Praying Where?

Do you have a favorite place to pray? Somewhere you can go and just be still before Jesus Christ? I think in our culture of rush, rush, rush, go, go, go, and get it done fast, we have forgotten how imperative it is to spend time with Christ. Just Christ. Not saying a prayer so others can hear, not having fellowship with other believers, not even witnessing to people who don't know Jesus, but just spending time with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Most people, whether they have a relationship with Jesus or not, look at me weird when I tell them where one of my favorite places to pray is the shower. That's right. Now you are making that face that so many others have made. When I thought about it, I wanted to determine why it is one of my favorite places to meet with the one true God.

1. It is secluded. I am all by myself in the shower. There is no one asking me questions, no one demanding that I do anything, no one talking to me. I am simply there with God.
2. It is quiet. Well, not like pin drop silence, there is the water running. However that water running drowns out any noise that is happening outside the walls of the shower. I can hear my thoughts. I can hear my God.
3. There are no video games in the shower. No computers. No tv. No books. No phones(or iPhones). No distractions.
4. Finally, I am naked before God. Ok, take a second and get the creepies out of your head. Now, I know what this sounds like, but the more I thought about it the more it makes sense. God doesn't see us the way we see each other. In fact, God doesn't see our clothes when He looks at us anyway. He doesn't see what we are driving or our house. God sees our heart. Being totally naked before God, being vulnerable, exposed, not hiding behind anything, is probably as close to us understanding how He sees us as we can get.

But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
-Matthew 6:6

So where do you pray? Where is your favorite place? I would love to hear it! (and I won't tell anyone. Trust me, I know the looks you can get...)

In Christ,
jon walton
jon@crossroadsnewport.com

Teachable Moments...

Now, this may come as a shock, but I truly love my son. No, really! In fact, often times he is the inspiration for this blog. Its true.
Yesterday morning as we were walking out the door, Isaiah presented me with a question that offered a wonderful teaching moment for him. Now, through the wonderful marvels of the internet, here is our conversation with his words in Green, mine in Blue.

"Why do we have to go places?"
"Well, I have to go to work, and you have to go to Mamaw's because you can't stay here by yourself."
"But why do you have to go to work, dad?"
"Well, I need to make money so you and mommy can have food, and clothes, and so we can pay for our house."

Now, this is where the conversation gets really interesting. You see, Isaiah had just recently asked for a Wii Game(Mario Kart Wii actually, very fun game). We told him he could ask for it for his birthday or Christmas, but it was just too much right now. Something I always look for is "teachable moments." Those little times when through experience I can help Isaiah learn. I saw this as one of those times. I told him if he wanted to do extra chores around the house and for his grandmother(mamaw) we would pay him for it. ($2 for laundry or dishes, small things like that). We explained that the money would be his and when he had saved enough, he could buy the game. The extra chores were completely optional, but were in excess of his regular chores. The awesome thing is he did it. He worked hard, saved his money and got the game. He understood that he had worked for the money to get the game. Now, back to the conversation. His next response was in reflection of this lesson.

"But dad, if you go to work and you work, that's your money."

Wow. Thank you Lord for another teachable moment with my son.

"Yes, I guess you're right son. But I give my money to you and mommy because I love you both."
He just stood there and looked at me a moment.
"Buddy, can you go to work and make money?"
"No, I'm too little."
"That's right, so if I didn't give my money to you, would you have food?"
"No."
"Clothes?"
"No."
"Toys?"
"No."
"I give you and mommy my money to get those things because I love you guys very much."
He looked up, smiled at me, and grabbed my leg hugging me. I knelt down and hugged him back.
"Thank you, daddy"

Are you showing others that you love them? Its more than words. Its more than saying it. Its giving them what belongs to you.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
-John 3:16

In Christ,
jon walton