btw ... The Love Whisperer By Beth Foreman The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great a powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:11-13). Whispering is an effective way to communicate. According to a popular film it even works with animals. The Horse Whisperer is the story of a man who tames wild stallions and calms their troubled spirits with a gentle word. He relies on a whisper instead of a whip, a quiet word instead of a shout. And it seems to work, which is surprising in our society where noise gets our attention. Television commercials shout at us with loud colors and fast beats just so we won't turn away. Cell phones ring, pop artists scream and jets blast off. Do you remember when librarians used to say, "shush"? Today's libraries have a coffee shop atmosphere and whispers are rare. Think about it. Our society admires those who scream instead of whisper. Stockholders love it when the new CEO declares he will whip the management team into shape. Ever hear a football fan whisper at the quarterback? How does the coach get his team to win? How does mom get her kids to clean their rooms? Whispers? Shouting certainly gets our attention. Yet oftentimes a whisper is more effective. It's like a gentle breeze that lifts the ripples on a calm lake ever so slightly, just enough to refresh a tired soul. A whisper speaks gentleness, love, peace, patience, joy, goodness. I was blessed to have love whisperers for parents. Throughout their fifty plus years of marriage, they have managed to tame the wild beast that marriage can sometimes be—not with sharp words and vicious attacks, not with bitter stabs or biting insults, but, with whispers of encouragement, faith, love. They do this with kind words, home-cooked meals, a soft touch, a prayer. The Lord came in a gentle whisper. He was born in a manger. He calmed the seas. He wept. He healed. He prayed. And when He walked to the cross and died for you and me, He conquered our beastly natures—not with a whip but with a whisper. When He had received the drink, Jesus said, '"It is finished." With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit (John 19:30). Even now—especially now—He continues to whisper to us in His Word. Have you paused to hear His whispers today? Open your Bible and listen to ... The Love Whisperer. ... btw ... is the acronym for"by the Way (Jesus)." It sets the tone for the current issue.