Friday, May 23, 2008

Life Works 026 - Story: Miss Parsimon's Dream


Listen Here:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/thelifeworkspodcast

Miss Parsimon's Dream

© Christopher Shennan 2008

Miss Mildred Parsimon, elderly, sweet, noble, determined -- had nevertheless failed in the one driving ambition that had consumed her since childhood. She would never be the missionary she had longed to be, or the instrument in God's hands in bringing heathen hearts to the Savior.

Miss Parsimon had developed callouses on her knees praying for that very thing. Yet she had failed. Miserably. Finally.

"Why, Lord? Why? Haven't I earned the right to ask that question -- at least once? How many times have I come from prayer with assurance? How many times have I believed Your promises, and clung to Your faithfulness? I asked for one thousand souls because I couldn't go to the mission field where my heart led me."

She gazed at her wrinkled image with its wispy, silver halo in the bathroom mirror. The blue eyes stared back at her with an intensity age had failed to dim. The line of her mouth was still set, and her jaw firm, despite the glistening wetness on her cheeks. Miss Parsimon was crying.

She dried her cheeks and patted them with a tiny amount of powder. It would never do for that fine new minister to see she'd been crying. Such an upright young man; so intense and full of zeal for the Lord. He and his sweet new wife would arrive for tea in half an hour, and she still had to set out the old china and take the biscuits from the oven. Whatever would Katherine think if she could she see her giving way to self pity like this? At last, she felt reasonably in control of herself, and went to prepare for her soon-to-arrive guests.

"Yes, she is a lovely girl, isn't she?" Miss Parsimon said to the minister and his wife as they sat in the kitchen, sipping tea.

Pastor Ridgeway had commented on the picture of Katherine propped up on the kitchen dresser. Below it, still un-opened, was a letter from Katherine that had arrived at almost the same moment as the minister and his wife. The colourful African stamps, and Katherine's familiar handwriting, were like landmarks in her fading world. She had been tempted to settle her visitors in the kitchen, then retreat to the kitchen to read the letter. But no, she would discipline herself and enjoy the reading of it much more for the waiting. Still, it beckoned to her like the Macedonian in the apostle's dream.

"She's a missionary you know." A wistfulness crept into Miss Parsimon's voice, "Something I've always wanted for myself, but somehow . . ."

"Oh, do tell us about it, Miss Parsimon!" cajoled Jessica, bright, youthful, still flushed with the newness of marriage. "About Katherine, I mean . . ."

Miss Parsimon understood perfectly. She knew the question that had sprung into the younger woman's mind. How come, seeing she had never married, was Katherine's picture in such a prominent place? How come the affection in her eyes when she spoke of her was more that of a mother for a well-beloved daughter? "In a way," she said pensively, absently fingering the handle of the china cup, "Katherine is my daughter."

"Jessica!" said Pastor Ridgeway, his handsome face flushed with embarrassment, "we shouldn't pry into Miss Parsimon's affairs."

"Mildred," said Miss Parsimon. "My name is Mildred. I'd like you to call me by my first name. And no, I don't consider it prying to ask about Katherine." Then she surprised herself by saying, "Perhaps I need to tell someone the whole story -- from the beginning."

"If you would rather not . . .?"

Miss Parsimon placed her cup delicately on the saucer and continued as though the minister had not spoken. Her eyes misted over with a dreamlike quality as though she had left the present company for other times, as indeed she had. Even her voice slipped into the dream mode. She told her story as one speaking in the past, from the past.

......................

"I never thought you could be so inconsiderate -- so cruel," Mrs. Regina Parsimon said to her nineteen year-old daughter. "You've never been so before, and I can't think why you should be so now."

"Mother, please believe me!" said Mildred. "I'm not being inconsiderate or cruel. I'll make proper arrangements for you and grandmother, and I'll write often. It's just that I've got this call to be a missionary. I must answer that call."

"And that's another thing, said the invalid mother. "Where you got all this fanatical religion from is anybody's guess. Neither your father nor I subscribed to that sort of thing, though God knows we've never been irreligious. I think you'll agree we were good parents. We did go to church, you know."

"Mother, I told you how it happened. It was at a meeting at . . ."

"I know, I know! You had some kind of religious experience that's made you want to rush off to the ends of the earth. The point is, if you're so religious, doesn't your religion teach you to honour your parents? Your poor father's dead, but there's still your grandmother and myself. Don't we count for anything?"

Mildred stifled a reply. It was no use trying to explain. She'd tried often enough. Still, was there not a tiny grain of truth in her mother's argument? Was not honouring one's parents a very serious Scriptural obligation? On the other hand, the words of Christ burned into her soul, "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me."

For weeks, these two apparently contradictory ideas swung back and forth in her mind; pulled her viciously from one decision to the other. One moment her heart soared on the wings of missionary zeal; the next, her mind dragged her back to filial duty.

