Silly Prayers??

I wonder if God looks down at some of our prayers and thinks, "How silly!" As soon as a "wonder" comes into my mind about that, the next thought is NO WAY! God cares about the things of our lives. He said (1 Peter 5:7 NCV) "Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you." I guess "all" means "ALL."

Well, I'm going to ask you guys to begin praying about something that may seem a little silly to you all (I'm sure with the exception of Cecil). My son Brandon has begun preparing for baseball tryouts coming up January 29. He will be trying out for the JV team. As you may remember, we were distraught last year, along with most of our city, that he did not make the 8th grade team. I sure don't want to go through that again. So, I'm asking you to pray for us in this.

One encouragement is that he made the ninth grade basketball team. Their season is winding down, with our last game being next Tuesday. So, think about Brandon in the next few weeks and we would be so thankful!!

One Year Ago Today

Time is ever fleeting and zooming by like crazy. It doesn't seem like it, but one year ago today we stood around my dad's hospital bed and watched him take his last breaths. He had struggled for weeks just to get a good breath. There was absolutely nothing we could do to help. The doctors gave no hope and it seemed like prayers were not going to be answered "yes" to him living. I think it was the most helpless feeling I have ever experienced.

My dad was a quiet unassuming person who had nothing but love for others. He was not a perfect man, but he was a great dad. He always had time for us as youngsters and that continued throughout our lives. He was the most selfless person I knew. He would give the very last he had to make us happy. That kind of heart also made him a wonderful granddad.

So today we remember an awesome person. We remember ,not without hope of seeing him again, but with the assurance of grace that this time apart is just that, and with the way time flies, it won't be long when we will be together again. For that kind of confidence, we can praise our Father in heaven.

You Can't Make Me!

Growing up, I remember saying to others "You can't make me!"(not my parents especially my mom. She would have killed me). It's kind of a childish thing to say that, yet we contend with it all of the time.

Constantly we try and "make" others do what we want. What could be said or done to "make" one change their mind about a specific direction? I know this question sounds abstract, but I think it to be a good one.

I struggle with this as a pulpit preacher. How do I get the message in my heart to translate into the lives of others and cause real, lasting, change in their walk with God?

First, I think that "results" are not measured always in visible response. I mean, walking an aisle after a sermon takes guts in one sense, but not in another. It's much easier in a church building to make a decision than it is in the world when confronted with a real live situation. So many times people have said to me, "I had a situation today that one of your sermons blessed me in." That's so encouraging. Thank God that He works through us to help others.

Second, I think more and more that it's not me who decides how a person responds. I simply bring a message from God to the hearts of the people and they are the ones who have to make the choices. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit's work included convincing men of sin. So it's the Spirit who does the work not us.

Maybe there's more you can contribute to this conversation about how to help others make the right decision for their life.