Please Help Me

I told a friend that I had pleaded with God for help on a pressing issue, and her reply was, “You don’t need to beg God.”

That’s true, and I know I don’t. He is not like the judge in the Bible parable who initially refused to help a poor widow. He was unmerciful, but she wore him down with her continued begging until finally he relented. God is ready to hear. In fact, before they [God’s people] call, I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24)

There may be another aspect to examine. While we do not convince God to hear us by our earnest praying, we ourselves may profit from the exercise of our spiritual muscles. During a time of extreme financial stress, I prayed intensely, “Please give me a miracle or a workable plan. Please! Please!” I learned then to wait until it was God’s time, and the “door” swung open easily. Had I not been so desperate, had I prayed more casually, perhaps I would not have been so expectant, failing to recognize that God was at work engineering the answer that eventually filled the need so well.

I know a couple who had a wayward son. They could have sat in their easy chairs and prayed, “Help Jimmy come back to Your way.” But at one particularly crucial point, they lay on the floor, sobbing, “Oh God! Keep Jimmy! Oh God! Help Jimmy!” God hears the lowest whisper, but their own brokenness made them know they had touched God for their child.

“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” Isaiah 59:1

MaryMartha
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Easter Tradition

I found Easter this year especially meaningful as I participated in the worship of a couple churches other than my own and encountered new ways to observe the season.

On Maundy Thursday, the night of the Last Supper, I attended a service reminding us of Jesus' humbly washing the disciples' feet. I grew up in a foot-washing church, but was really too young then to find it very significant. Since then I have taken part in only one such service. Many people now are uncomfortable with the custom and most churches no longer practice it. The church I attended Thursday washes one another's hands. The worship assistants poured water from a pitcher over each one's hands into a bowl, and then another person carefully and tenderly dried them with a white towel.

My first thought was “What? Washing hands is not the same as washing feet at all!” But of course, it is. We no longer wear sandals along dusty footpaths and need to wash our feet when we enter a home. Washing hands is probably as appropriate for today as washing feet was in Jesus' time. I found it a moving experience and a very fitting remembrance of Jesus' passion and death.

On Good Friday, I participated in another church's “Stations of the Cross.” A very large cross had been constructed of beams and rope. One of the men carried it as the little group moved from one place to another in the neighborhood. First a little park, then the school playground, then the corner  grocery store, then other places in the immediate vicinity—seven in all, with the last one in the sanctuary. At each station, someone from a specific church ministry (youth fellowship, evangelism committee, men's group, and so on) read a passage from the crucifixion story and an appropriate prayer, then another person led in prayer for that part of the community (the children, the businesses, etc.) This too was a different sort of reminder that the the truth of Jesus' sacrifice is for everyone, not just the Church.

Most of my life, I have observed Easter in the customary ways: a new dress, the Easter cantata, an egg hunt and candy for the kids, and ham dinner. This year was different, and very meaningful.

MaryMartha

Art from http://lavistachurchofchrist.org and http://www.sxc. hu/

I Just Came to Talk with You

A friend called me a few weeks ago to suggest that we have lunch one day soon. Yesterday was the day, and we met for a pleasant brunch. I expected that she needed something. She might want me to listen as she vented about something that had upset her. (I say, “Well, maybe this or this was the reason.) She might want to borrow money, my tools, or the car. (I always say no, but she still tries!) She might want advice about something. (I say, “You could try such-and-such.) To my surprise and delight, she didn't ask me for anything, even when I questioned her about her agenda. She just came to talk with me. How refreshing!

I wonder if God finds it refreshing when we come to Him without a “gimme” agenda, when we don't whine or beg or ask about anything. He won't be surprised, of course, but maybe delighted? The late Dottie Rambo, gospel song writer and singer, said, “I didn't come here to ask You for anything. I just came to talk with You, Lord.” How refreshing for Him—and for us!

MaryMartha

Stones of Remembrance

Memory is an important aspect of payer. (Don't people say to you, "Remember me in prayer"? Before Jesus offered Himself as the perfect and acceptable sacrifice, only a priest could access the aptly named Mercy Seat, the dwelling place of God, on behalf of a petitioner. Now, the Word of God tells us, we are altogether being built into a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (See I Peter 2:5)

The high priests of the Old Testament wore a breastpiece, a square of costly material hung by gold chains from the shoulders. It was held close to the priest's chest, over his heart, by cords from the waistband of his priestly garment. On the breastpiece, precious gems were mounted, each set in gold filigree. There were twelve stones in all, one for each of the sons of Israel, each engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

God's specific instructions were, "Whenever Aaron [the high priest] enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece . . . as a continuing memorial before the LORD." (Exodus 28:29) Does God need to be reminded? No, but we need to be reminded that God has not forgotten.

