I have learned something huge for me this week. I was listening to a Sermon of Dr. Charles Stanley  “Gods Stress Remover”. The sermons from this man of God, when put to practice in my life, have truly changed my life, and helped me to grow in my relationship with God. I was on a layover down in Brazil, when I finished listening. I decided right then that I was going to change how I listened to God. Dr. Stanley talked about picking a quiet spot to listen to God, which I have heard before, but he also talked about being in complete darkness along with the quiet. Well when you have so many thoughts going on in your head like I tend to have, you need all the help you can get. Then I remembered……….I packed my Bose headsets, which I rarely do, because frankly they take up too much room in my suitcase and when choosing between another pair of  flip flops….I tend to choose the shoes….yes I’m a girl…..Anyway I realize I have them, but I also realize what God is doing. So after arguing with myself, yes in my head, I decide to try what Dr. Stanley talked about. I opened the curtains of my room and start fishing around the panels for the big, thick blackout panel and …..there it is.  I see the beautiful beach of Rio De Janeiro. Oh dear Lord, why couldn’t I just hear from Dr. Stanley another time. You know, while I am somewhere not so, you know, tempting.  But, since I’m holding my Bose headsets in my hands, and I’ve already made this commitment, I shut the curtains.  I had left one small light on by the bed, so I started heading that way when, the phone rang.  I picked up the phone to hear our Purser on the trip Cecelia.  Hey Lori I’m going to head out to Ipenema for lunch, would you like to go.  I glance at the clock, it is 12 noon.  I have to eat right?  When she said Ipanema and lunch,  my stomach immediately started growling.   But somehow, I had decided that my commitment to God was more important, wow thank you Lord.  I said can we go at 1pm?  She quickly responded, that’s fine, I will do some things on the computer and meet you downstairs.  So I head toward the bed with my headsets, and prop myself up on the pillows.  I turn off the lights and put my headsets on and wait.  I can’t hear a thing, the Bose headsets really work.  The blackout curtains are also doing the trick.  So I wait……..”Be Still and Know That I Am God”  Psalms 46:10  I ask God, ” What do you want from me”?  Then the tears start, and I begin to talk to God.  I tell him all my worries, all my deepest most heartfelt fears.  Then he talks.  He calms my spirit in a way that only  HE can.  Only the  Most High God could make me feel so free….so loved. What he told me was very short, and very simple, but it is changing my life.  I can’t wait to share with you, just how GREAT my God is.  Blessings, Lori