The Parable of The Clorox Wipes

Why are these things so popular right now? I'll tell you why. It's because they kill germs and everyone is a germaphobe these days. And with good reason!

When the corona virus pandemic first started to show it's ugly face around here, people started hording personal hygiene products like toilet paper and . . . Clorox wipes.

My wife ran out, so did our daughter-in-law - both of them clean freaks, or so they tell me. My wife looked in every store she went to, trying to find those darned wipes and nobody had them.

Soon, the bathroom smelled of a new odor - a substitute concoction some Facebook Susie-homemaker came up with. Nasty smelling stuff. I'm not sure it killed any germs but it probably made them leave town due to the smell.

Each time my wife and I go shopping she always checks for her hard-to-find wipes. Each time she has been denied. Until last weekend that is.

We were at our local hardware / farm / hunting / garden store last week. My wife went to check for her wipes. The shelves were bare. She hung her head and slumped her shoulders in disappointment. "When are you going to get more of these wipes?" she asked a nearby clerk.

She wasn't really expecting an answer. It was more of a frustrated, rhetorical question. But the clerk replied, "Just a minute. I'll check in the back." She disappeared but soon she returned with a single container of Clorox disinfectant wipes - tucked under her work vest. She gave the wipes to my wife.

It might as well have been Christmas because my wife's face lit up like a Christmas tree! Her day was totally made. Day? Her MONTH was made! She was SO excited to finally have some or her long sought after wipes! Then she did something that caught my attention, and the attention of the Lord God Almighty I should think. She gave them away.

While our daughter still had some, our daughter-in-law was out. A meeting was arranged, the transfer was made, and it was Christmas time all over again. Only in someone else's eyes.

That single act of selflessness impressed the heck out of me. What an amazing thing to do. Despite having searched for those stupid wipes for over a month, when she finally found what she was looking for, my wife gave them away to someone who needed them more.

That's exactly what we are supposed to do with the Gospel. We are not to keep such wonderfulness to ourselves. We are commanded to share it with everyone we meet.

"Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, (her lack of wipes) put in everything—all she had to live on.” - Mark 12:41-44

The people who hoarded all of the personal hygiene supplies did so for their own good. They were being extremely selfish during a difficult time for everyone, leaving mothers, and those REALLY in need of these items, without.

But not my wife. She did what was right in the eyes of The Lord. And I was very proud of her for doing so.

Don't Stand So Close

For those of us who are huggers, this is a bad time to be alive. Although, being alive is a better option than being dead. Or is it?

I'll admit it. I'm a hugger. A lot of my friends are too. SO, what do we do when we can't even get within six feet of each other without somebody calling the police?

Well, for the time being we have to forget about ourselves and think big picture. "Short term pain for long term gain" is the phrase to remember until this corona / Covid thing is over.

As much as we and our friends want to demonstrate our love for each other with a hug, the best way to demonstrate love in 2020 thus far is to keep our distance.

This week is "Holy Week" on the Christian calendar. It's all about Jesus - speaking of love. God is love, Jesus is God, therefore Jesus is love. And this coming Friday - Good Friday - is a reminder of how much Jesus loves us all. He sacrificed His life so they we wouldn't have to die - permanently.

Before Jesus died He told His disciples these words. Perfect words for this scary time that we are living in.

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends . . . " - John 15:13-14

Paul reminds us of this in his letter to the church in Rome.

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:6-8

What does that mean for us in this corona-filled world? Sadly, it means don't visit your family members, even if that's what we want to do the most. If you're not living with them, don't visit them. And if you REALLY need to see someone, stay at least six feet away from them. You can hug them and kiss them NEXT month.

This is a time to celebrate the death AND resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let's not get sick and diminish our thanks and praise to God for all that He has done for us. We should be celebrating. Isn't Jesus worth a little sacrifice on our part in order to maximize our appreciation for all that He has done?

Yes, it is!

Isn't God worthy of all blessing, honor and glory we can bestow on Him?

Yes, He is!

Is He Worthy? - Chris Tomlin
Don't Stand So Close To Me - The Police

Joy In Pawhuska

I discovered something in the middle of the Oklahoma prairie this past weekend. I think I got a little taste of what God experiences when we do the things we were created to do.

My wife and I are currently on vacation. We are traveling south to visit a friend in Texas and we're taking in all of the sites along the way. The Gateway Arch in St Louis, The World's Largest Gift Store somewhere in Missouri, a goat farm. All the exciting destinations!

