He must be great because the preparation for His coming took thousands of years!

Ray Pritchard, Why He Came, Advent Devotionals

Never a truer statement has been made. From the time when Adam and Eve inhabited the Garden until an extremely crowded night in Bethlehem, believers contemplated the coming of a new king. He would no doubt be wrapped in royal finery and grow up to be a mighty warrior, one who could save them from their tormenters and restore them to a life they could only dream of.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace. Isaiah 9:6

But God, being God, had other plans. You know the drill. While we’re busy planning, God rearranges our lives, often making them inconvenient for a time, perhaps a very long time. But eventually, in His time, the story plays out just as He had planned.

You may recall the story of a favored son, Joseph, who found himself in the hands of jealous brothers planning to throw him into a pit and leave him to die. Instead, they sold him to traveling traders who in turn sold him to a man named Potiphar, captain of the palace guard for the king of Egypt. Joseph’s faith in the Lord helped him to become an indispensable part of Potiphar’s staff but also made him a target of Potiphar’s wife who accused him of raping her. Joseph was thrown into jail but his faith continued and he became a favorite of the prison warden. Through a series of dream interpretations, Joseph was placed in charge of all the king’s land and ultimately, as predicted in the dreams, a great famine devastated the land and Joseph was able to save his family from starvation because of the position he had attained. God’s plan took many years to unfold but Joseph grew in faith during that time.

And then there was a certain young shepherd who brought lunch to his brothers and found himself facing a giant with only a slingshot and a pouch of carefully chosen rocks. A horrific war was in progress and a father chose to send a boy to check on his brothers. On his arrival, David saw the magnitude of the battle and heard a challenge. He chose to face the giant who had been destroying everyone in his path and he won. It didn’t happen because David went there looking for a fight but because God set a plan in motion long before that day that would place him in that situation at that moment in time and through his faith and the invincibility of youth, David accomplished what no man had been able to do. It was no coincidence that David was there or that he became a great king later in life or that he loved God with all his heart, even through his failings. It is also no coincidence that God’s Son was born into His earthly life many generations later through the lineage of the same David.

His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. Isaiah 9:7a

And the birth of Jesus, being the greatest event ever in history, the one by which we mark our time as before and after, would certainly take a lot of planning. A virgin, chosen because of her betrothal to a different Joseph, one who descended from King David, was miraculously impregnated. A virgin birth was necessary because the Child had to be born free from sin. Mary accepted her role in the drama that was about to unfold and ultimately God spoke to Joseph through a dream and reassured him that all was well. When Mary was nearly due to give birth, the leader of the Roman world decreed that a census should be taken and Joseph, accompanied by Mary, headed to Bethlehem to be counted among those in that city, the land of Joseph’s ancestor, David. God always knew the town would be overrun with people and that the innkeeper would have to turn away the weary travelers, but a small spark of compassion prompted the offer of a stable where the couple could rest on the hay. They were barely settled when the Baby was delivered and wrapped in whatever rags were at hand.

She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:7

Why a stable? I think it was appropriate that Jesus entered a dark and dirty world through a dark and smelly stable. After all, He came to bring cleansing to every person who would choose Him. Why were the lives of Mary and Joseph interrupted, why was a census decreed, and why did the innkeeper turn away an obviously pregnant woman? It all happened just as God had pre-ordained. But what an inauspicious entry for one who was supposed to be the king of the Christian world. That, however, was the point. God often speaks in a whisper.

It was a monumental task to align all the events preceding Jesus’ birth in such a way that they came together on one wonderful night in a smelly, dirty stable when everyone was so busy with travel and trading and finding a place to sleep that they didn’t take time to notice a miracle happening just down the road. Are we paying attention to the miracle right now during this Advent season? Are we hearing the whisper, seeing the star, singing with the angels?

Are we finding the hope that was offered that night, all in accordance with God’s plan and His good timing?

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means “God is with us.‘“ Matthew 1:23

Why Did Jesus Come?

