Good Morning

When I say good morning, I mean to say:

G-od
O-ffers us His
O-utstanding
D-evotion to

M-ake us
O-bedient &
R-eady for a
N-ew day with Him.
I-nspire others please, and
N-ever forget
G-od loves you!

THE LORD'S TEST

I woke up this morning and knew that today,

The sun would not be shining

and the clouds would be Gray..

As I stepped outside,

Rain fell upon my head.

My car wouldn't start

so I walked to school instead.

I forgot all of my assignments

I failed all of my tests.

I dropped my head in disgust

and asked the Lord for one request.

'Lord, why is it that

things won't go my way?'

He gently replied,

'Dear child it is because

you didn't thank me yesterday.

I woke you up and enabled

you to see the sun again.

I gave you shelter,

protected your family, and even let

you make a new friend.

I blessed you far

greater than I ever had before.

But you were too busy

to thank me once more.

You didn't feel sick

because I maintained your health.

You had money in your pocket

because I maintained your wealth.

You had shoes on you feet

and clothes to wear, too.

You had plenty of food to eat,

and what did you do?

You ignored me and went

about your tasks.

But when you wanted something

you never hesitated to ask.

I was there when you needed me

and that wasn't too long ago.

But when things started going your way,

it was me you did not know.

As if that wasn't enough,

I provided our favourite luxuries.

This was something I didn't have

to do - they weren't even necessities.

And when it was time to get on your

knees and show your gratitude,

You decided that after such a

fulfilling day, you weren't in the mood.

So I decided to

give you just a little test.

To show you how it would feel

to stop being blessed.'

I began to realize what

the Lord was saying.

And when I got home, I fell

to my knees and started praying.

He said, 'My child, you have

learned and you know I do forgive..

But remember to remember this day

as long as you shall live.

I love filling your life with joy,

and I'll alleviate your pain.

But just a simple thank you

would show how much you

appreciate it.'

Unanswered Prayers

READ: Luke 7:1-10 [Jesus said], “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” —Luke 7:9

An explanation we often hear for “unanswered” prayers is that we don’t have enough faith. But Jesus said in Luke 17:6 that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can command a mulberry tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea and it will obey us. In other words, the effectiveness of our prayers depends not on how much faith we have but on whether we even have faith.

Luke tells of a Roman centurion with “great faith” (7:9). His faith was expressed first as an appeal to Jesus to heal his dying servant. Then it was expressed as an acknowledgment that Jesus could heal his servant anytime, anywhere. The centurion did not ask Jesus to do things his way.

Faith has been described as “trusting God’s heart and trusting God’s power.” Some prayers that seem to go unanswered are simply instances in which God has lovingly overruled our wishes. He knows that what we have asked for is not best. Or it may be that our timing is not His timing, or He has some far greater purpose in mind. Let us remember, even Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father, “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours” (Luke 22:42).

Do we have the centurion’s great faith—a faith that trusts God to do His work, in His way? — C. P. Hia

Unanswered prayers are answered still
As part of God’s great master plan;
They help to carry out His will
To demonstrate God’s love for man. —D. De Haan

God’s answers are wiser than our prayers.