Parsnips, as requested
When the ADRA crisis relief team receive a request for food, they ask if any special items are needed. An unusual request for powdered milk came from a family with three small children, but no fridge! (They received milk and a fridge.) A group of international students shyly asked if they could have some ice cream. They were given their favourite - ‘cookies and cream’, which was ‘’on special’’! A homeless man asked for celery, and it was provided. A lady asked for parsnips so she could make ‘’a hearty winter soup’. Her food delivery included parsnips, as requested.
Jesus told a story about an unusual food request. After the disciples had asked Him to teach them to pray, He asked them to imagine…
‘’Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend travelling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’
‘The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up and get you anything.’
‘But I tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s your friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbours, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need.
‘Here’s what I’m saying, Ask and you’ll get, seek and you’ll find, knock and the door will open.
Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need.’’
(Luke 11:5 -10 The Message)
Ask for what you need, be persistent, and don’t be surprised when you receive ‘parsnips, as requested’.
Please continue to pray for our ADRA team, clients, contacts, those who donate and those who deliver ‘’parsnips, as requested’.
Today's contributor: Gwen Pascoe
