The Power of Asking

The power of asking - something every baby is an expert at but the most underused tool of success for adults. If we'd only relearn how to use it, we would get so much more in life...




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Asking and Luck

There’s a little known story in the Bible about a woman whose life was changed by a dramatic turn of events. Some would say she was lucky. I say she knew how to use the power of asking.

We don’t know her name. She’s only referred to as the “Shunammite” — from a place called Shunem. She had hosted the prophet Elisha in her house many times and generously supported him.

Elisha learned from God that a famine was about to hit the land of Israel. Grateful for her kindness, he gave her the heads up and advised her to move with her family out of the country, somewhere where she would be safe and fully provided for.

So she did, and escaped the famine.

Seven years later, when the famine was over, she returned home — only to find someone else occupying her land. Homeless, the Shunammite tried all she could to get her property back, to no avail. Determined to fight for what was rightfully hers, she went all the way to the king to ask for justice.

This is where things get interesting.

By divine providence, while she made her way to the palace, the king took a sudden interest in Elisha’s miracles. He called in Elisha’s assistant, a young man called Gehazi, who started telling the king about all the miracles the man of God had done — including how he’d raised the Shunammite’s son from the dead. As the woman herself walked in, unaware of the conversation, Gehazi said to the king: “This is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha brought back to life!”

The king assigned her an officer to ensure she would not only get her property back, but also all the profits her field had produced for the past seven years!

Luck? I don’t think so.

I think her decision to keep asking until she got what she wanted put her in the right place, at the right time.

Ask more, get more. It’s the power of asking.

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One Red Paper Clip

Kyle McDonald had an idea — to get a house without paying for it. How would he do it? He would trade up, getting something bigger and better every time, until he got a house. And he started with one red paper clip. It's the power of asking at its best...

4 kinds of people

Not all believers are the same. Meet the Defeatists, the What Will Be Will Be, the I Can, and the It's God's Problem — they all believe in God, but in very different ways...




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The strangest penalty kick + life lesson

Don't be too quick to beat your chest for an achievement...
"Humility precedes honor." Proverbs 15:33





Do you feel sorry for the goalkeeper or do you think it served him right? What lessons can you learn for your life? Does this remind you of a personal experience or that of someone you know?
Leave your comments below...
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Lead Me

I don't usually post songs here, but this one is worth it. I hope you enjoy it — especially the fathers and husbands out there.

Husband had many affairs

My husband has had many affairs, but I’ve always taken him back. Finally I couldn’t stand being rejected anymore and I had an affair myself.  Now he blames me for ruining our marriage and says he’ll never trust me again. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive myself.

Dana P. – Missouri City

Dana, of course the unfaithfulness of your husband is a serious breach of trust. Yet your passive reaction over the years, tolerating and accepting your cheating spouse opened up the relationship to become a free-for-all.  I’m all for forgiveness but after repeated offenses, drastic measures have to be taken. Your passivity and forgiving attitude without demanding change sent your husband a loud and clear message:  “I don’t value myself, I’m not worth fighting for, our marriage vows are bendable, I may whine and complain, but I’ll let you use me again.” 

Your own standards for marriage have fallen so low that you did exactly what you have hated in your husband. A tolerance for bad behavior opens the doors for you to fall right into it yourself. The key to change is for you to raise the standards you expect of yourself and your husband and then accept nothing less. You might want to attend our new Couples Class every Thursday 7pm.

Call me weird

Yes, go ahead. Freak, weird, wacko, whatever you like. Why? Because I believe there is a devil. There, I said it. Go and click on that unsubscribe link now, if you must. I don’t care. But I do care about this subject. So if you’re still with me, read on.

I believe there is a God and also a devil. I believe God is infinitely powerful but His ability to protect people from the devil is limited by their own choices. I like the way Arthur C. Clarke put it: “You can't have it both ways. You can't have both freewill and a benevolent higher power who protects you from yourself.” For a science fiction author, that was pretty real.

And it’s right there — between God and freewill, between knowing good and doing good, between a thought and a feeling — that the devil sneaks in.

No, I’m not here to glorify the devil nor get you to start looking for demons under the kitchen sink. But it really ticks me off when I see how some people make it really easy for the devil to destroy their lives. Forgive my language: some human beings are just too dumb. They are a disgrace to the species.

If Jesus was right, there is a devil who is intent on destroying people. That includes you, by the way. That demonic force wants the opposite of everything God wants for you. You want love, health, and prosperity? He’s thinking more like loneliness, disease, and misery. And a quick look at the world will tell how successful he has been.

But why? Because people choose him and his ways over God. And that includes people who call themselves Christians. Heck, that might even include you. (You haven’t hit that button yet?)

It’s not enough to believe in God. (The devil does too.) It’s just as important to not give the devil a chance.

P.S. - Have you ever felt like giving up? Watch this week's video to learn four reasons why giving up right now may be a bad idea...

If you give up...

Who hasn't felt like giving up? Save yourself a life of regret. Here are four reasons why giving up right now could be a very bad idea.




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