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Prayer About ImpatiencePrayer About Impatience
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you this morning with a topic I’ve prayed about in the past, but my husband has asked me to pray for help once more. I am impatient—impatient enough so that it affects my life in many areas. Perhaps my impatience began as a child; I was raised in a family of eight, three of them grandparents. As the middle child, if I wanted to be heard, I needed to get things said quickly, take my opportunity, use it, and move on. It was then I developed the habit of completing others’ sentences. Should they pause for a moment, I jumped in and finished their thought.
Increasingly my entire day could be ruined by the experience of standing in a line. If I had a cart with only a few items and so I chose the line that said “20 Items or Less”, I was angry with someone whose cart was filled with far more than 20 items—30? Perhaps even 40? And what about those individuals who seem not to anticipate they would need to pay for their purchases. With apparent shock and surprise at the cashier’s total, they fumble in purses, struggle for check books or credit cards or cash—as if mostly people go through these lines without paying. I can feel the anger and impatience building up in me.
When I drive, those individuals who pass me are obviously reckless with their speed, while those who drive too slow are infuriating, forcing me to tell them so in various ways. Perhaps worse of all are the drivers who go the same speed I want to travel; their presence in front of me hampers my vision and annoys me greatly. I am impatient.
It is this same impatience that affects my relationship with you, Lord. Too often I pray with the answer I want and expect. I’ve made a choice; now make it happen That’s it. I have no time to listen to You, Lord. When I’m done, my prayer is ended. Time to move on to other things.
My relationships with others are affected as well. I shortchange myself regularly. What would I learn if I didn’t finish the sentences of others? What might they have said for themselves? I’ve never had the opportunity to learn from silence—I supply whatever I think needs to be said. Sometimes I wonder what it is I’m hurrying toward. Is it death?
And so I come to you, dear Father, asking for help. I need to live in the moment, to let life unfold at its own pace, without pushing and prodding and urging it to move faster. I tell myself that Jesus waited 30 years for His ministry to begin. Being impatient is a sin—I know that. I am attempting to create the world in my time, not accepting Yours. It is arrogant not to acknowledge the whole person, short-cutting what might be heard. The Bible makes it very clear that we should live in your time, Lord. I’m certain Mary might have preferred to give birth to her son at home rather than on a trip—in a manger? But the Bible makes it very clear “When the days were accomplished that she should be delivered”, she gave birth. Your days, Lord, not hers. When Mary was anxious about the wine at the wedding in Cana and asked Jesus to intercede, He made His feelings clear, “My time has not yet come”. In the fullness of time. Your time, not mine. Help me Lord to live in that fullness—help me live according to Corinthians 13:4—“Love is patient”. May I live in that love—in that patience. Amen
Hoping For God’s Gift Living in the LightHoping For God’s Gift Living in the Light
You ever ride down route 65 at night (The Apalachicola Forest)? Ever drive in pouring rain at night? Meet a bear?
We are not by nature nocturnal! How many animals can you name that are nocturnal? I can list 28! More common in Florida owl, fox, opossum. raccoon, mole, skunk, armadillo, wolf-coyote.
What about Christians as a species? This group Pawl describes as people who can live in the light with God;s Grace! Come to worship this Advent as we worship the Lord lighting candles of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy. All are marks of God’s Kingdom prophesied through Isaiah and the prophets! Are you ready to live in the light of the Lord? What an opportunity!
Blessings and Grace be with you,
Pastor Brian
LossLoss
A neighbor stopped by this morning with the sad news that there was a drowning yesterday on the island. High winds and rip tides made the gulf water dangerous. Apparently one person was in trouble, and another went out to assist but he was pulled into the waves and vanished. How terribly sad! What was obviously intended as a wonderful day of laughter and fun, of a picnic lunch and swimming turned into a day of tragedy and loss. In the midst of life we are in death—suddenly the hours are robbed of their joy, only grief and sadness left in their wake. We live in a broken world, a world where our human frailty Is most evident. I think of this family whose lives will change because of this day; I think too of God who grieves with them, whose love for the lost individual exceeds their own. My prayer, Lord, is for peace, comfort and strength in the days ahead. May those who mourn feel your presence; may they, even in the midst of their loss, find reasons to celebrate a life filled with joyful times. Only you, dear Lord, can bring them your peace and courage for the hours to come. Amen.