There are perhaps individuals or causes in your life for which ouu wish to pay often—even "without ceasing." You would wear them on your heart, so to speak, whenever you come before the Lord. Your "stones of remembrance" may be your closest family and friends—or they may be enemies for whom Jesus said you also must pray! They may be whole groups of people for whom you have a special affinity. They may be causes in which you invest money, time, and energy. They may be difficult circumstances that need God's answer. Whoever, whatever they are, you may want to imagine putting them on a breastpiece as you pray for those concerns each day.

Touch your heart and name the person or cause dearest to you. Speak to God of any special concern you have regarding this stone of remembrance. Move your hand to the middle of your chest and name another individual or group or circumstance. On the right side of your chest, name a third.

Move down a few inches on your left side, and name another row of three. Repast for a third and then a fourth row.

Perhaps you would like to make a little reminder card and picture these concerns as rows of beautiful gems. You can then take with you a remembrance of your continuing prayer to God. (I have done this, and found it helpful.)

MaryMartha

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Art from http://commons.wikimedia.org/

I Know I'm Heard

Several recent events featured in online news items have provoked a huge response from readers. Many sites offer an opportunity for comments, and they receive literally thousands upon thousands. A few are sane and well-reasoned arguments, a great many have little substance, and some are ferocious, vulgar and rude. Then other readers comment on those comments, often resorting to name-calling and unprintable adjectives, represented by a series of symbols and a few well-placed letters so that anyone can tell what is meant without the words being kicked out by an automatic censoring system. I imagine said system can also check for libelous statements or threats. Surely no actual person is going to read all those 12,521 comments. (I'm not making that up.)

That's just it. Why rush to make one's opinion known when no one who really matters cares? There seems to be frenzied effort on the part of many to express what they think, even if it merely repeats what someone else has said. From my limited point of view, there is no discussion, no information added, no new ideas put forth, not even succinct summary offered—just repetitious rantings.

I like knowing that I have Someone who always listens to me. I may not present a good argument to God, but He listens anyway. I may even have a complaint, but I don't have to yell for Him to hear it. There are a great many prayers in the Scripture, asking God to hear. But a few declare that He does indeed hear. One of those verses gives Jesus' own words. Because He is our way to the Father, we can say as He did, "I know that You always hear me."

O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Ev'rything to God in prayer.

Even the news.

MaryMartha

Words of hymn, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus", by Joseph Scriven, 1855

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Hail to the Chief

This is President's Day in the U.S. Once observed on George Washington's birthday, during the Nixon administration it was designated by many states as Presidents Day to honor all the men who have served in that office

The President's arrival for many public appearances is announced with four ruffles (played by drums) and flourishes (by bugles) and the band playing "Hail to the Chief." The music was composed by James Sanderson around 1810 for verses from Sir Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake: "Hail to the chief, who in triumph advances, Honored and bless'd be the evergreen pine!" It first became associated with American presidents in 1815 when it was played to honor George Washington and the end of the War of 1812. Later, more suitable lyrics were written by Albert Gamse, but they are rarely sung.

Hail to the Chief we have chosen for the nation,
Hail to the Chief! We salute him, one and all.
Hail to the Chief, as we pledge cooperation
In proud fulfillment of a great, noble call.

Yours is the aim to make this grand country grander,
This you will do, that's our strong, firm belief.
Hail to the one we selected as commander,
Hail to the President! Hail to the Chief!

I realize that not everyone who reads these lines actually believes we are headed toward being a grander nation. You may not have had a part in selecting our President as commander, and you are not ready to pledge cooperation in proud fulfillment. Nevertheless, the Scripture gives us a clear directive. "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (I Timothy 2:1-4)

Some say, "Don't gripe if you didn't vote." Not that I'm in favor of griping, but I think that certainly one doesn't have a right to be griping if they're not praying!

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Give Me This Mountain

"Give me" is often a selfish request. Whether it's a child who has learned that "gimme some" gets him what he wants or the adult who is hoping for his/her gains to come with no personal effort, the expectation is basically self-centered. Even prayers are sometimes selfish, not going beyond "Lord, give me this," and "O God, I want that."

