Urgent Assistance Needed

I must be an incredibly important person. I keep getting email notes from foreign diplomats and dignitaries from all over the world - and their wives, their children, their assistants - maybe a few from their housekeepers.It seems a little wrong that I delete more opportunities for wealth than any one person should even run across in a lifetime. You're not going to believe this, but not only are these important, wealthy people asking for my help with some major financial moves, but they all want to give me money! Incredible, isn't it? I had no idea I had such a widespread reputation as a trustworthy and altogether upright person. Imagine all these folks trusting little ol' me with their government futures and their financial treasures.

All I have to do is send these kind folks my bank account number, PIN, two major credit cards and my Social Security number and I'm in!

Did you know God has his own special treasure hidden away in heaven?

In the book of Revelation we're clued in to a couple of amazing and precious little secrets. The first is that our prayers are like a sweet, refreshing breeze to our Heavenly Father. Imagine him hanging onto our every word, relishing the words, breathing them in like incense. Psalm 141:1-2 says, "O LORD, I call to you; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense." (NIV) A heart-felt prayer is perfume to God. Revelation 5:8 says, " - and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (NIV) 

That brings us to the second special secret: prayers are never, ever deleted. The wonderful truth is that our words are more precious to the Father than we can imagine. He hangs on to them like a mom hangs her child's most special works on her refrigerator.

I'm not an important person because diplomats are clamoring to give me money. I don't have to waste time being disappointed over that one because I'm even more important than that. The Creator of the universe deems me important enough to save - and even treasure - the words I pray to him.

I wonder if we'll get to dip in to the bowls when we get to heaven. I wonder if we'll be able to listen in on some of the Father's prayer treasure. Our prayers aren't the only treasures we can store up, but I'm just sure they're included in the treasures mentioned in Matthew 6:19-21. Jesus himself told us to invest in this kind of treasure. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (NIV)

I like to imagine a group of us sitting around in Glory and listening to the prayers of a billion saints. I think of it as a happy session of fellowshipping together, enjoying a "heavenly scrapbook" of sorts of some favorite family moments. Residual prayers to a holy God ringing throughout eternity - what a sweet thought. Songs of praise that never quite play their final notes. Prayers of gratitude that offer never-ending thanks. Requests long-answered that remind us again and again of our loving Father's care for us and his powerful, abundant provision throughout our short lives on earth.

He is the loving Father who cares about every word spoken to him. I want to give him something special to hang on his refrigerator, so to speak - a special love-gift from me to my Father. Didn't I already mention that I'm a talker? I wonder if a wordy woman could fill a bowl or two. I think I'll shoot for that. Every prayer I pray is an investment in a forever treasure. And this time I don't have to be selfish. This treasure isn't all about me. This is treasure for my Father.

I was a little sad when I found out that I was one of about a gajillion "trusted" people held in the confidences of all those diplomats and their wives, associates and pets. I didn't feel quite so special. As a matter of fact, along with the other gajillion of you, I delete a dozen or so of those "urgent assistance needed" emails every few weeks.

That's OK. It's enough to know that I'm a special kind of "one in a gajillion" to my Father. I'm so glad he sends his "urgent assistance" anytime I need it - just because he loves me. And to think he does it all without emailing me for my Social Security number.

If you're interested, there is more information about:
The most important event of all time and
The most important Book of all time.

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Contributed by Rhonda Rhearrhea@juno.comRhonda Rhea writes for dozens of great Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her new book, Amusing Grace, at your local Christian bookstore. Rhonda's husband, Richie Rhea, is a pastor in Troy, Missouri. You can reach them through her Web site atwww.rhondarhea.net