Mike Paschall . com

Luke 11:1 One day he (Jesus) was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.” 2 So he said, “When you pray, say, Father, Reveal who you are. Set the world right. 3 Keep us alive with three square meals. 4 Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.” 5 Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. 6 An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’ 7 “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’ 8 “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need. 9 “Here’s what I’m saying: Ask and you’ll get; Seek and you’ll find; Knock and the door will open. 10 “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. 11 If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? 12 If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? 13 As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing – you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?  -The Message-

“The sound could be mind numbing!  Bessie’s Store was just across the street from the Elementary School that I grew up going to.  If you were lucky enough to have received permission to eat lunch at the store, the smell of griddle-cooked hamburgers (not a frozen patty) would reach you before you crossed the street.  Fifty cents would get you a burger and a Delaware Punch soft drink.  It was noontime bliss!  But, after the eating, the real line of attack began.

Bessie had a closed-in glass display that was only accessible from the backside of the counter.  Inside were all kinds of treasures that you could purchase for a nickel.  You know…valuables like wax lips, gum, baseball cards, Green Hornet decoder rings, and whistles.  What in the fat was that woman thinking?  Anyway, one nickel was the price, but having a nickel was only half the battle.  Thirty kids trying to get their loot and exit to the playground with time to spare required strategy and positioning!  To get Bessie’s attention each kid would take their nickel and tap the big glass that showcased the valuable merchandise.  One or two taps wasn’t too bad, but 15 to 20 tapping nickels would wrack your brain!  Between grilling the burgers and answering the beckon call of that deafening racket, poor Bessie always looked real tired, undone and major stressed!  I was also amazed at how fast she moved behind the counter.  She answered each tapping nickel with precision and efficiency.  Surely it was more out of self-preservation and sanity!

Even though the text today points to persistence, it’s important that we understand that the persistence is about coming to the right source of our help…to Him.  The mindless-ceaseless tapping may not be totally necessary.  More on this tomorrow, but here is today’s truth.  God is behind the case and He does answer taps.  We are all invited to tap!

Father too often, I come to the case without my nickel, but you answer out of Your abundance.  Thank you for keeping the store open

-MDP-