Lesson From a Rescue #3 – A.S.K.

Posted on by Dorci

I’ve been eating eggs for breakfast for years, and since shortly after we rescued our dog six years ago, he’s virtually insisted I share my eggs with him every morning.

The routine is nearly always the same: he waits for me to get out of bed, dutifully watches as I get out the ingredients, utensils, plate…maybe paces a bit as I cook it up (depending on whether or not he’s deferred eating his own breakfast until he’s had some of mine), walks with me over to my seat, sits as close as he can get, and begins to remind me, repeatedly, that he’s there.

He stares deep into my soul, and if that’s not enough, he accentuates it with some serious begging, or he’ll whimper as pathetically as he knows how. And every once in a while, when he’s especially desperate and I’m not paying close enough attention, he’ll resort to a chest bump to the leg.  

Every day, week after week, month after month, year after year, he thinks he has to remind me all over again. That somehow I’ve forgotten him. Like I could.

All the while I’m reminding him, again, that I know he’s there, just like yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that. I cut off his little pieces and save them until I’m finished, or at least almost. I can’t forget. There’s no way he’d let me. Yes, he’s a dog, but he’s part of my family. He’s my furry little child, and I love him.

“Yes, I know, I remember, you’ll get your eggs when it’s time.”

And so many times during this exchange I think of us.

We have needs and there may be times we’re not sure if God’s going to provide. Has He forgotten me? Does He see me? How is He going to get me out of this situation?

But Jesus tells us our Father knows what we need before we ask Him. (Matt. 6:8)

Yes, we ask for our daily bread (or eggs) and all our needs, but we don’t need to wonder if our Father’s heard us or has forgotten us.

We’re His children and we’re always on His mind and in His heart.  

Still, Rocky reminds me of a command Jesus gives us:

“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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if your son asks for bread (or your dog asks for eggs), will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil (hurtful), know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”
Matthew 7:7-11


Rocky’s got it down. He asks, he seeks, and when needed, he knocks his chest right up against my leg. And in the right time, he gets what he’s asked for.

We are invited by Christ Himself to go to our Heavenly Father and A.S.K. – ask, seek, and knock, but not from a place of doubt, not afraid He’s forgotten us, or worse, believing He doesn’t care about us.

We can and must go to Him firmly seated in the foundation of our abiding faith in Him who sent His Son to die for us, who loves us with an everlasting love, and who called us by knocking on the door of our own heart to bring us into relationship with Himself. 

 

“Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we keep His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us.“
1 John 3:21-23

 

With His Love,

 


Related blogs: 

Lesson From a Rescue

Lesson From a Rescue – #2

 

A Taste of Heaven

Posted on by Dorci

With every passing year (week? day?), every hurdle I face, every body part that breaks down, every headline I thought I’d never see, I find myself longing more and more for my heavenly home.

This world holds less of what I want, but heaven…the home of my LORD, my Savior, my Friend…that is where my heart is. And I know I’m not alone.

 

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved.”
Romans 8:22-24

Ah, childbirth. In those moments of some of the most intense, blinding, delirium-inducing pain I’ve ever had, I never thought I’d be able to look back and smile. Even chuckle. I barely remember the pain now, but oh, the tremendous blessing I received afterward – now that I remember, and am still blessed with today.

And I can say yes, it was all worth it. The morning sickness, the cravings, the water retention, the back pain, all worth it. I can even cherish it now knowing the beauty that came from it.

And yes, no matter the pain in this life, it’ll all be worth it someday. The day will come when not only our adoption is complete, but we’ll see how the Lord used the trials in this life to mature our faith, to grow us closer to Him, and to receive those treasures we’ve laid up there, treasures greater than we can ever imagine.

For now, we continue to groan inwardly, to wait, patiently, for our time to come. There is a way, though, to experience a taste right now of the future reward for our labor.

Call up an old friend, a brother or sister in the Lord you haven’t seen in while, and invite him or her to lunch, dinner, coffee.

