpe Momentum which means "Seize the Moment". I’m thrilled to be alive HERE on planet earth today in this generation. Even though I live in a 55+ community, I sure don’t want to hang with anyone who thinks “old”. I love hanging with those who live in the moment and in that moment they find so much to be grateful and joyful about.

This is MY own definition of a MOMENT: "an instant, that almost imperceptible amount of time that barely registers measurement, but when being present and given full thought and attention to it, miracles can happen, inventions and innovations can be created, lives are transformed and heaven touches earth -- because the MOMENT was noticed.” – Donna Wuerch

The older I get the more I understand the importance and value of seizing the moment. Life’s “stuff” happens to all of us. "Stuff" happened to my husband and I. I remember a season of major challenges in our lives. Important life-altering decisions needed to be made. But, rather than sitting around worrying, we spontaneously decided to take a trip to Branson, Missouri on November 1st – the first day of Christmas at Silver Dollar City. It turned out to be one of the best decisions we could have made. It was not only therapeutic to get-away-from-it-all, but it refreshed us and took our perspective and attitudes to a whole new place.

When I placed this figurine on my kitchen counter this Christmas, I couldn’t help but remember that weekend, because underneath the items we purchased (as a keepsake of times of sweetness), I would always write the occasion and the date on the bottom. We SEIZED the MOMENT on that weekend.

Seizing the moment is engaging in intentional thinking. At church, when the priest, rabbi or pastor is speaking, do you find your mind wandering or even falling asleep? And all the while, that speaker may have given wisdom for the answer you needed to help you get out of your difficult situation. I’m one of those “note takers” in church or meetings because I want my valuable time to be worthwhile and I want to give honor to the speaker’s valuable time that he/she spent preparing.

I’m the camera/photo opt “junkie” in our family. I'm always seizing the moment to take a photo of precious times. I'm taking a lot of photos while I'm with my two younger grandsons in Austin. Every moment of nurturing them, seizing the moment to cuddle them, and when typical sibling rivalry or some act of disobedience happens, I get the opportunity to talk about God's way being the best way. I want them to remember Nana as one who was always pointing to Jesus. I know these two young boys will soon no longer be needing for Nana to see after them -- like their two older brothers who are now on their own. So every moment seized is every moment remembered.

Seize the moment. It works like this. In the midst of the craziness of life, seize a few quiet minutes to rest, reflect, recharge. Maybe take a mini mental vacation to enjoy life’s blessings. Instead of working through your lunch hour (or just 20 minutes), turn off your phone and computer to truly enjoy the daily bread you have been given. Go out for dinner…at some place that serves your meal on a plate, not in a bag. Stop by to see your parents, older kids and/or especially your grandkids. If you can’t get there physically, then call them, skype them, or just sit quietly and send up a prayer for them. Reflect on life and give thanks that you can see, move or even just breathe.

Can You Hear Me Now?

Can You Hear Me Now?
Remember Maxwell Smart in the "Get Smart" series -- speaking into his shoe "Can you hear me?" And that line is also from the cell phone commercial that indicates bad cell coverage. But, I wonder how many times we've used that line with our kids.

"I said for the 3rd, 4th and 5th time......
'Did you clean your room?'"
"Did you do your homework?"
"Did you take out the trash?"
"Did you empty the dishwasher?"

Like most mothers, I had my "Can you hear me?" I sounded like a broken record. Eventually, the words became, "What part of what I'm asking is unclear?" "Are you listening to me?" "Learning responsibility is a good thing."

The point I'm making in this post is the "Can you hear me?" Those are words that I know our Father God must say to us time and time again, but we're so encumbered by so much "noise" going on in our lives -- the TV, telephone, radio, computer, social media, overburdened with to do's, and thinking about everything except for tuning in to the Master Speaker in our lives. How often God must say to me, "Donna, are you listening to Me?" And, my mind is everywhere except for keeping my ears open to His voice.

The fact is, we haven't been listening. And, like our kids many times, oh, we hear, but we're just not obeying. In fact, we may be as guilty as our kids are when we've told them time and time again to do something.....and they totally act like they never heard it.

So often, the things we say to our children are the very things God wants us — His children — to hear:
“Be still.”
“I’m the parent and you're the child -- that's why!"
“If you had paid attention to me, you would have avoided that mess.”
“Please, just trust Me. I know what's best for you.”

I have some really good news for us.....we CAN hear God's voice. The Bible, God's love letter to mankind, makes it clear that we were created to have two-way communication with Him. Jesus tells us in John 10:27, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

Oh, I'm definitely hearing His voice these days. He's asking me to be still and wait on His timing. He's asking me to trust and know that He is God. And, more than anything else, God wants us to hear that He loves us.

My prayer for you and I today is: "Dear God, help us to listen carefully to what You have to say to us. Like we desire from OUR children, help us to hear and respond the first time you call on us with obedience and joy. Please help us to be first-timers -- first responders to YOUR voice. Amid all the craziness of this world and the busyness in our own little worlds, may we tune in to YOUR frequency, your voice -- whether it's your still, small voice or your obvious loud and clear voice.....not eventually, but immediately! Thank you for your patience as our loving Father! Amen.