She could not have endured this inward tug-o-war had she not had the solace of prayer. She had no doubt God would make His will known to her. She must have patience. At the right time, God's perfect will would be revealed to her. However, when the assurance of God's will finally came to her, it did not settle the issue as clearly as she had expected.

She felt certain God would have her remain, for some time at least, to tend to the needs of her two closest relatives. Knowing this was one thing; dealing with the disappointment was another. A heavy lump of unaccustomed resentment settled somewhere in the region of her diaphragm, and festered, filling all her thoughts. God knew how much she wanted to go to the mission field. How then could He allow her mother's selfishness to hinder the call He himself had placed on her heart? It was six months before she could surrender her own longing and submit willingly to the indefinite postponement of her dream.

Once she did, her joy returned and she found the years of service less a trial than she imagined they might be. Regina Parsimon's attitude toward her daughter softened when she observed her inward battle, and final surrender to a path not of her own choosing. Mildred was never quite sure whether her mother quite came to accept her faith. Nevertheless, in the thirteen years before her death, Regina Parsimon mellowed; became more sympathetic to Mildred's undimmed vision to convert the heathen tribes across the sea. They were good years; mother and daughter enjoying a closeness they had seldom known in Mildred's growing years.

Mildred was thirty two years old when she was at last free to pursue her dream. Her grandmother had died seven years earlier, leaving her a modest inheritance. She was free to attend missionary training college and prepare for the work to which destiny had called her. She was still young, with a good portion of her life available for service to the Lord. Departure for college was only three days away when a childhood friend died in childbirth. It was just one tragedy amongst the many that happen in large cities. However, there were unique features to this one that dashed her dreams of a missionary career for the second time.

Mildred had been with Helen Gates when the labour pains were still far enough apart to allow intelligent conversation.

"Mildred, you have got to promise me something!" There was a desperate gleam in Helen's eyes, almost of fear.

"You know I'll do whatever I can," Mildred responded, "but you've got to calm yourself. You mustnt work yourself up into . . ."

"Listen Mildred! You've got to listen to me! There may not be time after . . ." Her voice trailed away.

"After what?"

"You're going to think I'm crazy, but . . . but I have this funny feeling . . . premonition really -- that I'm not going to make it."

"Helen! Whatever do you mean?"

"I think I'm going to die. I think giving birth to this baby's going to kill me."

"Helen, you're imagining things. There's nothing wrong with you. You've carried to term without any problem, and the doctor says it's all going to be fine."

"Doctor's don't know everything, Mildred. Now stop arguing with me. I've got to ask you. Will you care for the baby if . . . if I don't . . . make it?

"Helen, there's not going to be any need. Besides, wouldn't your parents be the logical ones to care for it. I mean . . ."

"Mom's had emotional problems lately, and dad . . . Well, Dad's too busy with his mistresses to care." She cried out as her body was momentarily convulsed with pain. By the time she spoke again and was breathing more easily, the perspiration stood in beads on her forehead.

"I . . . I know you've been disappointed in me, Mildred. I can't even say for certain who the father is. In any case, I've set my heart on you bringing up my child. That way it's less likely to turn out . . . like I have." Another pain wracked her body before she could continue.

"Now open the top draw in my side table. That's right, take out the large buff envelope. I've signed papers that say, if I die, you are to have legal guardianship. Please, Mildred, don't say no to me. Not now!"

.................................................

Mildred Parsimon sipped her tea and peered over the cup at pastor Ridgeway and his wife, "That was twenty-seven years ago. Complications set in and Helen died, just as she had thought she might. The baby, Catherine, survived. Of course, I brought her home and cared for her. What else could I do?"

"I never imagined . . ." said Jessica Ridgeway.

"Few people did. In those days it was unheard of, and frowned upon, for a single lady to adopt a child. Of course, my dream died, too. Oh, I tried . . . both then, and when Katherine applied for missionary training college herself. Oh, they were very polite, and apologetic, about turning me down. In the beginning it was because I had a baby, and one couldn't take a baby to the mission-field. At least, not as a single parent. Later, it was because of my age. I had hardly enough years of active service left to justify the study and expense involved. They were right, of course, but that didn't make it any easier to accept."

The Ridgeways, sensing Mildred's pain, changed the subject. Then they prayed with her and left her to her broken dream. Curiously, the mere telling of it had wrought a measure of healing. The hard core of disappointment within her seemed lighter, more manageable. She sat motionless for several minutes before the bright stamps on Katherine's letter caught her eye. Rising, she ferreted her reading glasses from the top drawer of the writing desk, and settled herself on the sofa to read.

Before Miss Parsimon had finished reading the second paragraph she was crying, joyously, unashamedly.

"You know," Katherine's letter said,"how that for seven years my colleagues and I have laboured in this tribal community. They have been dry, fruitless years. Or, that is how we saw it. It was difficult to stay here, with no response to our preaching of the Gospel. I would never have lasted had I not known you were praying, even pleading for the conversion of these people. Knowing that, I couldn't quite give up.

