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Listen while you read: "Jesus Is All The World To Me"1 (Lyrics) |
Philippians 4:19-20 – And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV)
Three-year-old Ade wanted pickles with her lunch. I found a new jar in the pantry and tried to open it, without success. I whacked the lid several times. No success. I gave it a few more good smacks with the handle of the knife. Still no success. I tried a gripping cloth over the lid. No success. Finally, I said to Ade, perhaps we should pray about this and ask Jesus to supply Grammy with the strength to open these pickles. Ade laughed and laughed as she stated, "No ask Jesus to help with pickles, Grammy." But I told her that Jesus is concerned with everything that concerns us, even the little things, so maybe we should try asking Him for help. And so, we did. The lid came off the jar immediately when I gave it one more try.
The look of awe on Ade's face will be one that I will treasure forever, for this three-year-old had begun the wonderful discovery that God is able to meet all our needs, no matter how small, when we take the time to lift them up to Him in Christ's name. For God is a good and merciful God who is always ready to meet us right where we are.
It doesn't matter how old or young we are, rich or poor, sick or healthy, God wants to meet with us. In His infinite wisdom and mercy, He meets with us in the very way that we can best understand and receive Him. All we need to do is to have the faith of a little child who is willing to ask for help where it is needed, even if it is to open a jar of pickles, so that she can enjoy them with her lunch.
So today, if you find yourself in a pickle, so to speak — a situation that is beyond your ability to deal with, be it big or small — what are you going to do about it? Are you going to keep trying to have success amidst it by yourself, or will you reach out in faith to God through prayer, asking Him to meet you exactly where you are and discover that He will be there, too, in a way that you can best understand and receive Him?
Prayer: Father God, may Yours be the glory for ever and ever, as by faith we cry to You in our need, be it large or small, and find that You are there to meet us. Bless us with faith, even faith as small as a little child's, that we may be awed by Your goodness, mercy, and love as You meet all of our needs through Christ Jesus who loves us. In His name, we pray. Amen.
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Thursday, April 18, 2024 – In East Asia — Pray for more partners who become trainers in our house church planting network in East Asia. We are asking God for around ten of these trainers for each district in our region. May the Lord grant them courage in their next step of faith.
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Good advice, Lynne. Be safe.
Thanks, Lynn. A memorable example!
Great story and reminder, Lynne! Blessings!
Thank you, Lynne, for this so important life message. It gives me hope.
Thanks, Lynne. We enjoyed the pickle project and the challenge it provides.
Thanks for sharing this encouraging devotional with us. Talk about being in a pickle! Blessings.
Memorable and lovely, Lynne. Thank you for sharing it today. Blessings on that dear grandchild.
Lynne,
Excellent. Thanks for writing and sharing it.
(CA)
Yes, He is able to supply ‘All’ our needs.
Thanks for the reminder Lynne.
God’s blessings upon you and your family.
Good morning Lynne,
Thank you for the reminder that we don’t have to handle our life alone, but we can turn to God always.
Good morning Lynn,
I have been in a pickle for the last few months.
Am doing better now. Thank you for writing.
Blessings.
Many more times during our life we should have turned to prayer.
How great at such a young age to witness the power of prayer.
Good story.
Blessings.
Dear Lynne,
Thank you for your charming devotional today. So often I forget that Christ is always with me, for the big and for the small things. You have reminded me that He is my constant friend.
Hello Lynne
Thank you and this is so true. I stand by the script. Phil.4 v 19 and 20. He has proved that to me so many times, especially in these last few weeks.
Have a great day!!
God bless.
Hi Lynne,
Wish I could have seen the look on Ade’s face…and yours when the pickle jar opened! If you ever wish to try another technique, I have had great success using a “church key” beer opener and getting it under the lid a bit to break that seal. Don’t know what story you could use with that technique, however.
Thanks for writing…once more.
Dear Lynne,
Thank you for the message today. I pray for God’s great blessings for you.
I am in a “pickle”. I am 90 years of age, living alone and am getting to think that I must consider senior’s home or residence or small apartment. There are no residences with ‘care,” and seniors’ accommodations are rare or non-existent.
Oh yes, He helps with all our needs. Only I asked Him for help with my golf shot but He laughed and said: if you are going to play golf, you are on your own! Had to laugh at that. But I have a few ways to open jars. I have a bottle /can opener stuck on my fridge (it’s magnetic.) I use the pointy end to go until the lid to release the vacuum. Opens no strain. And the round end to catch the edge of the sealer lids to break the seal. I can re-use the lids that way. Saves me a lot of strain, with arthritis and a locking digit on one hand.
Good morning Lynne,
What a beautiful devotional! Your decision to pray about getting the jar open, was an excellent way for Ade to experience how the Lord is ever ready to answer our prayers whatever circumstance we face in life. I could just imagine the expression on her face, as it is quite astounding the expressions those little ones in our lives, can show when they experience something unexpected. All part of God’s plan in His unique creation of each one.
Blessings for these special writings you do. Enjoy a delightful day.
(B.C.)
Hi Lynne
Well my friend isn’t that what we often do — rely on ourself by trying every conceivable way to do something like open a pickle jar, when we need to go straight to Jesus and ask for His help to open the pickle jar or whatever else we are struggling with. Yes, you had an invaluable teaching opportunity for your granddaughter, but just think how much easier it would have been if you had gone to Jesus in prayer sooner. I know from personal experience as I far too often rely on myself rather than asking Jesus for the help I need.
May we all learn not to hesitate to ask Jesus for help even with what may seem to be small insignificant things which we need help with.
May God bless you and Ade.
Dear Lynne:
Thank you so much for this wonderful story of you, your granddaughter, and our Lord!
It reminded me of my granddaughter. Since she was two years old, she would phone me and say “Hi Nana! Will you pray wiff me ’bout……?” I would pray with her over the phone and her pout of worry would miraculously change to one of complete trust and joy! In a few days, she would phone me again and her little voice would excitedly announce: “Hi, Nana! The prayer worked! God did it!”
She is now an adult and we still have these precious conversations!
Her younger brother came to visit when he was little, and he was excited and delighted to tell me he had learned a song ’bout Jesus! He sang the song and was totally off key and, I know without doubt, that it was the best singing our Lord has ever heard!
Grandchildren are such amazing blessings!
Keep writing, Lynne! My husband and I love your devotionals.
Blessings.
Awesome. Thanks so much for reminding us how God is always there for us in big and small ways.
Lynne, I have trouble opining jars.
A prayer has brought the same result more than once.
I had problems with my monitor.
My associate checked things. No result. He was negative, probably some interference from outside.
I said a silent prayer for help.
A few moments later he suddenly started checking again.
Problem fixed he doesn’t know why.
The payer changed his negative attitude and he got an idea…
God indeed cares about every aspect of our lives.