His Sheep Listen to His Voice

Funny cartoon -- but, the message is clear and VERY real to our lives. Jesus said, "My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" (John 10:27) . Wonder if He had in mind how difficult "listening for His voice" would be in 2014? And, more than ever, we really need to hear His voice. We need His wisdom, comfort, guidance, peace, and direction. Of course, we long to hear His voice, but in the busy-ness, the clamor and the many, many activities and distractions of everyday life, oftentimes, we may be hard-pressed to find that quiet PLACE where we can go for solace, rest and peace, and hear the voice of our Shepherd. And, even when we manage to find that place, "noise" -- our cell phones, iPods, radios, computers, TV, etc. -- keeps us distracted from hearing our Shepherd's voice.

Seems that it's time to find that place where His voice comes through loud and clear to us. Oh, He has that place -- and we can find it, but it's up to us, to disregard the distractions to "Be still -- to hear and know our God." And, I'm not referring to a far off island in the middle of no-where. It's possible to find that place, if only for a few minutes in our day, to "Come away with Him"!

What if everything we're needing -- the decisions we need to make, like, what job should we take; what school our kids should go to; what diet or fitness routine we should be on; what part of town we should live in, etc. All of these answers, and more, are found and answered by our Shepherd -- He Who knows everything about everything. After all, if...."The Lord is my Shepherd, He promised, I would never want......", then maybe we need to "tune-in" to our Shepherd, and "tune-out" what's NOT!

MY Way on the Highway?

Remember the folded up maps we once used when we headed out for road trips? I loved being the navigator! Those maps, and I, most certainly kept us right on course to get to our destination faster. And, that was important, because we didn't do a lot of dilly dallying when it came to road trips.

But it's a new era! "Personal Navigation Systems" are found in vehicles and smartphones all over the world. The first PNAs were hand-held units used by the U.S. military. Today that technology is supported by 24 satellites orbiting the earth, with three available at any one time for our device to use. WOW! There's just no reason why we should EVER get lost if we followed the voice of Miss GPS. Even still, I'll hear her, and think "MY way is better", and before long she's saying "Make a legal U-turn!" And, I think, "If only I'd followed her directions!" The most sophisticated directional technology in the world is not much help if we won't follow its directions.

And it's the same with listening and following the directions of He Who knows everything about everything and is ALWAYS accurate in His course directions. When we follow God's instructions, and not waver off the path He's laid out for us, or think "my way is better"...then, there will be no anxiety or concern about getting lost -- He'll make sure we'll get to where we need to go, and arrive when we need to get there!!

I posted this scripture yesterday, but it merits repeating today. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your OWN understanding; in ALL your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

God Answers Prayer -- and Sometimes in an Unexpected Way

Years ago, I fell down a flight of stairs -- bumpety bump on my bottom -- all the way down. I felt like a compressed-together accordion. I had a serious back injury and lived in pain, even after many medical treatments.

For years we prayed for my healing. We had weekly leadership meetings in our home, and they joined with us in praying for my healing. One night, a young couple, who were our church's new youth pastors, expressed their need for a bed. Inconspicuously, my husband made his way to me and told me he felt impressed to give them our bed. I learned many times over, that my husband and God, frequently had these little "chats", so no way could I offer an objection. The young couple was thrilled. But, now WE needed a bed.

The new craze, at that time, was waterbeds (pictured here), and our 13-year old son had one that he loved. My husband asked if he would let us sleep on the waterbed for a few nights to see if that's what we wanted to buy for ourselves. We heard that at least two weeks were needed to get used to it. In that two weeks period, something amazing happened. The back pain that I suffered from for years, was gone. It was so impressive, that we purchased a waterbed for ourselves, and enjoyed it for years.

So, was it the waterbed that provided my healing, OR was it the obedience to God's nudge, to give to someone in need? I think it's the same response from the blind man that was healed by Jesus: "All I know is once I was blind, but now I see!" And my response is, "Once I had severe back pain, but now I have none." Yes, God answers prayers, and sometimes He says: "1) Yes; 2) Not yet; 3) I have something better in mind. I think my answer was #3 -- He had something better in mind......so much so, that I'm continuing to tell others that God answers prayer. I encourage you: Don't limit God -- for NOTHING is impossible with Him. If not a "Yes", right now.....hang on....He probably has something so much better in mind! And in the meantime, LISTEN, He just may have an unconventional way of bringing about your answer, like He did mine!

Can You Hear Me Now?

God is calling....."Can you hear me now?", He says.
I have this really awesome connection with God. He walks with me and talks with me. And, He tells me all kinds of things I need to hear and know. No, a booming voice does not call down from on high, and there's no handwriting on the wall. His voice is subtle -- almost imperceptible -- and I don't hear it unless I'm really listening. Sometimes the voice comes as a feeling or a knowing deep inside. Other times I may read the answer in scripture or I may encounter a solution to a dilemma by something a friend or minister or pastor says. His voice comes to everyone who asks and listens for Him. Oftentimes, the noise, activity, and loud voices of others tend to drown out His voice. But, we'll always be able to tell which voice is His -- it's that One that comes with love, peace, joy and comfort. If the voices you're hearing aren't like that, they're not His voice. If we don't get the answer we want, at the time we want, God might be saying "Not now" or "No" or "I've got something better in mind for you." Bottom line, He promises to speak to us -- but we have to be listening. "Call to me and I will answer you and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3. Keep listening. The next time He says "Can you hear me now?" you'll hear Him, and you'll answer, "Yes, Lord, LOUD and CLEAR!"