"Well, last week your prayers were answered. An old time revival has broken out here. Rev. Ingles says the converts number in the thousands. If it hadn't been for you . . ."

Credits

Posted by at No comments:

Monday, May 19, 2008

Life Works 027 - Direction in Prayer

This bible study is from the book Exploring Biblical Prayer by Christopher Shennan, available at christophershennanbooks.com and lulu.com.

Listen Here:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/thelifeworkspodcast

Direction in Prayer

"And this is the boldness we have in God's presence: that if we ask God for anything that agrees with what he wants, he hears us. If we know he hears us every time we ask him, we know we have what we ask from him" (1 John 5:14,15 – New Century Version)
An 81 year old professor of biology, when receiving a 1975 Headliner award from the San Diego Press Club, said, "I really don't know why I'm receiving this. All I've ever done in life is exactly what I wanted to do." (7700 Illustrations, page 864, Ill no. 3715)
Such a declaration can never be part of the Christian's life, least of all for the praying man or woman.
The most basic thing we need to know about prayer is that true prayer is inseparable from knowing and desiring God's will. No prayer that is contrary to God's will, will ever be answered to our profit; and no prayer prayed according to God's will ever be denied. God sometimes grants stubborn requests for things that do not please Him, but they will not tend toward our greatest good. This aspect of prayer will be covered in another lesson.
Of course, the 81 year old professor was not totally in error. If he meant by his statement (which I doubt) that all he ever wanted to do was to do the will of God, then he was right. If we, like Jesus, can say, “I delight to do thy will,” then doing exactly what we want to do is the right course to follow. God's will is the highest law of the praying saint.

The highest expression of the Saviour's life was to do the will of the Father. This can be seen:
(i) Through Prophecy
"Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God." (Hebrews 10:7)
(ii) Through His Own Testimony
"And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him." (John 8:29)
(iii) Through His Own Example
"And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. . . .He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away, except I drink it, thy will be done." (Matthew 26:39-42 - KJV)

Let us not pretend it is always easy to find God's will. And once we find His will, it is only by Grace we are able to walk in it. Ask Abraham if he found it easy to bind Isaac to the altar and prepare to slay him. Ask Jacob if he did not limp after wrestling with the angel. Ask Moses why he argued with the LORD when he was being sent to Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites. But all these found Grace sufficient for their need.
On the other hand we must not let ourselves be deceived into believing God's will is so difficult to find, we may as well not bother. It is God's will that we know His will. Do you believe that? I hope so! Praying for God's will is the one prayer that is in His will. You can be sure God will answer it, because he always answers those prayers that lie within His will.
Does that sound complicated? Not really. If you are doubtful as to what His will is, you can pray for the knowledge of His will. If you pray in faith, God will reveal it to you. Not only can you know God's will through prayer, but you can be filled with the knowledge of His will. Hear what the apostle prayed for the Colossians:
For this cause we also, since the day we heard[ it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10 KJV)

Why will God fill you with the knowledge of His will? So you can: walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
You can know His will if you really want His will for your life. It will take diligence and persistence, but God will not deny the knowledge of His will to anyone who is sincere in seeking it.
Though finding God's will in the specific, intimate areas of our lives may not always be easy, there are some general guidelines that should help us.

1. It is always God's will to Build Character
You have no doubt heard someone say that God is more interested in our character than in our comfort. That is more than a clever saying. God does want to comfort us. That is one of the reasons He sent His Holy Spirit, Whom He called the "Comforter." But God's prime object is to mould us into Christ-likeness.
"But we all, with open face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV)
So, as we keep our focus on Christ the Spirit of the Lord gets busy with the miraculous transformation of our characters. His goal is always to mould our characters into Christ-likeness. We may have doubts about some specific aspects of God's will, but we will never miss the mark if we pray for growth in character. A holy and loving character is God's design for us.

GOD'S WILL
(c. 1988 by Christopher Shennan)

What is God's will? . . .
Is it to travel on the 10.35
instead of the 4.22?
Or travel to India or Asia Minor
Or visit the wild kangaroo?
Perhaps it's the thing that I choose
For my work,
Or the girl that I troth myself to;
The money I make or the time that I wake;
Or paying the bills that are due.
Or maybe to go to the graduate ball
Or fish with a friend on the lake.

A thousand-and-one-things are claiming
My time . . .
Oh, what is the course I should take?
I wonder if this or if that is God's will?
Maybe it is or it ain't.
Do I go visit with Mary or Bill?
Either I may or I mayn't.

Now listen, friend, you are surely confused,
You're missing the point of it all.
You're tied up in knots and storing up lots
of trouble.
So why don't you call on the Lord
For His Light on your way?

A great many things may prey on your mind
And claim your attention too;
But only one thing is of real concern:
"What kind of a person are you?"

