"Unanswered Prayer" by Garth Brooks

Just the other night a hometown football game

My wife and I ran into my old high school flame

And as I introduced them the past came back to me

And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be

She was the one that I'd wanted for all times

And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine

And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then

I'd never ask for anything again

[Chorus] Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers

     Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs

     That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care

     Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

She wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams

And I could tell that time had changed me

Inn her eyes too it seemed

We tried to talk about the old days

There wasn't much we could recall

I guess the Lord knows what he's doin' after all

And as she walked away and I looked at my wife

And then and there I thanked the good Lord

For the gifts in my life

[Chorus]

Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered...

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

Your School Needs Jesus

My wife welcomed her new 3^rd graders at our local elementary school last week.  Our communities’ students, teachers & school staffs need prayer as they begin a new year.  I believe that they need Jesus’ guidance and blessings this year.  Every year, teachers continue to learn new educational tools, methods, & skills.  Administrators and staff face new challenges in meeting the needs of today’s students.

The first 5 books of the Old Testament were called the Torah or the Law.  Rabbi’s back then taught the Torah to their young students, so that children grew up knowing that God had created the world and done marvelous things through Abraham and Moses.  As the decades and centuries went by, God’s Spirit lead the Israelites to add the books of history and poetry (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon) to its sacred Scriptures, and the prophetic books came later.   

In the New Testament, Jesus was known especially for teaching; He was a Jewish rabbi.  He taught outdoors as well as in the synagogue.  He taught hard, new ways to interpret the Old Testament, especially in Matthew 5-7, his famous sermon on the mountain.   Each gospel presents a different side of Jesus’ ministry; so take the time to read each of them.  Some of his stories made religious leaders look bad and outcast minorities look good, such as the parable of the Good Samaritan, or the Pharisee and tax-collector who prayed in the Temple. 

I appreciate the time my employer gives me for continuing education, to keep learning.  No matter how old we get, there’s always something more to learn.  I hope to keep learning for many years, partly because learning new things keeps one young by introducing new things into one’s life, no matter what your age.  No matter how old you and I get, there’s always more to learn about Jesus and following Him as our Savior and Master.  To learn about following Jesus, read the first 4 books of the New Testament and spend time praying to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  A church in your community can also you learn about Jesus.

Pray for the school in the district where you live.  These are challenging times for students and everyone involved in educating them.  Every school needs Christ and his Spirit’s guidance, protection, mercy and gracious love.  Your local school needs Jesus.  Pray that every Christ-follower in your local schools will be a light in a dark world.  

A Place to Meet God

Our deck was aging and sagging badly; it was like walking across a trampoline.  In May, I received help in tearing it apart.  Turns out there was a reason for the sagging - most of the support framework was rotting.  I decided to use 4 x 4 posts in concrete in holes in the ground for the new deck.  While building the deck, I learned about post footings, pier-blocks, ledger boards and joist-hangers; I also learned about sore muscles, pinched fingers, and 60 lb bags of concrete!

Working on our deck reminded me of God's detailed instructions for the Tabernacle (Exo. 25-26).  Tabernacle means tent, dwelling place or sanctuary.  It was a portable holy place where God would meet with his people during the decades they wandered through the wilderness.  The Tabernacle was where people and their leaders worshipped and offered sacrifices to God.  Do you have a place to meet personally with God?

There are numerous other Biblical building projects, including:

-Nehemiah & his Jewish recruits rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem, to protect and secure the city where God’s people rededicated themselves to God.

-A carpenter made the manger (an animal trough) that held the newborn Jesus in the

barn behind the crowded inn.

-The cross on which Jesus was crucified.

All these building projects were part of God’s work or intended to honor God, which raises the question: Will our new deck be used to honor and glorify God?  Will it be a place to meet with God?  Our backyard is to some extent a place of nature with grass, plants, trees and a few flowers – a place where one can spend peaceful time with God.  My wife helped me a lot in the building process, and we didn’t have a single disagreement!  So God’s already blessed us through the building process.  What about your latest project?  Is it part of God’s work or intended to honor God?  How will it affect your relationship with God?

The stone that was rejected by the builders (I Peter 2: 4-9) turned out to be Jesus Christ!  Jesus was rejected by many who were too attached to the standard religious practices of their day.  Peter wrote: Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life.  The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor.  Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.  (The Message)

Without God, the supporting framework of our lives, tends to rot like our old deck.  But one can build a new life based on the greatest cornerstone – Jesus.  If you’re tired of your old life and ready for a new life, start building your life on Jesus!