Dear Lord; Happy Friday Father!
This morning Father, I had what I think is an important realization; my life is noisy.
Each morning, I’m awakened by an alarm clock which at the same time starts an hour-long process of dogs barking to go out, my smartphone reporting to me all the things that I missed while I slept (or tried to anyways), and the daily rush to get our family moving forward with the day. Then I don the mobile headset for the ride to school and the office, on goes the radio and all the while I’m serenaded by the beeps and blips from the boys’ Nintendo DS’s from the back of the SUV. Once at work, the constant sounds of phones, computers, streaming radio, and a plethora of other office chatter persist throughout the day. The ride home is spent back on the headset along with the radio helping me to drown out the commute noise. Evenings at home are filled with more barking dogs (yes, we have little yappy dogs… lol), television, phones and other such sounds of modern life.
As I said… Noisy.
I’m beginning to think that the struggle I’ve had with insomnia over the years may be partially related to the amount of constant noise in my day. In the wee hours of the night, I can truly find the Stillness and quiet to properly direct my thoughts and listen to Your Voice.
Hmmm… Stillness… It’s been a while since I’ve truly had some.
“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”” – Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
Well Lord, this weekend I’m going to try and focus on that. It’s supposed to be nicer weather the next couple of days here, so I’m planning to try and take advantage of it and visit one of the few places I can almost always get the Stillness I need to hear You; Blackbird State Forest. It’s been months since I’ve been able to go and just walk in Your Splendor, so I’m going to do exactly that.
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” – Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)
Amen.
See You soon. 🙂
~Phather Phil
Hi, I’m Phil Malmstrom, a.k.a. Phather Phil. I’m self-employed, father of two wonderful young men, an ordained minister who delights in spreading Jesus’ Message of Hope and Love, a science-fiction junkie, an aspiring photographer and above all that one of God’s Children who rejoices in His Blessings each day. 
Oh noise can really be a distraction to us. I love sitting in the quiet and talking to God or just being with Him. It is such a wonderful way to rid myself of the noise and focus on my Father. Some days I don’t get enough of that time and I crave it. Thanks for this great prayer and hope you make it to that quiet spot this weekend! Blessings Phil.
Thank you Jenifer. I was able to get some “quiet-time” this weekend, and recharge the batteries a little. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
Oh stillness! I’m headed off to a Christian Writer’s conference and am planning on enjoying a little ‘stillness’ of my own-just me and my Main Man 🙂
Sounds wonderful Allison! Can’t wait to hear about the conference.
Have a Blessed Day!
We all definitely need stillness to recharge us and to give us time to hear Him. Hope you find some this weekend!
Thank you Eileen… I did manage to get a little. 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
I know once a year I try to go on a silent retreat. I am disappointed that the two dates I picked out this year fell through for various reasons. Your post today reminded me that this is important and I need to seek to find another retreat this year. Thank you. Yes stillness is one discipline that never fails to connect me with Him.
I’m sorry to hear you’ve missed your retreats Jean. We all need to find that time of contemplation and communing with Him. I hope you find your time soon!
Have a Blessed Day!
Phil…
I’ve recently been reading Nouwen’s “Out of Solitude.” It’s a short read packed with ample truth! In particular, he reflects on Christ’s “solitude” as a precursor to care. I don’t know about you, but when I read the scriptures about Christ heading off to a “solitary place”, my heart longs to go there with him. I want to find that place within my daily routine to get away from all the noise in my life and to simply commune with him.
Why is that so hard for us? I really have no excuse. I don’t work outside the home, and when my kids head off to school, I have the place to myself. Still and yet, “aloneness” doesn’t always breed solitude with Jesus. I can find just as much noise while by myself as when I’m surrounded by family.
May there be some rest from the noise in your life this weekend so that Christ and his care might be heard.
peace~elaine
Thank you Elaine! I’ll have to look into that book… Sounds like something that’s right up my alley. And you’re right, I think we find ways to make our lives noisy even when we have the opportunity to gain that stillness we need to focus on Him.
Thank you, and have a Blessed Day!
Phil you and I are on same path with our blogs today. Stillness is a great thing to experience. It’s something about it the listening to Him, this morning before I did my blog I thought about how Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and it was still at that very hour and there was Jesus praying to the Father. There truly is something about that very hour when we are awake and we use it to seek His face. Amazing things happen
I saw that as well Desiray. Isn’t it interesting how He places similar messages in our hearts? 🙂
Have a Blessed Day!
Glad other people’s houses are like mine! I have all girls thought so there is more drama instead of Nintendo!:) Sometimes we just need to fast of noise and feast on quiet! I think I will take that advice myself!! Have a noise-free weekend!!
I agree completely Kelli! (And boys have drama too, just different sorts I think. 😉 ) It wasn’t a quiet weekend by any means, but I did find some time to get away from the noise all the same. Thank you!
Have a Blessed Day!
NOISE
A challenge of the modern life
is noise, the feeling of a strife,
the feeling one should make a choice.
You loose preponderance in the noise.
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VACCINIUS
|♥| http://www.vaccinius.com
Thank you for stopping by, and posting one of your verses.
Have a Blessed Day!
Hi Phil
Just picked up your blog through another one!
I returned from my first ever retreat (at Stanton House in Oxfordshire) today.
I wasn’t sure quite what to expect (it was self led, but meals provided and there are staff to talk to and pray with if needed)so I took a few books on prayer and ‘living with Jesus’ to read with journalling ideas and questions at the back.
As it turned out, just to sit and ‘be’ was mostly what I did. There are some beautiful views around and about the grounds there.
Last night I spent some time in a small prayer room at the top of the house. Then I ended with doing some collage, drawing and sculptures in wire (all with my own equipment). It was so quiet that I jumped when an owl screeched just outside the window!
I will definately be going to Stanton again and am also looking for other retreat places to visit.
Praise God for such beautiful, peaceful places that are quite literally ‘out of this world’!
Thank you for visiting Jaki, and welcome!
It sounds like a wonderful, quiet, meditative time… Such a Blessing! We all could use more time to “Be Still” in His Presence.
Thank you so much for your comment… Hope to hear from you again!
Have a Blessed Day!