It's character, friend that falls
In His will,
Character: holy and true.
The things that you do and the places you go
Depend on this:
"What kind of a person are you?"

For love and holiness;
Kindness and lowliness
Are in God's perfect will.
So you won't need to ask,
"Where to go?"
"What to do?"
Till you've answered this question:
"What kind of a person are you?"

In the book, How to be a motivated Christian, Stewart Briscoe relates the story of a man who came out of his club and went to his brand new Cadillac. He saw a shadowy figure bent over it. He ran over, grabbed the arm of the stranger, and demanded to know what he thought he was doing. It turned out it was only a boy of eleven fascinated with such a fine and expensive vehicle.
The boy seemed to know a great deal about the car, as if he had poured over magazines and articles to find out everything he could about its make, year and capabilities. He expressed wonder that the man was able to afford such a car.
"I didn't buy it," the man replied, going on to explain his brother had bought it for him.
"I wish …" the boy began.
The man interrupted, "You were going to say you wish you had a brother like that."
"No," the boy replied. I was going to say I wish I could be a brother like that."
It turned out the boy had a very sick brother whom his parents could not look after. His only desire was to serve his brother.
(Adapted from How To Be A Motivated Christian - by Stuart Briscoe - p.29-30 Victor Books, Wheaton, Illinois.)

That is the kind of desire that gets results in prayer, because holy character is always in the will of God. Not that we should not pray about the "unimportant" little things of daily life. Of course we should - but I think we will find God's will regarding those things fall into place --- once He answers prayer for growth in character. To a great extent it is what we are that determines what we do and where we go.
This search for character in prayer is not confined to a personal need for growth. It is extended to the most intensive kind of prayer for others:
"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you . . ." (Galatians 4:19)

The background to this prayer is revealing. The Galatians were getting away from the central theme of the Gospel. They started putting more emphasis on ceremonial law, the celebration of days and special occasions. They also returned to the rite of circumcision as necessary to salvation. Paul told them plainly that if they got circumcised they were actually departing from the Gospel message. He said Christ would be of no value to them if they were circumcised. Then he tells them it has become necessary to travail in birth again for them. Christ must be formed in them. Christ must become the ruling principle in their lives. He had travailed for them before, now he would have to do it again.
This is very strong language. As every mother knows, the birth process is no casual incident in a woman's life. Paul says that though he is a man, he knows all about it. He knows the agony of spiritual contractions. He has travailed in spiritual birth. To what purpose was he prepared to go through all this travail? For no other reason than to see the character of the Galatians conformed into the character of Christ.

2. It is always God's Will to Love Others
I saw a poster that asked the question; "What is Love?"
It went on to list seven or eight popular concepts of love, including, "A warm feeling inside," and, "Getting turned on to somebody." All these were crossed out as obviously contrary to the truth. The one at the bottom was left untouched. It read: "Treating others according to God's commands."
How marvellous! How true! The only problem is that knowing what love is does not guarantee we will really love others in a Christ-like manner at all times. Most of us love in fits and starts. We get overwhelmed by the heat of the moment and the pressure of circumstances. Only later do we look back and say with regret, "How come I couldn't show love in that situation?" The truth is that a loving heart does not come naturally, or even supernaturally, without a great deal of faith and prayer.

Another way of putting the above definition of love could be: Making a commitment to always seek the best interests of the other person. This may lead, eventually, to deep emotional attachment; but at the outset love seldom has anything to do with feelings or emotions. It begins with a desire to do God's will, and a commitment to serve someone else’s best interest.
Unless we become men and women of prayer, and pray constantly about our relationship to others, we will often find ourselves falling short in this area. Remember, I am not speaking about the response of others to your love for them, but of God enabling you to actually love them.
The question is not whether others perceive that you love them, but whether or not you demonstrate love toward them according to the Grace of Christ that works in you.

A loving heart is often misunderstood by people. Indeed, we often misunderstand our own actions and motivations. But God will never misunderstand. He knows when we have depended on Him to love others; and while He knows this in secret, He will reward us openly.
I am convinced that if we constantly make loving others a prayer priority, God will answer in ways beyond our comprehension. We will find an ever growing list of things to pray about on behalf of others. And because those requests have been motivated by love, most, if not all, will fall within God's will.

LOVE IS NOT A FEELING
By Christopher Shennan
(c. Friday 19th February 1999)

Chorus:
Love is not a feeling
Until it’s on its way,
Comforting and healing
The hurting ones who stray;
It’s something planted in you
By the Spirit’s gracious hand ---
And then you let it fill you
By doing what you can.

1.
I prayed for love’s sweet feeling
To overwhelm my heart;
I wanted it to enter
And Saturate each part.
For years I sat and waited,
And pined, and longed, and sought ---
But love stayed vague and distant;
It dwelt only in my thoughts.

But . . . Love is not a feeling etc.

