God Answers Prayers

Chica has a way of capturing my attention and heart, even when I am deeply involved with other things. She happens to be my Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix, who has me wrapped around her little paw. If you have a beloved fur-clad child, you know exactly what I mean.

She is not obnoxious with her requests. She doesn't whine or bark at me; she simply places herself in my line of sight and focuses on my eyes. When I glance at her, she will make her request known by placing her ball at my feet or tilting her head slightly and licking her lips while shifting her gaze between my plate and my face.

She doesn't just believe that will grant her request; she knows it, based upon her years of experience with me. Her belief in my goodness causes me to want to give her the desire of her heart. Of course, I don't always give her exactly what she is asking for because sometimes it would not be good for her, but I always try to give her something she will be happy with.

So too with God. There are numerous promises in God's word that let me know He wants to and will answer my sincere pleas. I will not attempt to list them all, but here are two of the most well-known.

Luke 11:9,10 KJV 

[9] And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. [10] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 21:22 KJV  

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Often there are conditions to be met, and it's important to read each promise in context, always seeking to obey God's expressed will found in His Holy Word. But there are certain requests that God will always answer affirmatively. God promises that He will always come to our rescue when we call upon Him in faith.

Hebrews 7:25 KJV

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

God always either gives us what we ask for or something better. Since He knows all things and can see the end from the beginning, what we think we want/need is not always what is best for us. One of my favorite authors makes this statement, "God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him." (Ministry of Healing pg. 479.2)

When I was young, I went through a long period of open rebellion against God. I had been very disappointed with the circumstances of my life and foolishly blamed Him. But even though I had chosen to live in opposition to His will, that did not stop Him from coming to my rescue in a mighty way.

One cold morning, a couple of friends and I decided to take our horses out for a ride. It was a beautiful brisk day, and as we turned our horses toward home, they significantly picked up their pace, transitioning from a trot to a lope.

This final stretch found us riding on cold blacktop and without borium on our horses' shoes for traction, it made the surface very slick. As we saw a car coming fast toward us, we tried to ease our horses out of the way. I was terrified to see my friend's horse, who was slightly ahead and to my left, begin to slide as if on ice. All four legs were scrabbling for purchase. As I came even with them, I was horror-struck to witness her horse fall hard on its side, landing upon my friend and causing her bare head to crack hard upon the pavement. 

I leaped from my horse in mid-flight, and as I ran back toward her, she began to have a seizure. Before I reached her and cushioned the blows with my hand, her head had slammed against the road twice more. When the seizure ended, I realized blood was gushing from her head and forming a steady stream across the road. I pressed my fingers against the wound in an attempt to slow the blood loss, but my fingers disappeared into her skull. So, I extracted my fingers and slid the heel of my hand against the gaping hole. My stomach rolled, and tears burst forth as I desperately tried to find a pulse. There was no pulse or breath. I looked at my friend's sister, who was along for the ride, and quickly instructed her to call an ambulance. Then I decided to cry out to God before starting CPR. As I ended my quick prayer, I saw my friend take a breath, and her eyes flickered open. 

There were many more frantic moments as we waited anxiously for the ambulance. But by the time they arrived, almost 45 minutes later, she was alert and talking, and the flow of blood had all but ceased. At the hospital, they disbelieved my account of her seizure and fractured skull because upon examination, they found only a small cut that required a couple of stitches before they sent her home an hour later. 

Where did the gaping hole go? I know God answered my prayer, restored her life, and healed that deadly wound. I remain in shock and awe of His mercy and love and His willingness to come to our rescue at the desperate request of a rebellious sinner like me.

God is so good it blows my mind.  Trust Him, He loves you and He will come to your rescue without fail when you cry out to Him.

Bonnie Morsette ~ April 14, 2023

Spooking in place

 A flurry of feathers flew into the air and loud screeching gave the impression of a fox in a hen house reeking  havoc.  The little Guineas scurried  about as though their tail feathers were on fire.  Fearful they might die of fright, I backed away and sat down on the edge of the tub to ponder my next move.  

Two weeks ago I picked up some baby guineas at the flea market, with hopes of putting them outside on  tick patrol as soon as they reach adulthood.  For now I am keeping them in a large plastic bin in my bathroom where they can stay warm and safe.  Even though they are basically wild foul, I believed that if I picked them up daily they would get used to me and accept my coming and going to care for them and the cleaning of their living space.  I was wrong.  They get wilder by the day.  No matter how gently I approach their box, caring for them is a major problem.  They don't seem to understand that all I want to do is give them fresh water and food and do a little "house cleaning."  They eye me suspiciously when I enter the room and begin a nervous chirping that gets louder as I get closer.  If I breach the invisible line which they have set up as the panic perimeter they completely lose control, screaming and running flapping their tiny wings and trampling one another.  I feel like such a villain every time I need to enter their space.  

