In the movie Evan Almighty, God (expertly played by Mr. Morgan Freeman) says to Evan, "Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does He give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does He give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for their family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does He give them opportunities to love each other?"

I absolutely LOVE this quote, because it presents the questions (and answers) that I personally struggle with most. Often I feel like the bratty bored child in the back seat of this journey of life screaming at my Father, "Are we there yet?!!" wishing to get to my destination, for my journey's purpose to be revealed. But it's about having PATIENCE with God and the understanding that we usually aren't given what we ask for, but we're always given the opportunities for exactly what we need. I just hope I'm ready...

Thursday, March 15, 2012

I must be present in the Lord's gifts.

Lately, I've been asking the Lord for a lot and have been trying to pursue Him, but I'm realizing more and more that I need to be more grateful for where I'm at. I have a tendency (as the title of this blog suggests) to want to push past the present to reach some greater purpose or experience in the future. This is disrespectful towards the Lord, because He gives us each day here on Earth to use it wisely. It's a gift, and as the saying goes, "there's a reason they call today 'the present.'"

The Lord is present with us...
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. - Psalms 46:1

So then why can't I be present with Him and His gifts every day?

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. - 2 Corinthians 5:8

I've trying to push myself to be more grateful for where I'm at, and to express gratitude and praise for Him in every day. It helps me to be more present in the joy found in the little things He does for me each and every day. I'm going to write down 10 things everyday that I am grateful for, gifts from the Lord that may or may not be small, but that are not less gifts.

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