Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.
This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)
Just a word and a phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!
Today's word: silence
Are you comfortable or uncomfortable with silence?
Have you ever experienced the silence of God?
Do you think there's a purpose for His silence?
If so, what do you think it could be?
Let me know what you think!!
"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
Another great one Sharon! I am uncomfortable with silence at certain times, but I need silence at other times, if that makes sense. It is like when the kids went back to school after summer vacation; you enjoyed the silence of the house but yet you missed their "loudness".
ReplyDeleteFor 400 years God was silent from Malachi to John the Baptist, but of course to him, it could have just seemed like a day since he measures time differently than we measure time. I think there is a purpose to his silence, maybe for us to learn to wait expectantly and patiently while still honoring him by praising him and glorifying him and not giving up on him, but just waiting.....
which is hard I know.
I have experienced God's silence, I think I'm experiencing it now. But in the meantime, I'm just trying to live as how I think he wants me to live and to continue glorifying him the best I can.
(I have idea why vets are so expensive, but regular doctors are too, its just we rarely take out pet insurance, might have to consider that in the future; enjoy the weekend!)
betty
I had that little "quiet" experiment earlier in the year and really discovered how rare and almost impossible it is to have silence as long as your ears work.
ReplyDeleteThere is always SOMETHING breaking the silence, even if it is the tiniest noise. I think that sometimes that's the whole message behind what we think is God's silence. In his silence, he is still speaking, if that makes sense.
It's kind of like kinetic and potential energy. Both are energy, it's just that one is moving and the other is keeping itself from motion.
Rambling, I know... but for me, His silence is often the clearest word that I have.
I kind of feel like that these days.
Heavenly Father... You know me so well and so does Sharon (almost?)(lol). I am so uncomfortable with SILENCE! Yet Lord, there have been moments of silence that I completely treasure. I love Father how You speak/spoke through Your daughters, Sharon in her blogs this week and even in the comments of Debbie and Betty above and others throughout this week. We so need one another. I caught the word "rambling" in Debbie's comment Lord, and it made me think that I ramble because I am so uncomfortable with the "silence" (probably even in my prayers, though many are silent, many are out loud and LOUD, some soft).
ReplyDeleteHowever, the most devastating silence is from You! I believe that You allow silence for a reason. Many times I wonder about the silence and feel (there's that word again) that my prayers or words are bouncing off the ceiling...
I was given this word from a dear sister, before my 40 days of prayer began, "Be still". In my time of "being still", I wait for You. I wait expectantly to hear You. And then many times, I hear only the silence but realize that THAT too is You speaking. I think for me, You have the purpose of teaching me "to wait", "to soak", to learn patience, calmness and to rest in the valleys of repose. I have difficulty with this, and You know and have seen how I fail to stop and unwind. Empty my thoughts just to hear Yours.
I'm not sure why Lord but when You are silent, I desire to focus on You but I feel (again) that You have rejected me, turned Your back on me, yes, Lord, forsaken me... even though I know Your Word tells me You won't, I am left with this feeling. I run to Your Word. I run to some music that ministers Your love... and like a child I feel empty handed especially if I do not sense Your Presence. This causes me to examine my life, to look if there be any sin in me and this too can be a purpose. To rid myself of me.
Thank You for this reminder. Thank You for speaking in the silence. Thank You for breaking through the silence. Thank You for the joys in the silence. Thank You for the sorrows in the silence. Be quick to speak when I am lonely and felling desolate, because this is how I know I need to break free from the spirit of rejection.
This constant need of seeking to please others when I should only seek to please You. I cannot help Lord but remember a song from my high school days... we studied this and I guess this is what silence brings to mind... crying out... Lord, hear my heart not my words. I love You. I love my sisters in Christ that hear from You. I thank You for Sharon and her wisdom and deep thoughts. I thank You for being with Sharon this day to defend her and encourage her. Thank You that Sharon accepts me as I am and allows me to ramble... even in a prayer. May I learn to wait and trust. I believe that part of the silence not only is the wait and the chance for fruit to grow like patience but also to PREPARE US. Yes, Lord, prepare the way. Speak or be silent but never leave us.
May You be glorified in the silence! May I come to be comfortable in the silence. May I realize the gift of silence. I thank You Lord, for the gifts of hearing, sight, and speaking. I lift up the many who have never heard, never seen or never been able to speak that they find comfort and peace in their lack but this causes me to value my senses so much more. Thank You Lord!
Bless each one of these people and my sisters and brothers in Christ today and this weekend with a sweet sense of Your presence in the silence or in the noise, may we HEAR You!
I LOVE silence!! It is in those times that I feel closest to the Father. I can spend an entire day alone, with nothing on - no radio, no tv, no phone calls - and be totally happy and at peace, because it's just me and Him!
ReplyDeleteI love times of silence. I think of the verse, "Be still and know that I am God." I also remember how God spoke to Elijah in "a still small voice". The world can be so noisy. Periods of silence can help us better hear God's voice.
