Jr High Prayer, And The Weather

Growing up, I always figured I'd learn my life lessons by listening to stories from people who have been alive long enough to learn lessons themselves, and generous enough to pass them on. I guess I always just thought of wise as synonymous with old. From the time I began thinking about starting a blog, I've come to realize that putting such expectations on things could cause me to pass up an opportunity to learn something. Over the past couple of years, I've gained wisdom from unexpected places; from people my age, to Jr High kids, to observing my own two young children. It's amazing to step back and see how much I've learned by just being open to the idea that anyone can teach me something. Recently, I was taught a lesson by a group of Jr High boys.

I am an adult leader at The Edge, the youth group at my church. One of my responsibilities at The Edge is to co-lead a small group of Jr High boys. I don't know why, but even after a few years of helping at The Edge, I'm still shocked by Jr High boys...especially when you mix in Jr High girls. I wonder, often times out loud, what in the world these kids are thinking. A couple of weeks ago, at the end of small group, I was taking prayer requests. Prayer requests from a group of about 15 Jr High boys is always interesting. I usually get some serious ones, but I always get the silly ones. "Pray that my gum keeps it's flavor forever." "Pray that so and so stops talking all the time." "Pray that it snows a lot tonight." It was that last one that got me. It nearly started a riot, right there in the middle of the small group time. Half of them wanting me to pray for snow, the other half wanting me to pray for no snow. During the yelling, I was trying to ponder how I was going to handle this request. Should I just say no, that both requests were dumb? But what if one of the kids that wants or doesn't want snow wants that for a reason more than for a selfish, school related reason? I did what I thought best, and prayed for the weather, that everyone would be content with whatever it does, and that everyone would stay safe. I was ok with the prayer, proud that I had an idea, but I guess a little nervous because I felt like I had dodged a bullet.

I don't know why I continued to think about the request and prayer past that moment, but for some reason I did. I was kind of taken aback, and reminded that I was them once. I remember being their age, immature, and praying for things as silly as snow. I actually remembered the time I prayed for snow. I could take you to the place that I prayed for it. At my grandma's house, looking out the window with my brother. Thinking about those days, and then thinking about my small group prayer, I was surprised to realize that the prayer for contentment and safety was probably one of the best prayers I've ever said.

Starting young, and over my life, I've prayed the snow prayer thousands of times, but substituted the word "snow" for other things. A new job, more money, love, a house, better grades, to feel better, etc...the list goes on and on and on and on. I was 14 and praying about love. What did I know about love??? Why would God give me that, when I know nothing about it? Even though I wanted those things, there were times that God knew I wasn't ready for them. Looking back, I realize that I often try to limit God. I pray for something, and any alternative doesn't seem to be enough. A "no" from God isn't just part of a plan, it's a "no, you don't need that." There are times that what God has planned for us, might not be what we want. In fact, there are times that what God has for us is what we don't want.

I'm not trying to say that praying for specific things is wrong. I will still pray for specific things, because I think it's ok to ask. What I have changed though is my expectations. Over the past few weeks, I've tried to be more aware of what I expect from God when I pray. There have been a few very specific things that Amy and I have been praying about lately, and while these things are things I want, the most I expect is what God has already promised.

Romans 8: 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

What else do we need? If you love God, know that He works in all things. That situation you're praying about? He's working in it. That desire you have? He's working on it. Whatever it is, know that God is working in it. It might not turn out like you expect or hope, but it's comforting to know that He's already there...working.

Please Use Other Door

When I was 16, my church youth group went to Youth America, a church camp, in Oklahoma City. It worked out that the rooms at the camp weren't finished and we somehow got a hotel and shuttle provided.  One night, after we got back from camp, several of us went downstairs for something. When we were going back up to our rooms, the competitive nature of one of my roommates and myself took over, and we began to race. I honestly couldn't tell you who won the race, but I remember bursting through the door, only to find ourselves standing in the middle of the room, looking at four strangers. It didn't take us long to realize our mistake. Our room was on the third floor, and we were currently standing in the room directly below ours, on the second floor. I'm sure the race to get out of that room was probably way more exciting than the race to get in.

