Ask for Something - His thing! – John 16:24

24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
– John 16:24

Ask for Something - His thing!
Over the years, I have learned to listen to my Father during prayer time, and I have heard Him speak to me (no, not in a James Earl Jones, R-I-C-H-A-R-D . . . THIS IS GOD SPEAKING . . . way, but in a silent confidence kind of way), and I am slowly becoming more in tune with what and how He wants me to pray. After all, He already knows what I need in my life, so anything I can come up with is no surprise to Him.  My goal for prayer nowadays is to find His will in the everyday walking through of my life.  How does He want me to see His children?  How does He want me to act – in good and bad circumstances?  Where does He want me to position myself in my home, my church, and in my community? Who does He want me to be available to and to pray blessings over, etc.?

I believe that God wants to use our quiet time with HIm (if we let Him), to speak truth into our hearts – the truth of what He wants Us to do to create change in our world.  After all, we are His hands extended here on earth.  We are how He gets things done.  We have to be willing to step outside of our neat and controlled lives and be willing by faith, to be a miracle.  It needs to start somewhere right?  It might as well be here with you and with me.

Today's scripture says that until now, I/we have asked "nothing" in His name.  Oh, we all know that we have asked for plenty, and in my case, most of it has been selfish desires.  It's time for me to start asking for "something" – something that will bring glory and honor to our Father.  We need to stop thinking of what we want and focus on what He wants.

We can still ask for the kinds of things that we all want and need, but just do it from a different perspective:  

Do you need a new job? 

Ask for the position that our Father (who loves you) has all ready set aside for you – and then be prepared to rejoice when maybe it isn't the job you were looking for but it will be the job that will bring you the greatest joy and fulfillment in your life, if you accept it with gratitude and praise.  

Do you need a relationship restored? 

Pray that God would bless the other person and bring joy and abundance to their life that they might see Him in everything they do – their coming back to you will be a result of them realizing God's goodness and grace on their life, and restoration might not come about the way you thought it would – but it will come in a way that God is glorified.  

Do you a need financial miracle? 

Pray that God would bless those around you who are in greater need than you. Pray that your finances would be met according to His plan and then rejoice during your time of lack. Your miracle will come, but it will probably come in a way that you never could have dreamed.

Let us ask for things and pray according to what God wants!  THAT will bring us answered prayer.  THAT will bring us the fullness of joy that He wants so much to give us.  THAT will bring about  a glorious change to this crazy world.  THAT will honor our Father in heaven!

Prayer
Father You are so great and I offer praise to You right now.  For far too many years I have offered half-hearted and selfish prayers to You and I know and am so thankful that You have forgiven me for that.  This year and on this day, I seek Your will in my prayers.  I will no longer bring an offering of fools to You but I will wait on You and I will listen for the Holy Spirit to guide me in fervent and effectual prayer. Thank You for reminding me that in Your name I will find my joy and my life will be fulfilled.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

He Is is Who – That's Why!

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me? 

    Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.
– Psalm 42:5

He Is is Who – That's Why!
Did you ever wonder why we question everything?  From the time we are able to utter our first words, we are questioning.  I remember when I was a teenager, I spent the weekend at my grandparent's home doing yard work and helping out with some painting that needed to be done.  My cousin was living in a studio apartment that was attached to their garage and during the entire weekend, her daughter, my 2 year old niece, followed me around and asked me two questions over and over.  "Whatcha doin?"  and "Why?"  By the end of the weekend I vowed never to have children.

This is what we must sound like to God sometimes: 
us:     "Lord, whatcha doing?"  
Him:   "I'm teaching you to be a fruit tree."
us:     "why?"
Him:   "Because I need you to become an orchard."
us:     "why?""
Him:   "Because I need you to give good fruit to my people."
us:     "why?"
. . . and on and on it goes.  

I'm sure glad He has more patience than I did – or still do for that matter!  I think I'd be tempted to answer all those "Whys" by sending down a lightning bolt.  But asking why is part of who we are – it is our nature – we will always want to know why. 

Now don't get me wrong,  I am just as inquisitive as the next person, and I think we are always going to try to understand the reason that things happen the way they do.  But the truth of the matter is that we will never know the answer to some of the "whys" – not while during our time on earth anyway.

