I WANT MORE BEANS

Urgh...it's been forever since I have last written. I've moved again. I've been to some cool conferences. I am taking some awesome classes. I have hope that I am going to graduate. I've written a new song that I really like. But for now, the talk is of beans. Yes, beans.

A few weeks ago, I was helping my cousin babysit his niece and nephews. They are hilariously funny and always a joy. They got hungry and my cousin decided to start dinner for them. He made pork & beans and weiners - always a hit with the kiddos. He opened the can, doctored them up and served them. While the kiddos were eating, he noticed that everyone would probably still be hungry so he started another can of beans.

From the quickness in which the food was eaten he obviously didn't start the second can soon enough and soon we heard an emphatic voice from the high chair saying, "I want more beans!!!"

"Okay, littles," he said. "I'm making them for you and they will be ready in..."

"I want more beans!!!!!" she interrupted with a louder voice.

So then I tried to calm her by saying, " Littles, Uncle is making you some more beans, but first he has to...."

She glanced at me briefly before saying even louder, "I want more beans!!!!!"

No matter how much we tried to convince her that the beans would be ready soon, that we didn't want to give them to her cold, that they wouldn't taste good if Uncle didn't take some time to make them....It didn't matter the reason and she continued to shout with increased volume,

"I WANT MORE BEANS!!!!!!"

"Uggggghhh," my cousin moaned in annoyance. "I am trying to get them ready for her. Why does she think I am not going to give her more beans?...I started them before she even asked for more."

Soon the beans were ready and he put them on a plate for her. She cheerfully chomped them down and was satisfied.

Later that night I thought to myself, "That was so weird how Littles kept screaming about those beans."

God: You do the same thing.

Me: ummm...I don't remember yelling to You for more beans...

God: In your prayer life.

Me: [insert deep internal OUCH]

Matthew 7:7-11“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"

So many times I "pray" to God about the same things. "God I need you to do this," or "why hasn't THIS happened," or "don't you see that I need..."

And if I would just be still in His presence and listen, I would get an answer like, "You know I saw you needed that, so I am setting things up for you so when you receive it - it will be perfect," or, "That's not the best thing for you, but I have something better," or "I heard you and I am getting it ready for you - it's coming," or even, "My grace is enough."

Instead of beliveing that He is a good Father who has the best for me, I think He isn't attentive to me. And my prayers sound like, "I WANT MORE BEANS"

Lord, teach us how to pray. Give us grace to trust You more.
In Jesus Name
Amen