“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Johnn 14:27

I really struggled with this wrapping my head around this one today. All of my life, I have felt peace near water. I grew up with a pond behind our house. I always found peace there…no matter the season.

As I got older, I broadened my horizons with new experiences. I put my toes in the Atlantic. I fell in love with the Pacific Ocean in LaJolla, CA. I spent so much time along the Mississippi River in college. Growing up near Chicago, Lake Michigan was always peaceful. Then I fell in love with Lake Superior. On a family vacation, I found such peace at Sylvan Lake in Custer, SD. I just love the feeling of being around water.

But, last night during our Lenten service… I felt that same peace. Maybe it was the opening song that put me in that peaceful mood. Kirby “played” the rainstick during the first song. He was so proud.

Again, I digress. Sorry. As hubby says, my brain is a bunch of ping pong balls going a mile a minute… now if only I could type that fast and stay on topic! 🙂

The part that melted my inside to pieces was after Pastor Max’s sermon. We sang “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” Well, everyone else sang. I swear I just sunk into the earth and was taken somewhere else momentarily.

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
that calls me from a world of care,
and bids me at my Father’s throne
make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
my soul has often found relief,
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
the joys I feel, the bliss I share
of those whose anxious spirits burn
with strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
where God my Savior shows his face,
and gladly take my station there,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
thy wings shall my petition bear
to him whose truth and faithfulness
engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since he bids me seek his face,
believe his word, and trust his grace,
I’ll cast on him my every care,
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

While everyone was singing, God was speaking to me. He told me what I needed to give up to Him this Lenten season. My eyes swelled with tears as I listened and realized all of the hurt and pain I have been carrying around for years. This hurt likes to sometimes sneak up into spaces in my mind and heart and just shred me. I looked over at everyone singing and realized God was right. It was time. My heart thanked God for the message and I grabbed a pencil to write out what I wanted to give up to God.

When the hymn was over, we processed up to the front and put our pieces of paper into a huge pot. Pastor Max lit it on fire and we watched as the swirls of smoke rose from the flames.

I felt so much at peace. The fact that when I went to church yesterday, I had planned on writing something totally different on my paper. But, God told me last night that it was time to let Him take care of me…

So, maybe it was the water at the beginning of the service… that was God’s cue to start listening… and by the end of the service I heard him. Loud and clear.

After worship, I went up to the pot to snap a picture of the messages we all gave to God last night. And as I snapped this picture, I thanked God once again for opening my heart to His peace.