Slideshow image

Dear Shiloh Family,

Temperatures hovered in the mid-to-high twenties. The skies were filled with patterns of perfect, quarter-sized snow flakes fluttering straight earthward. Green fingers of grass disappeared under a blanket of white. Even the blackness of the recently salted asphalt was rapidly fading. We were (by definition only) becoming snowed in. The cupboards were packed with food and sugary snacks, and the fridge was loaded. Outside was as peaceful as a silent night manger scene. However, on the inside, my five grandchildren were operating on full tanks from frequent visits to the cabinets and refrigerator. The large cabin grew smaller by the minute. But it was the most wonderful chaos I had experienced in a long time. It was Grandparent hallelujah heaven!

It's interesting how confinement brings out individual personalities and character traits, especially in children. For the sake of harmony in the family, Ill dance around adult implications. I watched my Mom chuckle as the older juvenile manipulators petitioned Anita and I for things and privileges their Moms and Dads would never allow. And if they ever made it to Meemaw, there were no limitations. Who was this lady, and where was she when my siblings and I were growing up? I'm sorry, I digress.

Occasionally, one or both of the smaller Tasmanians in angel's skins would look at an object, shoot flames of fire from their eyes, and release decibels that would break glass and pierce eardrums. Sometimes, we would get a lightning rod, lazer-guided finger in the direction of the desired object. Please, don't get Holy on me; yours do it too. More than once, both sets of parents would abruptly reply with something like, "Oh no you don't. You will ask for it nicely." "May I have it?" After a round or two of verbal volleys and headshakes, some muffled, unintelligible language would spew from the child, and everyone would give their atta-boy's. Of course, you all know Memaw, Anita, and I had the child's request in motion at the first sound.

We find this hilarious, but Christians are much the same way. In the greatest of times, the most peaceful circumstances, when we should be in want for nothing, we are prone to whine and explode about things that are so trivial in mannerisms that are certainly not very Christlike. All the while, it is there for the taking, it is well within our reach, and in fact, God created it for our pleasure. However, He wants us to ask for it, and He requires us to ask in the right way or with the right heart.

1 John 5:14-15: Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. NKJV

As we study God's word and become mature, we learn what is important to Him. We are given discernment and spiritual intuition correlated with the Bible as to what we need and faith to believe our Heavenly Father can provide it. And, by the way, he will often give us the desires of our hearts.

Psalm 37:3-5: 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord,Trust also in Him,And He shall bring it to pass. NKJV  

Likewise, we often complain and become vocal about our government and the way it has failed the conservative Christian and the Church. Sunday, we will hear of how we can become proactive in seeking religious freedom in American. Please, come support our NAMB Public Affairs Director at the Georgia State Capitol. He also pastored a Southern Baptist Church for more than 30 years, and Mike knows the word.

The content of the asking often resembles the condition of the heart.

God Bless, 
Pastor Derrell