Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Fulfillment (04/06/06)
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TITLE: The Questioning Knock | Previous Challenge Entry
By Joyce Sykes
04/07/06 -
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“Hello, what a lovely surprise! Come in.”
“I just have a few minutes, but I have missed you at church and wanted to check on you.”
“Oh, I just haven’t been feeling well this last week and the Sunday before Suzanne and the children were here for a visit. I wish you could meet her and the kids, maybe the next time.” She looked away for just a moment with a loving glancing at their picture on the wall. Quickly she reached up and wiped a tear from her eye. Returning her smiling gaze to me, I knew it was true what others said. She did indeed seem to glow from the inside out. But why? How was her relationship different? These thoughts spurred me on with my nagging question.
Ringgggg, ringggggg.
“Excuse me for just a second and let me answer this. Hello! Oh hello, my dear! Yes, yes, I am doing fine today. How are you?” Smiling at me, she began looking away for a moment listening to the friend on the phone.
Casually looking around this cozy room, I became more aware of the inviting atmosphere with the two arm chairs separated by a small table holding her well-worn Bible.
“My dear, I am so sorry to hear about Joe. Please let him know I am praying. Okay, I love you too. Good-bye.” Promptly hanging up the phone and turning to me.
“I am sorry, but I needed to take that call from a friend. Now where were we? Oh yes, How was the Ladies Supper last night? I did miss going but it was simply one of those days. I am not as spry as I use to be. How did Sandra’s devotion on discipline go?’
“Wonderful! She did an excellent job. Mama Williams, can I ask you a question?”
“Yes, my dear. Of course you can,” Interlacing her delicate fingers.
“I’ve heard you pray and I have never heard anyone pray like that.”
“Like what?”
“Well, the only way I know how to explain it is you seem to be just having a conversation with a friend. At my previous church, people were praying their request list, but they seem to be talking to this far-away God. Yours are different, more intimate, like you really know Him.”
With a soft laugh “My dear friend that is exactly what I am doing. You see, I learned so very long ago just how much the Lord means to me and how much I mean to Him. Jesus is my dearest friend and without Him my life would be empty. I have found my place in Him and the greatest fulfillment I could ever imagine in our relationship.” pausing for a moment, to watch my reaction.
“Do you know who you are?”
“Of course, I am Tammy …”
“No! That is simply your name. You are a daughter of the Most High God. You have been chosen before the foundation of the earth and called by name. Having accepted Jesus as your personal Savior and washed in His precious blood has allowed you the privilege of being adopted as a child of the Living God. You are special in His sight.”
“I have never thought about it quite that way before!
“My child, you can pour out your heart before Him. He knows it all. He sees our anger, frustrations, hurts and pain, but too often we are afraid to admit tem even to our self. He longs to comfort us and at times correct us when necessary. Once you learn to accept Him as your closest Friend, you will learn to pray and listen to Him in just this way. It’s as easy as talking to me.”
Sitting quietly for a minute, I thought about her soft words of wisdom. Glancing at my watch, I realized I would be late if I did not leave immediately.
“I am so sorry, but I have to leave. I need to be at the school for a meeting in just ten minutes. But can I ask you another question? Could I come again? I want to hear more about your relationship with the Lord and how you got there. Would that be alright?”
“Certainly my dear! Anytime!”
With a quick hug and a stirring for the same intimacy in my life, I know I will return here again.
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