Tuesdays with the Leisures and Burkes

We know the struggle of fund-raising.  We know it well. It took us two whole years to get to Uganda.  So we know especially how to pray for new missionaries on Homeland Ministry Assignment.

 At prayer meeting we spent some time lifting up some dear future colleagues, Ray and Nicole Leisure.  They are in the midst of raising their support and are praying to be in Uganda by August!  But this will take a miracle!  Good thing that we serve a miracle-working God!

And we praised Jesus for Matt and Joy Burke, who have their work permits and will be heading to Uganda in March!   This is a big answer to prayer as we had really hoped they could be here in time to join us on Field Retreat April 1!  Pray as they pack and say goodbyes, and that their small children make the transition well!

Here is the text from our prayer meeting last night.  I pray that it encourages you to pray BIG for God's Glory!

Pray Big for God’s Glory: found on prayermeetings.org

Mrs. Charles E. Cowman in Springs in the Valley reminds of us a story about “Alexander the Great who had a famous, but indigent, philosopher in his court who was once particularly straightened in his circumstances. To whom should he apply but to his patron, the conqueror of the world? His request was no sooner made than granted. Alexander gave him a commission to receive of his treasury whatever he wanted. He immediately demanded in his sovereign’s name ten thousand pounds. The treasurer, surprised at so large a demand, refused to comply, but waited upon the king and represented the affair, adding withal how unreasonable he thought the petition and how exorbitant the sum. Alexander listened with patience, but as soon as he heard the remonstrance replied, ‘Let the money be instantly paid. I am delighted with this philosopher’s way of thinking; he has done me a singular honor: by the largeness of his request he shows the high idea he has conceived both of my superior wealth and my royal munificience.’”

We can dishonor God by asking too little. Yes, He can give us a parking place but He can also
open great and unlimited fields of Christian service. “Saints have never yet reached the limit to
the possibilities of prayer. Whatever has been attained or achieved has touched but the fringe of
the garment of a prayer-hearing God. We honor the riches both of His power and love only by
large demands.” A. T. Pierson

We remember the story in 2 Kings 13 of Joash the king of Israel who went to see Elisha when the
prophet was dying. Elisha’s instructions are recorded in verses 15-19, Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,” and he did so. “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!” Elisha said, and he shot. “The LORD’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.” Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”  God’s wants to give us more victory than we ask for. “We have not because we ask not.” Ja 4:2

Asking too little not only limits the blessings we get from God, but also limits the glory He gets
out of our lives. We forget that He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think.” Eph 3:20

When asking someone for help, we are embarrassed and careful not to ask for too much. We know others are limited and we don’t want to strain or be burdensome to them. When we come to pray, we act as if God is limited or stingy with His blessings. We ask as if we were afraid to ask “BIG”. We seem to be content with creature comforts, our daily bread and the physical health of ourselves and our friends, when we should be praying for God to do great and mighty things in the advancement of His kingdom. Why pray for a good attendance at church Sunday when we can pray for a great ingathering of souls across our nation. Why just pray for lost family members when we could be praying for the lost around the world. God’s kingdom is bigger than our church or denomination.
God can not give too much, or run out of supplies, or be found unable to accomplish His will. All we have to do is to abide in Him and “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer,
believing, ye shall receive.” Mt 21:22

Did God make this world and all things in it and does He not continue to sustain and govern it? It is without question that such an Omnipotent God could not be strained with our request. The problem with our praying is not that we ask for too much, but that we don’t ask for enough. God is more glorified when He does greater and more unusual things, especially those that the world can see.

Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For his grace and power are such
None can ever ask too much.
–John Newton

“Nothing is beyond the reach of prayer except that which was out of the will of God.” Prayer
Power Unlimited, J. Oswald Sanders