Listen to the Whispers

Well, here I am back in Elbert County, Colorado. For all that don't know it doesn't look like a desert, ahem, but it looks like a very hilly Kansas with a great view of the Rocky Mountains. Much different than Florida, which is hot, wet, and hot. I haven't seen a misquito since I got back to Colorado and probably wont for another three weeks. I live close enough to the mountains that I can still see the snow that is up there (some of it doesn't ever melt) and close enough to play up there year around.
It has been quiet around the house without the dog following me around...it is kinda sad not having the dog around, or the roomate around, the little brother (who is still in school), or even Naomi--to purr at me, attack me, and shove my orange juice off tables.
I made it through finals...some of them barely. I did do well on history, which is my major so I guess I can relax a bit. Now I just need to figure out what in the world I am doing next year. I am leaning towards Florida College, studying liberal arts (a lot of the details are in my last blog). I have been praying about it a lot and the signs are pointing there as far as I can see.
In bible class this past week we studied Elijah and his interactions--often not so friendly--with Ahab. In chapter 19 of I Kings we read the story about when Elijah is hiding in the cave and the Lord tells him to come out of the cave. Verses 11 through 13 tell how the Lord spoke to Elijah. First came a great wind that tore apart the mountains, then an earthquake, then fire...but the Lord was not in any of these three things. Then came a gentle whisper--which the Lord was in. This passage really started me thinking. We all mostly look for big signs in our lives for God to tell us where to go, or what to do. We often wait to change our ways until someone close to us(perhaps ourselves) is harmed or dies, or we hear touching stories about these things. When we start looking only for these things we become just like the people following Jesus in the New Testament. They saw signs and wonders all the time and still did not believe what he claimed. Before we condemn the people in the New Testament just because they needed to see him risen with the scars in his hands...consider what God has given us.
It seems like when we are making decisions we sit around and wait for something to come to us, we wait for an epiphany, or someone to slap us in the face and tell us what to do. I believe we would be much better off if, in our trials and indecisions we just pray to God. Perhaps he wont come thundering to us with an answer, but he will answer. I think we should just pray and listen for the whispers...whether God whispers or thunders, if we are really listening to him we will hear what he says.