“Lord, please help me find my cell phone”

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will REJOICE and be glad in it. How about you? As I type this blog, I am looking out of my office window and enjoying the sound of the birds going about their day with no concerns whatsoever, also I'm watching the squirrels as they gather their food, with a constant eye out for the neighborhood cat that has an appetite for squirrel meat. It is an absolutely beautiful day. My heart is so full this morning of thanksgiving to God for many reasons. One of those reasons is because of the great services that we had yesterday in church. God moved in all three of our services, in diverse ways. Last night's service was a wonderful time of healing and basking in God's presence as God showed us that faith says God can, hope says God will, and Trust says, I will serve and praise Him still. Many people responded to the altar call and were ministered to by God's precious Holy Spirit. He is so faithful to us isn't He?

I also had a great weekend with my sister, brother-in-law, and their children. They were in town for a baseball tournament and we enjoyed watching my nephew's team win the championship as he pitched a shutout. I was very proud of him. While at this tournament, something happened that spoke into my heart about God's concern over His children. I would like to share this experience with you.

Saturday after one of the baseball games had concluded, my daughter and I started to walk away from the field when she looked at me with a look of horror on her face. As she frantically searched her pockets she said with tears already forming in her eyes, "Daddy, my cell phone is gone. It must have fallen out of my pocket." We began to search frantically for her phone. She had been throwing a tennis ball around with her brother and had been all over the sports complex, so there was no telling where she might have dropped the phone. She had just bought this phone less than a week earlier with money that she had saved. I watched as she stopped searching, stood still for a moment, and I knew what she was doing. She was praying. She told me later that she realized that she hadn't asked God to help her yet, so she simply said, "Lord, please help me find my cell phone." She had no more than gotten those words out of her mouth, when I saw her take off running towards some bleachers. She jumped over a brick wall, reached down and picked up her phone. She told me that as soon as she asked God to help her find her phone, the thought came to her mind where she had fallen while running. And that was where her phone was. What a wonderful opportunity that I had to share with my precious daughter that if God is concerned enough about her to help find a cell phone, how much more is He concerned about the larger issues of life. I also was able to teach her about how God's Holy Spirit will give us direction as we listen to Him.

I had planned to write on another subject today, but as I sat down at my computer to write, God brought me back to the story that I just shared with you. We hear people say all the time that there is nothing too big for God. We read this in the Bible, and hold onto it during trying times. But I want you to know that there is nothing too small for God either. Whatever you may be facing today, why don't you just stop right where you are, and talk to God about it, like my eleven year old daughter did. Listen to what Jesus says to you today:

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

I believe Jesus asks this question, "Are you not much more valuable than they" talking about the birds of the air, because He wants us to understand the value that He puts upon each of us. God cares for, and provides for the birds of the air and He so much more will provide for you, His child. My daughter had come to me when she couldn't find her cell phone, and I couldn't help her, even thought I desperately wanted to. Then she realized something that I NEVER WANT HER TO FORGET…"I can take it to my heavenly Father and He can help me." I love the confidence that she has in God. She never hesitated wondering if she should "bother" God with such a small issue. My friend, when we realize how awesome God is, everything is small when compared to His greatness and His ability. So we need to understand that we never bother God when we bring our situations to Him. It troubles Him when we don't bring them to Him.

Zechariah 4:10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world.)

When we learn to trust God in the small things it a "small beginning" of our confidence and trust in Him. Then we will find ourselves able to trust Him more with the larger issues of life. We should never despise or neglect bringing anything to God in prayer. He wants us to see Him and KNOW Him as our loving Heavenly Father.

Yes, my eleven year old daughter taught me something Saturday. God really is my Heavenly Father, and He cares about whatever troubles me…His child. He cares for and about you as well. Why not stop right now and give Him all of your struggles, worries, frustrations, aggravations. When you begin to wonder if you should bring the small matters to him, remember how this weekend he answered the honest, sincere prayer of, "Lord, please help me find my cell phone" from an eleven year old little girl. He will do the same for you, for He no respecter of persons. You really can trust your Father! Blessings.

Pastor Rusty

Today's "THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR" reading: April 21, 2008 (Monday): Job 3:1 – Job 14:22