Greetings, Dear Friends!

To those visiting for the first time I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my goal is to bless you and nourish your soul.

My husband received a call the other day from our son Luke who is in college studying to be a worship pastor. He has no money, but some how, over time, he has managed to acquire the gear necessary to foster his interest in computers and nurture his love for music. He barters, he builds from scratch, he trades, he saves, and in the end he gets what he's after.

The recent phone call went like this: "Uh, Dad, how are you doing today? Well I just wanted to tell you that I have a friend who needed a computer so I took one of my old ones, rebuilt it, programmed it with the things he wanted and then sold it to him. Then I got a ride to the bank and deposited the money. Then I called the music store and asked them to set aside the speaker I've been eyeing for some time. Then I paid for it over the phone with my credit card. It's sitting there with my name on it. Would you mind picking it up for me?"

My husband looked at me and said, "How do ya say no to that?"

I was reading in Luke chapter 12 the other day and I pondered Jesus' words, "Fear not, it's the Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom!"

Think with me for a moment about all of the references to faith and persistence in the Bible. Over and over again Jesus stopped in His tracks and made an example of someone who dared to believe. And...over and over again, you could almost hear Him breathe a heavy sigh when just after a miracle, people wondered what He was going to do about lunch, or the odor, or whatever.

Jesus would basically stop and say, "Have you not been with me the whole time? Have you not seen the miracles I performed on your behalf? What will it take to get you to believe?" Jesus used the parable about the persistent widow so that we would always pray and never give up (see Luke 18:1).

He used her persistence as an example that we might follow suit.

My son Luke has a pretty narrow focus when it comes to his goals, dreams, and desires. Not that any of these are small - in fact - they are huge. But he is so clear on his gifts and interests that he has very little interest in much else. When he has a few extra dollars, he spends it on computers, music equipment, or his sweet girlfriend.

It's really something to watch a college kid with no money navigate his way through life with persistence, prayer, and a focused desire...and end up with the object of his pursuit.

Now I am not using Luke as an example to suggest that we should go after every material pursuit our heart desires. Rather, I want us to view it as sort of a word picture.

Matthew 7:7-12 says, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. for everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, will you 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 heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?

(and here's a very important part of the verse...)

SO in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you...

Boldness blesses God. Faith pleases Him. Persistence pays off. We have access to the riches of Heaven and God has called us to pray and not give up - but not just for our own needs - for the needs of others too.

I find it interesting that after we are told that the Father loves to give good gifts to those who ask for them, by telling us to do for others, He is reminding us, "Since you have access to boundless provision and power, use these to make the world a better place. Bless yourself. Bless others. Improve the human condition. Put a demand on the resources of Heaven."

I've never been sorry for persisting in prayer. I've always walked away with far more than I invested.

Ask Him for the nations - ask that His Kingdom would come and invade your community - ask Him to do a mighty work in your midst - because it is Your Father's great pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

Until next week...