One place we HAD to stop was the Pioneer Woman Mercantile Building in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The Pioneer Woman is a cooking show that my wife loves to watch on television. Pawhuska is where the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, lives.

Pawhuska is a small town of about 3,400 people. Formerly a dying prairie town, it has surged in recent years as fans of The Pioneer Woman show have flocked to its streets. The Drummond family restored a downtown storefront into a very nice store and bakery. My wife wanted to visit.

My wife was born to shop. She loves it. She loves coupons and finding deals. But she really loved shopping in this store she has seen on television for the past several years. Normally I get bored waiting for her to finish shopping but I noticed something in her eyes as she floated up and down the aisles.

She was REALLY enjoying herself! I'd describe it as . . joy.

As I stood back and watched her enjoyment I began thinking about God. I think He enjoys watching us do what WE were created to do. What are the things WE do to glorify God? What are the things we enjoy doing that glorify Him?

At the end of the day my wife asked me if I had an enjoyable day saying, "It was all about me today." I told her that indeed I did have a wonderful day. I got to watch my wife, the love of my life, enjoying HER life. We are growing closer together through moments like we are experiencing this week. How many others can say the same?

My wife and I are having an enjoyable vacation. Each of us is doing what we like to do. But it is also a vacation of sorts just to relax and enjoy being with each other. Who created the prairie, the rivers, the sky that we are seeing? It was God! Did He not create us also?

How will we make God smile today by what we do?

"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do." - Ecclesiastes 9:7

Tour of The Mercantile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4WUMzVuZ9I

What Do You Want?

From an early age most of us were taught how to pray. "God bless mommy and daddy, God bless Grandma and my puppy." I saw something recently though that made me question the way that I pray. Do you do this?

Our childhood prayers before meals get a little better than those bedtime prayers with "God is great, God is good" - directing our prayers vertically rather than horizontally. When we become adults though, do our prayers really change all that much from those childhood prayers?

I saw a meme on Facebook recently that caused me to re-examine my prayer life. Perhaps it will do the same for you. Here it is.

So many times I have prayed seeking God's help with something. Perhaps it's a prayer for a friend in need or a prayer seeking forgiveness for something I have done. But seldom have I prayed in such a way that I ask God what HE wants.

I love what that meme says! And it's true. True prayer I think is not asking God to come through for our laundry list of hopes and desires. True, worshipful prayer is asking God what He wants from US.

Instead of asking, "Please God, get rid of my cancer", what if we prayed, "Lord, how can I use this for your glory?" or, "Father, what is it you want from me?

When Samuel was being called by God Eli told Samuel to answer God in a particular way. It is good for us to remember the words of Samuel as WE pray.

"Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. ⁹ Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰ Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” - Samuel 3:8-10

So many time we ask God to take care our needs instead of asking Him what we can do for Him. Are we afraid of what he'll ask us to do? Or are we afraid of how WE might answer.

What Do You Want From Me? - Pink Floyd

Relationship Advice From God

Everybody has relationship struggles from time to time in their lives. Disagreements, arguments, frustrations, even infidelity can take center stage. It doesn't have to be that way.

And before you think that this isn't "a Christian problem" you're wrong. Divorce rates between Born-Again Christians (27%)1 and non-Christians (12%)1 in this country are opposite from what we think they'd be. So what's the problem? And how do we fix it? The answer is easy. Go look in a mirror. No, not THAT mirror. The Bible!

Ephesians 5:21 says this, "²¹ Submit to one another." Think about that for a moment. Think about the ramifications of those four words and what they mean in our lives. If taken to the extreme, it would mean that none of us would ever get our way! That's correct. Now we are beginning to see.

Jesus and His disciples were walking one day and He told them this:

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” - Mark 9:35

That was good advice for the apostles and it is good advice for us in our relationships too. Here's an example.

When I come home after a long day at the office the first thing I want to do is put down my lunch bag and get out of my work clothes. Sometimes, however, my wife has ALSO had a long work day and wants to vent about it. So what do I do?

I could say, "Give me five minutes, will ya?" but that would be putting my self and my desires above those of my wife. So I stand there and listen while she tells me about her day. Is it really that big of a deal? My needs should come last.

God is a strong believer in self-sacrifice and unconditional love. Look what He did for us on the cross! The book of Ephesians tells us to imitate Christ.

"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. ² Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." - Ephesians 5:1-2

Life can get frustrating at times but if we can remember to places other's needs above our own, our relationships will flourish and grow. And isn't that why we are here? To learn and grow?

