Dangerous prayers and other stuff

One thing I've learned is that sometimes we don't pray big enough prayers.  I read a book about that called "Gangster Prayer" by Autumn Miles.  It's a good read if you're looking to add some meaning to your prayer life.  I don't say that lightly.  Sometimes the prayers we pray are too small and not bold enough.  One thing I've learned is that I don't pray prayers I don't expect God to answer.  I've done that, I think.  Prayed for someone and not really expected God to do the thing in the person's life.

I don't do that anymore.  My expectation is that God is going to answer prayers, even if that answer is no.  I have learned to accept God's no in my life, not as a spoiled child who didn't get his own way, but as a mature Christian that now understands that no sometimes is for my best good and the thing I asked for might not be in God's plan.  I've also come to understand that in God's time is the best way.  I learned that through a lot of angst over the timing of the house deals.  God's timing and His plans worked out great and I'm way more ready for retirement than I would have otherwise been.

And that leads me back to praying big, bold prayers.   And sometimes, the hardest words to pray are these:  "whatever it takes".  But sometimes, those are the only words left to pray for someone or a situation.  I started praying a "whatever it takes" prayer over someone in my life.  And when I did, a short time after I did, I kind of felt the Holy Spirit asking me if I was willing to do my part in "whatever it takes".  Whatever it was going to take required me to do whatever I had to.  

I understand that in God's plan of whatever it takes, it might take whatever from us as we join in God's plan of whatever it takes.  I just re-read that and yes, there's really no other way to say that, by the way. He also mentioned something about it being hard.

But then the right things to do usually are.

Today's next topic is about pride in stewardship.  Several years ago, I accidentally broke the pump on my pressure washer.  I kinda fixed it so it would work, but after cleaning the old swimming pool one last time earlier in the spring, I knew a replacement pump was going to have to be a priority.  Things like to turn green here in the PNW.  The deck was a lovely shade of dirt and green so I found a replacement pump and changed it out last night.  I didn't know what happened to the soap tip for it though, so I bought one at my new favorite store, the ACE hardware here in Coos Bay, along with some deck wash.  My plan was to pressure wash the house and deck to get the cobwebs off it.  That's when the bug guy showed up.

Pest control is a thing here, and homeboy showed up and sold me on a pest service.  I had a great guy in Ogden so I know the value of having them come once a quarter.  The guy cleaned all the bug webs off the house and then treated the outside so I won't get spider webs all over everything.  He literally knocked a spider off my shoulder as we were talking.  And yes, homeboy was a homeboy in reality and a graduate of Cottonwood High.  Sometimes the right things find you.  That meant I didn't need to wash the house. 

The thing that broke on the old pressure washer was the port where the soap hose attached to.  I was unsure where my soap thing was because it had been years since it broke off.  I went through some toolboxes in the garage and that's where I found the soap filter and the soap pressure washer tip.  No nylon hose, but I had the filter end thingie.  I was able to save myself some money by returning the soap tip I bought.  Four feet of hose was under $2.  The deck is clean.  Things are put away.  The railing was repaired a couple of weeks ago.  I serviced up the tiki torches the previous owners left, changed a light bulb on the back of the house, and spent just a bit of time enjoying the cool coastal evening.  

I thought about this as I sat outside listening to some music and the ocean roar:  I did a good job and was proud of the work I'd done, not only in cleaning the deck, but in the fact that I had saved the parts of the pressure washer I needed.  Replacing them would have been rather expensive.  I also was proud of myself for returning the thing I didn't need.  I dislike doing that, but I did it anyway.  And the pride I felt today wasn't pride in ownership, but pride in stewardship.

I didn't just go buy a new pressure washer.  I fixed mine.  I put things where I could find them when I looked for them.  Not only did I do that, but I put a few things back where they should go so I can find them again when I need them. I put everything away.  The deck is now much better than it was, the house looks way better without the cobwebs, and bugs are dealt with.  Things got taken care of today and I'm not proud of anything, other than being a good steward of what God has given me.

I can't take the credit for that by the way.  I see God's leading, His provision, and His blessing in helping me take care of what He's given me.  I understand too that pride wants recognition for a job well done.  Being a good steward recognizes that God expects us to do what we ought.  But I still think He smiles when we do it for His glory and our good.  If I'm faithful with taking care of what God has entrusted me with, it will be well with me.  

That includes things, people, and my part of "whatever it takes" prayers.