Christian Reflection and Prayer

Prayer is the key

Scripture:

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate
their need for constant prayer and to show them they
must never give up…
Luke 18:1 NLT

Saved by a Stamp

God's answers to prayers can affect generations to come.
In fact, if not for his gracious answers to a prayer offered
many years ago, my children, grandchildren, and great-
grandchildren would not know his blessing today.

The story is simple. My cousin Mirea and I wanted to
visit friends in America. Sensing that we would not
abandon our grand idea, my father sent us on our way
with heartfelt prayers for our safety.

Our trip across Europe took several days. Finally we
arrived on the western shores of England. But as we
prepared to set sail for America, we were told there
was a problem with our papers. Officials at the
immigration office said Mirea was missing a stamp
on a paper that would allow her to leave the country.
We would have to stay in England for another week
until Mirea's papers could be corrected, they said.

Mirea and I went to the steamship office to ask if
we could exchange our tickets for a ship leaving
later in the month. The man at the window was
glad to make the exchange. He was sure he could
resell our berths. People were eager to sail on the
maiden voyage of the Titanic.
As we wandered back to the hotel, Mirea and I
were disappointed that we had to stay in England.
But, when the news reached us a few days later
of the sinking of the Titanic, we both began to cry,
in sadness for our lost shipmates, but also in relief,
realizing how close we had come to death ourselves.
God, in his mercy, had answered by father's father's
prayer for our safety with something as small as a
missing stamp. How good is God!
Elsa Sturit Kint

Adapted from The Prayer Bible Jean E. Syswerda,
general editor, Tyndale House Publishers (2003),
p 1495.

(God's Daily Promises)

You say you will never forget where you were
when you heard the news, Sept. 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say
"Good-bye." I held his fingers steady as he
dialed. I gave him the peace to say, "Honey,
I am not going to make it, but it is OK ...
I am ready to go." I was with his wife when
he called as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her up as she tried to understand his
words and as she realized he wasn't coming
home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to me for help. "I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for
50 years!" I said. "Of course I will show you
the way home-only believe on Me now."

I was at the base of the building with the
Priest ministering to the injured and
devastated souls. I took him home to tend to
his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and
answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every
seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew
as they were overtaken. I was in the very
hearts of the believers there. Comforting and
assuring them that their Faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Kansas, London. I was
standing next to you when you heard the
terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name - though they did NOT all
know Me. Some met me for the first time on
the 100th floor. Some sought me out in their
last breath. Some couldn't hear me calling to
them through the smoke and flames, "Come
to Me ... this way ... take my hand." Sadly,
some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day -
However, if you were there in that explosive
moment in time, would you have reached for
Me? September 11, 2001 was not the end of
the journey for you. But someday your journey
will end. And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at
any moment, you know you are "ready to go.
" I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

Love, God

(GodVine)

Scripture:

Job 28: 12-28

But where can wisdom be found?
    Where does understanding dwell?
13 No mortal comprehends its worth;
    it cannot be found in the land of the living.
14 The deep says, “It is not in me”;
    the sea says, “It is not with me.”
15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
    nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,
    with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,
    nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;
    the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;
    it cannot be bought with pure gold.

20 Where then does wisdom come from?
    Where does understanding dwell?
21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
    concealed even from the birds in the sky.
22 Destruction[b] and Death say,
    “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
23 God understands the way to it
    and he alone knows where it dwells,
24 for he views the ends of the earth
    and sees everything under the heavens.
25 When he established the force of the wind
    and measured out the waters,
26 when he made a decree for the rain
    and a path for the thunderstorm,
27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
    he confirmed it and tested it.
28 And he said to the human race,
    “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
    and to shun evil is understanding.”

THAT IS TRUE WISDOM!