It’s a question scholars have debated for a couple of millennia and will no doubt continue to discuss until His return. Christians believe that He came to deliver all of God’s followers from the pain of sin. That His death on the cross removed the burden of sin from any human who confesses to sin and asks for forgiveness. It seems simple enough and yet an enormous percentage of the world’s population doesn’t accept the gift that is offered by His sacrifice.

Though God created a bright and beautiful world just for us, many choose to hide in dark corners and under shadows in order to live a lifestyle of their choosing. And the interesting part of the equation is that God gave us free will, the ability to choose for ourselves. Why then, is it, that so many choose darkness over light? That’s a tough question for me because I relish light and sunshine, bright colors, and blue skies. To live in a world of darkness would prove very difficult for me, whether physically or mentally. That’s not to say that I or any Christian make nothing but pure choices. We all have our flaws, but the difference is that we can go to our heavenly Father and sincerely ask forgiveness with every intention of doing better, and He will offer it.

Last Sunday marked the beginning of our Advent season. What does this really mean?

Something that Ken and I have noticed in the past few years is that everyone is offering advent products for sale and the products usually have no connection to the preparations being made for the birth of Baby Jesus. Many of them distract children with a countdown to Santa’s miraculous sleigh ride. Others apply to product names. We saw a case of Advent wine. Maybe they count the days to the office Christmas party. Take a look at Amazon and you’ll find everything from dinosaurs to Guardians of the Galaxy to National Geographic scientific calendars. Let’s not forget chocolate and Harry Potter. Wow! What a dazzling array of glitz yet the Advent we celebrate leads to a dark stable, lit only by a bright star.

Let’s take a look at the word advent.

Dictionary.com defines it as a coming into place, view, or being and usually referring to the coming of Christ into the world.

Merriam-Webster says it is the period beginning four Sundays before Christmas and observed by some Christians as a season of prayer and fasting. When not capitalized it is a coming into being or use such as the advent of spring (beginning).

Cambridge Dictionary calls it the fact of an event happening, an invention being made, or a person arriving. This would be the uncapitalized version. Secondly, it is referred to as the period of four weeks before Christmas, with no mention of Christ other than its inclusion in the word Christmas, and advent is also still uncapitalized.

And one more, Britannica calls it the time when something begins or arrives and when applied to the Christian religion, it is the period of time beginning four Sundays before Christmas.

All the sources agree it is a time of waiting for something special. I think an Immaculate Conception culminating in a common animal stall under the light of a star would certainly qualify as special. In reality, it is a signal to the world that the Light has arrived, and all who diligently seek it will find it. How will our kids ever know the real story if we don’t tell them over and over again through the Advent calendar that we choose, the things we read and watch, the gifts we share with those in need of a helping hand, the ways in which we treat everyone around us. Please take time each Sunday (and every day) of this Advent season to remember that Jesus came to love, to teach, to heal, and especially to save us.  

Enjoy your celebrations with family and friends, relish the laughter and joy of children, and let the music and the message wrap you in a blanket of love. Be a giver of light and always remember that we only have Christmas because Christ came. Let’s prepare ourselves to celebrate a miraculous yet beautifully humble birth!

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father …

James 1:17 NLT

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven… Ecclesiastes 3:1

Many years ago, when Ken introduced me to his mother, she exclaimed with delight, “Oh, Kenneth, she has such a cute little nose.” You see the Barthelette clan was known for the prominence of its noses, and a daughter-in-law sporting a small or average nose was quite a treat for her.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I told you of my visit to the dermatology office prepared to have surgery for the removal of cancerous cells from my nose. This was my second round of basal cell carcinoma, the first resulting in surgery to remove the cells followed by a second surgery for reconstruction. I thought we were going to do the same thing again. My doctor simply said, “I don’t want to cut your nose. If I do, we will have to graft because your skin hasn’t enough elasticity to repair a second surgery in the same place.”

So I left his office with a prescription that he said would cause my nose to have the worst sunburn I could imagine but that in the end, he hoped I would have fresh new skin without blemishes or scars. He said the success rate was very good. I left a bit dazed and confused. I had come prepared for one thing and been offered a presumably less invasive alternative.

