These are the Moments Monday

These are the moments.....I laugh out loud.

(This picture may be reenacted for the purpose of this blog post. But, no children were harmed in the process.)

The other day I was watching Cupcake Wars with my girls. We love to watch that show now that we have a cupcake business, but its a rare treat since it is on Sunday night when we normally have small group. Titus watched/played for awhile and then declared that he needed a drink. Well, life happened and the next thing I know I saw him walking down our hallway with his own drink. He had gotten into the bathroom, got down his sister's spray bottle (a key tool when you have curly hair), taken off the lid, and was helping himself to his own stale luke warm H2O. Yummy! It was really quite a hilarious sight.

It got me thinking though. How often do I ask God for something only to become impatient?Instead of waiting for him to bless me with something wonderful in His time I instead "get my own drink." And even though I'm drinking lukewarm spray bottle water at least I'm not waiting. Because being patient can be hard. Very hard. I am a resourceful person by nature. And in many ways its a great thing. It helps our family live on a tight budget. Its a work with what you have type attitude.

However, in my spiritual life it can get me into trouble. My friend Sheri and I call this, "helping God out." You need something. You ask. You trust. And then you work on a little side project to try and take care of the need in case God doesn't show up. You attempt to help him out just a bit just in case. You might end up with what you needed. But, you didn't learn more about our God the great provider instead you accidentally convinced yourself you can pull yourself up by your bootstraps and do it yourself. But, isn't that what we idolize in our culture the self made woman?

Even as I write this a part of me is thinking....but SOMETIMES you do need to do something. Maybe God won't send someone to buy your house without listing it, or a new job without applying for it, or needed finances without asking for it. See I have a long way to go.

But, I'm also trying to think of a single time I waited it out with the Lord he didn't come through. I think one of the biggest blessings in my entire life was one of the times I got it right. It was when I was in love with my best friend. I knew I REALLY wanted this guy in my life, but I also knew I wanted God to lead him to me. I wanted it to be Him and him not me. And even though others at times encouraged me to define our friendship I stubbornly waited it out with the Lord. Almost daily having to give it back to him. And one day when I LEAST expected it he showed up and asked me to be his (with my parent's blessing!). Yes, waiting on the Lord to provide is hard, but it is definitely good.

Lord, show me in my life where I am drinking luke warm tap water when you eagerly wait to give me refreshing living water.