From Luke 11:9-10: “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
An elderly man steadily works in his backyard, raking up some of autumn’s harvest of red maple leaves. The quiet, afternoon air is punctuated by angry and upset mumbling coming from the neighbor’s yard.
Walking over to the fence, the former teacher listens while a much younger man unsuccessfully tries to start up his lawn mower. The neighbor, in his late twenties, has been facing extra pressure and longer hours at the small business he operates.
Pausing and then sending some words of encouragement over the fence, the quiet man offers some advice, “Does the mower need a new spark plug?”
A quick reply comes back, “I never thought of that.”
The conversation continues back and forth for a few minutes. The young man confesses his frustration at work has brought a heavy burden on him as well as his family. He is married with a young daughter.
The wise neighbor adds some gems of wisdom before they both go back to their separate chores, “Hang in there. God’s using these difficult days to prepare you for a more successful tomorrow. He’s equipping you with tools which will help you to bear fruit.”
The young man replies back, “Thanks. I appreciate your advice as well as your testament from the Lord.”
With the rake in his hand, the elderly man prepares to step away from the fence, but he returns and offers a prayer for the young man, “God, grant Tim the serenity to accept the things he cannot change, the courage to change the things he can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Both men say their final words, and return to their respective yard work.
As the retired teacher continues to rake more of the stubborn leaves into a series of small piles, he hears the lawn mower start up with a roar. Obviously, the young man has changed the mower’s spark plug, and it is now running as it should.
At the same time, Tim feels the spark of God’s Word bringing him patience and encouragement for today as well as for tomorrow.
From 2 Peter 1:5-7: “For this very reason, you must make every effort to support your faith with goodness, and goodness with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with mutual affection, and mutual affection with love.”
The confession of the thief on the cross was both a first and final one. But . . . Christ received it. Maybe you never heard your loved one confess Christ, but who’s to say Christ didn’t?
From 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”
From Psalm 1:5-6: “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgmentnor sinners in the congregation of the righteous, for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked will perish.”
Courtesy of Pinterest.
Time forever witnessed
Gathered in God’s hands
Blessing with His patience
Every minute planned
Given choice of two ways
Passed on wicked’s advice
Choosing God’s righteous path
Grace pays entry’s price
Faith guiding each next step
Called by God to pause
Waiting for His command
Timeless counsel draws
Spirit, water, and blood
Filled with purity
Believing in God’s Son
Hope’s security
Deeply-rooted faith sown
Watered with God’s love
Overcoming darkness
Harvest’s light above
Courtesy of Pinterest.
From 1 John 5:6-8: “This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. There are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood, and these three agree.”
Stay open to a new idea for at least five minutes. You could be surprised at the benefit of remaining open those three hundred seconds.
From Isaiah 43:19: “I am about to do a new thing;now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wildernessand rivers in the desert.”
Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.
Dolly Parton (born 1946) is an acclaimed American singer-songwriter. Her success in country music has enriched her life with opportunities to become a philanthropist, actress, and businesswoman.
Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude–an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.
From Romans 12:12: “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.”
Arthur Walkington (A. W.) Pink (1886-1952) was an English Bible teacher and Christian writer. Following his death, many of his writings were well-received by readers. This turnabout established him as an influential evangelical author.
Big Sky Buckeye 