After getting some things accomplished that needed to be done prior to starting the treatment, I spent four weeks applying the medication five nights a week with weekends off. My nose has experienced a series of stages and they continue as I write, but I’m beginning to see the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel.” It has progressed through a startling red color (Ken said I should apply to lead Santa’s sleigh as my nose was as bright as Rudolph’s) then to crusty scabs and peeling skin and now to a lighter shade of pink with a few scabs and dark spots remaining.  

I think it is akin to a caterpillar encased in its pupal stage preparing for its metamorphosis, its transition from a crawling creature to a winged one. The crusty outer layer covering the silky protective layer surrounding the caterpillar is suspended in a safe place. It appears that nothing is happening for quite some time and someone watching vigilantly for change to occur might be disappointed. But if that someone kept hoping and watching, he or she would eventually see a beautiful butterfly emerge from that crusty encasement and fly away.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. II Corinthians 5:17

Now I don’t expect major miracles in terms of physical beauty. At my age, I’ll be happy with smooth skin free of cancer cells. The thing is, I know a minor miracle has been working on my nose and, God willing, it will heal.

A similar scenario can be applied to our faith and our hope in things to come. Sometimes we have to go through a little fire and scrape away the crusty ashes to find the beauty that can still lie within. Every one of us travels many roads and we make many different types of journeys. Our church is on the road to a new journey of discovery. We will encounter bumps along the way, some may be large, but faith, hope, and love can smooth out those bumps, and over time, we can become something brand new, just like my “cute little nose” or a beautiful butterfly.

We are in the midst of a metamorphosis much like that caterpillar. Right now, we are in the waiting time, encased and protected by the training of our past. But one day, as we work, study and pray together, we will be transformed into a beautiful new design, created by God.

I close with my very favorite verse because God has always had a plan for each of us, individually and collectively:

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,  I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

The November morning is cool and clear. A mist nestles low over the valley as the sun rises, soon to burn off any residual moisture. Hundreds of American flags are planted next to grave markers and then a flag-draped coffin appears at an open gravesite. Another soldier is being laid to rest after serving his or her country. The sound of a trumpet sends the notes of Taps over the hushed cemetery. And then comes the discharge of weapons sounding a twenty-one-gun salute. How appropriate that it should happen on Veteran’s Day.

This Friday we honor all veterans, living and deceased. War is not something that we ask for but at times have been called upon to respond to. To all those who have fought to achieve and maintain the freedoms we enjoy, we owe a tremendous thank you. They’ve left the comfort of home and family and traveled to faraway places theretofore only seen in their imaginations. Others have served on the home front. Some have offered medical skills while still others have brought their faith to the battle, serving as chaplains. Some served out of family tradition and others had a passionate need to defend their country. Some were drafted into service but, once there, became dedicated members of the family. And many never came home.

Not only have these soldiers sacrificed. Their families have carried on in their absence, often with little support. Each one has earned our respect and our heartfelt thanks.

As Christians, we often find ourselves engaged in battle. We live in a world that has substantially turned away from God. But despite the obstacles we face, we continue to make every effort to carry the light of Jesus into all the darkest corners. We live by one simple principle, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind ….. love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37 & 38. Obeying those commandments is often a challenge and we must dig deep to find the heart and soul and faith to do what is asked of us.

The important thing to remember is that God always promised to be right there beside us. If you’ve served in the military, you know how crucial good backup can be. Having a trusted buddy beside you bolsters confidence and makes you sometimes feel you can accomplish almost superhuman feats of stamina and courage. It’s often been said that a lot of soldiers found God at the bottom of a foxhole. No matter how much trust you place in your buddy, God is the most important ally you can have in any foxhole or any domestic situation.

