Hang Out With The LORD

After work today I went out to shoot some free throws. I've gotten into basketball and play "21" frequently enough where I want to get my percentage up. So far its in the low 40s, so I need some work!

Anyway, the first 100 didn't go so well. I ended with 42 percent. Not worse than typical, but not stellar. I've been there for a while, and I don't like staying stagnant. But I responded badly to it. I was an Israelite grumbling in the desert. Never mind the thanks I should have been giving for the ability to go shoot baskets, the great place I work for that actually has several basketball courts for their employees, the fact I'm not overworked and have the time to go out, the nice day it was outside, and so on!

How stupid of me.

I started the next 100 with a different attitude. Praise the LORD for putting it on my heart to do so! Before each basket, I would say a little prayer for someone -- usually someone I wanted the LORD to reach out and help. The people of Haiti and Chile. Chelsea King's family. Kids in AWANA. My co-workers who don't know the LORD. And so on. I had to be careful I thought about each one -- too easy to just rattle off a list that doesn't mean anything, like a human prayer wheel.

Now I don't want to pitch what I'm about to say as a way to get the LORD to do what you want -- can't do it -- not saying that! But after 25 baskets, when some guys showed up to play, I was at 68 percent and just having a blessed and great time hanging out with the LORD shooting baskets. A lot better than going it on my own.

I know of a pastor who has done the same kind of thing while he's surfing. Just hanging out with the LORD on the water going around the world in prayer for the missionaries trying to share the gospel in many hostile places. A fine idea indeed!

Praise the LORD just for his presence in our lives! May we always want to be with him, in every little thing.

Grace and Peace