"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." (1
Kings 19:11b-12 NIV).
I was
so pleased with my flower baskets and how they were coming along. The
vibrant colours brightened up the front and side of the house so nicely.
And although I had somewhat begrudged the money they had cost me, I was
delighted with the end result. So you can imagine my shock and dismay
when I went out to hop into my van the other day and discovered that I
had not a flower left!
Everyone one of my baskets of glorious
blooms had been chomped down to within an inch of their lives. I felt
the beginnings of smoke smoldering in both of my ears as I concluded
what had happened. Those ungrateful, mischievous goats just couldn't be
satisfied with grazing on the abundance of wildflowers, green leaves and
other munchies on the property. No, they had to partake of my specially
purchased and lovingly tended flower baskets.
My day, which had
begun so well, now felt ruined by the goats' munching and crunching
antics. I felt so angry, so very, very angry. So angry in fact I began
contemplating throwing a neighbourhood BBQ, and I'm sure you can guess
what the main course would include.
And then God's soft whisper
within my mind, reminded me that they were only flowers and that the
goats had only done what goats had been created to do, so why was I so
angry? And furthermore, if I cared to look around I would literally see
thousands of flowers on my property. Pink wild Roses and deep purple
Lupine, glowing sunny Arnica, tiny delicate Blue Bells and a dainty
white and lavender species I have yet to name, all of which not only
didn't need any care from me, they had not even cost me one single, hard
earned penny.
His gentle, quiet voice within my thoughts, and my
choice to embrace His truth, with praise and thanksgiving for the bounty
which lay right there at my doorstep, diffused my anger causing my
"ruined" day, to once again become the great day He had created.
Today, perhaps you too, might end up with a disappointment or event
which threatens to turn God's good day into a bad one. If so, take a
moment and listen for the whisper: His still, small, quiet voice within
you, which has the ability to reveal a different view of the situation,
a view which has the power to turn the negative into a positive.
Prayer: Father God, thank you that your insight into the events of our
lives be they large or small is always a positive one for it is always
truth. Open the ears of our hearts to be attentive to your whisper, your
still, small quiet voice which has the power to turn the ruined into the
glorious. In the wonderful name of Jesus we pray. Amen.'
Lynne Phipps
Atlin, B.C.