Listen for His voice and hear what He has to say. He won’t steer you wrong. And on Veteran’s Day or any day for that matter, take the opportunity to say “Thank You” to a veteran you know. Because of them, America exists, in all her glory and with all her warts. She certainly isn’t perfect, but she’s our home, for now.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy   4:8

Be still, and know that I am God…Psalm 46:10

This year, 2022, seems to be in a downhill race to its finish line. The colors in and around our yard are breathtaking but the leaves are in such a rush to fall, sometimes it sounds like it’s raining. We received drone shots from our son-in-law near the Willow Springs area and the colors were so rich and beautiful from above that I could hardly believe they weren’t taken in New England. In a week, they’ll all be a memory, as will many other events.

The World Series will soon be wrapped up and we’ll have a new baseball champion. By the time you read this, NASCAR fans will know the names of the top four drivers going into next Sunday’s championship race. Football season is nearly finished for our high schoolers and the pro season is half completed. Halloween goblins will have gathered and likely eaten most of their candy. Daylight savings time ends this weekend. Casey announced on Sunday that Christmas Cantata practice is starting (I’m so glad it’s coming back). And Turkey Day will be here before we know it. Then comes Advent and preparations for Christmas.

In the midst of all that there’s one more important day on the Aldersgate calendar. On November 13 at 4 PM, our members will vote whether to continue affiliation with the United Methodist Conference of churches or to begin a new journey. It’s an important day for all of us and should be approached in soul-searching faith. Wherever you land on this issue, do so prayerfully, stand for your beliefs, and when the dust settles remember that we are all children of God. One of my favorite songs was sung on Sunday morning. I think it carries a very important reminder of whose we are and I’m going to borrow some of those lyrics. I hope they touch your heart as they do mine:

You split the sea so I could walk right through it 

My fears are drowned in perfect love

You rescued me so I could stand and say

I am a child of God

I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God.

(Excerpted from No Longer Slaves written by Jonathan Helser, Joel Case and Brian Johnson)

We are truly blessed to be His children. We can rely on Him in every circumstance, even when life seems at its worst. He always provides a way forward. Remember that this life is only the beginning and is only temporary. The second chapter will be a glorious and everlasting one!

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 straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 

Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. Proverbs 24:27 

It’s that time of year once more. We’ve experienced our first freeze of the fall bringing to an end a very difficult growing season, though I think the summer’s drought did a pretty good job of that on its own. The winds of this past weekend brought clouds of leaves tumbling to the ground, along with limbs and outdoor furnishings, and Halloween decorations. And I, being the gardener that I am, have been trying to keep perennials alive throughout the summer but now am putting them to bed for a long winter’s nap.

We recently decided it was time to remove a large island landscape bed from our backyard. This season’s gardening convinced me that I had too much-landscaped area to manage efficiently. So, after friends and neighbors dug what they wanted and I transplanted some favorites to new homes elsewhere in the yard, Ken began the arduous chore of digging the remaining plants, no easy feat in hard-packed dry soil and more tree roots than could be imagined. Those tree roots were another reason for disposing of the bed. They severely limited our ability to cultivate the bed, amend the soil or add new plants. Each area had to be heavily watered just to get a spade in the ground making for some heavy labor but Ken has currently managed to extricate all but a small portion. Meanwhile, I’ve been kept busy watering the transplants and removing dead debris from other beds in the yard, and moving potted annuals indoors to prevent freezing. I like to hang on to them as long as possible.

All these preparations have short-term and long-term value. In the short term, we are preparing our yard for the fast-approaching winter weather, but the long-term goal is to provide an environment for our plants to live happy lives for many years. And we’re not the only ones making preparations. Our squirrel population is keeping me busy repairing messes they continually make any place where we have disturbed the dirt. They love to bury acorns in those areas that are easier to dig so my beds and pots are a consistent choice for their winter stashes. We have both a pin oak and a bur oak tree in our yard and they are producing pretty heavily when you consider the drought we still experience. And even though we may have gotten rain by the time you read this, the drought will still be with us. It will take many inches of falling water to make up the deficit.

At any rate, I’ve already found both tiny (pin oak) and huge (bur oak) acorns buried in my pots and beds and when spring rolls around, tender sprouts will spring forth wherever the squirrels have forgotten a particular stash and I have not discovered the treats they buried. As you can see, our little corner of the world is a busy place right now. Everyone is making preparations and soon we’ll rest.

