Christ and Crayons

From earliest childhood there seemed to be within me a desire to add color to paper. Like many budding artists my first medium of choice was Crayolas; One day I realized that all my "mediums" were no longer very "choice." There was a whole cigar box full of wounded "soldiers;" they looked like they'd been through the crayon equivalent of war, broken, torn, missing in action. Having been born into a family of believers, prayer had always been a part of my life. But until that one day I think it had consisted, primarily, of thanks and "God bless__." Petition, asking God for something, especially something material, was kind of new for me. I remember sitting alone, looking out our front bay window and asking God for some new crayons, a box of eight is what I envisioned. My fifth birthday was a few weeks later, and a small neighbor came to the party bringing an enormous box of 48 colors, all new, whole, and sharp. What a gift! It was hard for me to wait for friends to leave, so I could get down to business. I'm not even sure when I first made the connection between the asking and the receiving, but this early experience and experiment in prayer was a great faith builder. Even today in remembering it, I'm greatly touched at how our Father hears our pleas and meets our needs, wherever we are in our life experience.

Matthew 21.22 - If you have faith, everything you ask for in prayer, you will receive.

Mark 11.24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and you will.

Psalm 148.18 - He is close to all who call on him sincerely.

Psalm 4.1 - Answer me when I call, O God. Be gracious and hear my prayer.

1 Peter 3.12 - The Lord is watching his children, listening to their prayers.

Isaiah 65.24 - Long before they call I shall answer, before they stop speaking I shall have heard.

Psalm 116.1,2 - I love the Lord because he hears my prayers and answers them. Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breathe.

James 1.17 - Every good gift and perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator.

Psalm 71.17 - O God, you have helped me from my earliest childhood.