Parable

Prayer doesn't work unless someone who is called by God decides to take action to be His hands and feet. JS.

God can zap a miracle if He wants to. Or, He can tell His children to act and take a step forward to contribute to the solution of the problem.

God led Israel to the Promised Land, and then still required them to fight for it. But EVERYONE had to contribute.

It's okay to pray for me. I appreciate that. Especially from those who don't have it to give. But, I need action, too.

Here is a parable:

A little girl fell down into a well. She screamed and screamed for help.

Eventually, a man walked by. He said, "Oh, my, how did you get caught in that well? You should have been more careful!" and walked on.

She kept screaming.

A lady walked by. She had just done laundry and there was a rope tying all of her clothes together as she lugged them along. She heard the little girl's screams and said, "Oh, MY! Where is your mother? She should have been a better mother! I'll pray for you!" and walked on.

The little girl continued to scream. She was running out of air. It hasd started to rain. A group walked by on their way to church. They were dressed in nice clothes. Several of them were very muscular, because they taught that your body is your temple and did workouts. When they heard the little girl's screams, they gathered around in a circle, and rather than trying to find a way to get her out of there, they prayed. They told her to have faith. She would be helped. Then, they walked away.

Meanwhile, the water was rising in the well. She was tired and weary from trying to keep her nose and mouth from going under. She kept screaming. Her voice was give out from telling her story to any who would listen. She needed someone to reach down and help her.

A man walked by and heard her, and saw her dilemma. He chastised her for her bad judgment in playing on the old wooden board that had broken beneath her and caused her fall. He told her she was getting what she deserved. He had a rope, a warm blanket, and some hot tea in his hands. He carried a Bible and prayed over her and told her to repent, and God would save her. Then He left without offering any of what he had to help her besides his prayers.

Someone else walked by and told her she should sue the person who dug that hole. Then walked by.

Another came by and said, "It's too much effort. Someone else will do it. They always do."

The little girl grabbed the sides of the well to try to climb, but the dirt was loose and slippery. The roots she grabbed hold of just kept breaking.

Someone walked by and told her she wasn't trying hard enough.

Another one walked by and made fun of her.

Someone else told her she needs to find somewhere else to play, and they'll be back next week with help.

Someone else walked by and told her that she needed to find a new playground.

Maybe if every one of those people had thrown a stone down into the well, then eventually the little girl could have stepped upon them as the well filled with stones. But, no one even offered that.

She drowned.

The Church should remember that while they are praying and going to church, they should also BE the church. JS

I'm drowning here.

And, I'm going to have a story to tell when all this is over, one way or the other. It will either be a good story or a sad story. Which story will Glorify God more? Which story will God praise His church for more?

Which one of these characters looked like the Church that Jesus intended to build?

Which one most resembled YOU?

I need at least $285 more to pay the car payment. I have enough (Praise God!) for the warranty deductible now. I realize not many people can give that much. But if every one of my over 1500 friends gave just $1.00, I could make it.

And if I could get back a portion of what I had given to others in their times of need, I could make it.

Just saying.

One thing I have learned well in the past couple of years:

You can't hear what God is saying to someone else. You can only hear what He tells YOU. So, you can't tell someone else what you feel God is or isn't calling them to do.

You can tell them what it looks like, but looks can be deceiving where God's purposes are concerned. Remember Moses and the Red Sea? It looked like the end, but it wasn't.

It was only the beginning.

I am in front of a Red Sea right now. I feel the wind blowing the waters back. I am watching, with my hands raised in the air praising God for whatever He decides to do.

It looked like it was the end for me, but maybe it is only the beginning. Maybe this is my Red Sea.

I do know one thing: It isn't my first one, and it probably won't be the last one. All of them have led me to where I am right now, so who am I to say that the journey is over?

And, who is anyone else to tell me that the journey is not mine to make if it isn't over?

Lord, You have the first and last say in everything.

There are times I just want to throw my hands up and say, "I give up". But, You always send me a sliver of hope to keep going. A sliver is all I need, Lord. Great things have come from the slivers You have sent me in the past. That's why I keep going, in spite of my weariness.

I pray that this time is no different, and that great things will come from all this that I am going through now.

Please bless and keep all those who have helped me thus for, and touch the hearts of those who have not yet, but can.

Help me to be able to pay them back in the future, or to pay it forward as needs dictate.

Lead me, guide me, show me the way. I need Your strength, Lord. I'm tired of fighting. I'm weary of the struggle. My eyes burn from the tears of disappointment I feel.

Be with my lists and my children.

In Jesus's Name, I pray, Amen!

Deuteronomy 31:8

“And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”