But "give me" can also be a very mature and self-sacrificing request. Caleb's story is told in the Old Testament. The people of Judah came to Joshua, and Caleb spoke to him. "You'll remember what God said to Moses concerning you and me back when he sent us into Canaan to spy out the land. We brought back an honest and accurate report. The companions who went with us discouraged the people, but we stuck to our story because we trusted God. That was the day that Moses solemnly promised me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance, you and your children's, forever. Yes, you have lived totally for God.' Now look at me: God has kept me alive, as He promised. I was forty years old back then, and it is now forty-five years since God spoke this word, years in which Israel wandered in the wilderness. And here I am today, eighty-five years old! I'm as strong as I was the day Moses sent me out. I'm as good as ever in battle, whether coming or going. So give me this mountain [the hill country] that God promised me. You yourself heard the report, that a fearsome tribe of giants was there with their great fortressed cities. But If God goes with me, I will drive them out, just as God said." (from Joshua 14:6-12)

Caleb, even at eighty-five, was not expecting something for nothing. He was ready for war, ready to take on the hostile people in the land, ready to take the walled cities there, no matter what it cost. He was saying, "Just let me at it!"

Do we, when we pray, expect God simply to "give" us what we want? In His mercy, He often does, but sometimes, just as we may deny the whining child's demand, He chooses another way to answer. Sometimes He doesn't lay the desired thing in our hands until we've done battle with the "giant" that is withholding it. Sometimes we cannot just walk in and take over the "walled cities" but have to strategize and to marshal all the forces at our disposal before the answer comes. But like Caleb we can say, "If God goes with me, I will get what He intends to be mine. I am not afraid. I can take this mountain!"

MaryMartha

Art from http:www.sxc.hu/

A Blessing for the New Year

As you enter the New Year, may the Living Lord go with you.
May He go behind you, to encourage you,
Beside you, to befriend you,
Above you, to watch over you,
Beneath you, to lift you from your sorrows,
Within you, to give you the gifts of faith, hope, and love,
And always before you, to show you the way.

--Adapted from an old benediction


MaryMartha


Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Things Mama Taught Me: Ask Jesus

I don't remember praying, as a child, for a bicycle or a new coat or to have a friend. I just had confidence that these things would be provided in due time by my parents. But I learned early that there were some things they could not provide for us. For these I must pray for Jesus' help.

I remember an early lesson taught by example. My youngest brother was rather fearful that something would happen to our mother; she would die and leave him alone. He was a very small child, still in a crib in my parents' bedroom when I heard him say his bedtime prayers as my mother led him. "Now I lay me down to sleep—" then God bless Mama, God bless Daddy, and all the other God blesses he could think of.

"But Mama, what if you die?" I am not sure how he came to have this fear, but living on the farm, we learned early about life and death. It would not be hard to imagine the stiff coldness that happened to a bug or a kitten could also come to someone you loved and on whom you depended.

My mother explained very simply to him, "When your daddy was a little boy, he prayed that his mama would live until he was a grown-up man. And she did. You can ask Jesus for that too."

"God bless Mama. God bless Daddy." All the God blesses he could think of, and then at the end, "And help my Mama live until I get to be a big man. Amen."

And she did.

What happens if a child prays and the answer is "No"? The same thing, on an appropriate level, that happens when you or I pray and the answer is "No." We learn to accept that God is loving, fair, and above all, wise. We learn to trust Him more. We learn to ask with better understanding. We learn to wait and see. We learn to not quit asking.

MaryMartha

Art from www.wpclipart.com

Difficulties in Prayer

Does prayer seem more complicated to you now than when you first learned to pray? Why do you suppose that is?

One of the reasons prayer is sometimes so tangled with difficulty for us is that our requests are more complex as we grow older and our lives become more complicated. We may not ask just for daily bread, as Jesus taught His disciples to pray, but something more like, "Lord, you know I need a better job so I can support myself and my family. The price of gas has gone up so high that I need to work not too far from home. And I for sure don't want a boss like Mr. So-and-So at the Such-and-Such place. Oh, that reminds me, there's that problem with my insurance. Make those guys see the reasonableness of my position; my attorney says that I've got a good case, but they are just so stubborn. Speaking of stubbornness, please do something about my –– [kids, spouse, neighbor, trash hauler, or whoever is causing exasperation at the moment]. I've about had it. Oh wow, it's getting late! Wish I had more time to spend with you, Lord, but I've got to run. See ya!" If we're not careful, we can burden prayer with a recitation of our unhappy circumstances!

