Time alone with God “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 We all go through times when we feel as if nothing is going our way, when our phones won't work, our friends are too busy to listen to us, our parents just don't get it, and our favorite shampoo runs out! Let me tell you one of my recent episodes with first world discontent. Last Wednesday, I came home to find that my internet was out and the customer service rep told me I had to either wait a week to get a new modem sent to me or I could pick it up at the Bellaire service center, as soon as she said that, my head started flooding with questions, no internet for tonight and possibly the next few days? They must be crazy!!! How am I supposed to get on Youtube, or stream my favorite tunes? What about Netflix, Amazon and Hulu? Like many of us the internet has become a staple in my life, almost as precious as running water. I am saturated with technology and convenience. In my house it is not unusual to have several devices running at the same time hooked to my Wifi. I decided I would wait and pick up the modem on my own since it would be faster. So after a grueling couple of days I marched down to the Bellaire service center and picked up a brand spanking new top of the line modem and rushed home only to find out that the internet WAS STILL NOT WORKING!!!! So It took all I had not to loose it and I “calmly scheduled an appointment with the Tech to fix my internet. Tuesday rolls around and I hurry back home from work and waited 2 Hours for the tech to show up... But he never did. By now my frustration was reaching epic proportions and I had to remind myself that I was a minister of the Gospel and thus I was not allowed to let this situation get the best of me. I must have called over 20 times in desperation. No matter how many times I threatened to cancel my service there was no way for the tech to come TODAY! Its at that moment that I felt utterly stupid and materialistic and that I had taken my eyes off of the fact that none of this mattered. Internet was not what I needed. What I needed was to get a grip on the fact that I was not in communion with my Father in heaven over this trivial matter. Yes I finally got it, this was a first word problem. I still had my family and plenty of food in the pantry but I had obsessed with the fact that I could not get my entertainment on for a week. The shame of what I had done washed over me but so did forgiveness from above. I am free from wanton addiction to a passing thing. The cross is the holy plant of God where I can get that fruit that always satisfies my soul and the fruit of the cross is JESUS. My internet was eventually restored, but this episode gave me time to reflect on my sense of entitlement and the heartache that ensues. --Marc How about you? Are you thankful for every circumstances? What are some of the “necessary” things you hold on to? How will being content change your life? Take some time and talk to God about your shortcomings Take some time and pray for the people in the world who don’t have what you have. Take some time and give thanks to the Lord.