Chuck Locklear
fascinating characters, impactful books and messages
Joy of Giving
I first learned the joy of giving from Sunday school as a child.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.”
—Proverbs 19:17
Good Cause
How many of us remember the challenge as a child of raising money for a good cause that would benefit others, maybe a local women’s and children’s shelter? It is likely that, as a child, you didn’t understand what the money would be used for. But, you knew that someone needed help, and your money would help them. That was a great feeling. Maybe, you did chores to earn the money. In my case, my neighbor paid me to take care of his hunting dogs. I earned a few dollars and I was proud.
Maybe, you sat with a parent on the side of the bed carefully counting coins. You picked out the shiniest ones to give to that women’s shelter. Perhaps, you didn’t even know that your parents were doubling whatever you contributed. Yes, there is joy in giving. We also learn another lesson. When we provide over and above what is expected, we learn about God’s grace for us. How he loves and blesses us even when we don’t deserve it. How he turns our shiniest coins into something wildly more than we could imagine.
Offering a Sacrifice
One time during the life of King David, a terrible disease fell on the land, causing 70,000 people to die. Just as the disease was about to destroy Jerusalem, the Lord felt sorry for all the suffering said, “That’s enough!” This happened at the threshing place that belonged to man named Araunah. Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of grain from the straw to which it is attached. Because of God’s great mercy, King David wanted to build an alter to offering of thanksgiving to God at the threshing place. When Araunah heard of David’s plans, he said, “Take whatever you want and offer your sacrifice.” He even offer the oxen for the sacrifice and the wood for the fire. Araunah said, “They are yours! I hope the Lord will be pleased with you.
David answered, however, surely took him by surprise. “No! I have to pay you what they’re worth. I can’t offer the Lord my God a sacrifice that cost me nothing” (2 Samuel 24:24).
David was the king. He could have taken the property, but he knew that doing so would jeopardize the favor he desired from God. An offering that cost you nothing, will rob us of the blessing we desire.
First and Best
By giving our shiniest coins, we are praising God with our first and best, not what is left over. In Bible times, the tithe was offering the best lamb to God. If we will offer our first and best to God, Malachi 3:10 promises, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
We learned from our Sunday school fundraising challenge that loving my neighbor means caring for those who need me the most. In providing this care, we become God’s hands and feet in our time in place.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Waiting Is Tough, Be Persistent
We must be persistent! I have learned from experience that “God is rarely early, but never late.” The Canaanite woman and a little dog named Ella both reinforce this lesson for me.
“A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me . . . So his disciples came to him and urged him, ‘Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us’ . . . Jesus replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’ ‘Yes it is, Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’”
“God is rarely early, but never late.”
The Canaanite woman repeatedly asked Jesus for help. Even after he had seemingly turned her away, she was persistent. We can learn many things from this woman of faith. First, Jesus’ affirmation of her faith. The message: prayers are answered when we don’t give up quickly. Second, we learn that we should not throw in the towel too quickly. When God seems to be silent or even to indicate a “No” answer, we must persist.
Waiting Is Difficult
I understand that waiting is difficult. Some wait for the perfect life-partner to walk into their lives. Some wait for a healing touch as they suffer with an illness. Others wait for peace as they pray for a loved one who is struggling with loss. Waiting means that events aren’t’ within our control. However, waiting doesn’t mean that things are out of control. We can relax and know that God has got this. We can submit to his timing and trust God in our time of waiting.
A Squeaking Dog
Lizzy and I have a very small, mostly blind dog. Ella is old. She has been a family pet for her entire 17 years. These days, she is more dependent on us than ever. She has to wait on our timing. She wakes up from her nap and wants down from the couch. In the past, she would have jumped down… not now. She has to wait. She stands at the edge of the couch, considering taking the leap. It makes her anxious as she remembers hurting her leg the last time she tried it. So, she calls out for help with a few squeaks. She rarely barks anymore. Her squeaks are requests for help, more polite than demanding.
I could call out, “Ella, I hear you,” but she is mostly deaf too. So, I just show up and lift her off of the couch. I wish squeaking was all I did when I become impatient, waiting for God. Instead, I throw in the towel too quickly and start to make accusations. God why have you abandoned me? When will you come to my rescue? I wish, like the Canaanite woman and Ella, that my trust would allow me to persistently present my requests to the God who loves me, and trust his timing.
