ASK FOR A LITTLE

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO THAT TRAMP IS

Back during the Great Depression, my Dad was a kid growing up in Los Angeles. His Dad had died prematurely, and my Dad had to drop out of school to support his widowed mothers. That is the ONLY reason a kid can honorably say God is leading him to drop out of school.

One day a tramp came to the door. During the Great Depression there were a lot of tramps constantly on the move, from town to town, from rail car to rail car. They were not seen as losers, like some folks think today. Everyone knew they had a very sad back history and would have loved to go back home to Dubuque or Danbury and get a job and support their wife and kids.

My Dad went outside to greet the tramp and see what he wanted. Some wanted work. My Dad was the only worker in his home. Some tramps simply wanted a bit of food to keep them going.

My grandmother then came to the front door and asked the tramp what he needed. My grandmother would be called gullible today. She thought there was something good in everyone, and she looked for that and showed mercy and kindness to one and all.

The tramp said, "Mame, I would appreciate just a cup of tea please."

Grandmother told my Dad to keep the tramp company while she brought his tea. When she came back she had a cup of tea AND a big sandwich. 

The tramp later turned to my Dad, and with a kind smile, said, "Ask for a little, and you might get more." This is a saying in our whole extended family today. It helps drive the demon of geed away.

When you go to talk with your heavenly Father, do you have a very long shopping list of blessings you think you need?

How about getting it down to the most urgent need, and ASK FOR A LITTLE.

These Charismatic hog sloppers tell you to ask for the world, and God is somehow obligated to give you everything you ask for. That is blasphemy.

ASK FOR A LITTLE, AND YOU WILL GET MORE

Luke 11:9 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.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

What else do you really need? 

Ask for what you need, and see what else God adds to the blessing.

HOW TO TEACH A CHILD TO PRAY:

Use the ACTS of prayer.

A- Adoration. Teach your child to speak to God personally and tell God how much he loves him. This will be very natural for your child. It is sometimes hard for adults to humble themselves in this way, so when your child prays, YOU pray the same way with him.

C- Confession of sin. Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Teach your child that if he knows of sin against God or other people, he must confess it to God, or God may refuse to hear the rest of his prayer.

T- Thanksgiving. Teach your child to be just as specific as possible in thanking God. When your child prays before the meal, let him name the broccoli, potatoes, and hamburger rather than the general "food". Teach him to thank God for any prayer requests that were answered today.

S- Supplication. Your child needs to know that his requests need to come last. Adoring God goes first. Teach your child to think of some particular need, not everything he craves. Also, ask your child who needs help from God today, or who is not yet born again, and pray for them.

Now, Daddy and Mommy..... Do YOU pray this way? Or do you pray like some pious bishop in the theology department of some seminary? We love the King James Bible, but it is not required by God that you and your kids learn Jacobian English in order to please God. 

Finally, do you ever pray for your kids in front of them?

Nothing will strengthen the faith of a little boy or girl like hearing Daddy or Mommy pray for them.

And, teach your kids to be thankful.

_____________________

By the way,
Here is the end of the story on Ted Williams, the tramp at the off ramp.

You never know who is asking your for help.