Making the Connection

Today I walked in God's beautiful nature.



It wasn't my plan to do that - I wanted to get on line and write my weekly blog. I had an idea that I wanted to develop, and even though friends tried to get me to go outside and enjoy this beautiful fall day, I was sure my job was to send my message out and reach the millions for Christ. So I sent them out of the house, encouraging my wife to join them, because I needed the solitude to "wax eloquent" and do my spiritual "thing."



As soon as they were gone I fired up the computer and, surrounded by heavy books of spiritual knowledge and inspiration, I clicked the button that would send me into Internet space. But nothing happened. All I got was a message that said the computer couldn't find the server, or some lame excuse like that. I shut the computer off and restarted it. No change - still the same message.



By this time I was getting frustrated. I got my laptop computer out and clicked it on. It searched and searched, but finally it came back with the same message - no connection to the Internet.



The irony of it all suddenly hit me, and I started laughing (no one was in the house, so that reduced my chances of someone thinking I had lost it mentally!). Here I was, so "gung ho" about doing the Lord's work, and yet I had no connection to the very medium that I needed to get my message out! I could have typed the best sermon, created the most memorable quotes, but they would have stayed on my computer, and no one else would have seen them or received any benefit from them.



I thought a lot about this as I rode my old Honda up the road to the trail head, and even more while I walked through the woods, listening to the squirrels and chipmunks and birds, watching the ducks in the lake, and seeing the beauty around me. I settled on two things that impressed me from this experience.



First, we can want to do great things for God, but it's not us nor our power that is ever going to make anything happen. God can use us, but only when we have a direct connection with Him. Just like my computer was not able to send any messages outside of my home without that connection, we are not able to do anything without an active connection - a continual connection - with God. That connection is through our prayers and spending time with Him in His Word.



Second, God wants us to recharge our own batteries. He knew I had experienced a hard week, with trials at work, going to the funeral of the husband of a friend, and wondering what was going to happen next in the world. He knew that nothing would refresh me like a brisk walk in His second Book - the Book of Nature. And He was right.



Let's see - what was I going to write about? You know, it doesn't seem to be that important right now. It can wait until another day. I think I'm going to go on the back deck and listen to the river and watch the sun go down. I've got some connecting to do with my Heavenly Father.



Oh, by the way - the Internet connection just needed to be reset. No big deal....

God bless you abundantly!

Welcome to Prayers of Faith!

It's raining, and I can see the water splashing off the deck railing in front of the house. The ground hasn't seen moisture like this for some time, so most of the rain quickly disappears, yet there are still some spots where puddles are formed in the low areas of the dirt driveway. The birds seem to enjoy the showers, and sit motionless on the telephone wires. I'm content to just sit in silence as I contemplate this new ministry.



Actually, I've been sending out Prayers of Faith messages for over a year, so it's not really a new ministry. Maybe it's just a new facet of what I want to share - driven by the opportunities that technology offers, and hopefully by the prompting of the Holy Spirit.



A lot has been troubling my mind this week. It' s not just what is happening in the world that troubles me - it's what has been happening in my heart. I believe that the Holy Spirit has been challenging me to do something more than just sending out inspirational thoughts and prayer requests - those only take a little of my time and energy. But what have I been giving of myself? I am reminded of the story of the woman with the two mites (you can find it in Luke 21:1-4), who gave more because she put in all while the others gave of their excess. It wasn't just the fact that she gave all her financial resources, but rather that she gave all of herself!



That's what has been troubling me. I am convinced that God does not want me to say, "that's enough." Because when I look at what He did for me, it is never going to be "enough." I can't "pay" for what I am getting (salvation), and I will never be able to do enough to deserve it. Thank God He doesn't expect me to pay - He's already paid the price. He freely offers me salvation, and I have whole-heartedly accepted it. It's because I have accepted it that I am troubled.



Let me put it this way: When Christmas comes around I want to give my wife something that will make her eyes light up and exclaim, "That's just what I wanted - how did you know?!" I'm not trying to buy her love - it's because of her love for me and my love for her that I would spend hours trying to find just the right thing. I want to give her something special because of the relationship we have.



It's the same way with God. He has done so much for me and my family - put us in situations that could have destroyed us (a risk that He was willing to take), but, like the refiner's fire, only drew us closer into His arms. It takes an amazing God to be willing to risk that - the same God who risked His life on a cross so that I could have salvation. That is love - more love than I could ever imagine! And all the power of that love is directed towards me!



I now can understand what Paul was saying in 2 Corinthians 5:14, "For the love of Christ constrains us...." It's that same love that is compelling me, driving me, empowering me to step out and do more. It's knowing and experiencing that love that motivates me to step out of my comfort zone and into the unknown.



The world is not unlike the ground outside of my house. It's dry, and it's been a while since it has felt a rain of God's love. But the rain is starting to fall. And if there is any way that I can be a simple cup to hold that rain and offer it to a thirsty soul, then that is my life-long mission. And if there is anything that I can say that will direct a soul to Christ, then anything that I have experienced, any pain and heartache that I have suffered, will be more than worth it all.



Is God calling you to do the same?



God bless you abundantly!