2.
At Last my Lord was gracious
And revealed to me His plan
To impart His Loving Nature
Into my inner man.
And long before the feeling
Of Love invaded me,
I started loving others
In a manner bold and free.

For . . . Love is not a feeling etc.

3. It is always God's Will to live a Holy Life
"Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6)
How is this hungering and thirsting after righteousness expressed? Through prayer, of course! When a child is hungry, where does he go? He goes to one of his parents and asks. He inquires how long it will be before dinner, or if he may raid the refrigerator for a snack. What is the response of any loving parent? According to Scripture, even sinful humanity responds positively and with sensitivity:
"If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if [he ask] a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
"Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"(Luke 11:11-13 - KJV)
The argument is undeniable! If imperfect humanity will respond positively to requests for physical needs, how much more will an infinitely loving Heavenly Father respond to our spiritual needs?

I WANT YOUR HOLINESS
(c. Wednesday 17th March, 1999, by Christopher Shennan

I want Your holiness: Your love
Mingled with truth and purity.
I want the sanctity you give
To those once blind, but now who see.

I want your Holiness, unmixed
With legalism’s subtle brew;
The purity that comes by faith ---
That wondrous gift of love from You.

I want Your holiness to come
Each moment on a wave of Grace,
Breaking freely on my needy soul,
And showing me Your lovely Face.

I want Your holiness to pour
From the reservoirs You hold
For those who will not let You go
‘Till hell lies destitute and cold.

I know Your holiness is mine,
For all Your promises don’t lie;
They’re keys to open every door
To every treasure, till I die!

FOR HOME STUDY
1. Look up other Scriptures that show how important God's will is in the matter of prayer.
2. With the help of a concordance, see if you can add to the list of things that are always in God's will
3. Comment on the truth, or otherwise, of the statement, "God is more interested in our character, than in our comfort."
4. When we genuinely love others, will our loving actions always be understood by them? How would you deal with the hurts that come to you through this kind of misunderstanding?

FOR FURTHER STUDY
John 15:7; James 1:5,6; Psalm 31:22; Psalm 34:17; James 4:3.
Your Assignment:
Part 1
(i) Read the entire lesson again
(ii) Answer the Questions under "For Home Study."
(iii) Look up all references under "For Further Study."
Part 2
Read the lesson again from start to finish and answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What is the most basic thing to know about prayer?
2. What was the highest expression of the Saviour's life? Make your own comments on the Scriptures quoted in this regard.
3. While Abraham, Jacob and Moses did not find it easy to walk in the will of God, what did they find to help them?
4. What are the three general guidelines to discovering God's will in the specific, intimate areas of your life?
5. What is God's "prime object" in your life? Give your own personal impression of 2 Corinthians 3:18, after careful reading and meditation.
6. How does the story in How to be a Motivated Christian, impress you?
7. How does the search for character relate to others, and what part should you play in the process?
8. What is the best definition of LOVE you can think of?
9. Write a paragraph on, "Why Christians often fall short in Loving others?
10. How does a life of prayer relate to holiness?
Part 3
Write a short essay (one or two paragraphs) outlining what this study has meant to you, and how you mean to implement its lessons in your life. Writing it down in this way will help imprint it more surely on your heart.

Credits

Posted by at No comments:

Friday, May 9, 2008

Life Works 026 - Story: Yella!


Listen Here:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/thelifeworkspodcast

Yella!

© Christopher Shennan 2008



Reggie Wilson sat on a pile of rocks near the lake, fighting the gloom that threatened to engulf him. The water stretched out, mirror-like and placid, except for patches of rippled surface shimmering in the afternoon sun. The mood of the lake was light and summery; the mood of his heart as heavy as the slime-covered rocks on its bottom.

A group of young people, too far away to identify, cavorted on the opposite shore. The noise of their tom-foolery reached his ears unintelligibly across the watery expanse. The sound dug up painful memories. Faces flashed vividly on his mind's eye.

He saw Harry Boober as he had looked this morning, belligerent and boastful, confident of the admiring support of the local youth as he tried to humiliate Reggie.

"Yer nuthin' but a yella dawg!" he said. "Cain't even defend yourself like a man." Hands on hips, he swiveled the upper part of his body to take in the gathering crowd, stopping when he saw Candy Roberts.

Reggie did not reply. Holding himself taut to hold back the rising anger, and watching the expression on Harry's face as he looked at Candy. He suddenly knew the reason for this seemingly unprovoked attack. Candy Roberts, apart from being the most attractive girl he had ever seen, had also shown some interest when Reggie had tried to tell her about Christ. Long walks by the lake had given him an opportunity to tell her of the difference Christ had made in his life. Those walks had not escaped Harry Boober's notice. He was jealous and no doubt thought a scene like this would bring Reggie down a peg. He obviously intended to make Reggie look foolish in Candy's eyes

"I'm not yellow," Reggie said, "but I don't see any point in fighting when I see no reason. I've got nothing against you, and there's no cause to make trouble for nothing."

