Promises

Welcome Home!

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When we are praying and asking God for help it is a great comfort to know that He is not irritated or annoyed by our requests. We are not bothering him. He is not too busy doing something more important. In fact

1509619173182_image.jpgtoday’s scripture reminds us that in fact God is saying, “I’m so glad you came and asked!”

He is glad because when we ask our Father for help, we are recognizing Him as the one who can provide our needs. God is not a cheap skate. He is not a miser sitting on His throne counting the eternal gold of heaven. God is the biggest giver in the universe and is delighted to promise that we will receive.

God is happy when we seek. He sent stars for wise men, dreams to men like Joseph, and angels to women like Mary. He wants us to find what we are looking for. Jesus said that He was the way to the Father because He had come from heaven and He knew His way back home!

One afternoon when I was working as a salesman I arrived for an appointment with a customer who was expecting me. As I knocked on the door I heard loud barking and the sound of dogs running. In my mind I pictured Doberman Pincers lunging for my throat, so I grabbed onto a porch pillar and jumped up on the railing. As I nervously prepared to fend off the attack, two happy looking Golden retrievers came bounding around from the back of the house and up the stairs wagging their tails. Next, the front door opened to reveal a very surprised  and amused customer! That may be just a funny story but it is exactly the way many of us come to God. We are afraid of what might happen when we knock,. We are not sure what He will do with us and anything unexpected we regard as an impending attack. But God is not angry with us for coming. God is willing to give us all that we ask. He is waiting just inside the door ready to open if we will only knock!

The Middle of Things

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But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.  Matthew 14:24

As we reach the half way point of my wife’s chemotherapy the phrase – midst of the sea – is a pretty good description of where we are. “The midst of the sea” is that place where it is impossible to look back and see where we started, but not far enough along to see where we are going. “Has God not been with us every step of the way?” Oh Yes He has! – but there are days and hours that the endless horizon wears on our hopes.

At the monthly missions banquet I fell into conversation with one lady who had been involved in Christian broadcasts in China. She remarked to me that while the Bible is the best seller in the world each year, she wondered how many really read it. “Oh I read my Bible every day!” I exclaimed “”But that is because you are a pastor.” She replied. “Oh no it is the other way around.” I said. The Bible is my hope. That is what keeps me connected I need to read my Bible!”

I don’t know if she believed me but that conversation clarified in my own mind just where I am on my journey. The promises of God are much more precious now than at the beginnings of my faith. They are what keeps me from despair and guides me across that “midst of the sea” Jesus has left us His promises in His word. His word is a guardian angel – always present when we open its pages. It is the water of life when we long for a drop of cool water in the desert places of our hearts. It is the compass that points to the true north of God’s destination on the other side. Thank God that here in the midst of things He comes anSailboatd says, “Don’t be afraid, it is I !”