Greetings, My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. I pray all is well and that the Lord's peace is with you. I want to share with you what the Lord has been teaching me in my walk with Him. The past couple weeks have been a little rough dealing with my little ones. They are definitely testing their limits and enjoying their newfound freedom in exploring the house and helping themselves to whatever they would like…. whenever they like. So, this last time I was alerted to their actions by the alarm of my refrigerator. I did my best to get down on their level and explain to them that if you need something, all you have to do is ask. Don't just go and do it yourselves because you do not know what you are doing. In that moment I heard the Lord repeat my words to myself as the Words of our Lord flooded my mind.
Luke 11:5-11, 13 NIV
[5] Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; [6] a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ [7] And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ [8] I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. [9] “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. [11] “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?
[13] If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Brothers and sisters, I was humbled and convicted but also I felt loved, reassured, and full of joy that I am Loved by our Heavenly Father. As it is written,
Proverbs 3:11-12 NIV
[11] My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, [12] because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
I was then reminded of this word
James 4:1-3 NIV
[1] What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? [2] You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have it because you do not ask God. [3] When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
The weight of the Holy Spirit’s conviction was heavy on me as I reflected on how much I meant to God. Just as much as my children mean to me. I too was abusing my freedom and leaning on my own strength. I have been taking things for myself rather than just having childlike faith and trusting my Heavenly Father and the fact that He is who He says He is.
1 John 5:14-15 NIV
[14] This is the confidence we have in approaching God: 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 what we asked of him.
Brothers and sisters, I was soon tested in this. As some of you know, my van totaled itself out and Amanda, the kids and I had been all cramped into our small 4 door sedan (not a fun experience). However, we were grateful that we still had a running vehicle. Grateful we were still able to go to work. Grateful that so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus came around us and blessed us and prayed for us. In fact, there are a few people in particular I would ask that you would encourage and ask for blessings over. Tommy Lee, a brother of ours in the faith, has gone above and beyond in helping us keep our vehicles running, advising us on where to go, what to fix, and helping us get a new car, as well as selling our totaled vehicle. His wife Meranda Lee, a sister in the faith, has blessed us with extreme kindness as our General Manager at our place of employment. She has gone out of her way to work with Amanda and I with our schedules at work and more. Also please lift up Pastor Tony, Pastor Kent, and our brother in the way Alex Harmon for providing counsel and support in this time. They all have truly blessed me. As it is written,
Matthew 10:40-42 NIV
[40] “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. [41] Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. [42] And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
(May this be an encouragement that the Lord rewards those who abide in Him and do His will)
Back to the test. Amanda and I were painfully aware that we needed a new vehicle, and we were also painfully aware that we did not have the means to get a new one. Praise be to God the Holy Spirit, who reminded me of the situation with my children (stated above). Before I could give in to the worry, the anxiety, and the grumbling, the Lord struck down the enemies’ fiery darts and encouraged me with,
Psalms 55:22 NIV
[22] Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
As well as Luke 12:22-32 NIV
[22] Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. [23] For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. [24] Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap; they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! [25] Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? [26] Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? [27] “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [28] If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! [29] And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. [30] For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. [31] But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. [32] “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
And..
Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! [5] Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. [6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It was here where I humbled myself and went to Our Heavenly Father for help. Lord, you know all things! You know my situation. You know what I need. You know that I do not have the means to get it. If it be your will, please help me get a new car. Brothers and Sisters, the next day we got approved for a loan and were able to find a vehicle for a good price. However, the loans terms were not favorable. Praise be to God that instead of murmuring, I prayed and petitioned the Lord again asking the Lord if it be your will for us to have this vehicle, that our bank will come through tomorrow with much more favorable terms. Long story short, by our Heavenly Father's great love we now have a new reliable vehicle!
Brothers and Sisters, I realized something after this. I had been robbing myself of the joy in trusting the Lord in all things. By not coming to Him in my time of need, by not humbling myself and petitioning for my requests, I had robbed myself of experiencing Him fully and the opportunity for my faith to grow in Him. As it is written,
John 16:23-24 NIV
[23] In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. [24] Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
I pray this word finds you well and may the grace and joyous favor of our Lord Jesus Christ, the unambiguous love of God, and the precious communion that we share in the Holy Spirit be yours continually!
Pastor Dakota Swinton