Instead of asking "Why?"  we should be asking  "Who?"  Who knows the depth of my pain?  Who sees the bigger picture in my life?   Who is interested in forming my character through various trials?   Our heavenly Father is the answer.  He is the one who knows, who sees, and who cares.  He loves us so much and He wants us to know and love Him, despite our painful circumstances.  He wants us to believe in Him and to Have faith that He will see us through – every time.

He wants us to know that He is God and He needs us to know what that means – no fear, no doubt, no concern – just Him . . . that's Who!

Prayer
Father, You are the one who knows the reasons for all things.  You have my life in Your hands and as You shape and mold me into the man You want me to become, I will yield myself to Your way.  Please forgive my selfishness and for questioning Your motives.  I pray that as I continue to grow in Your grace, my need to satisfy my curiosity will diminish and I will learn to wholly trust and believe in You and allow You to reign freely in my life – for all of my life.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

Hope and Encouragement

7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us;

8  we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed ; perplexed, but not driven to despair;

9  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 

11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
– 2 Corinthians 4:7-11 (English Standard Version)

Hope and Encouragement
It's only just barely Wednesday and already, this has been a long and tiring week – at least it has felt that way to me!  The rainy weather has my old friend arthritis playing havoc on my body, and work has been crazy, and even though I got them done last night, the stresses of having to get the taxes done has taken its toll, and the fact that I've been neglecting my school work and the semester looms ahead has me all stressed out, and-on-and-on, etc., etc., (now would be a good time for someone to play me a hauntingly sad song on the violin).  Add not feeling well and having no energy to the mix, and all I wanted to do today was crawl back into bed and sleep until weekend.  I know I can't do that though (sigh), . . . and so I press on.

How about you?  Has your week been as crazy, and tiring, and stressful as mine?  We all have different things that we are going through, and we are all affected in many different ways.  We can choose to give in to the pains, and the pressures, and the stresses, and use them as an excuse to escape from the world, but I think the Lord would rather we remember His Word that says, ALL of this happens "...so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies." 

He does not, and He will not, give us more than we can handle (even though it may seem too much when we are in the moment), but He wants us to continually look to Him for our strength – our energy – our peace – our rest – our healing, and our delivery.  Christ IN us can do anything!  He will be our champion when we feel like we can't do one . . . more . . . thing.

He will be our smile and He will be our joy when we are so distraught, and sick, and tired, and stressed, and it seems like life has no meaning.  He will carry us when we feel like we are too weak to move.  He is so that we can be!  So let's look to Him today! Let's cry out to Jesus with eyes and arms and spirits lifted up! Let's show Jesus that we believe what He says and we are willing and ready to receive the life that only He can give us. 

Because according to God's Word to us, we may be afflicted in every way – but we will NOT be crushed. We may be perplexed about our situations – but if we look to Him we will NOT be driven to despair. We will be persecuted by the world – but because He is our Lord we will NOT be forsaken. We may, from time-to-time be struck down – but because of His shed blood, we will NOT be destroyed. 

He is our Deliverer, and He is our Redeemer, and He is our Portion! 

Thank You Jesus!

Prayer
Lord, I am so tired.  I have had a tough week and I need You right now.  I need You to help me to do the things I need to get through my day.  I know that in You I can do it all, and so I am asking You to be my strength and my energy today.  I need You to carry me a few steps so that I can get the momentum from Your love and joy.  Just a jump-start Lord – that's all I need right now, then I can carry You with me throughout the rest of my day. Thank You Lord – You are always there for me, and You never neglect me.  I love You.

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

Walking the Talk – Titus 2:7-11

7 But mostly, lead by example, incorruptible in your teaching, 
8 your words solid and sane.  Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around. 
9 Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters - no back talk, 
10 no petty thievery.  Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God.  
11 God's readiness to give and forgive is now public.  Salvation's available for everyone!
– Titus 2: 7-11 (The Message)

Walking the Talk
I used to hear this all the time when I first became a Christian, "If someone accused you of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to get a conviction?"  Thank God we don't live in a country where being a Christian will get you killed or thrown in prison.  We do however, live in a society (especially here in California), where being a Christian is unpopular and we are portrayed as being weird, or extreme, and even violent.  We are described as being closed-minded and the news media would have everyone believe that we are all educated in making bombs intended for abortion clinics in our Sunday School classes.  Where did all this misinformation come from?

