The difference between a 2 x 4

You may have heard of the Horse Whisperer who softens roaring stallions with a soft voice. But have you heard of the mule trainer who begins with a 2 x 4? Seeing his mule knocked to the ground, a concerned owner screamed, "Hey, you're supposed to train my donkey, not kill it!" "Don't worry," he was assured, "first I must get that mule's complete and undivided attention." In my experience, God uses both ways, depending on the mule.Take Elijah. When Jezebel put a price on his head, the prophet sank into depression. He wanted to die. The Lord led him up "the mountain of God," the same where Israel got the 10 commandments amid smoke and thunder. God gets Elijah's attention first with a strong, rock-crushing wind. Next the prophet feels the earth shaking beneath him, then comes flaming fire. But the Lord was not in wind, earthquake or fire. "But after the fire, there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak." God was speaking to him. I believe something like this was happening on Calvary. God got the world's attention with raw violence, the Roman Crucifixion. But listen to the soft voice beneath hammer and blood: “I love you, I want you for my own.”

On the road to Damascus, Saul is on a mission to imprison Christians. A light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground, hearing a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you sir?” The reply: “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:9 says: “For three days Saul was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.” Having his complete and undivided attention, God now sends Ananias to the house where Saul is staying. Ananias lays hands on the former Pharisee and baptizes him. Scales fall from Saul’s eyes, he can see; he eats and regains his strength.
A discouraged fisherman named Peter has fished all night without catching even 1 shrimp. Jesus, who has been teaching from Peter’s boat, asks him to put out into the deep and lower his nets one more time. Feeling it an utter waste, Peter nevertheless obeys. The nets come up with so many fish, both boats are filled to the point of sinking. (Luke 5:7) Peter falls down at Jesus’ feet: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” But by now God has his undivided attention. Hearing Jesus’ tiny whispering sound: "Come follow me," this fisherman and some companions as well, park their boats and leave everything to become apostles of the Lord.

In her mid 40's, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. After losing one breast and learning her cancer was spreading, she became downhearted, discouraged. Knowing her background, her doctor took her by both shoulders, looked into her eyes and with a little shake, asked, "Where is your faith?!" Hiding her face in her cloak, momma began listening for "that tiny whispering sound." She never looked back. Dying at age 47, but strong in faith, she had just needed one swat with God's 2 x 4. Myself, I needed a really big one before I "hid my face in my cloak." What's the difference between a 2 x 4? If at even the sight of one coming our way, we would begin listening for that "tiny whispering sound," pretty soon 2 x 4's would be obsolete. -- Brother Caedfile