Luke 11, 12 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Jesus said, “ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” [Luke 11:10]

With an offer like this, we are living way below our privilege if we don’t tale advantage. I’m guilty of neglecting to pray and ask for my own physical needs. It occurred to me that I can and should apply the same diligence to praying for myself as I do for the requests and well-being of others.

My right foot has been swollen and painful for months now. Please join me in prayer.

Luke 10 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

When Jesus taught His Disciples to pray, He instructed them to say, “Forgive us our [sins] AS we forgive those who sin against us.” He made it clear that for God to forgive us, we MUST forgive others.

Forgiveness is much easier to accomplish when you don’t accumulate a big case against someone ie. if you constantly dwell on how they have offended you, you will have built up a big load of hate and revenge that will be difficult to forgive.

Make the quality decision to be an instant forgiver. The moment thoughts otherwise begin, erase them with instant forgiveness. Keep the account clean. Don’t add up offenses. Forgive every little hurt.

My grandmother was a lover/forgiver. In her presence you were accepted. She probably learned to be a good forgiver because she lived with my grandpa. He was a character in his younger days.

Opal Harris, my WONDERFUL GRANDMOTHER!

Luke 9 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

In 1980 I was landing at the Port Au Prince airport in Haiti with a mission team from our church. We were there to minister to the people.

Upon landing at the airport, I received the news that my grandmother had passed away. With the news, my father sent this scripture to tell me that I should continue on my trip and not try to come home for the funeral.

“Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” [Luke 8:60]

We were accompanied by a great, well-known Nigerian preacher, Benson Idohosa. He prayed for a deaf and dumb man who the Lord healed and all the people who knew of the man’s condition began clapping and shouting. I had set up the sound system for that street meeting.

Luke 7, 8 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Jesus’ teaching on ground conditions:

• Ground along the path – easy to be trampled upon and easy for birds (the devil) to snatch up planted seed.
• Rocky ground – has no moisture to grow a plant. They have no root.
• Thorny ground – the cares, riches, and worries of life choke out the life of the plant.
• Good ground –  those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Luke 6, 7 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

While listening to chapter 7, I was impressed by the compassion Jesus showed to a widow who was grieving the death of her only son. Observing the scene, Jesus walked up to the bier, method of carrying the dead, and told the person to get up. HE DID! He restored her son to comfort her heart. We all know how much mothers love their children, and to lose one is almost unbearable.

This is the Jesus we serve. He has great compassion. To be Christ’s followers, we also should manifest similar compassion.

Luke 5 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Fishermen are always in search of a good fishing spot. The location, time of day, weather conditions, type of bait, depth of the water etc. They want to know so they can catch some fish, the bigger the better.

Jesus KNOWS where the fish are. He told Simon Peter to cast in his net right HERE … and there was a catch almost too big for the net. Jesus knew.

My point: allow God to show you where to fish for men. Listen to the Holy Spirit to witness to people. He will make us “fishers of men.”

Luke 2-4 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

God puts His favor upon His children. Your children are His children. You will see His favor upon those you love. Also, if they receive your daily prayer support, they will experience it the more. God will bless them in ways that money can’t buy. You can’t look ahead and predict how it will happen, but you can certainly look back and see it.

Especially if you are a grandparent, it’s your job to provide a thick prayer covering for them as they navigate life. What else are grandparents good for? $$$(?!)

Luke 2 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

God’s grace was upon Jesus as He grew up. [v.40]

That same grace is upon our children when we raise them to serve the Lord. They will do and say things that indicate God’s call upon their lives, and they will shine with abilities that foreshadow how God will use them.

Take me, for instance. Music always came easy, and my natural musical ability qualified me for privileges and experiences our of the ordinary. The aptitude was just THERE. Then, I go to music school and live a life of musical service to the Lord’s Kingdom. Patty didn’t even know I could sing when she married me.

It’s not wise to fight against the gifts of God in children. George Fredrich Handel’s family wanted him to be a doctor, but God had other plans for his life … Hallelujah!

Luke 1, 2 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Simeon was a devout man who knew the Messiah would one day come through the doors of the Temple and begin His life. He must have been a man of consistent and fervent prayer, for one day God’s Holy Spirit moved him to go the the Temple and await the Chosen One. This meeting is recorded in Luke 2. He prophesied over the young family and declared his life was successful to have seen the Christ.

Spending a life in prayer yields such experiences. God’s Holy Spirit moves upon us and leads us to do His will. There’s nothing like it.

Luke 1 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Human ambition gets in the way of what God wants to do. Mary and Elizabeth were not chosen by God to bear Jesus and John because of their drive to succeed. God regarded the “low estate” of His handmaiden. Mary was humble. She was pure.

It’s been said, “Men don’t climb … they are LIFTED.