Persistent Faith
What is meant when Jesus says, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs?” No, this comment was not directed at Ella. The Canaanite woman was not one of God’s chosen people. Jesus was showing us that who we are is less important than our faith.
We need faith in the one who can change things. Granting her request was breaking all the rules. However, because of her faith, he did it anyway.The main lesson for us is “Be Persistent!” Keep squeaking, like Ella, and God will hear you. Whether you are waiting for a lift off the couch, for the perfect spouse, or a healing touch, trust that God has not abandoned you and will show up in his perfect timing.
“Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed at that moment.”
Matthew 15:22-28
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also see Pray Until Something Happens.
Trying Is Better Than Crying
“Trying Is Better Than Crying!” This statement is a “coachism” that I learned from Dick Moscovic. I’ve mentioned Dick before. He is retired teacher and an outstanding individual, who positively influenced 47 years of students in our community. (Yes, Dick was a public-school teacher for 47 years.)
A “coachism” is a statement used to motivate and encourage students. Dick was a wrestling coach for many years, and his students continued to use the title “Coach” long after he hung up his wrestling shoes. Dick’s coachisms are inspired by his faith and they communicate profound truths about life.
Choose a Growth Mindset
Students will often say, “I can’t do it. I’m not creative.” Or, even more common is the statement students will make after I ask why their math performance is so low: “I can’t learn algebra.” Sometimes students will even get angry when I try to convince them that they can learn math. These students are exhibiting what educators know as a “fixed,” instead of a “growth” mindset. A person’s belief or mindset about intelligence, ability, and talent can have a profound impact on his or her future.
Then, comes the dreaded question, “Why do I need to learn Algebra?” “When will I use this in the real world?” Of course, I would give them some examples, but the best answer is always, because it grows your brain. Thinking in new and novel ways is sometimes hard work, but it helps us to problem solve and apply new and different approaches in all areas of our personal and professional lives.
A “growth mindset” is better. When students believe they can get smarter, they put in the effort, which in turn leads to higher achievement. I’ve seen this happen over and over again in my career as an educator. Effort is also the key to success in life: the more effort, the more achievement. It’s a lot like going down a waterslide. Once you start, your speed picks up and carries you to the goal.
Learning and Growing
Learning and growing requires effort. However, it is worthwhile it. The feeling of accomplishment will renew your mind and satisfy your spirit. Trying is definitely better. It means putting effort into to doing something that is difficult. Crying means sitting around complaining about what you think you can’t do. The truth is that God made us strong, much stronger than we most often think.
The question for us today is what is are you trying or crying? Do we have a fixed or growth mindset? This reminds me of the woman who said, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind is already made up.” Are you open to learning and growing? I pray that we would let the Lord transform us by the renewing of our minds.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.” Romans 12:2, TLB
Copyright © 2020 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Passion.
Don’t Fret
Being fully prepared, usually, helps reduce my stress level, but recently it was a source of anxious thoughts. Actually, my mind had slipped beyond preparation. I was begining to fret.
…we can have peace of mind in the face of trouble.
Most parents will experience the anxiety of tryouts. Be it a sports, dance, theater, or other, tryouts can be as stressful for the parent as they are for the child. Any kind of competition is healthy, but can produce stress; not just for the players, but also for the coach.
Flag Football
Again this year, I was talked into coaching football, flag football… not just for one team, but for two teams. I have two grandsons that wanted to play: Shiloh and Lachlan, which means I am coaching a first/second-grade team and a third/fourth-grade team.
Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow because each day holds trouble of its own. Yet, I worried. I planned the agenda I would accomplish during practice, I diagrammed the plays we would run, I handed out a “top secret” playbook to each parent, and, later sent follow-up emails with copies of the plays attached. I had said, “There are only six plays. I want them memorized.” That was last week.
Starting to Fret
On Friday, before our first game, I accompanied the grandkids to the high school football game. The flag football players would get to run onto the field with the high school players, fun! While at the game, my daughter told me that my players’ moms had been emailing her. They were asking if I could go over the plays with the boys before the game tomorrow, because the moms did not understand the diagrams that I had provided. Drat, that is exactly what I had hoped to avoid. There would not be time before the games to teach the boys the plays.
Yes, we had run through them in practice, but I knew it was not enough preparation. So, the trouble that flooded my mind regarding tomorrow, were of young boys running around the field in confusion, a situation that surely would spin out of control. My mind was filled with anxious thoughts.