Another reason for perceived difficulty in prayer is that we simply make it too hard! Without minimizing the seriousness of prayer, we must recognize that we too often approach it as a laborious task! "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply." Matthew 6:7)

Try this:
"God, here is my situation . . . I know that You care for me and everything that concerns me. I am confident that You'll attend to this, because Your Word says that I don't have to be preoccupied with getting things from You. If I keep the focus of my attention on the gain and glory of Your Kingdom, you will take the initiative to work out my situation. I am not going to be further distracted by this concern but am leaving it in Your hands. Please help me. Is there anything You want me to do to cooperate with Your plan? I am listening . . . "

Were God not the loving and generous Being that He is, He could have just preempted every smaller concern of ours. He might well have chosen to run everything by Himself for Himself. But it's just like Him to take what is His and to share it with us!

"What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!"
--Joseph Scriven, Irish poet, 1819-1886


MaryMartha


Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 2003 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Glomming Onto the Promises

Throughout my Christian life, I have been "standing on the promises." Perhaps you remember the song:

Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring.
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
-- And here is how we sang the refrain after each verse:
Standing (on the promises),
Standing (on the promises),
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing (on the promises)
Standing (on the promis—es) [a huge ritard here]
I’m standing on the promises of God.
-- Russell K. Carter, 1886

Standing on the promises means to rely on them, to consider them dependable and certain of fulfillment. Unfortunately, though, some people "glom onto" the promises they find in the Word of God. (According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, glom is a word for grabbing hold of to appropriate for oneself. That, I think, is a fair description of the misuse of Scripture to claim something we want and to try holding God accountable for giving it to us!)

For example, God told Abram (Abraham), "Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants forever." Who could mistake that to mean that for a promise they could stand upon? Likewise, not every fisherperson is going to be successful by snatching Jesus' words spoken to His disciples: “Throw your net out on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get a catch.” The prophet Isaiah was instructed by God to go to King Hezekiah and tell him, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you and add fifteen years to your life." That is hardly a promise that every deathly ill person can seize and claim for himself/herself, yet I have heard of some who have tried to make that work.

A few questions can help us discern whether the statements we read are promises for us today:

-- Have we looked first to the promises that are clearly intended for all who believe them? A case in point, "Come to me," Jesus said to a multitude, "all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest."

-- Was this "promise" given specifically to a person(s) rather than to all God's people? This must be considered with care. Even so, God may wish at times to give us the grace He has extended to others. Was this "promise" given in circumstances similar to my own?

-- Is the "promise" consistent with others also found in the Scriptures? This is especially important.

-- Does the promise have a condition attached? An "if" is implied in "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." An unconditional promise: "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

-- The ultimate test: Do time and actual events prove the validity of our claim to a "promise"? Remember of course, that we have to wait for the fulfillment of some promises until we get to heaven!

To be honest, sometimes we want to control God! And we suppose that the way to do this is to glom onto a promise and remind Him that He is obligated to comply! There are thousands of promises; some estimates are between seven and eight thousand! There are so many that are clearly meant for us to believe, that it seems we hardly need to glom onto those that may not be in God's plan for us personally.

MaryMartha

Unceasing Prayer

"Pray without ceasing," I have read in the Scripture a great many times. I often wondered just how one does that, but as I've have gained some experience in both life and prayer, I have a better understanding.

Here are a few ways:

The newspaper or the online newsreader reports a terrible accident where a teenager was killed instantly. O God, comfort that dear family. How terrible to lose a bright, talented young person. Let them turn to you in their sorrow.

A scruffy-looking man standing at a busy intersection holds up a hand-printed sign. OUT OF WORK - NEED FOOD – PLEASE HELP. How do I know this is for real (because so many times it's not)? Lord, help this man find work he can do. Help him turn to the agencies who can offer him guidance. Meanwhile, should I give a dollar? (Sometimes I do, often I don't.)

There's a woman standing in the line ahead of me. One pant leg hangs empty. O God, thank you for my legs! She seems to be coping. Help her continue to find her way through life.

I hear someone depreciating the boss or their elected representative or the President. Help our leaders seek what is good and right. Most of them are trying to do the best they can. Help us do our part.

Sirens wail—police cars or fire trucks or ambulances. Someone's in trouble. Someone's in danger or is hurt. Help them. Guide and protect those who are hurrying to aid them.

A child is screaming in the post office or the grocery store or the church hallway. The cries seem to be expressing anger and frustration, or hunger or sleepiness, rather than pain. Help that mother/dad realize what they need to do for the baby. Help the child to receive those calming measures.

A driver is speeding carelessly. Shall I pray for safety for him and others on the road? Or shall I ask for him to be caught? Lord, you know . . .

I leave the building where I work and step out into a brisk fall afternoon. Thank you, Lord, for such a glorious day!