"Got nuthin' against me, have ye?" Turning back to Reggie, he made a sudden lunge. Heavy muscled arms gripped him powerfully and threw his lanky frame to the ground. He hit the sand and gravel surface of the road and skidded into a humiliating heap not far from Candy's feet. As he pulled himself painfully to his feet, Reggie caught the expression in her dark eyes; saw the frown of puzzlement and indecision. One strand of jet-black hair fell over one eye. He knew she was trying to make up her mind about him.

A familiar though long restrained anger began to boil in Reggie's soul. Who was this lout, oversized and running to fat, to attack him so viciously when he was minding his own business? Surely the Lord wouldn't mind if he taught him a lesson.

The crowd, seeing the thin-ness of his body and the adolescent awkwardness of his movements, could not guess at the cat-like agility locked up inside him. He would surprise them; take advantage of the hundred's of hours his father had spent in preparing his gangly son to defend himself. A semi-professional boxer, he had also been an instructor in self-defense. Until he had died a year ago, Reggie's father had labored to offset his boy's weak appearance. He taught him every trick and technique he knew.

What his father hadn't reckoned on was Reggie's other weakness - a short temper and a tendency to blind rage. It was only since Christ had entered his life that he had been able to exercise some control. Until now.

He set his feet apart and regarded Harry coldly. He felt like a stick of dynamite with the fuse lit. Help, Lord. I'm about to explode. You know what happened last time. If I win this fight I'm sure to lose my testimony. Yet if I refuse to fight, Candy Roberts will think I'm yellow. Help me to know what to do.

"What you say to that, you yella dawg?" Harry bawled,


By now the rage inside Reggie was reaching danger levels, like the red lights flashing on a nuclear installation. He was beginning to see visions, conjured up by his own imagination, of Harry Boober's face beaten to a pulp under his fists. At the same time panic was growing in him. If he yielded to this rage he'd have a brief moment of triumph; but he'd also be one more step along the road to becoming the kind of person he despised. If he acted like Harry Boober, he would become like Harry Boober.

Mr. Miles, Reggie's Sunday School teacher, had done some character studies with his students. He showed, by using Bible characters as examples, how their choices led them along different roads.

Reggie saw it all clearly in one part of his brain, even while the other part was clouded over with rage. Suddenly, a voice seemed to sound inside his head, softly, but repeatedly, "Run, Reggie, run. Don't go the way Harry Boober is headed. That will be worse than being thought a coward. Run, Reggie, run."

So Reggie had obeyed that inner voice. As he ran past Candy Roberts he glimpsed her expression. Her face was a picture of surprise and disappointment. That look was more painful to him than any blows Harry could give him. He shouldered his way through the taunting onlookers and sped through the woods to his secret hiding place.

That had been this morning, not far from the convenience store where many of the local youths gathered. Now, as the shadows grew longer, and the surface of the lake darkened to its evening shade, Reggie had to face another problem. He knew the incident this morning had not ended it. It was only the beginning. The crowd imagined he had run for fear of Harry Boober. It was fear that had made him run, all right, but not fear of Harry Boober. He was much more afraid of the forces within himself that, if uncontrolled, could destroy him. Mr. Miles had read his class stories from the newspaper where uncontrolled anger had led to murder, and worse.

Reggie stirred. He would have to be heading home soon, but first he must work out a strategy for tomorrow. As certain as the sun rose and set he would have to face the fickle crowd, and Harry Boober, tomorrow. Five minutes later he rose to his feet and made his way home. There was a determined set to his jaw.

As Reggie had known, they were waiting for him the following morning. The gathering place was a little distance from the convenience store. It was sheltered from the view of any curious adult by a bank of trees. Reggie made straight for it, searching for a glimpse of Candy Roberts. He was relieved at first when he did not see her. Then the shop door opened and she bounded out after him, shouting something. Because of the distance, and because of the rising murmur of excited voices, he could not make out clearly what she was saying. Something about stopping and turning back; but it was too late for that. This thing had to be settled once and for all.

"So the yella dawg has come back," shouted Harry as he approached. He strutted forward. He held his hands on his hips and pushed his over-sized chest out in front.

Reggie walked right up to the heavier youth till less than two feet separated them. He spoke quietly, but boldly, "I'm not afraid of you, Harry. As I said yesterday I have no quarrel with you, and I see no reason to fight you. I ran away yesterday because I did not want to hurt you."

Reggie had intended his speech as an attempt to make Harry see reason. It had the exact opposite effect. Some odd twist in Harry's thought processes saw Reggie's words as a challenge.

"You didn't want to hurt me did you? So you can hurt me any time you want, can you?" He grabbed Reggie by the shoulders, hooked a foot behind a leg, and threw him to the ground.

Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted, "Harry, don't be stupid. Reggie here has been specially trained in self-defense. I've seen him fight in competitions. He'll turn you into fish-paste if you get him mad."

