Rainbows and Seagulls

So I mentioned that I have been trying to take time each morning to Be Still with God.  The first morning I did this, I stopped for just 5 minutes and it seemed to last forever.  But while staring at God's wonderous creation, I noticed the seagulls flying around and God brought to mind these verses:

Matthew 6:25-27

Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?

I felt then that God was reminding me that He has it all under control.  Even though I don't understand why it is taking so long for our house to sell, I know there is a reason - I just need to trust him.


Then another day on my way to work I stopped at a different location.  I was able to sit down and listen to the roar of the waves and watch the sun rise and then I noticed the footprints in the sand.  Just the night before, I had read this post from a good friend.  I have heard/read this poem a thousand times and it didn't really click with me that night.  But God brought this poem to my mind as I sat there that morning and He reminded me that He is with me/carrying me through this stormy time in my life. 

By the end of the week, five minutes wasn't enough.  I found myself wanting to stay longer (and I did for a few minutes).  I began to feel a little bit of worry float away and I started to relax.

Then this morning on the way to work, after a particularly rough start to my day, I turned the corner and saw this

Funny thing is, it hadn't rained that morning (that I knew of) but there it was.  I pulled over on the side of the road to take time to Be Still, but then realized I needed to make a phone call.  By the time I was done with my call (just a few short minutes) and I headed off to work, the rainbow was gone.

I had a similar experience back in 2004 which I blogged about here  That story also involved our home, so this rainbow was particularly meaningful to me.  

So, one lesson I am learning is that God will speak to me when I take time to Be Still.  Otherwise, I am in too much of a rush to hear what He has to say.  I'm hoping that this little routine will be something that I can stick with for a long time to come. 

P.S.  We have another offer on our house and are in negotiations.  Will you please pray that this one will go all the way to closing?