"Why A Rope, Son?"

After saying his nightly prayer, little Johnny said to his Dad, “I'll be right back.”

“Where are you going?” asked his Dad.

“To get a rope,” he quickly replied.

“Why a rope, Son?” he wondered.

“Well, Dad, you promised me that Jesus would answer my prayers. I asked him for a pony tonight and I need the rope to tie the pony to my bed when it comes.”

Now that's faith. Asking God for a pony and then running to get a rope. But that is what happens when we take God at His Word. Jesus said, “You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.”

Contained in the word “anything” is the word “everything.” And when Jesus made that statement He would have us to understand that our prayers are to be motivated by asking for things that have God’s best interest at heart. Certainly when we pray we are to ask for the desires of our hearts, but we must always place His will above our wants, His good above our greed and ask for His wisdom so that we can recognize the needs of His Kingdom first and foremost.

Is it wrong to ask God for a pony? Of course not. He created the little ponies and He wants us to enjoy all of His creation. But if spending time enjoying the pony causes us to stop reading the Bible, praying, worshiping, serving and obeying Him, we have the wrong priorities and we need to give up our “ponies”.

Prayer: Give us the boldness, Father, to pray sincerely, confidently, expectantly and with determination for those things that will honor You and enrich our lives. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:17-27

What's In Your Mouth?

Legend has it that in old Tibet whenever people met they would face each other, bend low and open both of their hands. This was done to let the other person know that they held no weapons.

Then they would straighten up, take a step back and open their mouths wide to let the other person know that their mouths contained no wicked words.

What would happen if we had a custom like that today? How would our world and our lives be different? Imagine what it would be like if we even entertained the idea that people could search our mouths for “wicked words.”

David wrote in a Psalm, “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and keep my lips sealed.” James wrote that “the tongue is a small thing but what enormous damage it can do.”

Someone said that the average person opens his mouth an average of 700 times a day to speak. That does not include the number of words, either. With the use of the cell phone today the number has no doubt increased!

We rarely consider the significance of the words that come out of our mouths until we see their results. Too often we speak first and then think. We need to turn the process around: think first and then speak.

Words, once spoken, can never be retrieved. They become part of eternity. We must use them to honor God.

Prayer: Lord, we ask that You fill our minds with Your thoughts, our hearts with Your love and our mouths with words that speak of Your grace, mercy and hope. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3

Which Hand?

“Grandma,” said little Josie, “did you know that God created the world with His left hand?”

“My goodness, Honey, wherever did you get that idea? What do you mean He used His left hand?” asked Grandma.
“The way I figure it,” she explained, “is that God had to use His left hand because Jesus was sitting on His right hand.”

Josie heard the story in Sunday school and in her childlike faith accepted its truth. How precious is a faith that believes. And although we may not know all of the details, God reveals Himself and His plan for His creation and His children, us, in His Word. But there is another thought we must remember when we think about where Jesus is.  His final words to His disciples were, “Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

What does it mean when He said, “I am with you?” Simply this: Jesus was with His disciples physically as He went about His work while on earth. After His resurrection He ascended into heaven. Now, He is with us through the work of the Holy Spirit. He knew there would be difficult days and trying times for His disciples then and now. So He gave His Word, “I am with you until the end.”

For those who accept Him as Savior there is no need to fear facing life alone. “I,” said Jesus, “am with you!”

Prayer: How blest we are, Father, to know that You are with us every moment of our lives. Give us a peace that comes from Your presence as we faithfully serve You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20

What Does It Take?

The founder of a successful company was being interviewed by a reporter from a large daily newspaper. His first question was, “What does it take to succeed?”

After a moment’s thought he replied, “The same thing it took to get started. A sense of urgency and excitement.”

That answer is certainly true if one wants to be successful in developing and managing a business. And it is also true if one wants to succeed in the Christian life.

No one has ever expressed this truth any more powerfully than the Apostle Paul. Hear him, “...I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: I am straining to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling me.”

God has one goal for everyone - that we will become like Christ! And if we choose to achieve that goal it will take all of our energies just as it took all of Paul’s energies.

Paul said that he focused on “this one thing” - this one goal. He had the mind and heart and focus of an athlete in training. And when athletes are in training, they set aside everything that is harmful or hurtful and anything that might distract them or destroy their commitment to their goal of victory.

The Christian formula for success must include urgency and excitement as well as dedication and focus.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to make those adjustments in our lives that are necessary if we want to be successful Christians. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: …I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

The Typewriter

C.L. Sholes enjoyed building things. He spent many hours alone trying to make life better through his inventions. One of his serious ambitions was to make a machine that would print his thoughts faster than he could write them. From this desire came the typewriter.

He worked on this “machine” for years. At the end of the Civil War he made an agreement with Remington and Sons to manufacture 1,000 typewriters. They were to sell for $125.00 each. But the people who bought them and the people who tried them out were not impressed. In fact, the company was about to go bankrupt in 1880.

Then one of their salesmen thought of the business community. He reasoned that if the people who wrote important letters could do it faster and neater it would make businesses more profitable. He was right! In six years nearly every business office that could afford a typewriter had a typewriter.

The Psalmist said, “Happy are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord.” Our God is the God of hope and help. What more is there?

Often we have what it takes to make a difference in our life and in the lives of others. We try but nothing happens. But when we offer whatever we have to God and ask Him to bless it for His good, we can count on His help and hope that He will reward us for our faithfulness.

Prayer: Lord, may we use every gift and talent You have given us to honor You. May the work of our hands and the desires of our hearts bring goodness to all. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God. Psalm 146:5