On Being Still Psalm 46 10-8-06

"On Begin Still" Psalm46 10-8-06

Can I invite you to a place today where we can think together?
There is a very important lesson in this scripture....

1. God is our refuge amd strength, he is always there to help in times of trouble.
2. Consequently we will not be afraid, though our nation totters and everything that we have trusted seems to be falling apart,
3. though the earth itself seems that it cannot support our lives
   Selah - peace - listen
4. There is a city that we can visit, a place of rest, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5. God is there, this city will not fall; for God himself will sustain her.
6. Nations are threatening and nations will fall; God lifts his voice and the earth melts.
7. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God ofmy father is our fortress
8. Come and see the works of the LORD, and be amazed at the power that he exerts over the earth.
9. He makes troubled times cease; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
10. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exaled in the earth.
11. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of our fathers is our strong fortress.
    Selah - peace - listen - rest\

Why do we need silence? Just look at the news
Amish children murdered...Why
Society is so confusing...painful
But...Amish people offer forgiveness and healing
Why...their life is not like ours
Their lives are not cluttered like ours...

Our noisy lives block out the presence of God
Be still...We don't know how to do this

We listen and wait for our turn to talk again

We tend to think that something is wrong with silence...that we must fill every moment with noise, music, activity, business...tv on, ipods

When was the last time you felt truly connected to your soul? In touch with the spiritual side of who you are

Without the ability to do this, what is the Christian life?

Are we in fact rushing from one thing to the next so much that we are missing life itself? Alive, but not living...

Who defines busy...What is too much?--What are the idols

I don't want to pick on you so lets just stay with church idols...church clutter

• We have 24 hour prayer vigils that exhaust the participants
• We rush to read the bible but do no listen for the meaning
• We rush to church, make list of what we will do later in the day and then rush on, having put in our nod for God
• We listen for 20 minutes in church and then go back to our life as before
• Were gonna have to quit church so we will have time for sports, lets quit church so that we can have time for our hobbies. Lets quit church because we need time to catch up from the exhausting pace that we have been keeping

Bball at Princeton...age 35...guy was good...play ball in high school? No. Why not. I was home schooled...Mennonited...no high school, no basketball, no shorts...Poor guy...
But, maybe we would all be better off if we deprived ourselves and our family members of some of what is on the schedule so that we could truly live.

Solitude is so important...I am reminded of a statement in the book...5 People That You Meet In Heaven...in Heaven you cannot talk when you first arrive...why?...it helps you to listen

Is it possible to think that our lives could include God...
Not talking...listening, standing in awe, enjoying

1Kings19
Elijah in cave...not in the wind, not in earthquake, nor fire...in the still small voice

What if you could hear the voice of Jesus speaking to you today---Statements of Jesus...listen to them...

• Come follow me
• Peace, be still
• All things are possible to him who believes
• Fear not, it is I
• Who do you say that I am
• Come unto me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest

Be still, be quiet, it is good

• In silence, our soul is up in front of God...no distractions...we aren't so comfortable with that
  
• In silence we can clear out a mental and spiritual place where the holy spirit can have room

How long does it take for your wheels to stop turning?

Rush past the glory
Folks on the bus in Yellowstone

Selah - listen, rest, reflect

Do you have dogs...the like of an American dog...no attention, kennel bound
do you deserve to have a god?
How about your loved ones...what do they get from you
How about God...what time are you giving him

Slow down, let God touch your soul...touch someone elses soul

enter into the life that truly is life

Conculsion
Ppt slide...something quiet, a nature scene...trees, sunlight, etc...