Revitalize Your Church

  This morning, I was inspired by something beautiful. The basic idea is from an old evangelist from 100 years ago named S. A. Keen. When we our lack becomes evident -- and we realize we need more than we can possibly offer in order to make it through (rest, assurance, cleansing or power) our natural tendency is to ask for "it."  "God, please give me strength. . . God, please give peace. . ." But, often, those prayers only bring little trickles of help. Instead of asking for "it", try asking for HIM. "Lord, I don't need 'it' nearly as much as I need You. Please come, and fill my heart, my soul, my mind, my strength, my memories, my moments -- with YOU!   If we ask for "it", we may or may not get it. But if we ask for HIM, He will come and bring it with Him!  He, alone, is our secret source of soul refreshment.  The next time you pray, just say, "Lord, give me your Holy Spirit that I may know I am you...

We thank Thee, Lord, for pilgrim days, Across the desert sand, For there we learned to know and praise Our Father's guiding hand. We thank Thee, Lord, for loneliness, Beneath the desert sky; For there we learned Thy ways to trace; As silent stars swept by. We thank Thee, Lord, for midnight fear, For wilderness alarm; For there we learned that Thou art near, When aught Thy saints would harm. We thank Thee, Lord, for lack of bread, For pillows made of stone; For then we were by manna fed, And slept beneath Thy throne. We thank Thee, Lord, for parching thirst, When desert wells were dry; For there we saw the fountain, Christ, That gave us full supply. --D. W. Whittle in Jonathan: And Other Poems