I wonder how our reaction to God effects Him.  I know that in times gone by, God has drawn near to me and I panicked.  I ran in fear, unable or unwilling to trust Him in “my space."  Perhaps I was afraid of what He had in mind.  The problem was that I didn't know Him well enough to understand His character.  I did not comprehend that He is always seeking my good and looking out for my best interest.  My eternal life, and, yours, is at the top of His priority list.  So interested was He in me that He sent His Son to be born in the likeness of sinful flesh and to live a perfect life in a depraved world so that He could then offer up that life as payment for my debt of sin.  (Rom. 8:1-4)

It must pain God's heart when His children misunderstand His intentions and run in fear of Him.  It was only as I began to spend time with Him that I began to trust Him.  The more I read His Word the more I catch a glimpse of His mercy and love.  I begin to see that His agenda is often very different from mine.  Too often I am living my life for the present and, while God cares about my present needs, His greatest concern is eternity.  His plans are all set in the framework of eternal reality and therefore they are often beyond my finite comprehension.   But, as I look back on the ways He has led in my life, I can see His wisdom and love.  

I am learning to trust Him and that brings peace and joy which passes understanding.  

My friend, if you are still unsure of God's intentions and are running or even just "spooking in place,”(a little trick my horse used to do), you are missing out on the quality of life that God wants to give you.  Your peace is disturbed and your happiness comes and goes with changing circumstances. Someone once said, "Know God, Know Peace.  No God, No Peace."  God wants to give us peace and joy that passes all understanding.  This can be ours as we learn to trust and obey.  To know and abide in Christ is to love and trust Him.  If we love Him we will obey Him.  (John 14:15)  If we obey Him, we can be assured of joy and peace.  (Ps. 37:37)

Bonnie Morsette ~ 8/2/2011

Biggest Fish in the Sea

 The shadows of night had stolen upon the valley chasing away the last rays of light.  Heavy clouds rolled in cloaking the stars and bringing a damp chill that soaked through to my bones.  Eerie noises rose from the darkness as fear's icy fingers crept up my spine and begin to encircle my throat.  This promised to be a long lonely night.

Which one of us has not experienced such a night?  I think it safe to say that all of us can identify with this kind of darkness and fear both in our physical lives as well as our spiritual and emotional ones.  

I have spent much of my life running from experiences like this while seeking light and warmth where ever there is a faint, though fleeting promise, that it might be found and embraced.   It makes perfect sense does it not, to prefer light to darkness and warmth to cold?  Or, perhaps I have been viewing it all wrong.  Surely the night will always come for without it there is no sunrise. 

It is in darkness that we are to rest, not run.  For if we run in darkness we are certain to trip and fall and if we fail to rest at night the day holds little joy.   But, how can one rest without fear when it's dark?  With the threat of unknown dangers lurking in the shadows?

One of my favorite places on earth is the aquarium in Atlanta, GA.  If you ever get the opportunity to go there, take it.  It is the world's largest aquarium and has as it's main attraction a 6.3 million gallon tank housing four whale sharks (which are confirmed to span over forty feet as adults and thought to grow beyond sixty feet) and several other species of dangerous sharks along with thousands of other beautiful fish and ocean depth wonders.  As I stood beneath this amazing tank and looked up at the huge dark shadows soaring above me the thing that struck me the most were the seemingly brave or foolish  fish surrounding the whale sharks gaping mouth.  Why on earth were these little fish hanging out so close to that mammoth. At first glance it seemed like suicide.  Then I realized that the whale sharks, though huge, are not predators.  They eat the tiny microscopic organisms in the water working like massive filters straining the water through their mouths.  It finally dawned on me that the little fish were quite intelligent to swim with the whale shark.  It was as if they had a great big brother to navigate the play ground with them.  The other sharks kept their distance from the big guys and the little fish swam in safety through waters infested with the jaws of death.   

That is how it is with God.  He is, as it were, the biggest fish in the ocean.  Nothing can touch Him.  If we are swimming close in His shadow we are safe even in the deepest darkest most dangerous waters.  God leads us through the dark valleys and He allows the cold dark nights to come upon us.  Perhaps He wants us learn we can trust Him enough to rest in the dark.  To have confidence that He will bring us safely through the night to experience the joy of the sunrise.  

I want to stop running away from the dark nights and embrace them instead, viewing them as opportunities to grow in Christ and to renew spiritually.   I pray that God will help me learn to rest in His arms until the morning dawns and I can once again see my way clearly to navigate life's pathway.

