Ask And You Shall Recieve

I like this little story and think it has a lesson in it for

all of us. we all know from the Bible that if we go boldly to

the throne and ask that we shall receive - learn to take it a step farther.

Subject: Good for the soul

Last week I took my children to a restaurant.

My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace.

As we bowed our heads he said,

"God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would

even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And

Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard

a woman remark, "That’s what’s wrong with this country.

Kids today don’t even know how to pray.

Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!"

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me,

"Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific

job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman

approached the table.

He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought

that was a great prayer."

"Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied

Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman

whose remark had started this whole thing), "too bad she never

asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul

sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal.

My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will

remember the rest of my life.

He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and

placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her,

"Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul

sometimes, and my soul is good already."

I like this little story and find it holds a lesson for all of us.

It is true and most Christians know that we

can ask and receive, most of you who are reading this

have perhaps already done that for some years now,

but it points out a way towards even greater gifts for if

we not only ask but learn to more importantly

GIVE we will receive even more.

I have found in my own life that if I ask the Lord he has

always been kind in his gifts toward me, for years I did

nothing more than ask.

I was still blessed from it, but it has only

been since I have diligantly worked to give to others- whether it

be money, support for my church, inspiration thru my Christian

Fellowship, working with the drug and alchol addicted, or working thru Prison Ministries to bring home lost souls.

Since changing my attitude, I have found the Lord to be truely bountiful

in his gifts. For God’s sake and your own - learn to give. Whether it be money, work at your Church, Evangelizing, or learning to give your proper tithes - work at it for God’s Sake and your own. I promise you it will return what ever you have given many folds to you, for it is true that you can never out give God, and he definitely does keep track. God loves a giver

BE ONE.

†Yours in Christ†

Dennis C.

Christian Fellowship

Cocoa Beach, Florida

Some of you I am sure are using the excuse - "I have nothing to give."

You are wrong.

We all have something to give. When I first began to really work at my Christian bebirth I felt the same - What can I give ? I could think of nothing - all of my talents seemed to have been stripped away from me.

I found myself knee deep in depression and could see no light. Worthless

was what I felt. I know now that was God’s way of getting my attention. He had some work for me to do.

I used to be a - walk on water kind of guy, but had found that tying my shoes was about all I could seem to muster.

Until the Lord said "start at the bottom" ! Learn humility, and to serve the Lord."

I volunteered to take out the garbage in my local Church after each service on sunday and after Bible Study on tuesday evenings. Not a lofty task for a walk on water kind of guy, but something that needed to be done, and at least it was

an important start. It humbled me and helped me honor my God at the most basic level.

I have evolved into doing much more, but to this day, I still diligantly work weekly at taking out God’s garbage.