MIRACLE LIST

I imagine that the widow who came to Elisha (II Kings 4) must certainly have said something like this, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Her husband, who had served God, was dead, and her debts were so great that the creditors were threatening to take her two sons as slaves. All she had was a pot of oil. Elisha told her and her sons to borrow all the vessels they could find. You will remember that when she poured the oil into the vessels, she was able to fill them all! When the vessels were gone, the oil stopped. At the end of the day, the oil, when sold, would pay off the debts, and the remainder would support the widow and her children! She needed a miracle, and she got one.

Have you ever been in a spot which seemed as hopeless of the widow's? I have to say that in God's mercy my needs have never been as desperate as hers, but I ask the Lord for things that essentially need a miracle. These are requests that in all honesty I have trouble believing will ever happen. In fact, they won't happen unless God does it. I put these things on my special "miracle list." Nearly every day I have to say "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief," and "Thy will be done." We must remember that we have the same God as Elisha had; and He is a miracle-working God. Let's ask Him for miracles.

Communication

When is communication not communication? Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone who wouldn't or couldn't listen or respond? I have, and I ran out of steam quickly! By definition communication requires at least two people. Perhaps this is the reason that we don't pray effectively--we don't let God respond, and we don't listen. I find it difficult to pray apart from Bible reading. My system is not perfect, but I keep trying! I begin my time with the Lord by "praying through a passage." You can begin anywhere. For example, say I am going to read through Paul's epistles. I begin reading Romans 1:1 "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,..." I am immediately convicted that I am a poor excuse for a servant. I confess this and ask God to make me a better, more faithful servant. I keep reading as long as I have time. Each time something strikes me, I pray about it. As I read, the Holy Spirit reminds me of random things I need to pray about. This is God speaking to me, my listening, and my responding back. It is real communication. Today if I read three chapters of Romans, tomorrow I will begin with Romans 4. If I miss a day or more, I don't try to catch up. I just begin at Romans 4 the next time. If you are one who must pray on the run, it will be harder but not impossible. You will have to take God's Word with you in some way. You could listen on a CD, read when you are at a red light or sitting in traffic, or call to memory passages that you have memorized. No reading while driving--Mom doesn't allow that!

Thomas Missed a Meeting

Thomas missed a meeting and so has forever become "Doubting Thomas." John, in his Gospel, tells us that Thomas was not with them when Jesus came and showed them His hands and His side. (John 20:19-29) Surely, if he had been there, he would never have doubted!

Today, our dear friend, Dawn Ross, taught a lesson at the ladies' prayer meeting and in it gave her dramatic and moving testimony. Those who were there were touched and strengthened by her words as well as by her Godly example. However, some missed the meeting. We can exclaim to them what a blessing the lesson was, but we are woefully unable to communicate the impact it had on us as a group. The exact dynamics of the meeting can never be recreated.

As believers God tells us not to forsake "the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;..." In other words, "Don't miss a meeting!"