Reggie struggled to his feet. He hoped the stranger's words would have some effect. He was dusting the dirt off his trousers when Harry hit him. It was a mighty blow delivered with all the force of his muscular body. A gasp went up from the crowd even as Reggie lifted off the ground and went backward into a nearby tree. Blood was streaming from his nose, and he was certain there was a gash over his left eye. Also, a lump was rapidly forming on the back of his head where he had hit the tree. Two fellows, shocked at Harry's unfair tactics, helped Reggie to his feet.

Even now Reggie knew he could beat Harry. All he had to do was give himself permission. All he had to do was to let the anger take over and the rest would be easy. He'd give Harry a lesson he'd never forget. He'd prove to everyone he was no coward; that he had enough skill in his lanky frame, and enough courage in his heart to lay the bigger boy in the dust.

He squared his shoulders, but in the end he couldn't do it. He took a step toward Harry and stretched out his hand, "I want to be your friend."

Harry hit him again.

..........................................................

When Reggie opened his eyes he was sure he was dreaming. He was lying stretched out on the ground, but his head was lying on something soft. It took a moment for him to realize it was resting on a girl's lap. Also, the arms cradling him were those of Candy Roberts. She was looking down at him with such admiration in her eyes he had to blink to prove to himself he was awake.

Her voice was like music, "I'm proud of you Reggie Wilson. Right proud."


Credits

Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Life Works 025 - Purpose in Prayer

This bible study is from the book Exploring Biblical Prayer by Christopher Shennan, available at christophershennanbooks.com and lulu.com.

Listen Here:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/thelifeworkspodcast

Purpose in Prayer

Few of us can perform well if we are not convinced of the value of what we do -- and why we do it. If there is a worthwhile purpose behind a task, and we believe in that purpose, the drudgery is removed. We will perform that task with greater diligence and enthusiasm.

For that reason it is important to understand the purpose of prayer. If we approach prayer as a mere duty; or as a necessary infringement upon our time; or as a valuable religious act, we will hardly get beyond first base. It is unlikely we will ever discover a life of prayer such as God designed for us.

But if we discover the true purpose of prayer through Bible study and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who knows what might happen? It is certain our usefulness to God and man will be revolutionized. We will become channels for God's blessing in a way we could never have imagined. Prayer will be transformed for us into a holy exercise. While it will never be easy or void of spiritual conflict, we will be filled with such a sense of destiny that no device of Satan will easily defeat us.

What, then, is the purpose of prayer?

1. To Glorify the Father through the Son
"And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it." (John 14:13-14 – NCV)

One of the great catechisms of the Christian Church insists that the chief end of man (or the main purpose for his existence), is, "…to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever."

The main purpose of prayer is to glorify God. It is not primarily to get things from God, though He delights to give what will be for our highest good. It is not to make us happy, though deep spiritual satisfaction will result from a life of prayer. When we pray to the Father in the Name of the Son, and the Son performs that request --- God is glorified. That is the highest purpose of prayer.

Andrew Murray says: "For this reason Jesus on His throne in glory will do what we ask in His name. Every answer to prayer He gives will have this as its object: When there is no prospect of the Father being glorified, He will not answer. So, with us as with Jesus, the essential element in our petitions must be that the glory of the Father be the aim and the end, the very soul and life of our prayer." (The Believers School of Prayer - p.115 - Bethany House Publishers - Copyright 1982)

Jesus constantly longs to glorify the Father, so He will lose no time in answering a prayer that in the smallest way brings glory to the Father.

When this great truth dawns upon us we will begin to know what prayer is all about.

There is virtually no end to the categories of prayer that can glorify God if they are prayed with the right attitude and in faith. Yet there are two matters specifically mentioned in scripture that bring glory to God. Both of them will bear praying about.

(i) The first is in the area of GOOD WORKS:
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 – KJV)

We should pray about our works. They do not save us, but they do bring glory to God when we perform them out of a motive of love toward God. No Christian should be fruitless, or forgetful of good works. Sometimes Evangelicals have stressed Salvation by faith to such a degree, that good works get pushed into the background. Yet they are an integral part of God's plan for our lives. Immediately after telling us that nobody is saved by good works, the Apostle Paul continues: God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. (Ephesians 2:10 – NCV)

When we pray that God will produce good works in and through us, that prayer will be answered, since the result will bring glory to God. Provided we pray for the right reasons, a prayer for good works will reach God's heart. Good works is one of the reasons we were created in Christ Jesus. Furthermore, God prepared those good works beforehand.

