Dear CCPC Family,

"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock,
and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives,
and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
-Luke 11:9-13

There I was at a high school parents' meeting , minding my own business, when to my surprise the "chaplain" of the group called us to prayer. "Wow!" I thought, "Isn't this cool? I get to pray with a bunch of moms at my kid's school, and I don't have to LEAD the prayer!" The chaplain prayed for wisdom as we made decisions, for a successful year, and safety for our children, addressing her prayer to "Our Father God." I felt myself nodding in assent and even wanting to murmur "Amen!" a few times. Then, she asked that our fund-raising efforts be successful and asked for God to help us raise enough money to send our girls to Florida in February... I gulped. I am not used to praying for such things. I couldn't help but wonder -- do we really need to bother God with this one? I mean, can't we just work hard and sell lots of cookie dough?

In Luke's Gospel, Jesus teaches us about prayer, and He teaches us to ask -- to knock -- and to seek. Our chaplain lifted to God a concern heavy on her heart and the hearts of the entire board. Will these families be able to afford such an expensive trip? Will the money come through? How can we do this when money is so tight for so many? Jesus teaches us to come to God, to persist in our prayer and to let God decide what is good and necessary. While it made me squirm a bit, she was right and faithful to bring her concern before the Lord. I was wrong to want to censure such a request. Ask, knock and seek, Christ says. Who am I to limit God's good gifts?

I will, however, be selling lots of cookie dough... just in case!

God, forgive us when we fail to come to You with our needs and concerns.
Sort through our desires, and grant us the ability to ask for Your help
as a child runs to a loving parent. Sort through our asking, and grant us the peace
and joy that comes from knowing You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

-Dr. Stacy L. Ikard Associate Pastor