An ironic learning moment.

     My dad gave me this book not long ago and I am reading it in bits and pieces right now.  It's the kind of book that is good to read in chunks, and then chew on what you've read and allow it to sink in a bit.

     So this morning I was reading this book, "Prayer" while taking care of necessary business of the #2 persuasion, if you get my drift.  (On a side note, this is where I get a good majority of my reading done.)

      "We think that we must help God to fulfill our prayer.  But this has never been God's intention.  We are to pray.  God Himself will take care of the hearing and the fulfillment.  He needs no help from us for that."

     Now, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that earlier the author talks about our expectations in the answers of the prayers.  We often don't get an answer in the timing we expect or in the way we expect, which can cause us to lose faith or become frustrated with the whole process.

     So, this thought process is running through my head.  Since I am home with the kids, I have the reality of having to use the bathroom with the door open since I need to be aware that all is ok throughout the house.  This gives my boys plenty of opportunities to barge in and hand me toys to put together, complain about their sibling or make requests of me to get them something.  today, my youngest was asking me for "letter cookies"--one of their favorites.  I told him I wasn't able to, but would get him some soon enough.  So he happily walked out, but came back with the same request in seconds.  Again, I told him he'd have to wait.  He whined/asked again, and I answered his request again.

     "Honey, I know exactly what it is you want, but you are just gonna have to wait for Daddy."

     Then it dawned on me...and I chuckled.

      That's probably what God is saying to us a lot of the times that we pray.

Why Don't I Eat Better and More Often?

It's really hard to convince yourself to eat healthy.

     Well, at least it is for me a lot of the time.  Nutritious food just doesn't taste as good.  It's harder to prepare and harder to shop for.  Making a healthy meal is harder to shop for and to prepare.

     But when you finally get smart and start trying to eat healthier, you can tell right away.  Just last night we had Tilapia and green beans.  It was prepared with health in mind; not drenched in butter and creamy sauces.  And you know what, I could tell right away. 

     I said, "You know, we should eat healthier more often."

     I tend to have more energy and I am in a better mood after eating well.  And I know I am getting the vitamins that my body needs that I am sure I am low in.  I start to realize that the healthy foods can actually taste pretty darn good.

     So, with all of this being said, I think the same thinking can be used in spiritual life and the soul.  You start feeding it what it needs, and it feels better.  It fills what seems to have been lacking.  If I am able to start my day with reading a bit of the Bible, it sets my course for the day to think about things a little more in line with my spiritual walk.  I may pay more attention to my thoughts or actions and where they are in line with a God-focused life.  What's sad is how easy it is to veer off course.  To get involved in unimportant worldly things that so easily distract.  So I pop a vitamin and read a verse.  Or I'll plan a meal and pray.

     I'll try to be better and focus on Christ.  Because I know if I feed myself the right foods...I'll be better prepared to face the day.  And the more I eat healthy, the easier it is to get into the habit of eating the foods He wants us to eat.  He makes the ingredients.  I have to lean how to cook with them.
 

Danger Zone?

Mark 14: 32-40

 ^32-34They came to an area called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James, and John with him. He plunged into a sinkhole of dreadful agony. He told them, "I feel bad enough right now to die. Stay here and keep vigil with me." 

 ^35-36Going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out: "Papa, Father, you can—can't you?—get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want—what do you want?" 

 ^37-38He came back and found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, you went to sleep on me? Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire." 

^39-40He then went back and prayed the same prayer. Returning, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn't keep their eyes open, and they didn't have a plausible excuse. 


Heavy stuff.  I have been thingking for a bit about a couple of things from this text.  First,  I really wonder what the "dreadful agony" is he went through, and what the diciples were thinking while watching him.

Second, I wonder what Jesus meant when he tells them to stay alert to not enter the "danger zone".  What is this danger zone?

Third, I never realized he went back to pray the same prayer...the prayer asking god His will, but to take the cup away.

Heavy.