Snoring

 
                                                    Snoring:

I recently attended a Pastor’s Prayer Retreat with about 30 other ministers.  We slept in large rooms filled with bunkbeds and as you might imagine there was some pretty raucous snoring during the night.  Even with ear plugs and noise cancelling headphones, it was hard to tune out the chain saw like racket.  Eventually, I fell asleep, but it wasn’t easy.

Sometimes I think that is our problem with God.  We can’t hear His voice because of all the noise around us.  Our brains won’t stop thinking about some problem.  Our mind keeps replaying some distressing conversation or reliving some painful moment.  We try not to worry, but we can’t stop dwelling on all the negative things that could happen.

The Psalmist gives us some sound advice in Psalm 46.  He says, “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10. Sometimes I need to remind myself that God is God.  In other words, nothing is beyond His power to accomplish and we are never outside of His care.  When we worry and fret we are carrying a burden God never intended for us to carry.  I love the way the apostle Peter says it in I Peter 5:7 “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Eventually, I drifted off to sleep by focusing my attention on prayer.  I decided to spend my time praying for people.  As I focused on needs and lifted them up in prayer the snoring faded into the background.  By the time I got to the “C’s” or “D’s” in my alphabetical list, I was gone.  Sorry if your name begins with “W”.  Next time, I’ll try to start praying from the end and work backwards.
 
Have a great week!
Pastor Barry
 
 P.S. DON'T FORGET: 
     Valentine Breakfast on Saturday Morning, February 10th at 9AM - everyone is invited, not just for couples.  Hope to see you there!

     Sunday Morning, February 11th-  Our El Salvador team will be sharing pictures and testimony from their December mission trip and answering your questions.  Free breakfast at 9:30 during Sunday school, courtesy of The Good News Grill.  Mason will be setting up breakfast a little differently for this special occasion.  Don't miss it!
 
 
If you would like to comment or if you have questions for Pastor Barry you may direct those to bglawson75@gmail.com.   We would love to hear from you.