Shade Tree Wisdom 9/1/08

It’s cool this morning, altogether pleasant, no yellow boxes roaring to add to noise and confusion. One would hardly know that there is a major hurricane roaring in the Gulf, heading, they project somewhat west of New Orleans. Yet New Orleans has evacuated l.9 million people; their thinking, better too soon than too late. So now it’s a matter of ‘wait and see’ what develops.

Ever have days like that? Days when nothing seems to go right, you overslept, are running late, the toast gets burned, the gas needle is on empty because you forgot to fill up last night. The time drags, no matter how hard you try, nothing seems to work right, and the day seems to go endlessly.

Finally, at home that night, you face some ‘end of month’ financial chores, and the check book just won’t balance! And such an odd figure, too. Finally, you check against the online bank report and find the error, forgot to add a little check.

We all have days like that. And there is help and hope for us. David knew them too. Psalm 2, 1-2, David cries, “Give ear to my words, O Lord. Consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray”.

David, chased by King Saul, faced down and defeated Goliath, confronted by his own sin, and blessed beyond imagination. In it all he remembered one KEY truth, God hears our prayers and answers the prayers of his people.

We pray. I hear us in the worship service, “Our Father, . .Thy will be done”. But do we often think our stuff is too little for God’s attention, and I had better work it out for myself?

Remember, God has given us his gift of prayer. God invites us to “Cast ALL your cares on Him, for He careth for you”. And in this gift of prayer God gives us all the things we need according to His divine will. For the words “Thy will be done, on earth, as in heaven” are never empty. No matter how small we think our need, His answer is always filled with the things we do need to answer that need.

Weary and sad? Remember the Psalms. The prayers of David help us all often express our need, our want, our care, in His eye. He wants us to ask. He has promised “And it shall be given to you.” May the Lord bless your prayer life.

GPD 9/1/08