Intentional Encouragement

     I have to say that once in a while the Lord reminds me of some simple truths that I have known and taught for years, but have let slip in practice.      I taught recently on James 4:1-3.  As I prepared and taught the Scriptures, I was reminded of a couple of important truths about prayer.      First; God is more ready to answer than we are to pray.  For all of the struggling we do to make sure things go the way we think they should...for all of the fighting or arguing or scheming or whatever else we do to try and get things accomplished; what we really need to do first (and in the middle, and last) is pray.  "You do not have because you do not ask."  Why is that so hard for us to grasp?  Why do we spend so little time in prayer?  Why do we make all of our plans and preparations and then ask God to bless it?  Perhaps the reason we do not have is that we have not really asked God.  ...

     My wife has recently been undergoing some medical issues, including numerous trips to have blood drawn, several trips to a doctor's office, a "procedure" in a hospital operating room, and finally (3 days ago), surgery.  According to friends who have had a similar surgery, and her doctor, she can expect full recovery after a week or so of rest home and a month or two of generally feeling weary and tiring easily.  I'm thankful that all appears to be well and this will soon be a memory for Jodi.      As always; the doctors came with thorough information including the "possibilities."  It could have been "this or that." "All surgery has potential complications such as..." The likelihood of _____ is small, but I am required to mention it to you."  Jodi signed all the papers dutifully and was wheeled away for her surgery.  It's all so common that we simply come to expect that everything will be "fine."  And it no...