Bonnie Morsette - 9/17/11

Where Do You Roost

 Such beautiful little creatures they were.  Soft little balls of downy fluff with shiny black eyes.  Hard to believe that in a relatively short while they would be pudgy chickens with fully developed feathers.  They were so innocent and helpless, needing warmth from a heat lamp and lots of fresh water and special food.  Daily they grew,getting stronger and more feisty.  Soon they would be able to run freely in the barn yard.  They were watched with careful loving eye by one who made note of their size and progress.  Of course, as always, a few are extra special, worming their way deep into the heart of their keeper. Finally the day came when they were set free from their containment to frolic about the yard and enjoy the wonders of grass and bugs.  Oh how they rejoiced in their new found freedom!  

The end of that first day found them sleepy and content, ready to settle in for a comfy night of peaceful rest. The young'uns watched as all the other chickens sought out perches high above the ground. But, they were carefree and unconcerned and decided it would be much easier and far more comfortable to nest on the ground.  Their keeper was alarmed, for she well knew the dangers that lurked even in the barn yard at night.  The next few minutes were filled with squawking and flying feathers as the foolish birds were shaken and rattled from their cozy beds by the shouting and arm waving of one trying to teach them the lesson of roosting high above ground. Soon they found themselves in the rafters along with the other chickens and their keeper went off to seek her own bed.  Day after day this scene was repeated as the young chickens refused to see the point of perching high.  They were basking in the memory of a thrilling day in the sun and saw no reason for expending energy to climb up higher, energy  that might be better stored up for tomorrows adventures.  This battle of wills between the chicks and their keeper continued until one night, after the keeper had gone to bed, they decided it was too chilly to be in the rafters where the night breeze could blow up beneath them and ruffle their feathers.  They climbed down and dug a wonderful little hole in the dirt.  It was so cozy and warm that they were soon fast asleep.  

The first rays of morning light brought with it an awful scene.  What met the eyes of the keeper caused a gulp of horror followed by burning tears.  During the night a wilyweasel had chanced through the barn yard and found the unsuspecting chicks asleep on the ground.  The terrible slaughter that followed left but only a handful alive and those badly injured.  The heart stricken caretaker gently cradled the wounded survivors and nursed them back to health.  Never again did those young's roost on the ground for, at terrible cost, had they learned their lesson.  

I find it interesting that Jesus likened his people to chicks.  He saw their helplessness and also their stubbornness and His heart yearned over them.   God bids us, in His word, to seek refuge under His wings.  God is high and lifted up and wants to lift us higher where we can rest in His shadow.  What keeps us digging holes and nesting in the dirt?  

I believe it's time to seek higher ground.

Bonnie Morsette ~ 9/20/2011

Trash or treasure?

 The water is a mucky shade of pea soup green.  At first glance there's nothing of value or worthy of notice.   It fails to arrest the attention of the casual passerby, yet beneath its surface a treasure of gold graces the murky depths.  One must stop, more than a pause, and ponder, more than the surface, before getting a clue that there is something very special contained therein.  If one takes the time to cast their shadow upon this place and patiently peers into the green abyss, a strange thing happens.  The deep mud green begins to change color.  A golden orange rises up and gets brighter and brighter until it breaks free of the surface and the onlooker is blessed by perfection and beauty as can only come from the hand of our wonderful Creator.

Perhaps you have guessed, or maybe not, that I am speaking here of the goldfish which garnish my algae laden rain barrel out back of my cabin. And now I think it possible, per chance, that a question has formed in your mind as to why I would call your attention to such a thing.  But, I can assure you it is not without purpose that I do so.

In early spring I thought it smart to set up a barrel beneath the drain spout and store some of April's abundance with which to water my garden in the drought of summer.  It was only days before I found the mosquitoes thought it good as well and readily took advantage of my provision.  They laid eggs which promptly became wrigglers and promised to provide a hearty swarm of biting pests to attend my cool summer evenings.  I've heard it said that for every problem there is a solution and while it's not often I find an easy answer I happily report in this case I did.  I purchased  a moderate school of assorted goldfish, moved them into my rain barrel and, voila!  Problem solved overnight.  

So what is my point?    I shall share more than one.  Nothing can be judged by it's surface, nor is it probable that casual contact will often be a great blessing.  