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:44

I wonder what our world would be like if we all applied the same level of purpose to our personal faith walks as the squirrel exhibits in burying nourishment for the coming winter. How much more love could we show to those around us? How much more light could we shine in all our dark corners? How much more beauty would we then see in all of God’s miraculous creations? Our lives are a series of seasons and the preparations we make in each of those seasons strengthen us for the winter we will all one day experience. Will we be ready when that day comes? Will we have stored away enough “acorns” in our personal faith stash to prepare us for eternity? Our eternity doesn’t depend on good works. It has already been secured on the cross. But that doesn’t mean that we should overlook gracious works that honor Him. As our opening scripture says, our life plan is to accept the will of God in our lives, to prepare our field through study and prayer, and then build a house in which we all care for each other. What preparation can you make today that will make you better able to be ready when an opportunity to share your love of Jesus presents itself…. in order that the house may grow?

What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

I like being right! That sounds like a foolish statement, doesn’t it? But I guess most of us have that desire to one degree or another. For many years I was blessed, or cursed, depending on your perspective, with a pretty accurate memory. When I recalled a situation, those around me typically accepted that my account was accurate. I seldom made mistakes with details. My memory netted me my first real job. I’d been on probationary status with a major retailer in St. Louis during the Christmas holidays when a position opened that required good organizational skills and a lot of memory work. My employer entrusted me with the position and I developed a really good working relationship with the various people who depended on me for accurate information regarding the company’s in-stock inventory. I stayed with them until being a mom became more important than earning an income. My family and friends still came to me for my memories of details surrounding events in our collective lives. No one questioned the information I offered because they knew I had a really good memory and, if I said it was right it had to be right. Perhaps this gave me a false sense of pride and perhaps I became a little too comfortable in my role as family historian and with any other details sought by folks I knew.

And then along came Ken, who doesn’t trust much of anything at face value. It doesn’t matter who says what, he has to prove the accuracy of the statement for himself. At first, I just felt he didn’t trust me and, if I’m totally honest, I sometimes still feel that way. But over the years, I’ve come to realize that I’m not the only one with thoughts and opinions, not to mention that my once excellent memory is not as keen as it once was. That is not to say that I don’t still like having the last word in a “discussion” but I’m trying to remind myself that others often value that position as well. Letting someone else have the last word tells them that I respect them and their opinions.

Why does the human mind have this desire to be right? I suppose it’s a kind of power trip, but what would happen if we, instead, considered the possibility that others might have something to offer us if we just gave them a chance? If we stifled our own not-so-humble attitudes and just listened. How would another person react if we gave them our full attention even if we don’t agree?

You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule. Matthew 5:3 MSG

Sometimes it takes a cataclysmic event in our lives to act as a reminder that we are all children of God and He loves each of us equally. Sometimes it happens in the everyday task of just living life. One of those simple everyday reminders caught my attention not too long ago. I had bought a new insulated cup that I really liked. I carry water with me all the time, so I have a collection for different uses but this is my favorite. There was just one problem. I hadn’t figured out how to separate the slide from the top for cleaning. I had tried every conceivable way that I could think of but this slide seemed permanently affixed. Then one night as we worked on a puzzle, I accidentally knocked the cup to the floor. After cleaning up my mess I looked around and realized that the fall had dislodged the slide from my cup. I was upset with my clumsiness at having broken that cup, but when I picked up the two pieces and held them close together in my hand, the magnet in that slide attached itself to the top…problem solved. I hadn’t sought advice. I hadn’t Googled for information. I hadn’t gotten past trusting in myself. I thought I’d covered all the bases singlehandedly but I hadn’t. Did God push my elbow toward that cup and knock it to the floor? I don’t know, but I do know that I  got a small but necessary wake-up call that I often need help, whether from those nearby or my heavenly Father. Sometimes I just have to “get over myself.”

