“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
- C. S. Lewis

  I have been thinking a lot recently about speaking with God and how God speaks to us. The bible has a lot to say on the subject, the most notable of which is the story of Elijah (1Kings 19:9-15). In this story three things are sent to Elijah: a mighty wind, an earthquake, and a fire but the Lord was not in them finally the Lord spoke in a still, small voice. This is a picture of how God speaks today he plays on the edges and speaks softly to the heart.

  I recently went to the beach with some friends and just hung out for the afternoon. There were no bibles around, we didn’t have a bible study, and nobody was having a “Christian Crisis”. The afternoon was in fact spent throwing Frisbees, footballs, and sand. Almost all of us, as well, spent the day getting the most out of the bright sun. It seams odd then that this would be the place that God chose to rejuvenate my spirit and just have some fun.

  We’ve all had days when we thought that God just wasn’t there or was too busy to take our calls. We sulk around and just hope that without doing anything we will just snap out of our slump. Of course we know that this is not true. Once pulled out of our slump we usually follow up with a week of ultimate closeness to God and his working in our lives. That day at the beach though I was granted one of lives real great pleasures, a personal one on one time with God. I don’t know if you have ever had one of these moments, but to describe it in words it is like the one true God of the universe, the God who is everywhere at once settles down and “hangs out” with just you. Like he releases his omnipresence and is contented to have a fellowship with only you.
 
  To continue the story, there I was just walking along picking up shells (ya I like shells) an I thought to myself I could score some major brownie points with a certain young lady if I made the statement that every time I come to the beach I write the date on a shell (which by the way would have been a lie). Well immediately what do I find but the perfect shell. I pick it up and decide I will do the lie get the points. At that moment a wave crashed right into my hand with the shells in it and nocks away my perfect shell. I tend to think that innocent things like that are “still small words” from God (in this case that I shouldn’t lie!!) This inspires me to do the right thing. With the decision to not lie behind me I turn around and get hit directly in the face with a wave. This simple act sends me into one of the most passionate fellowships with God I have ever had.

  What is worship? Is it singing or praying? The dictionary describes it as feeling an adoring reverence or regard. I am telling you now though that playing in the ocean and splashing around alone was worship on that day. The truth is that I was having a water fight with God, of course, God won, but in my defense I had nothing to fight back with and he had the entire ocean at his disposal. This worship rally lasted for ten minuets until my friends started asking what I was doing. After this I decided it was time for some worship in the traditional sense of the word. I took my I-pod, turned on some David Crowder, and prayed for the day and all the wonderful friends that God has given to me.

So to wrap up this little essay on God Speaking and Worship I think it would benefit to give you three words of wisdom.

1. If you ever find yourself on the receiving end of one of these one on one times with God make it last as long as possible
2. Look for God in everything and when you find Him give him all the worship you can muster
3. Always!! where Sun Screen if you are going to the beach for 6 hours.