Morning Devotion
On Saturday morning, I was up early and, in my morning devotion, I read the Apostle Paul’s instructions to the Philippians. He wrote:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
—Philippians 4:6-7
Anxiety and fretting are words with similar meanings. This scripture provides clear instructions to stop fretting; don’t do it. It is a trap that robs you of your peace of mind.
Troubles can come in many forms: impossible deadlines, over-filled schedules, family trouble, illness, work problems, and even situations that spin out of control. But, we can be prepared. On this day, it meant asking God for guidance and letting him work out the details. Resting on the peace of God that surpasses my earthly understanding, my choice was to not fret. Instead, God was telling me to “Enjoy the moment.” Each of these young players were children of God. My job was to make sure they were not anxious, but instead had fun.
A Great Day
Sure enough, on Saturday, as I greeted each boy, one little one said to me, “I’m scared.” This broke my heart. God had prepared me for this moment and I was able to provide comfort to this anxious little boy and turn his perspective toward having fun. And, I did. Both teams did well. Everything wasn’t perfect, but the boys had fun, and so did I. It was a long, but great day.
Don’t fret. We cannot choose the troubles that we will face, but we can have peace of mind in the face of trouble. It is helpful If we choose to spend time in God’s presence, to spend time in the Word of God. Doing so allows his truth to make you strong. It will change your perception and reaction to trouble. He can make you bold and unafraid, allowing you to enjoy the moments of life.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Fear is a Big Bully.
Privilege?
Are we better than others? Do we walk on the other side of the road when we see someone in need? Our sense of privilege can get in the way being his hands and feet.
Invest Our Talents
During World War 2, bombs fell on Poland. One lone building partly survived the bombs…a wall stood with these words clearly legible: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Bombs will continue to fall in our world because of sin. Our world was corrupted by sin. This world will be impacted by natural and man-made calamities. This will continue to happen until Christ returns to set up his new kingdom. Until that time, we should invest the talents God has given us while there is still time. There are people in our communities that need the love of God. In addition to praying for world peace, let’s pray for peace on our street.
I recently read this question in a Bible study: “Are you on the front lines in the defense of Christianity, or has your love for God grown cold?” Wow, really? Does Christianity really need to be defended? You may know that I love history. That question sounds like a recruiting poster for the war against the Turks in the battle that saved Christendom in 1683.
Hero King
The Great Siege of Vienna was the historical culmination of the Turks’ long struggle against Christian Europe. The besieging force was the largest Turkish army ever assembled. Vienna was the door to Central Europe. Within the city walls, the choice was surrender or be ruthlessly slaughtered. The hero of the defense of Christendom was the Polish King John Sobieski. He led the largest cavalry charge in history with 18,000 winged Hussars. They charged down the hill and broke the Turkish siege. The Christian forces had won the battle.
Yet, the call to come to the defense of Christendom was more about kingdoms, culture, power, and money than about coming to God’s defense. It was about entitlement. God doesn’t need us to defend him. God doesn’t need us to argue his side on Facebook. American prosperity has nothing to do with God’s plan for our world.
Don’t Be a Jerk
“What about me?” This one question will keep you from serving God and cause us to act like a jerk.
It is human nature to compare ourselves to others. “I deserve it more than she does.” “I’ve worked harder than he has.” This also lets us off the hook. “I don’t need to help them. They should help themselves.” You know the saying, “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” This is a silly statement and it is not in the Bible. It is a rationalization that justifies me saying “No” to God. “No, I don’t need to give to him or her. If they only learned to fish; they could help themselves.”
I love this idea from John Pavlovitz, If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk. God is love and we are children of that love. Our feelings of privilege can get in the way of us being like Jesus. We are called to shine the light of Jesus’ love to the world around us.
The truth is that we are our brother’s [and sister’s] keepers. Don’t be a jerk. We all have needs. God understands this. Our cup will overflow with blessings as we serve others.
Privilege or Responsibility
Our feelings of privilege can get in the way of doing God’s work. We are no more entitled than anyone else. If we feel we are better than others, we are just like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. We will walk on the other side of the road when we see someone in need. Instead, we have a responsibility to hear Jesus’ voice calling us to be the Good Samaritan.
“Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will repay them.”
