I Got a Rock

There's a scene in "It's the Great Pumpkin" with Charlie Brown and friends. After the first door of trick or treat, with bags in hand, they compare their treats:
 
ALL: "I got five pieces of candy!” “I got a chocolate bar!” “I got a quarter!”  
Charlie Brown: “I got a rock.”

Some see prayer like that. We can ask in prayer, but you never know what you're gonna get. It might be bad.
Jesus turns this idea on it's head in Matthew 7: 9, "Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?" (ESV). Jesus is saying, "Does any sane father give you a rock if you ask for bread?" No, is the expected answer!

Jesus continues,

10"Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" (ESV)


Jesus has encouragement for all the Charlie Browns among us: "Your heavenly Father doesn't surprise you with something hurtful. So go ahead and ask."

Stronger from the Storm

Patience is in short supply. A few weeks ago a woman was accused of assaulting a server in a local restaurant because she was "unhappy with the service." I'm sure we can relate to being unhappy with the service but hopefully you've never resorted to such extreme measures.

We're consumers of immediate satisfaction. We groan if the fast food land is backed up. We get testy if the line out of the parking lot at church takes us an extra five. We're not good at patience.

But most good things in life take time--especially the spiritual. There's no "microwave maturity." Getting stronger takes time and...storms.

God has compared his people to palm trees (Psalm 92:12). You ever notice which trees are standing after a hurricane? Many times, it's the palm tree. I'm not an authority on palm trees but they tell me that their unique root system gives them this strength. And that they may actually grow stronger because of bending from strong winds! It appears that it's the storm that makes them stronger.

Are you in a financial storm? A storm in your marriage? A storm of temptation? A long quiet storm of waiting? You might be bending a little. But with patience, you'll find a stronger you on the other side of the storm.