It is wonderful to realize that when we start praying for good works, God has already prepared them for us. We will be able to perform them because they are part of God's plan for us. When we understand this, we will be able to move forward with great confidence. God is working in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. So, praying for good works will glorify God because when God answers, others will see those good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

(ii) Another thing that glorifies God is PRAISE.
Many congregations have found that when they made it a point to praise God, things started happening in their church. The reason for this is that praise glorifies God: "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God." (Psalm 50:23)

Imagine what would happen to our personal lives if we really learned to praise God in everything. Real praise is what I am talking about. If we learned in our public meetings to praise God from the heart without embarrassment, and without dead form, who knows what might happen. "But thou [art] holy, O [thou] that inhabitest the praises of Israel." (Psalm 22:3)

Another purpose of prayer is:

2. To Bring Fullness of Joy to the Christian
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy" (John 16:24 – New Century Version)

Joy is a very important part of the Christian life. Without it we become uncertain and weak (worse, we are in danger of becoming sour). The book of Nehemiah assures us that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

A Christian who often experiences answered prayer cannot help but be joyful. Indeed, Jesus tells us that the fullest possible joy will result from answers to our prayers.

Surely, this is one prescription many in the modern church need to have filled. Could it be that the psychological problems many Christians seem to be suffering (depression, uncertainty, unbelief, inner conflict, lack of spiritual growth, etc.) has more to do with an unproductive prayer life than the need to engage in endless psychological counselling. Answered prayer will undoubtedly produce, among other things, a joyful disposition.

Why would this be so? Simply because answered prayer gives valid testimony to the Eternal God’s active involvement in our lives. Some Christians go around with the secret sense that the world around them (things they can see, touch, or feel) is more real that the unseen spiritual world. As a result their Christian lives are subject to the vagaries and tyranny of circumstance. A healthy prayer life would effectively banish such a disposition. Regular answers to prayer would bring God out of the closet. His loving involvement in the details of our lives, even when His answers come in ways we do not anticipate, will always produce a joy and peace that surpasses human reasoning.

How else could Paul and Silas sing in prison (Acts 16:16-34) than by the conscious awareness that God was real, His promises were shown true by frequent demonstrations of answered prayer. God was not slow to demonstrate His pleasure in the faith of his servants. He caused an earthquake that opened the prison doors, and ultimately brought the jailer and his family to faith in Christ.

Joy is one of the neglected evangelistic tools of the church: there is little that will convince an unbeliever more of the reality of our faith in Christ, than to observe how we continue to express joy in the face of trial. They may even think we’re crazy, but they could hardly ignore such a demonstration.

Christian joy is an undervalued commodity in our times, and the world needs to see more of it along with our sound theological declarations. How can we experience more joy? The first step is to understand more fully that the purpose of prayer is to bring fullness of joy to the Christian.

3. To Grow in the Knowledge of God
"Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation [is] thy people." (Exodus 33:13 - KJV)

We will deal with this verse in greater detail later. For now, note one supreme truth: Prayer, to Moses, was not only a means of getting things from God; it was a way to nurture a relationship. After forty years in the wilderness Moses knew God. And he had an awesome revelation of God at the burning bush. Yet Moses continues to pray, "…that I may know thee ..."

Prayer is more than a religious exercise. It is the active participation of a human being with his or her God. How else can we “pray always” as the Scripture urges us to, except by seeing prayer as an unbroken two-way communication between God and His people?

Andrew Murray stopped suddenly in the midst of a Cape Town street, his head down. A policeman, who knew the minister well, was alarmed at the sight, thinking he may be ill, or suffering a heart attack. Rushing over, he just reached the minister when he looked up, an expression of joy on his face. In answer to the policeman’s enquiries, Andrew Murray said, “I am fine. I just lost fellowship with my Lord for a moment. I wouldn’t take another step till that fellowship was restored.”

Such is the power of prayer, not only to have our prayers answered, but to enter into ever deepening intimacy with God.

FOR HOME STUDY
1. Try to find other Biblical purposes for prayer.
2. Choose one or more character from the Bible, and try to identify his or her purpose in prayer.
3. What is one way we can glorify God? (Matthew 5:16) Can you think of any others?
4. What effect will a strong, pure purpose in prayer have upon our Christian lives?

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Philippians 2:9-11; Ephesians 3:21; John 15:7-16; John 16:23; Matthew 7:7; Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24; 1 John 3:22; 1 John 5:14-15.
Your Assignment:

Part 1
(i) Read the entire lesson again
(ii) Answer the Questions under "For Home Study."
(iii) Look up all references under "For Further Study."

Part 2
Read the lesson again from start to finish and answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Why is it important to understand the purpose of prayer?
2. What is the MAIN purpose of prayer?
3. When there is no prospect of the Father being glorified, what chance do we have of our prayers being answered?
4. What two matters, specifically mentioned in Scripture, glorify God? How should this affect your prayer life?
5. Why is joy important in the Christian life? How important is it to you?
6. How did joy operate in the lives of Paul and Silas?
7. What is one of the surest methods of obtaining joy?
8. What part does prayer play in getting to know God?

Part 3
Write a short essay (one or two paragraphs) outlining what this study has meant to you, and how you mean to implement its lessons in your life. Writing it down in this way will help imprint it more surely on your heart.

Credits

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)