Mar
6
2013
One Year Ago
Posted in Worship 4 Comments
It is hard to believe that one year ago today I published my first blog post.
The first of many Whispers.
What a journey it has been!
I have loved to write for as long as I can remember.
There were many times when I was confused as to where I should put my writing.
The church I attended for ten years used to have a monthly newsletter.
On the back page, of this multi-page publication, I was asked to write devotionals.
It was then that I truly realized the power of the printed word.
As I would walk into service on Sunday morning, someone would say, I sent your article to my aunt in Florida...or…I made a copy of your article and gave it to my co-worker.
It was incredibly humbling.
It was a very tangible way to share the Gospel.
It was a very personal way to tell others about Jesus.
Those articles were put in a binder labeled WRITING.
I taught Bible studies in my home for many years.
For holidays and special occasions, I wrote poems for my sweet sisters.
My sweet sisters…I still call them that…as many of us have been together for years.
The poems went into the binder as well.
A friend who knows me well, and can speak into my life, has been encouraging me to write.
Another friend, who is a writer, challenged me and got me thinking about a blog.
After that, two other people encouraged me to do the same thing.
God’s timing is perfect.
I began to pray about this possibility on my morning walks.
Lord, if this is of You…please show me what to do…show me how to begin.
Lord, I don’t even know what to call this blog…if I do write it!
Having a daughter who is a web designer made the technical side very easy for me.
I am so incredibly grateful to Erin for her design and for her expertise along the way.
Things were falling into place the beginning of last year.
But…the name…what would this blog be called?
A precious friend from National Day of Prayer in Colorado had called me.
She was telling me about something God was doing in her life.
From her vantage point, God seemed to have instantaneously done this particular thing.
Familiar with the background of the story, I noticed God’s hand working all along.
I told her what I was thinking.
She said, Did you hear what you just said? You said, God has been working all along…and that I have to listen for the Whispers of His Movement.
I had not even realized I said that to her…but she told me that she wrote it down.
There it was…the answer to my many prayers.
And so I wrote…
Whispers of His Movement…the seemingly silent, imperceptible, Sovereign moments that happen each day…the ones we often miss in our busyness and our self absorption.
And these are but the outer fringe of His works; how faint the whisper of Him! Who then can understand the thunder of His power? (Job 26:14)
I remember an old episode of MASH.
Hawkeye had been repairing a stove that exploded in his face.
The accident left him temporarily blind.
There were many fears as he dealt with his blindness.
Hawkeye was learning to see things in a new way.
As one of his senses was taken away, his other senses were heightened.
A bandaged Hawkeye walked through the operating room, and noticed from his sense of smell alone, that BJ Hunnicut had missed a small perforation in the soldier’s bowel.
Who was that masked man? BJ asked, grateful for Hawkeye’s observation.
When the bandages were finally removed, Hawkeye could see.
He later told BJ that during this time, he had never been more aware in his whole life.
I can relate.
God reveals Himself in His Word.
God also reveals Himself in the everyday…in the ordinary…in the Whispers.
Listening for His Whispers each day has heightened my awareness of Him.
I find myself looking for Him.
The amazing thing is…HE IS THERE!
You don’t have to strain your neck to catch glimpses of Him.
You don’t have to turn the volume up in order to hear Him.
In fact, it is far better to turn the volume down!
Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
Thank you for allowing me to share these Whispers with you for the past year.
As long as God allows, I will continue to listen, and continue to write what I hear.
What a privilege it has been for me to know that you are journeying with me.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. (1 Kings 19:9-13)
God is there.
You will find Him in the Whispers.
I am so proud of you mama and I love reading your encouraging words each day. I love you!!
Thank you, Claire.
My heart poured out…that you know so well.
I love you.
MOM
Thank you Gina for listening. Your inspired words have blessed me more than you’ll ever know!
My sweet friend…what an encouragement you are to me.
Gina