Yellow ribbon

On a Friday evening, on my way home, as we spoke, God said, ‘Don’t worry, I walk with you’. I simply trusted what God said.

Today, being Sunday, after the 10:15 mass, I watched a couple celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Her name is Jasmine I think. If I remember it is because Jasmine is my favorite flower. I sat back and watched them renew their vows. It was sheer joy for me. As a child, I used to pray to God, asking for someone to love me the most in the world. So I never had any fancy dreams. Never did dream of big-wondrous things. What I was actually asking from God, was for the greatest love story ever.

This is one of my favorite childhood-love-stories. I still love it. And often, this is what a love story, should be like. One waits, forever you know. Love is forever, for me it is. Love goes on believing in the impossible. If you have not heard it before, if this is the first time, that you’ve come across this then I hope you love it as much as I do.

This is a story of a man who is on his way home. He has written a letter to the woman who he once was in love with, stating, his thoughts on his home coming. It’s been years now. He further states, that if there is a yellow ribbon on the tree, he will know-that he is welcome. If not then, he would simply pass by. He is not the same man who left many years before. The one who is returning is now a much wiser man. As the bus approaches his home town his heart is filled with apprehension. He wonders how he will be received. There are so many things in his past. But now that is all that is behind him.

As the bus draws close, he wonders if she would still be waiting for him. Years before, when he was leaving she told him that she would wait for his return. That she would keep a yellow ribbon tied to the tree-as an indication of her undying love for him. He wonders if things have changed. Does she still feel the same?

He is too scared to even look. But look he must and he notices that the whole tree is filled with yellow ribbons. From a distance he sees someone. As he comes closer, he sees her waiting at the door. He looks at her as she takes his hand in hers, and says for all the years-for all the love, one ribbon-would never be enough. From the distance-a ribbon would easily be missed-but not a whole tree of ribbons.

Do you see? Love had never quit. Love always PREVAILS . . . . .

Here I am, Abba, Father! Look into the depths of my heart Lord. This is my dream!

Sometimes, life can be tough. And often, we forget how easy it is to approach God. He is the kindest, most sweetest, most gentle, most compassionate, most merciful and most loving God. Get to know Him and there is nothing that He want do for you. These are some of the promises. Know that nothing is impossible. I encourage you to believe. It's really easy. Ask God? He will move the universe to get to you. Try...

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:7-11

Jesus made them a promise; ask the Father for what you want and believe that you will receive it. He continues on to say ask and you shall receive so that your joy may be full.

After close to 2000 years, we still don’t believe that you can ask God for what you want. If you don’t like what is happening in any area of your life, ask God to fix it. Instead of complaining about what you don’t have and what you don’t want; ask God for what you desire.

Read it over and over again until you get to the point that you believe what it says. Notice, the verse does not say, ‘Ask and you may receive’ or it does not state ‘Ask and I will think about it’. No the verse says, ‘Ask and you will receive’ God wants you to be happy. He wants you full of joy. He does not want you beat up and broken down. So believe, that’s what the promise is all about. This is what I tell all my friends, no matter who they are. I tell them believe.

Let’s ask God for what we do want. This is what the Bible has instructed us to do.

God longs to give His children good gifts. He longs to be there for you. He longs to provide support and encouragement, strength, energy and healing. These are good gifts that He wants to give to you.

As you pray, perhaps even pray the Lord's Prayer, seeking day by day that your needs be met, and seeking forgiveness of sins. God, the Heavenly Father, longs to give you good gifts, and wants to bless your heart out of the abundance of His love. Be assured He is listening, and He wants to answer.

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. Matthew 21:22

Prayer is the way that we communicate with God. The Bible advices us on how to pray; God wants us to pray to Him.  
"Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you wonderful and marvelous things." Jeremiah 33:3

Much prayer is supplication. We are asking God for something and acknowledging our inability to get it for ourselves.

"I urge that petitions, prayers, requests, and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people." 1Tim. 2:1

Prayer requires faith. It is not a magic formula for getting what we want. One must trust that God is and can hear us. 
"Whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists" Heb. 11:6

When praying, we want to seek the will of God, not change it. 
"We have courage in God's presence, because we are sure that he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will." 1 John 5:14

Jesus taught through parables that persistence is important when praying. In the parable of the widow and the judge, the widow kept on demanding her rights until the judge got tired of all the trouble and granted her request. 

"Now, will God not judge in favor of his own people who cry to him day and night for help?" Luke 18:7

There are some conditions for having our prayers heard. We need to seek God's will and persistence helps. Prayer requires an attitude of humility and repentance. "If I had ignored my sins, The Lord would not have listened to me." Psalm 66:18

"If they pray to me and repent and turn away from the evil they have been doing, then I will hear them in heaven, forgive their sins, and make their land prosperous again." 2 Chronicles 7:14

Jesus was asked by one of the apostles, "Lord, teach us to pray." Luke 11:1. Jesus said, "In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come. Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6: 9-13

The Lord's Prayer: gives us the words while our spirit connects to God on a deeper level. God wants to hear our prayers. He wants us to have faith in Him and be persistent with our requests, be humble and ask forgiveness, be bold and make our requests known to Him. Jesus gave us a prayer that we can learn to pray on.

Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; Matthew 9:29

“And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” But they went away and spread his fame through that entire district.”

It’s a scary world and many are afraid to reach out because we choose, instead, to conform to society. 1 Peter 3:15 “… Always be prepared to make a defence to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”

The devil, does his best to keep all from receiving the Father’s healing touch. We may not see his hand, but let us not be deceived that he is not present because he is invisible to our human eyes. 

We need to pray for God’s grace and courage to take a stand and to speak boldly and yet in love, so that the rest of the world will know that there is Jesus (the Son of God), who is waiting to be invited and to heal.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:26

We have to firmly believe that God will work our circumstances to our good. When God told Abraham and Sarah that they were going to have a baby in their old age, Abraham was 86 years old and Sarah was 76 years old. Knowing they were well past the age of childbearing, they didn’t see how they were now going to become parents. However, just because they didn’t see how it was possible, didn’t mean it was impossible. Unfortunately, despite this promise, they chose to jump to conclusions and take matters into their own hands, forfeiting God’s perfect will, for His permissive will.

We have to trust God to work out His perfect will in our life.

Despite how bad our situation may look, God’s plans are and will always be, to prosper us, not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and future. Jeremiah 29:11

Remember the promise and know that with God all things are possible.

 

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.      Matthew 21:21

Throughout the Bible, the position that people hold is represented by trees.

Being able to forgive requires faith–faith that God is using the troubles to change you into the child of God that you need to become. It requires faith that you will not only survive the current situation, but grow and become mature. Just like the mustard seed that starts tiny and becomes a great tree–you will become a person of influence for others. And as a tree you will produce fruit–fruit of the Spirit.

Jesus begins with stating that He healed ten lepers and only one of them gave thanks. In one way or another, we are all like the nine lepers that didn't give thanks. Jesus trusted His Father to work out all things for good. Likewise, we too can see the results of our faith when we turn our weaknesses over to God–wanting with all our hearts to forgive without ever again remembering the offence. Feeling the release from anger toward the offending person is like seeing your mustard seed begin to grow.

The grace of God that brings salvation teaches us to live righteously and godly in this present world Titus 2:11-12.

The mountains and trees that seem they are here to stay must be uprooted and moved, and nothing shall be impossible for the one who believes. We must become co-workers with God to that end, sowing consistently to the Spirit and refusing to sow to the flesh.

When the twelve spies were sent to search out the land of Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb came back confident that the land could be taken with God leading the way. The rest brought an evil report of giants, and the dismal view that overcoming the land was impossible. Their view infected the whole camp like a disease.

We need to be like Joshua and Caleb, men of faith in God. If God says the land can be taken, it can. If God says that mountain can be made to move, or that tree can be uprooted and thrown into the sea, they can. He will lead the way, and give patient instruction and supernatural power; only continue to live by faith in His words and do not draw back, lest He have no pleasure in you Heb. 10:38

There is no giant in the land of your life except such as commonly faces all men, but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be faced by a giant stronger than you can withstand with the strength of God in you. But in every single case will provide the way to overcome and get the victory. There is neither mountain nor stubborn tree that cannot be made to move out of your way, so that you can run your race with the endurance necessary to reach the finish line–if you have faith as a mustard seed. Grab hold of the precious promises of God and believe them. Make straight paths for your feet to walk in, so that your lameness may be healed. Heb.12:13

Whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith I Jn. 5:4. Amen.

CONCLUSION: God took the Israelites through many journeys. Whenever there were difficult encounters, they saw Him at work. He took them across the sea and the river; He gave them food and drink; He drove out their enemies before them. They piled up stones as reminders of what He had done for them at these junctions. Remembering His faithfulness is like looking at the mustard seed to remind your-self that He is real–that He gives life its purpose. Our heavenly Father provided our Sacrifice for all times –His Son– as redemption for us all! That's why we are reminded to give thanks in all situations and to praise Him for all that He is and does.

The great miracles that took place in the Bible are a result of people trusting in God; not past experience, or human endeavor. Be encouraged today.

REMEMBER: I will obey the Word. Instead of complaining about what I don’t want, I will ask God for what I do want. I rejoice and I am grateful for the promise that whatsoever I ask the Father in Jesus name, He will give it to me.

PRAYER: Father, when you promised Joshua, victory over their enemies, Joshua, dared to stand in your presence and ask that the sun stand still and so it was done. There has never been a day like it ever, where at a command of a man the sun and moon stood still for the whole day. That is the day when You listened to a human being (a warrior). I love you Father, and I dare to stand before your mighty presence asking for that which You have promised me. Like Joshua, I dare to believe. And Father, this I ask in Jesus name. Amen.