Bucket of Rocks

By Michelle Lim –

Have you ever tried serving your children a bucket of rocks for supper? Me neither. If we did, there would be a major coup.

Why? Because they come to the table expecting a delicious dinner. The kind of dinner only you can make.

We often go to prayer with the same kind of expectations. We want something amazing from God. We even know just what that is, or so we think.

Let’s take a look at what Jesus said in Matthew 7.

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:9-11 NIV)

A year ago I was praying for something that I thought was the best thing for me. God didn’t think so. I read this verse in my devotions and felt rejected. I asked God why when I prayed I only got a bucket full of rocks.

In that prayer time, God showed me something that has changed my view on prayer. You see, I thought I was hungry for a certain thing. . . bread. But if God gave me what I thought that bread was, it wouldn’t feed my hunger.

My real hunger was for more of God in my life. He would feed my real hunger.

It’s like my kids asking for candy for dinner. They might get full, but it wouldn’t feed their need for nourishment. The vitamins and nutrients needed for healthy living.

When I go to God in prayer, He will always feed my real hunger if I ask. There are times when what I ask for really is bread, but often it isn’t what I really hunger for.

Have you thought about what you are really hungry for? Do you blame God when you don’t get what you pray for? Maybe it’s time to stop asking for a bucket full of rocks and believe that God will feed your real hunger.

QUOTE: “God answers first the prayers we should have prayed. ~Robert Brault

Using What You Have

By Jarrod Spencer –

I love, love, love being able to do things that I am talented in and passionate about. I tend to put a lot of mental time on things that would fall into that category. Sometimes it is my sermon, sometimes an art project, or sometimes it is a speaking project. All these things I love to do and when I get an itch for an idea, I just run with it.

The above areas are some of the things that I have been blessed with talent and competency, to various degrees. One of the running themes in all of the areas are creativity. I like to be creative.

Another thing I like about spending my time doing anything that would fall into those categories is that it generally benefits others. I believe that when we are doing things that will benefit someone, in the end, it is definitely worth the time spent.

On the contrary, if you are doing something that doesn’t benefit others then it may not be worth the time spent. There are very few tasks that cannot be used to benefit others. Helping someone out makes me feel good and think my talents are worthwhile.

We all have things we like to do which can benefit others. What is it that you can do? Can you help someone move, cook/bake, crochet, cross-stitch, draw, paint, carpentry, tutor, etc.?

Whatever you have, use it…so that it may benefit others and glorify God!

PRAYER: Father, thank You for giving me the talents that I have. There have been many open doors to use these talents, especially when I offer them to others rather than keeping them back for myself. You have opened door after door to let me use my talents. I can see how not burying the talents helps to multiply them.

“After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more’” (Matthew 25:19-20 NIV).

Be a Stand-out Believer

Carin LeRoy –

While in a college, I had a friend that caused a stir every time she would sneeze. Rather than let loose like the rest of us with a big hearty “Ah-Choo,” she’d suppress hers so that it stopped before it made it past her lips. All you’d hear was a squeaky sound cut short in the back of her throat. We’d all stop and take notice when my friend would sneeze. I worried she was going to burst some blood vessel in her head, but she assured us everything was fine.

Sometimes people just stand out. Have you ever been in the room with someone with a recognizable laugh? You’d know the laugh anywhere and with your eyes closed. How about the guy driving the new sports car? I’ve seen the males in my family stop and take a second look as they drive by. We’ve all run into people that grab our attention.

As Christians, we should be someone who people notice, too. But rather than being drawn to our unusual sneeze, recognizable laugh or new sports car, they should be drawn to our actions and spirit. If we demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, people should see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5). Instead of reacting with impatience, we respond with politeness. Rather than rudeness, we show kindness. Love, gentleness and faith in God are evident as we interact with others.

Who stood out in the crowd more than Noah? In Genesis 6, God describes the people during Noah’s day as “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” Wickedness ruled the earth. “But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.” Noah stood out to God as a blameless and righteous contemporary of his day. I’m sure others noticed he didn’t live the life they did.

How does God see us? What is noticeable to others when they encounter us? Let’s be that person that is “different” in a good way. Our actions and attitude cause other to be drawn to the Christ-like spirit that our lives display. Not only will we stand out in a crowd, but we will gain God’s favor.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to be the person that lives a consistent and exemplary life before others. Help my attitude and actions to reflect who You are, and help my life to be an example to those who do not know You.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5: 14-16 NIV).

Most Unexpected

By Elaine James –

On a beach in California, a father and his 13-year-old son were joyfully diving into the cold water excited to spend time together. As soon as they had recovered from the shock of the cold water they had so much fun in the waves that before they knew it, the tide pulled them out further than expected. Out of the sight of family members. Panic set in the father’s heart. He was in over his head and out of control.

As thoughts of death raced through his head, he saw his wife and other children on the beach and sensed the panic growing on his son’s face. The father lacked energy, and was equally scared and struggling. But he had to get to his son.

Once the father reached him, the boy tried to climb on him, which pulled them both under. Then the father tried to throw his son toward the beach, which really only moved him a few feet. He just kept pushing him forward, but the boy had to depend on his own energy or they would both die.

The boy’s reflection afterward recounted it this way: “I was underwater and had given up, and then suddenly from below, my dad threw me out of the water. It was only after that, I got hope and began to swim.” The boy became engaged and swam with all his might. The Father’s determination brought hope, overwhelming love and God’s goodness. The last push thrust the boy to safety.

The father sighed with relief that his son was saved, but had no energy left to save himself.

“After being rescued, I stood on the beach watching my father struggle to make it. A peace came over me. I knew how much my father loved me, and seeing me safe brought him peace.”

The beach scene was most unexpected, but now the father and son see God using the story all over the world to express His love for us.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to discover Your love for me so I can walk continually in Your truth.

“For your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth” (Psalm 26:3 NIV).

Playing with Pythons

By Peter Lundell –

My parents were missionaries in Tanzania. When I was about four years old, I was playing with a bunch of older kids on a row of oil drums that stood beside a garage. In the shade between the drums and the wall stretched an animal I’d never seen before. It was long and curvy, coming toward me.

I pointed and told the other kids, but they all screamed and ran away. I scoffed at them. I was fascinated at how the animal was so big and long. I reached down to pet it. It raised and cocked back its head. I thought it wanted to be petted the way my dogs did.

The screen door slammed, my mother screamed and dashed toward me. She yanked me off those drums so frantically I thought my shoulder would separate. Some men trapped the python, and I can still see my father crushing it with a weathered 4×4.

Recently I got to hold a python like the one I’d tried to pet when I was four (except this one was tame and had a full stomach—thank you, Paula!). Paula told me that when a python rears its head like the one I tried to pet, it’s ready to strike. It would have seized me, pulled me down, and coiled around me. No human being could have pulled it off or saved me in time. Until now I never realized I had been seconds from death.

How many times in life have you naively played with danger? It can come in any form. I wonder if we often fear things we shouldn’t and don’t fear things we should. Think about that and how many ways it applies.

To take the idea further, spiritual dangers surround us as well, most of them disguised. Have you experienced your heavenly Father crushing evil that may have harmed you?

PRAYER: Father, in my foolishness I have sometimes played with danger—and with evil. Thank you for Your protection. May I always carry in me the mind of Christ so that I will act faithfully in the face of danger and of evil.

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV).

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