What Are You Doing Here?

A reading from 1 Kings 19:9-21 KJV for 3rd Sunday after Pentecost. The Lord asks Elijah was did he run; why is he hiding. Then sends him out to anoint others to do His will.

Time With God

Woe unto them that join house to house!

Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth! (Isa 5:8 KJV)

Isaiah makes it sound like it's a good thing to be alone and for some of us it is. Others, for some reason unknown to me, enjoy living side by side. I've tried it. It was bearable most of the time. I have also lived in places that were not quite so bearable. 

I am still trying to adjust to our latest home. It is a humble home on almost two acres. We really can't see any neighboring houses. The area surrounding our property is wooded areas and we have a small pond in the middle of it. I definitely appreciate those things! Yet, I find myself missing our home in Michigan. There is nothing expansive or extravagant about our property there, either. Yet, it is also mostly surrounded by a cedar swamp except for the bay that connects to Lake Superior in the backyard. There will probably never be anyone building in the swamp to the north of us as the Ojibway Tribe owns hundreds of acres there.  

I miss our secluded place in Michigan; but, when I consider the cold they are experiencing right now and the very slow economy that seems to be terminal there, I can really appreciate our home in Florida. We may not be as secluded as I like; but, it is secluded enough and I do not have to live on top of or below anyone in an apartment or condo. I do not have to live ten feet from my neighbor or contend with an HOA.

There is a time and a place for everything. There is a time and a place to be social. It is a very good thing to be in the company of others. But, there is also a need to be alone at times so that we can find rest in the company of none other than Almighty God. 

We; after all, need some quiet and alone time in order to hear God whisper. When Elijah was on the run and seeking to hear from God, he did not hear Him in the noise. In the sheer silence, he heard His whisper.

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)

There may be many who can shut out all the noise of living house to house. They may actually enjoy it. I am not one of them. I need the quiet presence of God to keep my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. I thank God often for the homes He has provided me with and for the opportunity to spend time alone with Him.

May God grant you enough quiet to spend quality time with Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

A Quiet Hum

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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 a still small voice.

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?                                                                                                                                                           (1 Kings 19:11-13 KJV)

I woke up yesterday morning to the quiet hum of distant neighbors' generators. The power was off. It was off for over twelve hours (the reason for no blog yesterday). I spent a lot of time with quiet hums and not just due to generators. As my husband got moving we realized that I need to bring him to the emergency room. (He is fine - probable stomach virus) Since no one except the patient is allowed in the hospital I sat in the truck in the parking lot waiting for about six hours mostly in sheer silence except for the hum of the truck's engine and the air conditioner now and then when it got too stifling sitting there. 

It wasn't a bad day. I appreciate the quiet. Quiet affords us a time to listen for the voice of Lord. Too much noise around us is a distraction. It is a distraction from being more fully in the presence of God. Being present; being aware of God's presence and His voice is a good thing. It can be a very renewing experience to spend time alone with God. Be still and get to know the Lord. Be quiet and listen to Him.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. 

                                                            (Psalm 46:10-11)

God's Peace - Pr. J. 

Listen In Sheer Silence

He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking 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 sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
                                                                            (1 Kings 19:11-13 NRSV)

Alone in the wilderness, the prophets of the old testament spent much time. Elijah was very much afraid because he was being hunted down by that woman Jezebel because he had killed her prophets of Baal. Elijah ran for his life. 

He had no clue what he should do. He needed instruction. He needed to know the Lord's will. An angel of the Lord instructed him to go and stand on the mountain where the Lord would pass by him. When angels speak, that usually catches our attention, so Elijah did as he was instructed. He went to this isolated spot on the mountain and waited. He did not hear the Lord in the wind. He did not hear the voice of the Lord in the earthquake. He did not hear it in the fire. But, when there was nothing; not another sound, Elijah heard the voice of God!  God spoke to Elijah giving him direction as to what he was to do next. He was to anoint Jehu as king over Israel and Elisha as prophet in his place.

How often do we wonder what exactly God's will is for me? How often do we wonder what it is that God would have me do? Where would he have me go? What would he have me say? If these questions often plague you, find a quiet place, a place with sheer silence and listen for the voice of God speaking to your heart and mind and soul.

The prophets of old found quiet isolated places to communicate with God. Jesus found quiet places to speak with and listen to our Father in heaven. It is most difficult to hear the voice of God when the noise around you is so loud that you cannot hear the whisper of God's voice. 

As children sometimes think that their parents are hollering at them when they are not yelling; but, are simply giving the same direction to them for the hundredth time; I admit that I, too, have ignored the voice and direction of God and when I finally accepted that it was God's will; it has felt like God has been hollering at me, as well. 

God still speaks to his people. Find an isolated place; shut off the noise, and listen. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

God Speaks To Us

"This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’" (Jer 33:2-3 NIV)

Prayer is not just about talking to God. It is also about listening to him. He promises to speak to us; but, we will not hear unless we take the time to listen. His voice comes to us in many ways: in the reading or the hearing of scripture; through the sermons or teachings that we hear while at Worship or Bible Study; through our neighbors as we spend time with them; and in so many other ways. Yes, we can even hear his whisper in our inmost being if we take the time to be quiet and listen. It is most difficult to hear God with the television or radio blaring. Elijah could not hear God in the chaotic winds or earthquake or fire. He heard God's gentle whisper in the sheer silence. (1 Kings 19:11-18)

But, not everyone wants to hear God speak to them. He may tell us something that we do not want to hear. He may ask us to go where we would not choose to go for ourselves; to do something for others that we'd rather not spend our time or talents on. He might even suggest very strongly that we repent; that we turn our lives around and follow His Son. That would require a sacrifice that we do not want to make. So, we turn on the radio, the television, and whatever other noise we can find to lessen the chance that when God speaks we might hear.

God still speaks to His children. Listen to Him!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Listen To God In Silence

God Speaks To Elijah In The Sheer Silence; 1 Kings 19:11-18

Elijah had gone up on the mountain in anticipation of being in the presence of God. There was a strong wind; but, Elijah heard nothing from God. There was an earthquake; but, God was not there. And... then in the sheer silence, Elijah heard the voice of God. Elijah talked to God and God spoke to him, giving him instruction. Think about it for a minute... When we are in a crowded room, with lots of people talking or sitting at home with the television blaring, how hard is it to hear someone speaking to us? Turn off the TV, the music, all of the noise and just listen. Unless, that is, of course, maybe you don't really want to hear what God has to say to you.

My new home (an RV) is not real quiet as there are three of us living in it. So, I came a little early to the church building to spend some quiet time praying. I did not come early enough as I was not quite finished talking with God before everyone started showing up for various reasons. That actually is a good thing. I would love to see the church filled with people every day! I will just have to come a little earlier from now on so that I can kneel in sheer silence and listen for the whisper of God.

May God give each of us many moments of quiet throughout the day so that we might find rest in the presence of God and just maybe hear His voice comforting and guiding us all.

God's Peace - Pr. J