Jesus once told His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:24-26)


If we are to "take up our cross" like Jesus did, doesn't that mean that He wants us to sacrifice OUR lives for the lives of others, just as He did for us? I think it does.

O The Blood - Gateway Worship

1 "Christians are more likely to experience divorce than are non-Christians," Barna Research Group, 1999-DEC-21, at: http://www.barna.org/ Barna no longer has this report online. However, a review of the report is at: http://www.adherents.com/

Bob The Hoarder

I guess I never really thought about it but, in a way, I think I am a hoarder. Not in the sense that this picture depicts but I AM a hoarder - a hoarder of my time. Here's what I mean.

We all have our diversions in life - the things we like to do. Maybe it's Facebook or Twitter. Perhaps it's Hallmark Christmas movies or building a tiny home. The point is we ALL have time in our schedules that is basically spare time. It is our choice how we will use that time. And that's the big question. How do you and I use our spare time?

I have been trying to kick that habit of wasting my spare time. For example, for the past year I have been responding "Yes dear" whenever my wife asks me to do something. And I do it right away. Previously, when my wife asked me to do something I'd say, "Yeah" and then waited for her to ask me again. That worked okay for me. But not for her.

I wear a bracelet on my left wrist. It reads "I Am Second". God is supposed to come first. I found that too often the words on my bracelet simply weren't true so I made the change. I need to get a different bracelet that reads "I Am Last" Why?

"So when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you." - John 13:12-15

It has been prophesied that Jesus will return one day. As the pastor in my church asked yesterday, "What will He find us doing when He returns?" Will we be playing video games? Scrolling through Facebook? Or will we be found serving Him?

As we find ourselves with a spare moment this week, how will we answer those questions. As for me, I hope Jesus finds me breaking the bad habits in favor of the new. I hope He returns to find me serving Him in some way. Satan loves is when we do things that are not about God. Let's make Satan disappointed then. Let's break the habit and surrender ALL.

Breaking The Habit - Linkin Park
I Surrender All - Faith Hill

Burning Love

I'm not anybody special. Far from it. But I HAVE been blessed in that I have seen glimpses of God. Not God Himself mind you. No one has ever seen God, and lived. But I HAVE seen examples of his character in His Word and in His creation. So have ALL of His children! But I never thought I'd see Him in my fireplace.

For example, yesterday I was looking at the fire in our fireplace. There were no flames actually but the log was glowing red hot. As I watched it I could see it pulsing, reds and oranges. It was like the log was alive with fire - burning from within itself. That's what gave me the idea for this story.

We read in 1 John 4 that "God is love." When we read that in verse eight we think, "Yeah? So? I love people too." That's just it. I don't think we do. Not the way God loves us.

We say we love all kinds of things. For example, I love my grandchildren, I love my wife, and I love meatloaf. My friend Chuck at church said he has a friend who "loves" hunting. Does he REALLY love hunting? Or is it just an obsession? Love is an incredibly misused word.

I see people on Facebook say how they love someone. They're 12! How can they be so sure it's love and not indigestion? Do they even comprehend what love is at that young age? Or us. Can we truly comprehend what love is without knowing God?

I think that none of us really knows what love is until we come to know Jesus. The Bible is right when it said that God is love. And here's the proof.

Open your Bibles to Luke 23 and begin reading in verse 34. Jesus is being crucified by the religious rulers. What did Jesus do? He prayed for them, seeking forgiveness on their behalf. What?!?

³⁴ Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots." - Luke 23:34

In verse 41-44 we see another example of the love of Christ as He had compassion on one of the criminals hanging next to Him. Speaking to the second thief, the first thief said,

⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
 
⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” - Luke 23:41-43

Flip ahead to John 19 for yet another example of God's love and compassion. When Jesus looked down from the cross and saw John and His mother standing there He said this:

²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” ²⁷ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." - John 19:26-27

As He was dying on the cross, Jesus made sure His mother was taken care of. He also comforted a thief and prayed for those who were killing Him. What kind of amazing love was that?

God's love burns hot, just like that log in our fire place.  Is our love that hot? Does it burn as deeply for fellow humans, both friend and foe? Sadly, I think we're lucky to find a spark sometimes when we compare our love with God's.

There is a difference between God's love and ours. Often we incorrectly call something love when it is really lust or idolatry.

Do we love our enemies like Jesus did? No. He sacrificed Himself for them out of a deep burning love in His heart so that they could be saved.

