Sunday Writings... 7/24/16

Good morning...
      

Hope your Sunday is a good one.

God bless from
Corinne


The Devotional component in the Sunday Writings of Women's Focus Ministries is titled, "SHOUT IN A WHISPER" and was written by Jan Andersen.  She writes about shouting versus whispering, and how life seems to shout at us.  But she also states, "Sometimes God speaks in a whisper, and we need to be quiet in order to really hear him."

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  Today's Devotional   

"SHOUT IN A WHISPER"

written by

Jan Andersen

Which is louder, a shout or a whisper?  Seems like an easy question to answer.  The definition of shout is to cry out loudly, whereas whisper is to speak softly.  There is an awful lot of yelling going on lately.  People wanting to be heard are screaming for attention.  Politicians are yammering about their promises to everyone for everything under the sun.  Groups are crying out for justice for their causes.  Sometimes it is hard to hear anything with so much noise going on.  One squawk leads to another's bellow and the others scream, and so on, until the clamor of it all drowns everything out.

Sometimes life seems to shout at us from all directions.  Our job yells for our time.  Our family bawls for our attention.  Temptations of all kinds screech at us from all directions.  All the while, our physical and mental health suffer and whimper in the background.  Sometimes it becomes so overwhelming we just want to run and hide... preferably someplace quiet!

Standing up and shouting may get people's attention, but there is another way.  My mother used to be the director at our church daycare center when I was growing up.  When she wanted to get a room full of screaming kids to be quiet, she would sit down and whisper to them.  While it may have seemed to be the opposite of what was needed, it was quite effective.  The children would come over to see what was going on and would be quiet and strain to listen to what she had to say.

Sometimes God speaks in a whisper, and we need to be quiet in order to really hear him.  In the old testament (1 Kings 19:9-18) the Lord appears and speaks to Elijah, not in the strong wind or the thundering earthquake or the consuming fire that all came first, but in a gentle whisper.  Elijah listened.  We can learn to apply this in our own lives.  When we gently correct someone they are more apt to listen than if we firmly condemn what they have done.  Actively listening can be more effective than talking over someone just to convince them we are right.  When we offer our prayers to God, we also need to be quiet and listen to what He has to say.

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)  "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  

Dear Father in heaven, help us to remember that when the world around us or even our voice inside of us is shouting us down, we need to be quiet and listen to your still, small voice and relax in your loving arms.  Thank you for forgiving us when we fall into this world's loud traps.  Help us to shout in a whisper when we share your gospel with those around us so that they can also enjoy your merciful forgiveness and free salvation through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.  Amen.

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   Snippets of Spiritual Insights  from Beverley   

"Waves" of grief. And pain. Covered by "waves" of mercy. And grace. By the One Who gave His life for me. All the waves. Becoming one. Crashing. Mixing. Embracing. Together. Until. They all. Are still. And once again. My heart. Is calm. Resting in peace. The evidence of my Lord. And His everlasting love. For me. Shining so beautifully. And brightly. Like an ocean. With the light of the sun. Reflecting it's warmth. And His peace. And the wonders. Of His healing love….

written by

 beverley ann napier (c)

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Prayers are lifted up daily for 

you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff

of Women's Focus Ministries.