Bob MacLafferty

Three years ago, he came down from the hills and strode boldly into the kings throne room and stated that there would be no rain, period! What a dramatic way to challenge the false god of Baal, who supposedly promoted fertility. But today?  Today was a major winner for Elijah! Let’s make a list:

1. Challenged false prophets and won by calling fire down from heaven and the true God.

2. Participating in the execution of over 800 false prophets.

3. Prayed for rain and got a huge downpour.

4. Ran in front of  king Ahab’s chariot through the rain for a distance longer than today’s full marathons!

Boy, Elijah was totally on a faith high, wasn’t he? Yeah, how could he pack that many miracles and drama into one day? God had truly used Elijah to exercise His power! While he was cooling down after the long run, Ahab was telling his wife all about his day. When she heard that all of the prophets (her prophets) had been executed, she sent a message to Elijah that she would kill him within one day! Of course, Elijah, faith champion that he was, went directly to the palace and……. well, actually-

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,  while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life;  1 Kings 19

Okay, now wait just a minute! Didn’t he just have the best day of his career as a prophet? Hadn’t he and his worship of the true God been vindicated before the entire nation? Didn’t he win? Didn’t he have the most dramatic evidence ever of God’s power in his life? He had no excuse at all to doubt, did he?

Do you remember that text that talks about the tiny amount of faith needed?

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. Luke 17

That’s a famous text in which Jesus is talking about faith to His disciples.  But, do you know what happened right before that?

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

Yeah, that’s right! The disciples finally got one thing right! No, actually two. They realized that they needed more faith. Good. So do I! But here’s the kicker- they finally figured out where to get it! We can’t self-generate faith! It comes from God. We just need to ask Him for it and keep pointed toward Him to receive it!

Are there discouraging things happening in your life right now? Job problems, family problems, money problems? Just remember that if Elijah could have a faith failure, If Elijah could stumble even after a day like he had, it’s not so amazing that we become discouraged and lose faith, is it?

Father, I feel my failing faith! You are both the object and the source of my faith! Gift me with enough to move my mole hill or mountain today!

So many people are stressed by our current economic conditions! Unemployment on the rise, bank failures, home foreclosures, the list goes on and on. In healthcare, we are feeling the crunch as well. People are beginning to make more decisions about what healthcare they request based on what they can afford. Many hospitals have had to reduce staff. In my department, we have pulled together to be as efficient as we can be. Nevertheless, the last weeks have been stressful as we thought about our jobs, our paychecks, and our futures.

As an aside, that has been the primary reason for my less frequent posts. However, I am trying to catch up because sharing God’s words is what we should to more of when in crisis, not less!

I tend to walk very fast and take steps two and three at a time. when I look down directly at my feet, I lose my rhythm and stumble. When I keep my focus on where I am going, a move forward smoothly and quickly.

God knows about focus. He knows that what we focus on will control our lives. He asks us to look at Him always, and especially when circumstances are scary.

I am looking forward to a visit with a cousin who is an excellent optometrist. He faces the constant challenge of helping people to see the right things at the right distance with the right clarity. Focusing on one thing can often cause other things to become blurry.

God knows that our challenges will shrink and blur as we focus on Him. Do we actually think that anything surprises God? Does He have a blind side? Do our challenges sneak up on Him?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Matthew 6

No, nothing surprises Him! He knows what we need! Take a few minutes and read Matthew 6:25 to the end of the chapter. Worrying is not a pastime He expects us to take up.  Let’s talk about this more soon. Father, keep my eyes on You this week. Let others see my rhythm never faltering because of You!

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection.

Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, and many others adorned the walls of their family estate. The widowed elderly man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

As winter approached, war engulfed their nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, the elderly man received a telegram that his beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again.

Within days his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic. Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness.

The joy of the season—a season that he and his son had so looked forward to in the past—would visit his house no longer. On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. He opened the door and was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand.

The soldier introduced himself to the old man by saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.” As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man’s son had told every one of his—and his father’s—love of fine art work. “I’m also an artist,” said the soldier, “and I want to give you this.” As the old man began to unwrap the package, paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son.

Though the world would never consider it a work of genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail.

Overcome with emotion, the old man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the portrait above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars worth of paintings.And then the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given

During the days and weeks that followed, the man learned that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the stories of his son’s gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease his grief, as he realized that, although his son was no longer with him, the boy’s life would live on because of those he had touched. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the priceless pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.

The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation, since, with the old man’s passing, and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at an auction.

According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day, the way he had received his greatest gift.

The day finally arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. Dreams could be fulfilled this day; greatness could be achieved as some could say, “I have the greatest collection.”

The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum list…  It was the painting of the old man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent.“Who will open the bidding with $100?” he asked.

Moments passed as no one spoke. From the back of the room came, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son. Let’s forget it and get on to the good ones.”

More voices echoed in agreement. “No, we have to sell this one-first,” replied the auctioneer. “Now who will take the son?”

Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. “Will you take $10 for the painting? That’s all I have.” “Will anyone go higher?” called the auctioneer. After more silence he said, “Going once, going twice… Gone!” The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone shouted, “Now we can get on with it and bid on these treasures!”

The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced that the auction was over.

Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Then someone spoke up and asked, “What do you mean it’s over? We didn’t come here for a portrait of some old man’s son! What about all of the other paintings? There are millions of dollars worth of art work here. We demand an explanation!”

The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son…gets it all.”

Just as the art collectors discovered on that day…The message is still the same… the love of the Father…. A Father whose Son gave His life for others…And because of that Father’s love… you don’t have to pay anything…

It’s a free gift from God… Whoever takes the Son gets it all.

credit to http://www.wowzone.com/father.htm

_________________________

There’s only one criteria, one measure, one priority. There’s only one Key, one Message,  one Price. The Son. That’s it. ‘Nuff said.

He who has the Son has life; 1 John 5:12