I want to live like that. I want to have so much love inside of me that I am glowing red-hot . . . not only for those I like but for those I don't like as well. I have a long way to go and surely I will never get to that point. But I can try. :)

Live Like That - Sidewalk Prophets

Fill Me Up

I have a theory. I think our hearts have a heart-shaped feature to them that is meant to be filled up. Some people's cups are over-flowing while others are empty. Some cups are bigger than others, some younger, some older. The purpose of a cup is to have something poured into it while we enjoy it and savor it. How full is YOUR cup ?

This past Saturday I volunteered at Ruby's Pantry - a local food pantry. I LOVE serving there. It always "fills my cup" right to the brim.

It was 18 degrees out that morning. Kind of chilly I guess but I had dressed for it. I probably looked like that kid from A Christmas Story, all swollen up and hardly able to bend my arms. Then I saw a friend of mine and asked her how she was doing.

"I lost both of my parents last month. My mom on November 1st and my father on November 30th."

Turns out my arms could bend after all. As I gave her a hug and told her I was SO sorry, I was actually pouring love from my heart-shaped cup into hers. How awful to lose both parents, one right after the other. I prayed for her right there in the snow.

I think the love we have stored up for ourselves tastes the best when we serve it to someone else in need. The cool thing about giving our love to someone else is, God in turn fills OUR hearts back up for us again.

My wife and I have one, lone Christmas card remaining on our countertop. I has a name on it but no address. I had been sending Facebook messages and texts to this person for weeks but no reply.

Last night I saw this person on Facebook so I sent them a quick message. They responded! I got the address and I got something else too. Filled up!

It turns out that this person's heart-shaped cup was bone dry. After a brief conversation both of our cups were full again.

Love is an amazing thing. We only get love when we freely give of it ourselves. However, there IS a danger. If we give of ourselves without any way to obtain a refill, there is a danger that our cups might become chipped or cracked. That's where God comes in.

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

That same day my wife and I were at a restaurant with our daughter, her husband and our grand daughter. The waitress came by and asked a question we should be asking everyone we meet.

"Would you like a re-fill?"

Pour into someone's life today and you will be filled with the love that never runs out.

Love Never Fails - Brandon Heath

Man's Limitations

In the 1973 movie Magnum Force, Clint Eastwood offered up one of his classic Dirty Harry tag lines at the end of the movie. I didn't know it then, but that line was instrumental in my maturing as both a man and a follower of Jesus. Want to know what it is? Well, do ya, punk?

First, let's open up our Bibles to The Book of John, the first chapter. In verse six we meet a man named John. John, the Baptist. People are coming to him and are being baptized with water. Many believe John to be the promised Messiah. He could have become a powerful man by letting them think that and making himself out to be more powerful than he was, but he didn't.

“I am not the Messiah.”

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

Later in Chapter 3 John is still talking about Jesus. This guy had a one-track mind! (And so should we).

"27“A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.” - John 3:27-30

There it is. The key to becoming a mature Christian, or a mature anything for that matter. Dirty Harry offers us the same advice at the end of Magnum Force.

"A man's got to know his limitations" - Dirty Harry.

What memorable words! Almost as popular as "Do you feel lucky punk?" or "Go ahead, make my day."

There are so many "versions" of Christianity in the world today. Which one is right? Well, John and Harry gave us some clues. We need to think more of others than we do of ourselves. We must become less.

Mormonism says if we do enough good deeds we can become gods on our own planets. Jehovah Witnesses make similar good deeds claims in their "works based" faith. Their beliefs contradict The Bible. That's why they made a bible of their own. Hmm.

If anyone tells you that you can be given spiritual gifts by men, run. If someone tells you that you can receive whatever you want simply by "declaring" it, run faster. Christians don't get any super powers apart from God's Holy Spirit! We're human. Only God has the power.

Adam and Eve thought they could become like God by tasting the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:5). That is not who we were created to be. Look at the example of Jesus. We should desire to be like Him, not BE Him.

^"5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant," - Philippians 2:5-7

We have to know our limitations. Trying to make ourselves greater than we really are will only lead to death. Ours. We must become less, He must become more. So, let me ask you something. Do you feel lucky? Well, do ya? God's truth is far better than a made-up faith. Trust in Him and you won't need luck.

^"9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

A Man's Got To Know His Limitations - Dirty Harry
First - Lauren Daigle

Stand Alone

"Tank Man" in Tiananmen Square, China

Have you ever stood up for something, all by yourself? Have you ever risked it all to make a stand for or against something?

