Life's Little Frustrations

The beach is such a happy place--

The waves, the sand, the sun in your face.

But if you aren't careful a painful sight--

A sunburned body--will appear by night!

God's plan?

Matthew 14:28-29a, "'Lord, if it's you,' Peter replied, 'tell me to come to you on the water.' 'Come,' he said."

When Peter saw Jesus walking on the stormy sea, he asked Jesus' permission to join Him. Why didn't impulsive Peter just jump out of the boat and head toward Jesus? That would have been in character for him. But, before Peter got out of the boat, he was wise enough to be sure Jesus thought that was a good idea. We all need to discern, as Peter did, whether our intentions fit into God's plans or whether they are just foolish impulses on our part.

Have you ever quickly made decisions without praying about them and then, with trepidation, asked God to bless your plans? The statement, "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission," is not found in the Bible. God wants to submit His plans to us for our obedience, not have us submit our plans to Him hoping for His approval. We are to seek His permission, as Peter did, before we act rather than after the fact.

Father, may I follow Your plans and Your direction for my life rather than asking You to bless my plans and taking off in different directions without consulting You. You are the Lord of my life. My I be careful to submit to Your lordship at all times. Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

I crept into the kitchen in the quiet and the dark,

Reached for the cookie jar, and my hand hit the mark.

I opened the lid and felt all around inside.

"Oh, no! Someone's eaten the last cookie," I cried.

John 15:13

John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Memorial Day. A time for remembering. A time for being extremely grateful to those fine young men and women who have given their lives in order for us to enjoy freedom from oppression, freedom from slavery to dictators. We owe to many others the privileges we enjoy day by day.

As we remember and appreciate and celebrate our physical freedom, we might be reminded of our spiritual freedom as well. It was also purchased at the price of death, a painful and humiliating death on a Roman cross. There Jesus purchased our spiritual freedom from the oppression of sin, freedom from slavery to our natural lusts and inclinations. He has opened for us the privileges of prayer, of being empowered by the Holy Spirit, of God's presence with us always, and of an eternal future in a beautiful place which has been designed especially for the pleasure of our fellowship with God forever. May we also remember and appreciate and celebrate our spiritual freedom and those who have taught us about it this Memorial Day.

Life's Little Frustrations

When you're in a hurry and ready to go,

Why are your children always so slow?

They have no sense of time, feel no need to speed,

Regardless of how much you urge them and plead.