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3/  I then learned that God has the right to answer prayers in His own way.

I spent the first 19 years of my life growing up in the Kamloops, BC, Canada area. I think it still is a great place to live. However, in the sixties as a child, I had freedom from the fear of violence or a stranger’s perversion that has somehow been lost along the way. This fact will surface from time to time as I share some of my childhood experiences with you. Perhaps it is just a fact of growing up in a smaller community.
— However growing up with my dad working away from home for weeks at a time, we really enjoyed the Sundays when he was there with us. Usually on warm and sunny Sundays after church, we would all pack ourselves into the big boat of a ‘station wagon’ that we owned, and go out to a lake or creek and have a picnic. I must have been about ten years old at the time, and so the kids involved would have been; my older brother Harold, my younger sister Charlene while my brother Brent would have been a mere toddler at this time, and myself. It was on one of these glorious days that I learned a lesson that has benefited my understanding of God ever since.
— This Sunday dad drove us out to Six-mile lake, a small fishing lake just outside of town. We had our two dogs, Rusty, and Troubles with us. (I did say it was a family event right.) As children, our pets were always considered the ‘pet’ part of the family, but family just the same. Because this lake was used as a park area we took chain leashes for the dogs, but as soon as we got away from public areas those came off, and everyone went running off in every direction in total freedom. After the wiener roast lunch, we tried to explore as much of that lake as possible while mom and dad rested. I can remember trying to chase a huge spawning trout up a shallow creek, not really the right thing to do but as children, we sometimes get caught up in the moment. I am sure this is not unique to my childhood alone. Wet feet and muddy socks were the only fruit of this laugh-filled and slippery endeavor. It was about that time when we heard our mother calling, and we knew it was time to pack-up and head home. No regrets for we all had a great outing.
— While we were helping to pack up the station wagon, I realized that I no longer had our dog Trouble’s leash. It must have fallen out of my pocket while running through the bush. These things cost money, and as a large family, money was one thing we didn’t have a lot of. As such I felt responsible for costing my parents this loss. So what does a child of God do when in need? …I prayed. “Lord, I need your help once again. I’ve been careless and lost our dog’s leash and I need to find it before we go home. Please help me.” Then I searched. And the more I searched the more I realized that it could have fallen out anywhere. To top it off I could hear the others calling “Ken where are you, it’s time to go!”
— I don’t know about you, but it is times like these that my prayers get desperate. “Lord, I cried I can’t cost my dad this extra expense, please… please… help me find that leash.” I gathered all my faith in prayer and decided that I would take one last look in an area down where I had been chasing that trout.
— As I moved through the tall wet grass along the creek trying to hurry, and yet not miss a chance to spot that elusive chain leash, I noticed something shiny and yet starting to rust, in the deep grass. I bent down and picked it up. I was caught up in a moment of exhilaration, joy, thankfulness, and confusion, as I turned and ran with my treasure back to the waiting car.
— For you see, oh yes “Praise The Lord”, I had found a chain leash in answer to my childlike prayer… But it was not the leash I lost. No this was unmistakably not our leash. Ours had a slightly different handle and was bright and shiny as we had just purchased it a few weeks before. I really didn’t care though, with a little elbow grease the rusty slime would rub off, and it was perfectly usable, and I hadn’t made them wait too long either. — So off we went happily to our warm and God blessed home.
— I realize now that as a child, I was probably the only one who really cared about that leash. …maybe I should rephrase that, — God and I were the only ones that really cared about that leash. For God cares about what makes us feel repentant and responsible. He cares about what we think is important, and has wonderful ways of correcting us when our ideas of what is and what is not important get out of kilter.
— I believe He cared that I felt a responsibility for causing a loss to my parents, and I truly believe He answered my prayer. However I think God had a bigger lesson in mind for me, and as such, I need to share it with you…
— Don’t put God in a box! He will answer your prayers in His way and in His time, and we must simply trust Him to do so. …I believe this is backed up by the Bible in Romans 11:33-36.
Romans 11:33-36 (CEV) Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does? (34) “Has anyone known the thoughts of the Lord or given him advice? (35) Has anyone loaned something to the Lord that must be repaid?” (36) Everything comes from the Lord. All things were made because of him and will return to him. Praise the Lord forever! Amen.
— Do you need an answer to prayer?
— Email me and we will pray with you, but then we will trust God to show you HIS ANSWER to YOUR situation and need… God bless, KK