1. Why is silence so hard to deal with?

2. Why is silence so hard to deal with?

3. 183 million people are exposed to noise levels labeled as excessive by the Environmental Protection Agency.

4. 183 million people are exposed to noise levels labeled as excessive by the Environmental Protection Agency.

5. Do you have a smart phone with email, and an untold number of music options
to listen to?

6. Do you have a smart phone with email, and an untold number of music options
to listen to?

7. Do you have a smart phone with email, and an untold number of music options
to listen to?

8. Do you have a TV?

9. Do you have more than one TV?

10. Do you have a radio or other device on all day?
 On at work? In the car? At home?

11. Do you have a radio or other device on all day?
 On at work? In the car? At home?

12. Do you have a radio or other device on all day?
 On at work? In the car? At home?

13. Do you have a radio or other device on all day?
 On at work? In the car? At home?

14. Is there such a thing as visual noise?

15. Is there such a thing as visual noise?

16. Do you wish there were more commercials?

17. Do you wish there were more
billboards?

18. Do we have enough strip malls yet?

19. Do you feel that sometimes God is distant?

20. Do you feel that sometimes God is distant?

21. Do you wish that God’s voice would be louder in your life?

22. Is there a connection with the amount of noise in our lives
and our inability to hear God?

23. Is there a connection with the amount of noise in our lives
and our inability to hear God?

24. Is there a connection with the amount of noise in our lives
and our inability to hear God?

25. Most new vehicles now come with separate CD and DVD systems
for the back seats.

26. You can buy wired clothing now.
Coats and jackets equipped with everything you need to stay ‘plugged in’.

27. You can buy wired clothing now.
Coats and jackets equipped with everything you need to stay ‘plugged in’.

28. Make yourself comfortable in your chair,
take a deep breath,
and really read the following…

29. Make yourself comfortable in your chair,
take a deep breath,
and really read the following…

30. Make yourself comfortable in your chair,
take a deep breath,
and carefully read the following…

31. You have now become the people of the Lord your God’.”
“Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, ‘Be silent, Israel, and listen!
You have now become the people
of the Lord your God’.”
Deuteronomy 27:9

32. You have now become the people of the Lord your God’.”
“Then Moses and the Levitical priests said to all Israel, ‘Be silent, Israel, and listen!
You have now become the people
of the Lord your God’.”
Deuteronomy 27:9

33. “Tremble and do not sin;     when you are on your beds,     search your hearts and be silent.”
Psalm 4:4

34. “Tremble and do not sin;     when you are on your beds,     search your hearts and be silent.”
Psalm 4:4

35. “Tremble and do not sin;     when you are on your beds,     search your hearts and be silent.”
Psalm 4:4

36. “Tremble and do not sin;     when you are on your beds,     search your hearts and be silent.”
Psalm 4:4

37. “The Lord is in His holy temple;     let all the earth be silent before Him.”
Habakkuk 2:20

38. “The Lord is in His holy temple;     let all the earth be silent before Him.”
Habakkuk 2:20

39. “The Lord is in His holy temple;     let all the earth be silent before Him.”
Habakkuk 2:20

40. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
- Jesus in Matthew 11

41. If I am not still, and if I don’t listen
how is Jesus going to give me rest?

42. If I am not still, and if I don’t listen
how is Jesus going to give me rest?

43. If I am not still, and if I don’t listen
how is Jesus going to give me rest?

44. Have you spent the same amount of time worrying and talking
about your difficult, confusing situations
as you have spent in silence, listening
to what God might have to say?

45. Have you spent the same amount of time worrying and talking
about your difficult, confusing situations
as you have spent in silence, listening
to what God might have to say?

46. “But He would withdraw
to desolate places
and pray.”
Luke 5:16

47. These were regular disciplines that Jesus had.
Silence. Solitude.

48. These were regular disciplines that Jesus had.
Silence. Solitude.

49. These were regular disciplines that Jesus had.
Silence. Solitude.

50. What is it about silence
that is so difficult?

51. What is it about silence
that is so awkward?

52. What is it about silence
that is so awkward?

53. Why is it easier to surround myself with noise and to keep moving
than to stop, be silent, and listen?

54. Why is it easier to surround myself with noise and to keep moving
than to stop, be silent, and listen?

55. Why is it easier to surround myself with noise and to keep moving
than to stop, be silent, and listen?

56. Why is it easier to surround myself with noise and to keep moving
than to stop, be silent, and listen?

57. How much noise do I subject myself to?

58. Does my schedule, my time, my life look like that of a person
who wants to hear God’s voice?

59. Does my schedule, my time, my life look like that of a person
who wants to hear God’s voice?

60. Maybe the healing and guidance we desperately need
is not going to come from one more meeting or therapy session?

61. or self-help book?

62. or Dr. Phil?

63. or Dear Abby?

64. or Oprah?

65. or the latest talking head or celebrity?

66. or from any other person or thing?

67. but from simply listening
for the voice of God
and taking the time
to read the Word of God?

68. but from simply listening
for the voice of God
and taking the time
to read the Word of God?

69. but from simply listening
for the voice of God
and taking the time
to read the Word of God?

70. Do we really think that God’s voice
is more important
than the noise around us?

71. Do we really think that God’s voice
is more important
than the noise around us?

72. Is it possible we’ve been searching for God in the winds…
the earthquakes, and the fires ?

73. Is it possible we’ve been searching for God in the winds…
the earthquakes, and the fires ?

74. Is it possible we’ve been searching for God in the winds…
the earthquakes, and the fires ?

75. Is it possible we’ve been searching for God in the winds…
the earthquakes, and the fires ?

76. And He’s been there all along, ready to speak to us
in the Quiet Times?

77. And He’s been there all along, ready to speak to us…
in the Quiet Times?

78. And He’s been there all along, ready to speak to us…
in the Quiet Times?

79. And He’s been there all along, ready to speak to us
in the Quiet Times?

80. And He’s been there all along, ready to speak to us
in the Quiet Times?