Proverbs 19:17
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Growth Mindset.
Power and Love
Pour out your power and love. To what song do those lyrics belong?
Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord by Sonicflood.
Today, I have lots of questions. Starting with, are we too afraid to seek the power and love of God? Perhaps, we are afraid that God might reveal his fullness to us all at once. This would change us. We would be like Moses coming down from the Mountain of God with our faces shining so brightly that no one could look at us. What would your spouse say? Would your employer tell you to go home until it wears off?
Seeing with new eyes might just give us the boldness of Elisha.
Do We Want Boldness?
Do we even want boldness? “Open the eyes of my heart” reminds me of when the king of Syria marshalled his forces to come against the king of Israel. But, every time, Elisha, the prophet of God, would send word to the king of Israel, warning him. This happened over and over.
The king of Syria was enraged and he called his generals together and asked which of you is a spy? The answer: None of us.” They told the king it was Elisha’s fault. I love what they said next, “The prophet tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” Can you imagine how that made the king of Syria feel?
So, he said, “Go, find out where he is so I can send men to capture Elisha.”
What Now?
What if we could see the answered prayers that God is working all around us? We would see the glory of God in every situation. I think we would have new hope.
Elisha’s servant reminds me of how we often respond to troubles in our lives.
I wish that my response to this question was as bold as Elisha’s. His answer shows a complete trust in God. He said, “Don’t be afraid.” Wow! When the odds seem overwhelming, don’t be afraid. When you don’t see a way out, don’t be afraid. When you are at your lowest point, don’t be afraid. Elisha continued, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Let that sink in a minute.
Power of God
At that point, I can see the servant looking around, counting those who were “with us,” one, two, and then looking at the large number of the enemy surrounding them. I can hear his thoughts, “Elisha, are you crazy?” “We are going to die.” But, Elisha prayed an amazing prayer, just like the song that we sang earlier. “Open my servant’s eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” And, God answered Elisha’s prayer and the servant looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around the enemies of Elisha.
Do you need the power and love of God in your life? Then, change your prayer. “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see you.” Perhaps, we can’t handle seeing your full glory. Bring us to that point, one step at a time.
“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?’ the servant asked.”
2 Kings 6:14
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Victorious Living.
The Magic Question
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” When Jesus said, he wasn’t suggesting that some of those around him did not have ears. What he was saying is this is a lesson for which you need to think deeply. His intention was for his disciples to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of God. He had insight into their understanding, almost like he could see their thinking. Was it magic?
“The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you…”
Luke 8:10
Thinking Deeply
In Luke chapter eight, Jesus made this statement regarding the sower who went out to sow his seed, some fell by the way side, some upon rocky ground, some among thrones, and some on good ground. Of course, he desires our hearts to be like the good ground, for us to hear the word, keep it, and produce good fruit.
The message was clear, Jesus had something important to think about. There was a reason to think deeply. He wanted his students to experience the kind of learning that has a lasting impact and powerful influence, not only in the short term, but also for the long haul.
As an educator, I often wished I could see what my students were thinking. This would have made my job so much easier. Uncovering thinking provides evidence of the insights as well as misconceptions. This can also be useful for parents interested in the learning of their children. Making their thinking visible provides information needed to plan opportunities to take learning to the next level, to continue engagement with a topic being explored. We want our children to not only learn, but also learn how to learn. When we demystify the thinking and learning process, we provide models for learners of what it means to engage with ideas, to think, and to learn. We dispel the idea that learning is just committing to memory the information that will be on the test.
Is It Magic?
To help you see inside your child’s head, let me introduce you to the magic question: “What makes you say that?” This question is at the heart of one of the most fully integrated thinking routines that teachers can use in the classroom. But it isn’t just a teaching tool, it is a way of life. Putting it into practice will help your child learn so much more. It will produce deeper conversations with friends and family. Instead of just responding right away to comments, ask “What makes you say that?” Now, the tone and your wording is critical to getting people to elaborate and clarify, in a non-threating way. For example, “Tell me why?” serves the same role, but it doesn’t convey the same level of openness and interest.
Try it! You will be amazed at how much thinking gets revealed that previously lay hidden. It may seem awkward at first, but you will find this routine useful for uncovering thinking in all kinds of situations.