As you can see, prayer need not be confined to that quiet time in the morning or the before-bed routine. There are countless moments during the day when prayer is called for. And it may often be the case that you are the only one praying for that situation.

. . . More things are wrought by prayer
Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice
Rise like a fountain for me day and night.
For what are men better than sheep or goats
That nourish a blind life within the brain
If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer
Both for themselves and those who call them friend?
For so the whole round earth is every way
Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.

-- "The Passing of Arthur"
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1809-1892

MaryMartha

The quote is taken from The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, 3rd ed., 1980

No Overload

The Internet is bogged down this afternoon. Many sites are slow, and some cannot be reached at all. There is a flood of media coverage of the Michael Jackson memorial service, and a tsunami of comments on the social networks (or so I'm told). I've even had difficulty accessing my Blogger account! The 'net is overloaded.

Years ago, before we communicated so much online, we used the telephone more. We sang an old song about always being able to make our connection through "The Royal Telephone."

Central’s never “busy,” always on the line;
You may hear from Heaven almost any time;
’Tis a royal service, free for one and all;
When you get in trouble, give this royal line a call.

Refrain
Telephone to glory, O what joy divine!
I can feel the current moving on the line,
Built by God the Father for His loved and own,
We may talk to Jesus thru this royal telephone.

There will be no charges, telephone is free,
It was built for service, just for you and me;
There will be no waiting on this royal line,
Telephone to glory always answers just in time.
--Frederick M. Lehman, 1919

This line never gets overloaded. Aren't you glad!

MaryMartha

A Miracle or a Workable Plan

A co-worker arrived on the job one morning, years ago, and told us that he had stopped to talk with a man whom he saw every day sitting on the steps of an apartment building. It had become obvious that the fellow was waiting for something or someone, and finally my curious friend decided to find out what he was expecting.

The answer was very simple—to the waiting person—but it left my co-worker speechless. The man needed money, and he believed God was going to send Ed McMahon and the American Family Publishers crew to award him the sweepstakes prize. We laughed a little at that misguided faith, but actually it was more sad than humorous. The chance of winning a major prize in such a contest is less than one in fifty million. How many of those millions do you suppose are thinking that this is the miracle they've been praying for? The chances are good that the winner of multiple millions of dollars will thank God; winners often give a nod to Him. But think of how many others will not get the "miracle" they wanted, and if they really expected it to happen, they may be a little miffed at God.

Miracles do happen. It is very clear to me that only Divine intervention could produce the outcome we experience in some of our human affairs. We see grace and good far exceeding anything we could create, and we see catastrophe averted that we ourselves were unable to prevent. But I have found that it is helpful to be open to every kind of possibility, not the supernatural alone, and to pray, "God, please give me a miracle or a workable plan." During many months, I pleaded in this way regarding a financial need that was reaching critical proportions. I did not have a startling, all-at-once answer, but slowly an idea began to develop in my mind. I pursued it and found there was a reasonable hope of success—in other words, a workable plan. And now, much later, I know that it was indeed God's way of answering. Just because the solution God had in mind required extra effort on my part does not mean it was any less an answer to prayer than winning the sweepstakes prize.

Answers don't come in the same way for everyone. Maybe the man sitting on the apartment steps will some day win an amazing amount of money. Or maybe there will be a job he can do or community resources he can find. If we depend on God, He will give us the miracle we need—or a workable plan.

Daily Bread

When Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, the example He gave them included these words: "Give us this day our daily bread." Well-fed Americans probably have less understanding of this part of the prayer than many people in other parts of the world. The poorly nourished are fully aware of the meaning of daily bread since they seldom have on hand more than is needed for one day, if not for only a single meal. Praying this prayer, they literally rely on God to provide what is needed for their next meal.

By contrast, major grocery chains here vie for our patronage with 24/7 business hours, doubled coupons, and two-for-one specials. Convenience stores located every few blocks not only provide ready access to necessary items, but also promote a wide array of goods that entice one to purchase "extra's." I am very aware that there are also Americans who are truly hungry, but the average person, even if shopping on a limited budget, can still buy what is needed for the next meal or even several meals. Because this is so relatively easy, we may slide over our Lord's teaching about daily provision.

Remember the little widow of Zarephath? It was a time of terrible famine in Israel, and she had no source of provision. She was not living on Social Security, after all, or drawing her deceased husband's railroad pension. All that stood between her and starvation was the one little pancake she was going to make for her son and herself--and then they would die. The prophet Elijah, finding her gathering sticks for the fire, asked her, "Would you bring a little water for me to drink?" As the woman turned away to fill his request, he called after her, "Oh, and bring me, please, a bit of bread also."