Laugh over old times, eagerly share what’s happened in your lives, how the Lord’s been faithful to always be there in the tough times, and what He’s taught you along the way.

As your heart is filled with the joy of the reunion, let it be a reminder of joy we’ll experience at the great feast in heaven as we join untold numbers of loved ones, those we sorely miss and those we have yet to meet, with our King at the head, and rejoice forever.

Until then, let us hold onto our Hope.

Sunday Praise and a Prayer – Grace, Grace, God’s Grace

Posted on by Dorci

 

Dear Precious Heavenly Father, we come to you today in praise of your glorious name. You are more wondrous and greater than we can ever fully grasp, and still, you live in our souls.

You reside in our hearts, and inhabit our praises. You sit with us and weep when we weep; you’re near to us when our hearts are broken. There is no where we could ever go where you wouldn’t go to bring us back.

Thank you for the grace you give that allows us to believe in your Son, to receive forgiveness through Him, and to live a brand new life – His life, His love, His joy.

You’ve taken us from darkness to light, and continually pour out your grace on us. In place of aimlessness, you’ve given us a maturing faith; in place of fruitlessness, you’ve given us spiritual gifts; in place of brokenness, you heal our hearts; in place of an empty life, you’ve given us an abundant life in you.

Father, may we never take your grace for granted. May we live this life for you to the fullest, obeying you at every turn, remembering the great scope of your love. May we remember how far you went to redeem us so we could know you and walk with you, and some day live in your very presence, the place your grace is preparing for us now.

With all our hearts, we thank you, Precious Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

Friday Funnies – Old School

Posted on by Dorci


 




 

 

Have a great weekend!

Diamonds in the Darkness

Posted on by Dorci

I looked down and it was gone. I had no idea when or where, if I’d been at home or out in the great big world, but the diamond from my wedding ring was gone. Had it been sucked up by the vacuum? Had a bird snatched it from the lawn? Had it been kicked under shelving at the grocery? Only God knew.

I walked around the house, searching with laser-like vision.

Nothing.

I asked a few friends if they would pray for me, with me, that the Lord would lead me to it. And for the next number of weeks my normal walking position became with my head down, eyes furiously scouring every inch.

Still nothing.

I started to think I might have to get a new diamond.

Then one Wednesday night I walked into the darkened garage to go to the mid-week service, opened the car door which turned on the dome light, and started to slide into the driver’s seat. I looked down to make sure where I was placing my foot, and I saw something glimmer.

Could it be?

I moved my foot, reached down and picked up the shiny object.

It was.

My diamond had been resting on the dirty floor of the car all that time. Who knows how many miles it had languished there, how many times my foot had stepped there, but God knew.

I’ve had the prongs checked and tightened a couple of times (and once replaced) in the years since.

And I’ve thought about the allegory it represents for all of us in Christ.

Yes, we were all lost until Christ called us found.

And because of Him, by Him, through Him, we were made into precious gems. And still, He is constantly fashioning in us, by the chiseling of our trials, even more facets to reflect His beautiful light. And while we always shine, we reflect Him best in the darkness.

 

“You are the light (phōs) of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” 
Matthew 5:14-16

 

That Greek word phōs means to shine, or make manifest, especially by rays; luminousness, fire, light.

The more Jesus becomes our passion, the more our hearts are on fire for Him and Him alone, the more we’re going to shine with the eternal Light the world needs and is desperately searching for.

As dusk turns into night on this world, we can shine brightly for Him on the stand He’s given us.

Wherever He takes us, whomever He gives us, with whatever gifts He’s given us, may we shine.

Through our works, our speech, our fruit, may we shine.

With His triumphant truth, His compassion, His gentleness, His kindness, His forgiveness, His sacrificial, all-encompassing, grace- and mercy-filled love, may we shine like the Son.

 

Heavenly Father, may we shine with the Light of your Son through the power of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, amen.