There are many mysteries that we want our children to understand. Yes, we know that they have ears, but we cannot literally see inside their heads. The magic question is perfect for facilitating and clarifying thinking. It is a way to figuratively get inside the heads of your children, so that you can help advance your child’s learning. This one question will help you create a culture of thinking in your home.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Open Your Eyes To Wonder
Wonder… open your eyes to see God’s hand at work and how he orchestrates events so that his glory can be made manifest.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”
Psalm 19:1 (ESV)
Water Pipe Discovery
In 2004, construction workers, digging to repair a water pipe, in Jerusalem, accidentally made an amazing discovery. They found two stone steps, which turned out to be part of a monumental pool from the Second Temple period, the period in which Jesus lived. This 225-foot pool was the pool of Siloam.
In December of 2022, the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced a full excavation of the pool of Siloam. The IAA also said that it will be opened to the public. I want to go! I want to dip in the very pool in which Jesus healed the blind man in the Gospel of John.
“With each miracle, God requires action on our part…”
The creation of the pool, however, goes back seven centuries before Jesus to the time of King Hezekiah. To protect the city during a siege, Hezekiah ordered a great construction project. They would dig through solid rock, creating a 2,000-foot tunnel, channeling water from the Gihon spring, outside the city walls, to a pool, inside the walls.
Healing the Blind Man
An amazing accomplishment, yet, my focus is on the blind man whom Jesus healed. Jesus had spat on the dirt to make mud. Then, he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud, a lesson in itself. Next, Jesus said, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” With each miracle, God requires action on our part, to prove our faith.
It was not accidental that God orchestrated events around washing in this particular pool. Because the pool’s proximity to the temple, its water played a special part during the Feast of Tabernacles. Every morning during this feast, a priest would take a golden vessel and fill it at the pool of Siloam. As he brought it back, people would line his path, cheering. Then, the priest poured out the water on the altar. A ritual done to illustrate Isaiah 12:3, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
A Thing of Wonder
Siloam means “Sent,” so the blind man was sent to a pool called “Sent” by the one who was himself sent by God, to accomplish our salvation. Not an accident.
Ponder this in relation to our lives. Is means that God does not despise the physical world he made. He uses the means of food to sustain life, sex to beget children, and thousands of remedies to bring about healing — from penicillin to cough syrup. God uses the things of our world to accomplish his purpose, which is to display his glory. Creation declares the glory of God, if we have eyes to see the wonder.
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Love That Is Unconditional
Christianity comes with an amazing promise: the hope of eternal life. However, I remember thinking as a young person that is a long time away. There has got to be more. Love is the answer.
So, what are the benefits of being a Christian for the here and now? After many years of experience, I can confidently answer that being a Christian builds strong people. I am not talking about muscle bound mental light weights. Tight butts are interesting, but everyone has a butt. I’m talking about people of strong character, people that you can build a life around…who you want to raise your kids…who you can trust to have your back. People who have experienced and can show unconditional love.
Developing Strong Character
So, what does it mean to have strong character? First let me say that it doesn’t happen by magic. You have to exercise or develop your character. Just like you exercise your muscles. It is my goal as a pastor to help believers develop strong character. This goal aligns with Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples. He gave them two directives.
People try to make it complicated, but Jesus only gave us two directives. One, we call The Great Command, which was to “love our neighbor as our self.” The second, The Great Commission, was the instruction of the resurrected Jesus to spread his teachings to all the world. The most famous version of the Great Commission is in Matthew 28:16–20. Do you remember specifically what Jesus told them? He said “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…” Our commission is to make disciples. It is not just to baptize people, though that is something we should do. Our goal is to change lives and make people more Christ like, developing in them the same strength of character that was in Jesus.
How does one go about making disciples? Luckily, we have a blueprint for what a disciple should look like. Galatians 5:22-23 lists nine fruits of the Spirit. Many sermons have been preached on the fruits of the Spirit, but I want to put flesh and bone on these words and provide real-life, modern day application of these important concepts.
Love On Display
I’ll start with just one of these luscious fruits to put on display: love. Not romantic love…which fades away, but “real” love which lasts. Sorry young people, I hate to burst the bubble, but the kind of love displayed mostly on TV and movies, romantic love is really just infatuation, meaning an intense but short-lived passion or admiration for someone. Yeah, I know you think she is “so fine” and you can’t stop thinking about her, which is good and part of God’s plan. For without infatuation, there would be no marriage and no procreation. In other words, there would be no new babies born to populate the earth. Unless, we agree to the arranged marriage model. I can say from experience romantic love or infatuation is good, but true love is even better. It is the kind of love that Paul is concerned with in Galatians.