"Sir, I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour is left in the bin and a little oil in the bottom of the jug. I am going to make one last meal for myself and my son, and when that is gone, we will die."

"Don't be afraid," Elijah told her. "Go ahead and cook your 'last meal.' But first, bake a little loaf of bread for me out of what you have. Afterward, there will still be enough food for you and your son."

Incredibly, the woman risked the flour and oil, and even her life, on the word of God spoken by the prophet. "There will always be flour in the bin and oil in the jug until the famine has ended." She did as Elijah said, and all three of them ate for many days from that handful of flour and the few drops of oil . Did God fill up the flour barrel and the oil jug so that the widow had an abundant supply? No, every time she dipped into the barrel, there was just enough. When she went back the next time, there was just enough. Whenever she poured oil from the jug, there was just enough, and when she needed oil again, there was just enough.

When we ask God for our daily bread--and by extension, all our needs for the day--we acknowledge that we are relying on Him to care for us. We never get so "spiritual" that these physical needs are of no consequence to us, and therefore also to Him. Just because they are part of the natural realm does not mean their consideration is foreign to faith. We choose to see through eyes of faith, and we choose to see Him as our source.

Sometimes we are impatient with the "dailiness" of God's provision. How about He just gives me half a million dollars, and then I won't keep asking Him every day for what I need? Most of us are okay with depending on God if we can see that we have everything we need for the present--and then some! And yes, sometimes God does work that way; for example, when Jesus fed the crowd of ten or fifteen thousand, He gave more than enough and the disciples aferwards picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. But if we are praying honestly, "Give us this day our daily bread," we are committing ourselves to receiving His supply on an as-needed basis.

MaryMartha

"I Want to See"

A blind beggar was sitting beside the road that led into Jericho when Jesus came walking by. The man could hear the noise of the crowd going past. "What's happening?" he asked someone. "Jesus, the man from Nazareth, is coming this way!" they answered excitedly.

With that, the blind man began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

“Be quiet!” the people at the front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Of course, Jesus heard the commotion. He stopped. "Bring that fellow over to me," He directed. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

An audience with Jesus! The Miracle-Worker is asking him what he wants! Perhaps, "Jesus, make someone give me the coins that will buy what I need for this week."

Or, "Jesus, make the man at the marketplace be generous toward me. He could help me if only he would."

"Jesus, make someone clear this roadside where I sit. Every day I stumble."

"Jesus, make my family accept me. Make people be kind. Make people listen to me."

No, none of these. The blind man was wise enough, brave enough, to tell Jesus what he really needed. "Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” So then Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. (from Luke 18:35-43)

Perhaps sometimes we too come to God with a litany of what others should be made to do! It's better to get to the point: "Lord, I want to see! Change me!"

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

Let This Cup Pass

Most of us can remember, probably, having to take a dose or two of unpleasant-tasting medicine during our childhood. Once it was placed in our mouth, there was nothing to do but swallow. A watchful parent would not permit spitting it out, and just refusing to swallow didn't work either, because that parent was there to pinch our nose shut. If we expected ever to breathe again on this earth, we had to swallow the horrid stuff!

Life has, for all of us, some "bitter pills to swallow." There is no escaping difficult circumstances, unfair treatment, or friends who prove to be disloyal. Jesus Himself experienced this, and "a student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master." (Matthew 10:24 NIV) In the Garden of Gethsemane, away from the disciples who were too sleepy to aid their Lord in His hour of greatest need, Jesus prayed alone. "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Returning to the disciples, He urged them again to watch and pray, then a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” (Matthew 26:39, 42 NKJV)

It was not the physical suffering alone that Jesus faced, but the dreadful weight of being guilty before God as He became sin for us. From the very foundation of the world that God knew would be fallen, redemption was planned. If it was to be made effectual, Jesus must face the Cross. His humanness naturally shrank from the cost. "If it is possible . . ." But no, it was not possible. If the cup of human sin and suffering was to be emptied, He must drink it.

It is no different for us. There is no quick and easy way to get rid of the difficult, unfair, bitter things in life, but to receive them fully.

• Swallow the bitter medicine.
• Accept what is or has to be.
• Embrace the Cross.