It is many the Bible, plainly clothed in the hide of an animal, that sits in a corner of some back shelf gathering dust, while the treasure contained in itsunturned pages rests unnoticed and unappreciated.  In today's world they are a dime a dozen, printed in every language, found in every hotel, and purchased with ease.  Most have no special decoration, glitter or bling, and no colorful pictures to catch the eye.  They look unappealing in there dark leather skin and so they are shoved to the back of a shelf in our homes and in our lives.  It is tragic and strange that this Book which found its way through the bloodstained ages of time, once cherished by countless Christians who gave their very lives for its preservation, is now met with so little regard. 

It is true that through a casual glance there is little to be gained from it.  For, it is only as one stops, more than a pause, and ponders more than the surface, that the sincere seeker is blessed by a perfection and beauty of life changing truth as can only come from the hand of our wonderful Creator.  

Bonnie Morsette ~ 8/10/2010

Attack of the Great Horned Owl

My heart froze! What was this flying toward my car? I slammed my brakes and stared with open mouth at the dark mass descending upon me. Huge glowing eyes and sharp talons came into focus, then a sweep of powerful wings, and it soared up and over my car barely missing the windshield. A great horned owl. Wow, what an experience! I got a much closer look than I wanted as it swooped down into the path of my headlights and appeared intent upon snatching me right through the window and carrying me away. I have never had a stare down quite like that before. It shook me up!

I am quite sure the owl did not have his sights set on me. He must have seen a mouse or something in the road and started his dive just as I came around the corner and intercepted him. He was so focused on his prey that he didn't even swerve to avoid certain death until the last possible second.

It occurs to me that what we focus on can mean life or death. We can set our eye on a goal and focus upon it so intently that we become unable to see anything else. We can get so busy just surviving that we forget to live.

As we approach the end of another year I must ask myself, and you my friends, to carefully consider what we are focused on. What takes up our time? What consumes our thoughts? Are the goals we are focused on ones that will matter in eternity?

May God bless you, guide you, and grant you wisdom as you prayerfully consider His plans for you in the coming year.

Merry Christmas to you all.
Bonnie Morsette~12/20/2009

Blessed Hope

Today a new year dawns as one fades into history. Since we can visit Two Thousand and nine only in memory we begin to focus our eyes on the horizon of Twenty Ten. What does the horizon look like to you?

We can't help but wonder what this year will hold. For some, this may be a time of trembling, for others one of expectancy. Some will shut their eyes to the present and choose to dream of yesterday, while others will eagerly fasten their hopes on tomorrow and rush forward to meet the new day. Regardless of your feelings, the rushing river of time carries us all along, either as willing passengers or reluctant prisoners. It is up to us, then, to choose how we will ride this current.

We all have choices to make. For many, these choices are expressed in the form of new years resolutions. They seem strong at first but with a couple months of wear and tear they disintegrate like ropes of sand. The fact is that for all our determination and struggling we will still end up down stream. The current is stronger than any of us. Anything we reach for, no matter how stable it looks, if it's also in the water, it shares our destination. None of us knows for sure what lies around the next bend but we can be sure that there will be rapids and waterfalls, boulders and eventually the depths of the ocean.

So what should we do? What choices do we really have?

If we don't want our journey to end at the ocean we only have one choice. We must reach for support that is not bound by the water.

God is the only one that is not limited by time. He always was and forever will be. He can look into the future and see around the bend. He is not caught up in the current of time and is the only One who can safely guide us in our journey. God has promised not that He will take us out of the water but that He will guide us through the water. Just as He held Noah's ark above the seething waves and brought it safely to rest upon the mountain, He can and will carry us to safety. We have a bumpy ride ahead of us, we will occasionally swallow some water or crash into a rock. We may get scraped and bruised and experience cold. But if we cling to Him, we will have safe passage to the ocean and upon reaching it our journey will just begin.

What do I mean by the ocean? Time will someday end for each of us, either at the end of our life or at the end of this world. For some that is a scary thought filled with unknown shadows. But for those who journey with God there is no fear, only blessed hope. For their hope is not placed upon the things of this earth. Their hope is hid in God and He will never fail His children.

What does the horizon look like to me? I am looking for the blessed hope of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am looking for His return. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1Th. 4:17 ) Jesus told His disciples, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:2,3)

In the last book of the Bible, Jesus declares, "Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Rev. 22:13,14)

God is not slack concerning His promises. We have a home beyond the realm of time. A place built just for us without the pain and trials of earth. "And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." ( See Rev. 22:2-8 Rev. 21:2-7; Rev. 21:11-19)

This is what I see on the horizon friends. The signs of His appearing as outlined in scripture are daily being fulfilled. We don't have long to wait. But there is much to be done in preparation.

As we enter this new year, my prayer for all of us, dear friends, is that we will fix eyes not on the horizon of 2010 but rather on the horizon of eternity.

God bless you all.
Bonnie Morsette~1/01/2010