I define love as unselfish concern for others. A disciple of Christ is not allowed to hate. We are required to love…even our enemies. Jesus is alone in all of the religious leaders of the world, Muhammad, Budda, Confucius, in commanding that we love and forgive even our enemies. There is no legal requirement for human beings to love an enemy. It is just not logical to expect us to love without the expectation that our love will be reciprocated. Yet, this is exactly what Jesus asks of his followers. Love without the expectation of reciprocation. So, I make these statements with confidence. People that are spewing out hate on social media are not demonstrating the characteristics of Jesus. People that are spewing out hate from the pulpit are not demonstrating the characteristics of Jesus. Leaders who are spewing out hate are not demonstrating the characteristics of Jesus.
Unconditional Love
Christ demonstrated unconditional love for us. “While we were yet sinners…” So, let me give you a real-life example. Lizzy is a mother and wife who unconditionally and sacrificially loves her children…and her husband. Some of this is her mothering instinct, but it is not just that. Not all mothers love their children in this way. Not all mothers are willing to sacrifice all for their children. I’ve heard many mothers say “I can’t wait until they turn 18. When they turn 18 they are on their own.” In other words, I’ve sacrificed enough for these kids. I want to focus on me for a change.
Not so with Liz. Our children range in age from 27 to 34 years old and this week Liz sacrificed almost all of her time for them. Sunday was babysitting grandkids at Chandlers. Tuesday morning early, it was getting Juliet to the bus stop, in the cold, then, babysitting Scarlet, and, next, making dinner for the Gecks. Wednesday, it was back to Chandler’s. Thursday brought a return trip to the Whitney’s. Friday was a normal day: washing dishes, doing a fews load of laundry, taking the dog to the vet, taking her mother to the bank and to get groceries, going to the cleaners for me, and cooking an amazing, diabetic-friendly, dinner for me. Did I tell you Liz is retired? No sitting around watching movies for her. She is still sacrificing.
Choosing a Mate
When I met Liz, she was sixteen and raising two very young children, Chuckie and Dee Dee, whose mother had run off and left them. I recognized that this was a person with unselfish concern for others. Young people when you are looking for a mate, you want to a mate that demonstrates this kind of love. It is guaranteed that they will show you and your children unconditional love.
Copyright © 2020 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Royal Birth.
Powerful Prayer
Change your focus; praise God for the good work he is doing. Get this right and you will experience powerful prayer. God will hear and answer.
Power of Prayer
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15:7-8
So, what was Jesus promising to us here? Looking closer, his statement has two parts, a condition and a result. The condition — the if clause — “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you . . .” the result — the then clause — “then ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
We abide in Jesus as we learn God’s desire for our lives…and become obedient to God’s desires. In most cases, knowing God’s desires or will is not that complicated. My guess is that as you read these words God is putting ideas in your heart. Now, think on that a minute. What does God desire your life to be like? What priorities would he have you to change?
Priority One
God designed prayer to give his disciples the joy of bearing fruit, doing good. Jesus said “By this is my Father glorified” — that is, by your asking him for things and his giving them to you. He gets glory as the one who is rich and good enough to answer our prayers. Then, others will see the fruit, our good works, and be drawn to God.
The connection is tremendously important. He chose and appointed his disciples that they should go and bear fruit.
God Is Not a Genie
Prayer is not for gratifying our natural desires.
I hear some of you thinking, but Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day, our daily bread.” And what could be more natural than the desire to eat? It is God’s pleasure to provide us with provision and there are many examples of miracles in the Bible regarding this truth. God desires to give His children good gifts: protection, success in our work, recovery from sickness, etc.
My point is not that natural desires are wrong. My point is that they should always be subordinate to spiritual desires; fruit-bearing desires; gospel-spreading, God-centered desires; Christ-exalting, God-glorifying desires. Just before Jesus said to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” he said, make it your heart’s desire that God would hallow his name and that the kingdom would come and that the will of God would be done on earth.
The desires of the heart cease to be merely natural desires when our heart delights above all else in the Lord. If you want powerful prayer, praise God for the fruit.
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4
Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear
Also, see Be Persistent.