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Scripture quotation marked NIV is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture marked NKJV is taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

When Jesus Cried

Many years ago when my family attended our little country church, all the children sat together on the first couple of rows of pews for "closing exercises" following the Sunday School session. This is when we gave our birthday offering (a penny for each year) and recited a Bible verse we had memorized. Some of the boys--was it always boys? I think so--liked to quote the very shortest passage in the Bible. It is found in John 11:35, "Jesus wept." While they gleefully got by with reciting just a couple of words, those words do express a great truth. Jesus was moved by standing at his friend Lazarus's tomb. We do not know whether the tears were for His own sense of loss, or His sympathy for the grieving family and friends, or His sorrow at recognizing the unbelief of those who were gathered there--perhaps the overwhelming burden of all three. I can imagine the great tears rolling down His cheeks, dripping off His beard as He looked up to heaven and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me."

The Scripture records another time Jesus cried. Riding on a young donkey into the city of Jerusalem, with the crowd joyfully proclaiming Him as the King coming in the name of the Lord, He wept. (See Luke 19:37-44) But the Greek word used this time for weeping, my commentary tells me, did not mean a quiet shedding of tears. Underneath the loud voices of acclaim was the sobbing of a broken-hearted Messiah who knew the people within that city rejected Him as prince of peace and would suffer terrible judgment. We call this the "Triumphal Entry," but only because Jesus' followers were triumphant. It is not hard for me to imagine that, for Jesus, it was more like the "Entry of Lamentation."

The most remarkable reference to Jesus' tears, I think, is Hebrews 5:7. "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission." This crying is even stronger: outcries of tumult or grief. Some scholars think this refers to His agony in Gethsemane, but the context leads me to believe the description is broader than that. All during the days of His life, He prayed with loud cries and tears for desperately needy, hopeless people and for His own followers who were weak and uncomprehending. We don't read accounts of those prayers; perhaps it was during those nights alone on the mountain that Jesus did that kind of praying. The writer adds that God could have saved Him from death; God did hear Him pray but still didn't spare Him. On the day Jesus died, His tears must have mingled with blood and sweat until He finally said "It is finished," and gave up His spirit to the Father.

That was the only way to heal and rescue us--broken, lost humanity.

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Scripture quotation is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Scripture quotation is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

Job's Suffering and the Church

I do not, of course, have “the answer” to the difficulties and uncertainties that are part of present day life, but I do have a response.

Suffering people have questions. “What have I done wrong, that I should suffer like this? How have I offended God?” God’s people, desperate for answers during times of hardship, have often turned for consolation to the Book of Job. Reading that ancient story, they discover that there may be a hidden drama unfolding on the stage of their own lives. Perhaps once again Satan has confronted God defiantly. “Yes, I’ve seen your servant Frank [or JoAnn or Leslie], blameless and upright. But does Frank fear you for nothing? You have protected him and his household. You have blessed JoAnn and her work. But You just wither those blessings and see if they don’t turn against You!”

God agreed to the testing of Job, and Satan was permitted to touch all that Job held dear, except his own person. In a single catastrophic day, Job lost everything: teams of oxen, donkeys, flocks of sheep, camels, herdsmen, servants, and even his children. Still, Job did not sin by blaming God. Modern Christians, studying this passage about Job, are encouraged to trust God through their own trauma and loss. “I serve the same God. The same devil is my enemy. I will prove myself faithful, even as Job did.”

Not satisfied with Job’s integrity in the face of ruin, Satan again taunted God. “Yes, Job could tolerate the destruction of everything around him. But just touch him in his own flesh, and he will curse you, I know it!” With God’s permission to do anything short of taking Job’s life, Satan struck Job with painful boils from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. The devastated man did not know that the tragedies of his life were brought about by Satan’s desire to provoke and embarrass and ultimately hinder God. He struggled mightily to understand the reason for his suffering.

We today have the advantage of perspective revealed in Scripture. Simply put, Satan wants desperately to hurt God. In the process, he collides with us. Having knowledge of this does not alleviate human suffering, but our trust in God is strengthened by the written account. From it, we lay hold of the firm conviction that God is fully and lovingly involved with us, even though we do not comprehend the mysteries of His lordship of the whole universe!

In this broader view of God’s governing lies one cause of the problem of Christian suffering. Ours is a tortured world, with all creation groaning and laboring with birth pangs until it finally sees the gloriously liberated people of God (Romans 8:19-23). “All creation”—that means our political leadership, our judicial system, our economics, our educational methods, our health care arrangement, our whole world is aching to be different. We limit our thinking, for the most part, to our own small world of family and friends, our personal health and economy, our place of employment, our church. Too often we notice society’s deplorable ills only to criticize, “It wasn’t like this years ago. How did we get to this place?” Like Job’s false friends, we presume to have answers. “It was this treacherous leader. . . It was that high Court decision. . . It’s the unconscionable media. . . It’s the failure of the schools . . .” And some even say, “It’s the Church’s fault.”

