Hearing Jesus Above the Noise

I wrote this a year ago, but I wanted to reshare it as I prepare my heart for Easter amidst a lot of "noise" in this season of life.

 

Photo by Nancy Heath

 

Last night I had two dreams. In the first one I was driving around a desert area near Los Angeles and saw three worship services side by side: a Jewish service, a Muslim service, and a Greek Orthodox service. First, the Jewish leader put out a call to worship, then the Muslims, and then the Greek Orthodox began their service. It was almost impossible to distinguish one from the other since they were happening at the same time.

In the next dream, I was in Jerusalem at night with my husband. We were driving around the city and checking into our hotel. I could feel the excitement of being in that ancient city and wanting to walk the old streets and sites. I suddenly woke up (my son was crying for me in the other room) and had a brief vision of Jesus appearing in person in Jerusalem under an archway. I paused for a minute, taking in how incredible that would be to see! Then, the realization hit me that I miss out on Jesus almost daily.

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Every day, God wants to speak to me, to each of us. Even when I'm going through my mundane routine in my messy house with my active toddler and I'm half a world away from the Holy Land.

Unfortunately, I let my complaints and distractions become louder. I concern myself over the current trivial issue that is being kicked around on the social newsfeeds. During a free moment, I seek a break or an escape instead of connection.

How much have I missed?

I'm guilty of trying to do things out of my own power (which isn't much) and trying to see the big picture of my life and where I should direct it to go (which is like trying to navigate a foreign land blindfolded).

All that I am given is this day. Last week at Bible study I wrote down this quote from the teacher speaking about the book of Daniel, "We're in Babylon. We can concern ourselves with today and leave the rest to God."

So even though I am not anyone special and I'm not visiting any ancient landmarks anytime soon, I am trying to look for signs of Jesus in this day that I'm given even when everything around me feels so ordinary. God loves to show up in ordinary.

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: “Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.” (Matthew 11:25-25, MSG)

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out." (Romans 12:1-2a, MSG)