How do we get one's attention? If you're in a crowd of people and you need the attention of a specific person, you may call out their name loudly. Various noises get our attention quickly…sirens go off, they get out attention and tell us that there's an emergency. In school, bells ring to get our attention, telling us to go to class. We have all kinds of fun ring tones to get our attention when someone is calling us on our cell phones. My point is that noise gets our attention.

Not unlike you all, I daily find myself surrounded by all types of noise. After all, our world is a noisy place! It's a busy time here at Adventures In Missions. Our summer season full of training camps has begun. This week we had 2 camps overlapping. There's a constant flood of hundreds of people in and out of the base here. They gather to prepare, to be equipped and empowered, and to be sent out. It's busy, it's fun, it's exhausting, it's invigorating, and it's hectic at times.

Today was the first day in weeks that I've had absolutely nothing planned. This is a true Sabbath. This afternoon, I spent some time out on my balcony reading, spending time with the Lord and just being still. It's a cool spring day. The birds are chirping, the trees are in full bloom, and the squirrels are playing in the trees. It was refreshing to simply "be" in the stillness.

In the quiet of today, I sensed the Lord calling out to me. He's calling me to spend the day with Him…to intentionally "be" in His presence. I'm reminded of who He is and who I am in Him. I'm reminded of all that He's been teaching me in this season - a season of growth and learning. I'm reminded of all the good gifts He's given me - He loves to give his children good gifts. My heart is encouraged and empowered for what's to come. It's here I gain my strength.

How clever of the Lord…to use the quietness, not the noise, to catch my attention. That's just like him to switch my paradigm. Today, the absence of noise catches my attention more than the whirlwind of noise that has been surrounding me. Thank you Lord for using the quietness to catch my attention…for speaking to my heart. For the rest I find in You.

As refreshing as it is to stop and rest in God's presence, it's a wonder I don't do this more often.