However our wake-up calls are delivered, it’s time to take stock of “whose” we really are. Any time that we step aside and allow others to be more important than ourselves, we are showing the love that Jesus lavished on everyone around Him. I consider myself one of His children, but I still have a very long road ahead to becoming even a fraction of what He asks of me. I ask Him every day to keep me focused on the right road. It’s unnatural for the human mind to make itself less than others, but when there is less of us in our personal interactions, there is always more of God. And that’s the greatest reward of humility.

Instead of convincing people we’re right, let’s be humble. Humble people know when to speak and when to be silent. People listen to our lives even more than our words, and it will be love that moves them in the end. Bob Goff, Live In Grace, Walk In Love   

The Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain … but the Lord was not in the wind … there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake … there was a fire, but the lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. I Kings 19:11-12   

 I sometimes think the most often heard word in our home is “What?” And why is this? Well, you see, I often forget to apply the suggestions I was given when Ken got hearing aids for the first time. The audiologist spent as much time instructing me in the art of being understood by a person with hearing deficit as he did in instructing Ken about the use and care of his new hearing device.

If possible, it’s helpful to get the attention of the hearing impaired person before speaking. Obviously, when in a different room, this step is difficult and, as you might suspect, speaking from another room is also ill-advised. Moving on, if in close proximity, tap the person lightly to let them know you wish to speak. Look in their direction when speaking and speak distinctly. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Believe me, it isn’t. Even though I know the rules, I speak first and think later, often leading to frustration on both our parts. And, of course, as we age, more and more of our contemporaries will experience hearing loss to varying degrees and we’ll need to apply our skills even more often.

I suppose the best way to approach any person with whom we wish to speak, those with excellent hearing and those who experience difficulty, is to remember those few simple rules, execute them, and then they would become instinctual. Conversation would become more natural and fluid. The problem is that our brains are set to a different approach, one taught to us all our lives. Work hard and talk fast to get to the top. Maybe arriving at the top of the hill is less important than the journey. Perhaps we should consider the joy of relationships and relish learning more about each other. I think we’re missing the whisper among the cacophony around us.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

Sometimes God speaks in a whisper and other times, he whacks us with a sledgehammer, metaphorically speaking, of course. A case in point is our almost fifteen-year-old grandson, the one who has grown up with a baseball in his hand. From the time he was a tot playing T-ball, he has shown promise and, as such, has been groomed for “great things.” We all know the odds against anyone being good enough to “make it” in any sport are very long, even with a reasonable amount of talent. Quinn has always been good at his game, so good that he has played nearly year round for as long as I can remember and never sits on the bench. He can pitch fast, catch and control the field, he excels at shortstop, and is an excellent batter, not to mention base stealer. You get the message, he is sought after and has played hard.

Last year he experienced an injury to his arm and that injury seems to be haunting him now. He’s played aggressively through pain until it

 had to stop. So now, he’s only allowed to bat and run. All throwing has ceased for a period of weeks, at least. This was his year to begin high school ball and position himself for a college scholarship and now he’s mostly benched. I think this was a very hefty tap on the shoulder, a sledgehammer moment, intended to remind him that sometimes we have to listen to that quiet inner voice telling us to change the path we’re on.  I’m certainly not suggesting he shouldn’t play, but I think the mentality that we must play through all the pain is a little misguided. Sometimes, we just have to listen to the whisper and rest for a while. The name of Quinn’s team is GPS Legends. The GPS stands for God Provides Strength. Strength is acquired through hard work and knowing when to rest. It also comes through our faith walk, our relationship to God. Quinn’s in his resting period right now because he listened to the quiet voice, but he’ll be back when the time is right and only another sledgehammer moment will sit him back on the bench.

We all have our sledgehammer moments when the message is loud and clear. It’s much harder to discern that still small voice, the whisper; we must consciously shut out the other sounds in order to hear it.

Now, if I can just hear that voice telling me to think before I speak, perhaps I can develop closer relationships with the people around me. Maybe I can get through a day without complicating communication with my sweet husband and we’ll have more time for fun rather than frustration.

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:7