No Begging

Apr9

There’s a difference between begging and persistent prayer. James 4:2 says we do not have because we do not ask God, but it goes on to say when we do ask, we ask with wrong motives.

When my kids come to me and ask nicely for something that is good (like a play date or extra broccoli), I’m much more likely to grant their desire than if they hound me with “please, please, please, please, please!” That’s annoying to me.

Prayer is a mystery that I don’t fully comprehend, but we’re directed to do it, and I’m pretty sure it’s more for our sake than God’s. I pray for other people, for health, for my children to follow hard after Him, for the salvation of friends and family; all of these are good things for which to pray. That red convertible Mustang? Not so much.

Want an example of a prayer to which God pays attention? See Matthew 6:9-13.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'”

Amen

Thankful today for:

172. still low humidity

173. trip preparations

174. chiropractors

175. leftovers

176. good books

177. nice pens

178. a wonderful Easter celebration

179. the chance to work with my husband for a week

180. the mountains

181. air travel

What’s So Good About It?

Apr6

Today is called Good Friday. When you think that it’s in commemoration of the day Someone died a violent, torturous death, you might wonder what’s so good about it. Here’s what I think:

The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom giving us free access, through Jesus, to God the Father. No more priests, no more animal sacrifices. When we want to talk to Him, we simply say the words.

My chains are gone; I’ve been set free. My God, My Savior has ransomed me. Amazing. (1 Thess. 1:10 “rescued us from wrath”)

I am no longer a slave to sin and death. Romans 8:1-4: Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

I am so, so, so loved “For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

‘Nuff said.

Hallelujah.

Thankful today for:

169. what will be a great gathering of friends at our house on Easter

170. freedom

171. new growth on rose bushes

Be a Blessing

Apr4

Yesterday, in what to me was a very simple gesture, I had the opportunity to be a blessing to two friends by 20120404-112624.jpg providing them with dinner at their office before they came to lead a Marriage Oneness group David and I attended. They’ve been working extremely hard on a huge event coming up next week, and they weren’t going to be able to go home before coming to lead us. I had a big container of leftover soup; they had a need for a meal. It was a simple blessing, but an encouragement to them.

Galatians 6:10 says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (NIV).
Going out for a meal? Be a blessing to your server by leaving a generous tip and a kind “thank you.”
At the grocery store? Speak kindly to the cashier. Engage them in conversation.
Know of a widow or single mom who needs work done around their house? Offer to help.
Being a blessing doesn’t need to be something huge; sometimes just a kind word is a blessing to someone who doesn’t hear such things very often.
Who can you bless today?
Thankful today for:
166. Jesus’ death on the cross for my sins
167. The encouragement of my students’ moms
168. My husband’s love for our kids

Settling for Second Best

Apr3

When David and I had lived in Orlando for a year, we began planning to purchase a house. We had gotten a feel for the area and knew approximately what area of town we wanted to be in, so we began the hunt.

We found a house that we liked pretty well. We put in an offer which was countered. We accepted the counter, if I remember correctly, and then began to figure out financing.

Well, long story short, what we thought was going to be a monetary gift from someone turned out to be the offer of a loan, and we knew we couldn’t swing it financially with the priorities we had. Our realtor tried to talk us into it, giving us all kinds of reasons why it would be good to make the sacrifices we would need to in order to make it work.

Thing is, we had been praying the whole time that if this wasn’t what God wanted for us, that He would make that clear. This seemed pretty clear. We could have pushed it and made it work–kind of like forcing a square peg into a round hole–but it never would have felt right.

Instead, we put the house hunt on hold and waited to see what God would do.

A couple of months later we were driving down the road we always traveled to get to work when we saw a construction trailer with a sign about new houses going into a brand new subdivision. The price range listed was within reason for us. We’d be able to build brand new and be in a new neighborhood with people all moving in at the same time as us. Boy, did this ever seem like an answer to prayer.

Preconstruction prices, close enough to the office that David could ride his bike, brand new house, large corner lot, something in common with all our neighbors, and a price we could afford.

All because we waited on God instead of pushing our own ignorant desires. We learned a big lesson in that season: Don’t settle for second best; wait for God’s clear provision.

Thankful today for:
163. Carrot juice
164. Rain
165. The smell of new construction