shh...

 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.

1 Kings 19:11-13

This passage has been on my mind for the last few days.  I've been thinking about the Season... and Jesus... and His coming... and what people expected it to be...and how differently it all turned out.

expectations.

I've been thinking about how nice it would sometimes be to hear God's voice speak into my life like a powerful wind, an earthquake or a fire...but how it comes in a whisper.

soft.  still.

I've been thinking that it would be great if my shopping were finished and there were no parties to attend - do I sound like Scrooge now?  ...Just imagine if you had to intentionally carve out time to go to this-and-that festivity because you were so busy being still, listening for the voice of the LORD....

quiet and waiting.

And when the Voice comes, you cover your face because it is too much to bear and He tells you the way to go... and He tells you're growing and changing just like He hoped you'd be... and He tells you that He loves you...

then and now and always.

And then you've had Christmas - and it was the best one ever.