While there are and always have been those who do horrible things in the name of religion, Jesus was not one of those people.  In fact, because He preached peace, love, and compassion, He was ridiculed by those who were seeking a lion – a warrior savior, and not a lamb that would be led to slaughter.  The good news is that we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can change people's perception of Christianity if we are willing to put our own agendas aside, and put on Christ. 

By putting on Christ – every morning – we will be empowered to demonstrate great character (even when we think no one is watching), and those who we have influence over (basically everyone we meet), will see the Gospel of Christ lived out as it was intended to be.  Don't be fooled though – it isn't as easy as it sounds.  Old habits and character flaws will need to be identified and worked on.  For example, are you habitually late for work?  Do you like to take longer lunches than you should?  Do you surf the net when you should be working?  How about talking about others behind their back?  Do you smoke?  Drink a little too much?  Does your language need to be cleaned up?  Is unforgiveness keeping you from having meaningful relationships?  How about your taxes – do you report everything truthfully?  In other words, putting on Christ requires taking off the old you – and that will always be a work in progress.

You can do it!  It takes practice and a lot of prayer and it takes a genuine desire to be like Christ.  You will find however, that as you identify and pray through the areas of your life that need work, you will start to look more and more like Jesus, and those around you will start to notice, and they will be attracted to the new you.  They won't be able to find anything weird or misguided in you and they will eventually come around to a place where accepting Christ is definitely a possibility.

Prayer
Lord, You are a God of salvation and Your desire is for everyone to come to know You.  Help me to be a good example of the Gospel and how great a life in Christ can be.  Help me to get rid of the old habits and character flaws that might prevent others from knowing you.  Help me to identify those areas in my life that contradict Your very nature so that there can be no question that I serve only You.  I pray that as I go through my day, others can see how good it is to be a Christian – how good it is to be alive!

Have a blessed day everyone!

– Richard

You Have It In You! – Philippians 4: 11-13

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

– Philippians 4: 11-13 

You Have It In You!

What kinds of challenges are you facing in your life?  Are there obstacles that seem to just come faster and faster like some out-of-control video game?  Have you reached the point where giving up is looking like a pretty good option?  Well where are you going to turn to get you past this trial?  How are you going to find the strength to come out victorious?  Who do you turn to for help?  What is your next move?

The obvious answer is to call out to your Father in heaven and ask for the Holy Spirit to give you the strength and the wisdom to overcome.  The not so obvious answer is that after seeking the Father's face, to look within yourself.  Find the you that is there when you are at your best.  Dig deep, dig hard, and dig until you find the strength and the spirit that God created you with.  The human spirit that He, in His glorious wisdom, so generously poured into you so that you could realize how special you really are and how awesome He created you.

God will help you and the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom and power from on high, and Jesus has given you the grace and love to remain humble, but in the end, our Triune God wants you to show the entire world the wonder that you are.  God did not create us to be weak and powerless - He created us with an incredible potential to overcome - to reach unreachable heights - to defeat the giants of this world, and to push beyond our familiar selves.  He gave each of us His seal of approval and He called us "good."

You and I are amazing and powerful beings - but we need to come to that realization of, and have the faith to know that God said it - and it is true - no ifs, ands, or buts about it!.  Just take a minute to reflect on all the things that you have made it through - God was there through it all.  Yes, the Holy Spirit also gave you the wisdom you needed to make right decisions, and yes, our Lord Jesus has saved you and He set your feet firmly on solid ground.  But you lived through it.  You survived.  You overcame because of the human spirit that our wonderful Father created inside of you.  You honored the power and the wisdom and the love of God by not giving up.

So now, in the midst of your trial, in the make-it-or-break-it time of your life, recall your victories and start praising God for creating you with the ability to walk through it all -  full of hope, full of joy, and full of life!

Prayer

Father I am so thankful for the human spirit that You designed me with.  You are constantly showing me that I can do anything as long as I put my faith and trust in you.  Each time I have had to reach deep and realize the strength that You have given me in order to walk when You told me to walk or to act when You told me to act, I have gained more confidence in You.  I know that it is not in my own abilities but by drawing close to you that those abilities become supernatural.  I am able to overcome anything the world throws at me - because You created me to live a victorious life!

Have a blessed day everyone!

-Richard