But beyond just a soul-satisfying, eye-popping, experience of the beauty of nature at its varied best, this holiday stands out as very special for me, because I heard whispers of love from the Creator of all that is beautiful in this world. The first whisper came on the very first morning as I sat facing the dawn of a new day on Gili Air island. Science tells us it's the earth's rotation that produces sun rises and sun sets every day all over the world . Science can explain in detail how each golden, pink or orange streak is formed by light refraction, reflection or whatever . Yet, no sun rise or sun set is ever the same. God doesn't talk about theories or explain the processes. He simply tells me, " See how beautiful are the works of My hands. So can I make you beautiful through all the sunrise and sunset seasons of your life." As it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9) 
And as if displaying the morning glory wasn't enough for me to ogle at, God hung a perfect moon in the night sky as the day closed on me sitting by the beach, caressed by the cool breeze and serenaded by the splashing waves. The moon-light shimmering a shiny path across the dark waters reminded me that light will always dispel all surrounding darkness. As Jesus declared, "I am the Light of the world, whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). That's love whisper no.2 for me to hang onto when surrounding darkness threatens to swallow me up. 
But it was whisper no.3 that blew me off my feet and brought tears to my eyes, as I waited to catch the sun-set the next evening, I heard His still small
voice whisper, "You are My beloved", recalling the poetry of Solomon's "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" (Song of Songs 6:3)
Is it really possible to hear God? How do you 'love' God, who is unseen? Heck, we even have trouble loving the people we see. I suspect my children (and lots of other folks) think I have grown into a religious nut-case. Too much church, too much Bible, or just plain too much God. Whatever, I am not that bothered anyway. I am too busy having the time of my life, falling in love with a God who first loved me so so much, He literally died for me and set me free to choose to love Him. Don't ask me about the logic of it all. Faith transcends logic. It's not a leap in the dark as some allege; it just means trusting the dark is not all there is when you choose to leap. It's not an 'emo' sentimental feeling, although emotion is definitely involved. We are emotional creatures after all.
God isn't my religious crutch; I am not lame, I don't need crutches. But I do need God, because He has made me aware not only of who and what I was and now am, even more who and what I can be, on earth and in heaven. That's what the perfect Lover does; He brings out the best in the beloved.
No other earthly love can compare, for it goes beyond the physical into the deepest realm of my spirit connecting to Him. It's more than a feeling; it's a 'knowing' that stirs my heart to bursting sometimes over the sheer joy of it all. This is freedom at its fullest. This is relationship, not religion. To think this joy unspeakable is made available to all who would just believe God and take Him at His word. How much we miss when we refuse to listen to His whispers. Someone once said, God speaks to all of us all the time, the problem is some of us are just plain hard of hearing.
I didn't go to Lombok to hear God, don't need to do that really. I went for lots of R&R and a fun time. I got all that and more than I expected from a God who is ever gracious to bless me with His best. Yep, my cup runneth over...
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake...Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever - Psalm 23: 1-3, 6
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