This wasn't the first time, or last time I ever walked through the wrong door. Right around that same time, my best friend let me walk into and use a women's restroom. He thought it would be funny not to tell me. I must have really had to go, because I didn't pay any attention to the sign (or the fact that there weren't any urinals in the bathroom). Isn't that life though? It happens all the time that people walk through the wrong doors. I've walked through wrong hotel doors, wrong bathroom doors, wrong classroom doors, and even walked through a closed screen door once. Typically, those aren't the doors that hurt. In my life though, I have walked through doors that did. A door that lead to rebelion, a door that lead to hate, a door that lead to sexual sin, a door that lead to bad relationships, a door that lead to divorce, a door that lead to a feeling of failure, etc...all of those doors that lead to nowhere good.

When my friend and I ran through that door in the hotel, we made a mistake. We shifted our focus, lost sight of where we were going, and chose the wrong door. We shouldn't have. There are things outside of a hotel room that help you identify if you have the right room or not. They're called room numbers. We made a mistake and chose the wrong door, but the good news was, there was a way out.

I've heard the saying, when God closes one door, he opens another. I do believe that God opens doors, but at the same time, those aren't the ONLY doors available. Remember the old game show Let's Make A Deal? The host would bring out a couple of boxes, and one could be really big, and the other really small. The contestant would have to choose a box, and would get whatever was inside. Instinctually, we would probably want to choose the box the size of say...a NEW CAR, and leave the box the size of a rock. Sometimes it worked out, but I remember seeing an episode once where the contestant chose the big box, the one the size of the car, and it contained a farm animal, while the small box contained something of value. In the same way, while God is opening doors, Satan will try to fool us with doors of his own. We might think that whatever is through that door is fun or gratifying, but it might come at a cost. (Remember the door he presented to Eve?) The cost might be your marriage, your body, or your relationship with God. The good news though is, there is a way out!!

Whatever wrong door you've gone through, understand you are not stuck inside. You can get out. We've all walked through wrong doors, but God is there to help. 1 Corintians 10:13 msg "No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it." If you're stuck, get out. You can do it. Get on the right track, and talk to God before walking through the next open door.

I Want You To Want Me

This is a picture of me and my daughter Ella. It was taken about 7 months ago, and in it I can see the transition beginning to take place. What transition? It’s the transition from baby to toddler, from cuddly to discoverer, from loving to a girl playing “the game” better than any girl I ever dated or pursued. Over the past several months, Ella has become mobile, talkative, independent, and has changed her priorities. Today, her world is full of things that take up her time, and I rank last after mommy, food, toys, and Yo Gabba Gabba. During any time of the day, at any moment, in any place, this does not change. Getting her out of her carseat has even become a difficult task, because if it isn’t mommy doing it, she doesn’t want out. There are two things every day though, that help me keep my sanity (and faith that it’s just a phase). The first is when I come home from work. Her cheeky smile, big blue eyes, and pigtails come running in from another room yelling “Hi Dadda! Hi Dadda! Hi Dadda!” and it makes me smile. I do however know not to press my luck. I say “Hi Ella” back, but no hugging, kissing or picking her up. She’s happy I’m home, but I’m still lowest on the totem pole. The other is at bedtime. Amy and I sing her a song, pray with her and we each get a goodnight kiss. It’s the highlight of my night.

I know she’s young, and doesn’t understand yet, but I want her to grow up knowing just how much I love her. I am devoted to doing anything I can to give her love, peace, health, healing, wisdom, joy and happiness. She will need these things throughout her life, as life can be cruel. She’ll need extra love when she’s feeling alone, or after a broken heart. There will be times when she will need me to help her feel better if she’s sick. She’ll need me at times to bring happiness and joy in her life when she’s feeling down or sad. There will be times when she needs advice or wisdom about a tough decision. She’s still young, but someday she’ll realize that those are the things I do for her, because I’m her daddy, because she spends time with me, because she talks to me, and because I love her. Her age is a fine excuse as to why spending time with me is low on her current priorities. But what’s mine?

Right now, I have a God who loves me more than I could ever love Ella. A God who wants to give me more love, wisdom, peace, health, healing, joy, happiness, and blessings than I could ever give Ella. A God who is right there, waiting for me to put down the phone, computer, tv, or toys, and spend some time with Him. The thought of spending time with such a loving God should be enough, but if I desire to give my daughter all that I can, imagining a God wanting to do the same for me is overwhelming. God wants to pour into your life, (“more than you can imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams”-Eph 3:20 msg) but are you willing to take the time to invest in the relationship?

Last night I was thinking about the image created when I get home from work. I walk in the door and usually before I get a few steps in, Ella is there greeting me. Where is God right now in your life? Is he waiting patiently inside the door for you to spend time with him?  Are you already receiving the benefits of spending time with him? Or is he still outside the door, waiting for the invitation to come in?