HANDS HEADLINES

“Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’

 7″The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’

 8″But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need.

 9″Here’s what I’m saying:

   Ask and you’ll get;
Seek and you’ll find;
Knock and the door will open.

 10-13″Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”

Luke 11:5-13 (The Message)

This passage has really spoken to us over the last several months.  Looking back on our prayer requests from January, our thoughts were framed around this passage.  It’s neat to see several of those requests being answered.

Pretty much the entirety of 2006 so far for us has been comprised of asking, seeking and knocking.  He loves to provide what we need. But often He is much more concerned with the process of us learning to trust Him than providing the simple things we need.  That’s where the persistence in asking comes in.  And persistent praying.  And waiting.

As of today, we still need over $900 in monthly support to meet our minimum goal and our house is still sitting here unsold in a sluggish real estate market.

No doubt God can accomplish the two items mentioned above, but it appears He wants to make it an absolute miracle:

I’ve invited 20 new people in the last three weeks to join our partnership team.  Two people have committed finances.  A couple more are still praying about it.  We still need about more 12 people to join us at $75/month.  Or 9 people at $100/month.  Or 18 people at $50/month.  You get the picture.

Whatever number it is, that’s at least a dozen more people than I know to ask at this point.  I am really just about out of contacts.  . . . Again.

Sometimes I feel like everyone I know plus the dog next door has heard my story, vision for ministry, Campus Crusade’s goals for the Great Commission and an invitation to join our support team.

At least the dog next door is easy to get an appointment with.

God is not slow to keep His promises.  Nor is He reluctant to do so.  He even ENJOYS answering in ways that seem impossible.  Like getting my introverted self to actually enjoy finding and meeting 20 new people (many more than that in the last year).  Or finding someone who would love to buy our house when seemingly hardly anyone is even looking.

Last Friday, at about 5pm, just when I was realizing “I have called everyone possible I know to call for our partnership team” (I was thinking of visiting the dog next door again), I received an email from a friend.  I’d asked this friend two months ago to introduce me to some of his close friends who might like to meet us and learn about our ministry.  He had agreed enthusiastically when I’d asked him, so I was assuming the best.  I even left him SIX voicemail messages last week.  (Hey, the Scripture says to ask persistently!)

So, in the email, my friend listed four families he had called for me.  He had spoken to each one, and given me a great introduction.  They were expecting my call.  So, I had four new people to call this weekend!  Another Ephesians 3:20 moment.

I ramble on.  All of this is to say:  PLEASE continue to pray with us and don’t give up.

Will God do it by October 9th?  All He is telling me is to keep asking, seeking and knocking.  Either way, He is so good.  And it’s a joy to trust Him rather than to anxiously wonder if my efforts are good enough.

We’ll keep ya posted.  Thanks for listening and to God be the glory.