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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: NOISE (05/03/18)
May I Stop The World…and get off?



Is it difficult to find peace and quiet from the noise of a busy day? So many demands on your time. Schedules that have to be met; upcoming church events, an overload at work, normal home life activities; children needing your attention, your spouse graciously trying to add a few more items to the already lengthy “Honey-Do List”. Some days feel like life is a roller coaster going out of control with no way of slowing down to get off. “Lord, please help me! I just want to say, 'Stop the world… and get off?’”



Do you ever get up way before daylight to enjoy some tranquility and to escape the noise and clatter? Once everyone in the house is up, there’s not much silence as the day is in motion. The noise of phones ringing, texts coming in, computers sounding their periodic alarms, as well as the hustle and bustle of everyone trying to ready themselves and rush out on time, can be a bit overwhelming.



“Please give me 30 minutes alone”, you keep repeating in your mind. Everyone please give me my own peace and quiet from all the noise and chaos. I just need for everyone to be quiet and leave me alone so I can gather my thoughts. Dear Lord, did You ever intend for our lives to be so busy? Oh, excuse me Lord, I already know that answer”.



As I sit quietly and open my Promise Book I search for golden nuggets to recite that will calm my spirit and help me refocus for the day ahead. “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. What a great place to start. “Thank You Lord for reminding me that You want me to BE STILL and remember that YOU ARE GOD!”



As I began to slowly breathe deep and think of how Jesus would want me to order my day, I wondered how He must have felt each day as folks often tugged at Him for His healing miracles or listened to His many hours of wise teaching. He too had to deal with crowds, lots of noise, physically having to walk just about everywhere He went. And besides that, He was not always welcomed everywhere He went.



Do you suppose there were times Jesus felt like stopping the world and getting off? Jesus dealt with human issues just as we do; being tired, sad, and frustrated. An amazing thought however, is that He could have stopped the world with no problem! I’m so thankful He didn’t give up on mankind. He loved us anyway. He didn’t allow noise and chaos to bother Him. He did as I too have learned; He got up way before dawn to find a solitary place to meet with His Father.



Putting things into perspective, I had to ask the Lord to please forgive me for complaining and feeling sorry for myself. After all, we are the ones who create our schedules and we too are responsible for the amount of noise we allow in our lives. “It’s time to turn off the noise and control the chaos,” I thought. If I feel like stopping the world and getting off, I have to realize I’ve allowed too many things in my life to crowd out what’s really important. “Thank You Lord for helping me know what I have to do to help myself!”
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This article has been read 523 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jody Day
05/10/18
Great inspiration to "get up a great while before day." I think we're supposed to avoid the use of the theme word, but I liked this piece. Would make a nice devotional or Bible Study.
C D Swanson 
05/11/18
Powerful message and well done!
Blessings~
Gerald Shuler
05/11/18
You show true writing talent in this piece. I encourage you to keep writing for the challenge and work your way up to Masters. About using the topic word in your writing... you are asked not to use the word as your TITLE but using the word in the body of your entry is fine. I always try not to over use the word in the body just so it will force me to get the topic theme across by using better word choices. But that is just my own way... it is not a rule.
Raymond Bouchoc
05/12/18
The way you start out sounds like my day! I like your title. I think sometimes we make ourselves so busy that we crowd God out of our lives. The reminder to be still and know He is God is a good reminder. Some re-prioritization may be in order for our lives.
Elaine Hemingway
05/12/18
An excellent piece with a great message. Well done and keep going!
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
05/14/18
You have a great sense of humor. When I read your first few paragraphs, I felt like I was hearing an infomercial. I could almost see the host on TV. I really thought it might have been a tongue-in-cheek story where what you were "selling" turns out to be totally free and you can receive an extra for a family member or friend--Jesus' Love! Because of your wonderful sense of humor and great way you have of expressing yourself, I'd encourage you to try something like that. I think it would come naturally for you and make your message even stronger. I also thoroughly enjoyed the second half as well. That would make a great devotional. I think you'd be great going in either direction, but might want to consider not merging both formats into one. This shows what a versatile writer you are. You did a great job of writing on topic. (It's fine to use the topic word, although some of the best pieces I've read were clearly on topic without ever using the topic word. I bet you could do that too because I see the talent you have.) Your words touched my heart and made me stop and think.
C D Swanson 
05/17/18
Congrats!
Blessings~
Jody Day
05/17/18
Congratulations!