For the past week or two, God has really been challenging me to quiet myself before Him.  Just to sit back and listen, get away from the noise, and really hear Him.  The first day I sat back to listen, all I could hear was the noise surrounding me:  air conditioner blowing, cars outside, dogs barking, fans blowing, computer humming...  the more I tried to sit back and listen, the more I realized that, THIS WORLD IS LOUD!

    But that makes sense now, doesn't it?  God is in the quiet, but the world tries to shut Him out, and it is so easy to allow it to, we allow ourselves to listen to the noise instead of seeking the quiet behind it.

 

    Now, I'm sure most people have heard someone talking about everyone walking around with iPods in their ears in their own little worlds, right?  And they tend to look at that negatively.  I can agree, to some extent.  But I've seen it from another side as well.  I see it as that being the way we are to live our lives for God (well, kind of, see if you can follow with).  We are "are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (John 17:16).  And the common phrase, "In the world but not of it."  We need to be physically in the world, but able to not let the things of this life distract us.  Our focus needs to be on God and God alone, like someone in their own world listening to their iPod listening to that and that alone.  If we are following God, we are sure to not be lost. 

    Okay, I think this is the most random post I've ever put up, I hope it's easy enough to follow.  I have just had a lot on my mind lately!  I know there was more too, but I'll think of that later!

     Oh, and the countdown is to 2 weeks today!!!

     Ah!  One last thing!  I just wanted to make sure everyone understands because I may not have been completely clear.  September 8th we leave for training camp.  We will be in Georgia for 2 weeks before we fly out, as a team, to Africa the following week, September 15th.  Wow, it's coming so quickly now...