Quiet Whispers and Gentle Nudges

After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  ~ 1 Kings 19:12

God's voice isn't easy to hear.  He prefers quiet whispers over loud thunder.  He moves us in a similar way using gentle nudges rather than bulldozers.  We have two challenges.  The first is to hear God's voice.  And the second is to respond.  His voice is our compass.  His gentle nudge is our first step in our journey of a thousand steps.  I knew following God wasn't going to be easy.  The world is a noisy place filled with countless distractions.  Standing still isn't easy for me.  I want to see the entire treasure map but God likes to keep things hidden.  He works in mysterious ways.  Who knew God would send us a solution tucked away in a place far off where there was no electricity or bed to sleep in?

Jesus often spoke in quiet whispers and gentle nudges, just like his Father.  The blind could see him and the deaf could hear him.  Most couldn't understand him.  His stories seem simple on the surface yet they require much thought to decipher.  Jesus says "follow me."  Can you hear him?  If you're having trouble, try reading the Bible.  There's some great ideas in the New Testament.  If you slow down and let his message sink in, you may hear his voice as you turn the pages.  His words won't mean much unless you choose to respond and move in the direction of his voice.  It's like dancing the two-step – Quiet whisper, gentle nudge.  Quiet whisper, gentle nudge.  Don't worry.  Jesus won't step on your toes.  Have a great day.

New Week, New Life

This has been an exciting year so far.  I became an army dad in January and a novelist in March.  The calendar is filling up with graduations, weddings and a couple of vacations.  My mother is planning a visit in May.  Life is good.  The greatest joy is tied to what happened yesterday.  Our hometown church reopened after two months of renovations and we celebrated Easter in the front row with my wife's aunt.  The church was like new again.  The alleluias were back.  Members of the congregation were dressed in their Sunday best.  I thought about what Jesus said in his final hours, "Behold, I make all things new."

This is a new week.  We've been given new life.  The door to Heaven is wide open.  Jesus is calling out to us, "Follow me."  There is no greater title than to be called follower of Jesus.  No qualifications are needed to become a Christian.  Jesus doesn't call the qualified, he qualifies the called.  Follow Jesus.  He knows the way to a new life.  Have a great day and a great week.

Walk This Way

Imagine you're walking on the road to Emmaus with a friend.  You feel lost.  Your hope is dead.  There's nothing left to be joyful about.  Your spirits are down.  A stranger joins you on your journey out of town.  He's clueless about the sad news and you wonder how he could be so out of touch.

"Jesus is dead," you tell the stranger.

The stranger wants to know more so you keep the conversation going.  You're impressed with the stranger's ability to share his ideas about Old Testament Bible stories.  He opens your eyes to greater understanding and you decide it may be worthwhile to spend more time on your own in the Good Book.  It's getting late and the stranger wants to move on but you ask him to stay and break bread.  That's when it happens.  He reveals himself to you in the flesh.  He's alive.  It's Jesus!  The Risen One.  You feel a surge of electricity inside your own body.  You go outside and run.  You don't stop.  You can't wait to return to your loved ones and share how you found the Risen Lord on the road to Emmaus.  As you trace your steps back home, you realize something... Jesus was always with you every step of the way – you just didn't notice.  All you need to do today is open your eyes and see Jesus.  The tomb is empty.  He's alive.  Seek and you will find.  Happy Easter.

Passover, Easter Vigil and a Total Eclipse of the Moon

The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved. ~ Acts 2:20-21

This story is being written during the lunar eclipse this morning.  I'm fortunate to be west of the Mississippi where viewers will have the best vantage point to see the "blood moon."  It's amazing  how perfect this rare total eclipse of the moon fits into the Bible verse from the Acts of the Apostles.  Our Jewish brothers and sisters are celebrating Passover during the same time as our Easter Vigil.  All of the stars are in alignment.  Here is how Acts 2 begins:

In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams. ~ Acts 2:17

My gray hair on my head is now beginning to turn white.  This is evidence of my advancing years.  Perhaps I'm one of the old men in the Bible verse who will dream dreams.  My novel, "The Caveman in the Mirror," is about a man who has visions.  

My wife and I are headed outside to see the total eclipse of the moon.  Have a great day.  And don't forget to call on the name of the Lord.

Photo credit:  Shutterstock

Why Good Friday is Important

Today is the most crucial day in Heaven and on earth.  It's the day Jesus gave up his life for you and me.  His last words before dying on the Cross were, "it is finished."  This is where the hope of Easter begins.  It's beyond painted eggs and chocolate covered Easter Bunnies.  Today is about examining our faults and our flaws.  It's about sacrifice.  We fast to remember what Jesus did today so we can have a new beginning.

I don't have to look far to find the mistakes in my life.  Readers are reporting the blemishes in my novel.  "Don't worry," I tell them.  Print on demand allows me to fix the errors and do instant updates.  The other areas of my life aren't as easy to correct.  Like forgiving those who persecute me for my beliefs.  It's so easy to hate yet hard to love my enemies.  All I need to do today is remember how the One I follow handled difficult people.  He washed their feet.  He forgave them.  He died for them.  I'm going to let the meaning of Good Friday soak in today.  Thank you, Jesus.  I appreciate what you did today and I will never forget.

My Next Adventure – Hiring a Publicist

I met with my boss at my day job twenty-four hours before I released my first novel .  "I wrote a book," I told him at the start of my shift.  His face lit up, like a proud father and he peppered me with questions about the process.  At the end of the conversation he suggested I hire a publicist to promote my book.  His idea makes sense.  I'm so busy writing I don't really have time to promote my books properly.  Rather than reach out to unknown people, I'm turning to my base of blog readers and twitter followers for help.  I'm feeling inspired by the excellent results I obtained when I asked my FaceBook friends for assistance finding a graphic artist for The Caveman in the Mirror.  Elite Sports was just five miles from my own backyard.  Could my publicist be a neighbor next door?  I'm ready for the adventure to begin.

If you know someone with the right skill set to help me reach my marketing goals, please email me with the contact information.  Have a great day.

Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, What Day is it?

Let this be your warning.  Today is April Fool's Day.  Pay attention.  Keep your guard up.  I'm not going to add anything else because those who know me never take me seriously on April 1.  I'll see you tomorrow.  Have a great day.