The Sword of the LORD

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) So. I woke up one morning with a desire to revitalize my prayer life. I have never been the greatest conversationalist; I usually am a better listener, and this has translated to my prayer life as well. I spend a lot of time waiting to hear what the Lord wants to say to me, but not as much time expressing my wishes. On the surface that may seem like a good thing, a less selfish thing, but not when it comes to praying for others. I also have a tendency to pray in my heart, and not out loud. This isn't really an important issue, but I wanted to force myself to talk to God as if He were in the room with me (which He is, of course), rather than someone who is far off whom I was communicating with telepathically. So I had this thought to invite God to tea. I got out two porcelain mugs, and chose my favorite one for the Lord (it's my Ohio State mug), I selecte...

"And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto Him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. But He said unto them, Give ye them to eat." (Luke 9:12, 13a) When the disciples saw such a great need before them - at least five thousand tired and hungry men - their natural thought was to send them away to where their needs could be met. They knew that they did not have the resources to minister to such a crowd, either in food, or money to buy food. Jesus, however, saw things quite differently. His resources were unlimited, and He was about to teach His followers a classic lesson in supply and demand. His command to the disciples was clear, "Give ye them to eat." Whether the need is great or small, we often look within ourselves and think that there is nothing that we have that can satisfy that need. Whether it is sharing the Lord wit...