ReplyDeleteI used to be afraid of silence....had to keep moving....but now....it's okay. I like being silent outside in nature...maybe that's not total silence but it just reminds me....He's always there...Have a great weekend Sharon. ☺
ReplyDeleteI think the comfort level depends on the type and timing of the silence. The ''silent treatment'' is always annoying but the kind of sweet still silence God calls me to from time to time is precious. I've learned to appreciate that time so much more, especially now that both my boys are in school (LOL).
ReplyDeleteI believe I have experienced the ''silence of God'' both real and imagined. When it's real, I think there is a purpose to it. I believe those times are designed as faith builders, times to strengthen our ability to believe without seeing or sometimes even hearing. But I also believe that times like that are just God waiting on us to do the last thing He spoke to us about.
The ''imagined'' silence of God are those times when I allow myself to believe that God is withholding something from me or ignoring me all together. When I come to my senses and remember who He really is, I realize that it really isn't God being silent so much as it is me closing my ears to His voice.
I love these flame fanning Fridays! Always very thought provoking! Thanks Sharon! You are a blessing!
I like the silence...ALOT. I used to have to be constantly talking or doing something. It's taken alot of practice (12yrs) ...but now, I don't mind being still. God has been silent at times...or maybe it was me not fully hearing. I like what Melissa said about silence may be the Lord waiting on us to do the last thing He spoke to us about. Thanks Sharon, for fanning our flames.
ReplyDeleteJulie
Hi Sharon -
ReplyDeleteI tend to have things on but of late, our Lord has told me to have nothing on - to listen to Him in the silence. I find it sweet fellowship and communion with Him indeed.
Also, There is so much that Peggy said here that ministers to me...
I love being in silence while I'm having one on one with our Lord.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
Ginger
What wonderful responses! Thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteBetty - Enjoyed all your thoughts, and I especially liked how you said God's purpose for silence can be to teach us to wait expectantly and patiently while still honoring Him.
Debbie - Yes, such good thoughts. I like how you pointed out the two types of energy - and how God, even in His silence, is still speaking. I found that very comforting.
Peggy - My dear, dear friend. I hope that you will post this tremendously honest and powerful prayer sometime. It was beautiful. Yes Lord, teach me to rest in valleys of repose. Help me to appreciate the gift of silence.
Audrey - WELCOME! Thanks for stopping by! Yes, God sometimes speaks loudest in our silence. Don't you think we need to be still more often and just LISTEN to Him?!
Patti - WELCOME to you, too! Hope you visit again! I have to agree - this is a terribly noisy world. And it shouts its distractions, its temptations, its lies quite loudly. May we learn to quiet ourselves, and listen to the still, small voice.
Sarah - Thanks for sharing. I'm like you - getting better with silence. And I also enjoy the silence of nature. Sometimes when I'm sitting at a campfire, staring at the stars, I feel like God is right there next to me, whispering in the wind..."I AM here."
Melissa - Your comment was great - it was like a very thought-provoking and insightful post! You brought out so many facets of silence - and how God uses it. And you also pointed out that sometimes His silence can be imagined. I'm going to remember that one thought - is it really God being silent, or me just closing my ears to His Voice? Hmmm...
Julie - Thanks for your comment. I also liked what Melissa said about God waiting for US to act! I'm like you, learning how to enjoy silence, and to attune my heart to the quiet things God has to say to me.
Sandra - I confess that I still find silence a bit discomforting sometimes, because sometimes I just don't want to be alone with my thoughts. But if I take the silence and turn to the Lord in it, it is sweet fellowship indeed!
Ginger - One on one time with the Lord. Is there anything better? Even the quietest things He says, are still more powerful than anything else.
This was a great discussion today! You have all made me think!
GOD BLESS!
Sweet Sharon... I received this in an email today and immediately thought or remembered this blog of FAN THE FLAME... I think this should be a Friday meme and we should all write about this on our own blogs and link up to here... Of course, that is because I always say a mouthful... so when I return, would you mind me doing FAN THE FLAME on Fridays from whatever you share... let me know.
ReplyDeleteNow here is the prayer I got today in TGIF and no, that's not for "Thank God it's Friday"... it stands for Today God is First... that's what I use to do on my Fridays... before Freedom Friday.
Dear God, I feel like I have run into a wall. What is going on? Why can't I move forward? Are you trying to protect me from something ahead? Are you trying to teach me something? Are you working on something and the time is just not right? Maybe you are trying to teach me PATIENCE! Please help me to see your will and learn from life's lessons. Please encourage where I am, give me patience and wisdom, and motivate me to move in the direction you want, when you want. Thank you for being with me. In Jesus' name, amen.
Peggy - Thanks for stopping by. I heartily understand every word in your prayer. I am also asking God to reveal His will for me - and that He will uphold me and strengthen me as He is opening new doors of ministry. I don't want to take a step, unless He is directing my way.
ReplyDeleteAs for the meme - I'll send you an email with my thoughts on that. Give me a couple of days - just getting back in town from being gone to Arizona for five days (yes, I also just went to Chicago very recently!!) - I'm tuckered out!!
GOD BLESS!