Think about it? Have you ever had the guts, determination or been frustrated enough to actually act?

The guy pictured at the left did. In 1989, a column of approaching tanks was on a mission to quell some government protestors in China. He single-handedly stopped an entire group of advancing tanks. To this day, no one knows his name or whether he is alive or dead.

Rosa Parks

Have you ever heard of a lady named Rosa Parks? She was tired of segregated busses and restaurants in the south back in 1956 so she took a stand . . . or rather, she sat down. Blacks were not allowed to ride on busses unless they sat WAY in the back. Rosa didn't like that so . . .

I was listening to a sermon on my way to work Friday and Chuck Swindoll was talking about Esther. She took a stand and risked her life for the sake of her people.

^"12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, ¹³ he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish."

And then Mordecai delivered this line - a powerful statement in the form of a very pointed question.

"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Wow.

Appearing before the King without being summoned was an offense punishable by death. Yet Esther was willing to take that chance for the sake of her people.

^"15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” - Esther 4:12-16

Are we willing, are we capable of making such a stand in OUR lives? During the sermon I listened to Pastor Swindoll said this . . .

"Not until you believe that one person can make a difference, will you be willing to stand alone." - Chuck Swindoll

Are we willing? Will we be willing to stand when the time to do so is upon us? We need to have more than just an "opinion" about something. We need to take action. If we perish, we perish.

What is your stand on abortion? Gay marriage? Religious freedom?

Jesus made a stand. He stood for His Father. May we make the same stand in a world where His Father is being  removed from schools and whose followers are being tortured and killed simply for believing in Him. On this Memorial Day weekend, let us pray.

Presidential Proclamation for Memorial Day Prayer
Man vs. Chinese Tank
Esther: For Such A Time As This - John MacArthur

Selfless

May 1st was our countries National Day of Prayer, although I never would have noticed if my friend hadn't said something to me at work. I didn't see any news stories but that's not really a fair criticism. I don't watch much TV. But it doesn't seem like our country gets into praying much.

So I decided to "take things into my own hands." I wrote a little note early Thursday morning and placed it on everyone's desk at work. This is what the note said:

"Today is the National Day of Prayer. We encourage you to take time today and pray. Prayer is the main way we communicate with God. We seek His forgiveness, ask for His healing or for His intercession in the lives of those we love. There will be a group of us praying today at lunch in the Team Room. Please come join us. If you cannot participate, please let any of us know your prayer requests and we will be happy to pray on your behalf. Thank you."

I handed out over 80 of those little notes. The response was, shall we say, underwhelming. I got one e-mail thanking us for praying but that was it. No prayer requests. None. That's okay I guess, but I was expecting at least one. Hopefully, people took the time to pray on their own. Maybe it's just the skeptic in me but . . . I don't think they did. At least not here at work.

To hedge my bets on the note option I also sent out a few text messages to some of my friends, most of them brothers and sisters in the faith, requesting things I could pray for in their lives. I received a 60% return on my investment!

However, I received more than just simple prayer requests. I received encouragement. I received validation. There WERE other people on the planet actually willing to be prayed for! I'm just kidding. But I did receive a lesson.  A lesson in selflessness.

Almost all of those who responded requested prayer for someone else. A mother with cancer, a wife, a husband, parents. There were prayer requests for God to heal relationships, to allow for increased time for someone to pray and worship. Everyone was grateful to be lifted up in prayer. And everyone . . . EVERYONE, ended their message with, "How may I pray for you?"

Are you a part of a faith family? A church? A small group of some sort? Do you have a prayer partner or an accountability partner. Someone to keep you honest and to help you stay on track? Fellowship is SO important. We need to spend time with our brothers and sisters . . . with God.

My friend and I pray together every day at work. We keep each other accountable. I have several friends like that. The road to heaven is narrow. That's why we need our brothers and sisters to help keep us on it.

"9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Taking those we love to the Lord in prayer is an honor. We love them and we would love to help them in any way we can. Yet often we, by ourselves, cannot help our friends and loved ones in the ways that are needed. So we pray. We humble ourselves before the Lord, get down on our knees, and pray.

We Jesus was nearing the end of His ministry He humbled Himself. He got down on His knees and assumed the role of a servant.

"It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” - John 13:1-9

Not everyone likes to be served. Not everyone likes to pray. Not everyone believes in God. Should we then not take them to the Lord in prayer? Should we not become selfless and serve those who cross our paths? How will you love your neighbor today?

What If His People Prayed - Casting Crowns