The doom-mongers would have us believe that all the above are true, and that all can be attributed to some vast conspiracy to subjugate the American people. Those who would never be intimidated by bold unrighteousness, the gloomy prophets say, are nevertheless being undermined by an insidious plot whereby eventually all people bow unknowingly to the will of ungodly authority. There is a master mind, they say, behind gratuitous violence on TV, the call to recognize same-sex unions, the legalization of abortion, the education of functionally illiterate students, the rising prices of fuel and food, and everything else that has gone awry!

Yes, unfortunately, there is a Master Mind behind it all. It is not, however, the leagued mind of evil men and women. No human mind could conceive the sorrow that has been unleashed on the world by the evil one whose sole desire is to thwart God’s purpose in His children. Listen as he approaches the throne of God.

The Lord speaks to Satan. “Where have you been?”

“Why, I’ve been going to and fro on the earth, walking back and forth on it.“

“Ah yes! And have you noticed My servants, the Blood-bought Church, that there are no others like them on the earth, blameless, upright, fearing Me and shunning evil?”

“Yes,” Satan replies, “I have noticed. But does that Church of yours fear you for nothing? Haven’t You made a hedge around them and their households and around everything that concerns them? You have blessed the work of their hands, and by honoring You their possessions have increased.” It may be that Satan has a different strategy for the Church in some other parts of the world, but for the prosperous Church in America, he taunts God, “I’d just like to see you stretch out Your hand and touch what these folks own, and they will surely curse You to Your face!”

What if God has given Satan permission to test us in just this way? “Behold, all they have is in your power. But don’t lay a hand on their persons.” Do we truly believe that “we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places”? (Ephesians 6:12)

If the battle could be won just by speeches and banner-carrying and letter-writing and electing God-fearing people to office, it would have been won by now. This is not to say that speeches should not be made, banners carried, letters written, and God-fearing people elected. But the passage noted above continues with the admonition to put on the whole armor of God and then “pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” (Ephesians 6:18)

Until we have done that, there is not a whole lot to be gained by all the other tactics.

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com

On Praying Ground

I knew some dear old saints, while I was growing up, who would often speak about being "on praying ground." I had no idea, of course, what they meant; I just knew that they were at some honored, mysterious place where prayers were heard and answered. I understand now that they simply were confident that their hearts were in right relationship to God so that their prayers were not hindered, and their history with Him gave assurance of forthcoming answers.

It may be that in our high-speed, complicated world we make prayer something it is not intended to be. There is no lack of information about how to go about it. The WorldCat, a catalog of library collections worldwide, lists 62,307 titles on the subject of prayer, and you or I could probably access most of these through the interlibrary loan system of our local library. That super-abundance of material may lull us into thinking it is so easy that anyone can do it and write about it. Or on the other hand, we may have misgivings about something so difficult that many thousands of books aren't sufficient to instruct us.

In contrast to our present wealth of printed material, only a little over 1000 titles on prayer were available before 1900, about the time my saint-friends might have been reading about it. I doubt that very many of those available titles were owned by the fledging Carnegie Library in our area, or that very many of the farming-community folks frequented the library. So how did they learn to pray? They studied the Word of God, and tried to follow the examples they found there of effective pray-ers.

One such instance is recorded in the Gospel of Mark. A distressed father bought his son to Jesus, explaining that an evil spirit had possessed the child, rendering him unable to speak. Whenever the boy was under the spirit's power, he would become rigid and fall to the ground, foaming at the mouth and grinding his teeth. The father had asked the Lord's disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not. Now he was asking Jesus to do something "if He could." Of course He could! He rebuked the spirit, commanding it to release the child, and with shrieking and a great convulsion, it obeyed.

Later in private, the disciples asked Jesus why they had been unable to cure the boy. Although Jesus had chided them earlier for being "faithless," He did not mention their lack of faith again. He simply explained, "This kind can come out only by prayer"—and some translations add, "and by fasting." There is no indication that Jesus prayed long and hard or that He fasted for this deliverance—something we may believe we have to do if we really, really are serious about getting an answer. So what could He have meant?

The prayer and perhaps fasting in which Jesus engaged were His lifestyle. He was, if I may put it this way, on praying ground. We sometimes feel the need of a schedule or a formal action or object to center our attention, but Jesus was perfectly focused. He lived and breathed the Father's will. Can we learn to do this?

Yes, probably, if we don't read thousands of books instead of actually doing it.

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com