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     Imagine a child playing with blocks. Picture the child placing one block on the floor, another on top and saying, “I’ll pile the blocks clear to the ceiling!” A loving father uses one finger to keep the pile from falling – for a while.
     The child thinks he is putting each block exactly on top of the others, but actually each one is a little off center. Imperfection causes the pile to eventually collapse.
     Consider God’s promise, Ask and it will be given to you (Matt. 7:7). This seems clear enough. It rests firmly on God’s Word. How could we go wrong if we ask and expect to receive?
Then we confidently add verse eight, Everyone who asks receives. That too seems simple enough, but is it? Experiences tell us that everyone who asks from God doesn’t receive all that he prays for. Therefore the “everyone” must mean those people who are in a specific category.
     Here is an illustration of what I mean. If we are talking about the people in our family we might say, “Everyone loves mashed potatoes.” The hearer knows we are referring to the “everyone” in our family.
     The “everyone” in Matthew 7:8 must have previously accepted Jesus as Savior. In addition, the “everyone” is assumed to be one who “abides” in Christ. If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7 RSV).
     Bible promises must be placed, in a sense, on top of one another and be based on the foundation of God’s requirements. Promises must also be claimed by Christians who are seeking for God’s will to be done rather than their own. Jesus told His disciples, I seek not to please myself but him who sent me (John 5:30 NIV).
     When we claim God’s promises to get what we want, we may have our pile of promises (blocks) come crashing down. Sometimes Christians are devastated because they earnestly tried to believe certain promises. They piled the promises higher and higher without realizing they were getting each promise a little off center. From their own perspective they were doing exactly what they saw in the Bible.


 by Merlin Carothers

     We must keep our feet firmly planted on the rock which is Christ so we won’t slide into error and unbelief. If we are slow learners, it may take years of walking with Jesus. During this time I recommend that we concentrate on seeking God’s will. Once we more clearly understand His will, we are ready to believe and receive more of His promises.
     In the meantime we have a powerful tool. We can believe that He is supplying all our needs (see Phil. 4:19). Not will supply; He is supplying. He is now providing exactly what we need.  He isn’t withholding blessings because we are not perfect. His goal is to help us learn what He wants us to learn during our brief time here on earth. “But,” you may ask, “What about new Christians who so often experience answers to their prayers?” Remember the benevolent father who holds his finger on the child’s pile of blocks? The father keeps the pile from falling to encourage the child. Eventually the father stands back and lets his offspring learn the importance of stacking blocks correctly.
     God loves us so much that He forces us to learn, even when we cry out to Him in anguish. We want to have everything perfect now, but He wants us to be prepared for all eternity by the lessons we learn today.

     Last week I listened as some folks talked about how hard it was to forgive a person who had done something bad to them.
     It’s not too likely that anyone reaches adulthood without having experienced situations where they felt betrayed. Because of this, whether we decide to forgive someone or not, it’s important to know what God has to say about it.
     Tonight I read in Matthew 18:21 where Peter asks Jesus how many times he should forgive his brother. In His response to Peter, Jesus tells a parable about forgiving. A very wealthy king decided it was high time for some folks who owed him money to pay him. He calls in one fellow who owed him a huge amount. When the fellow begs for more time to pay the king, he has compassion on him and even goes so far as to forgive the debt and wipe his slate clean. Imagine how elated that man must have felt! He wouldn’t have to go to debtors’ prison! He was a free man!
     Well, surprise, surprise! Instead of rushing home to share the good news with his family, he wants to do something else. He finds a man who owes him a small amount and demands instant payment. When this other man begs for time to pay him, do you think the recently forgiven man shows compassion and mercy? No. He throws the debtor into prison until he pays his debt – if he ever can.
     Now, here is the scary part! Jesus then told His listeners that God would do the same to us if we don’t forgive those who harm us or those we love.


by Mary Carothers

     The disciples wanted Jesus to teach them how to pray. He responded with what has come to be called the LORD’S prayer, part of which includes “forgive us our sins just as we forgive those who sin against us” (see Matt 6). Jesus then goes on in verses 14 and 15 to say: For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
     Why then, do many of us have a problem with trying to forgive others? It is because we think we must feel forgiving. But the act of forgiving someone is an act of our will. It has nothing to do with our emotions. We simply determine with our will to forgive someone – because Jesus commands us to. When those feelings of unforgiveness arise – and they will – we then need to think of all Jesus has forgiven us. This is a great opportunity to begin to thank and praise Jesus for His forgiveness.
     Thank You, Jesus, for taking God’s punishment for my sins. Thank You, Lord for forgiving me and making me your child. I know it was my sins that caused your suffering and death. I love You, God for your great plan of salvation.
COMING NEXT MONTH

PRISON TO PRAISE

Bulk price offer! Your response to the Prison to Praise reduced
price special continues to be overwhelming. We will be repeating this limited supply bulk price offer in the April Praise News.
Start making your list today of all those people who you know
will be blessed by this book.
This is the first time we have offered the following titles as a single CD. In the past they were only available as part of the Praise Album Volume 1. I pray that these messages will bless you and that you will want to share them with others. Each CD is $6 plus $3 for shipping To place an order using your credit card, please call 1-800-PRAISE1 (800-772-4731), or use the order form enclosed to mail in.
Leap for Joy
How long has it been since you leapt for joy? Learn to rejoice
always and to enter into the peace that passes all understanding.

Start Trusting
The past, present or future cannot defeat us as we learn to trust in God. Learning
how to surrender a problem, a burden or a loved one is to start trusting.

Set Free
No circumstance can hold us down or rob us of joy if we learn how to rise above it.
Learn the meaning of Paul's words “in whatsoever state I am, here I am content”.

Taming the Tongue
How can we conquer our tongue? How can we keep from being critical? The
success of our spiritual lives depends upon our control of this “unruly member”.

Real Faith
What is faith? What is the value of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? How do
we receive the Holy Spirit? All of these questions are answered as we learn
that God can take all our past mistakes, and use them for good as we believe.
If you didn't write in and request a Bible Reading Chart for this year it is
available for download on our website at www.foundationofpraise.org.

With one phone call you can help us get the
Good News to others. Bookstores, of any
kind, usually respond to the telephone calls
they receive. After a sufficient number of calls
regarding a certain book, they will order
copies, display them and encourage customers
to purchase one. Just call your local bookstores
and ask if they have Merlin's new book,
God's Secret Weapon.
Your continued faithful support has enabled us to send shipments of free praise books to the following facilities:
Sulphur City Jail, Sulphur, LA
Regional Unit, Brickeys, AR
Shelby County Jail, Shelbyville, IN
Manatee County Jail, Palmetto, FL
Boone County Jail, Burlington, KY
Harrison County Jail, Marshall, TX
Perryville State Prison, Goodyear, AZ
Southwest Detention Center, Murrieta, CA
Shenandoah County Jail, Woodstock, VA
Nueces County Jail, Corpus Christi, TX
Davis Correctional Center, Holdenville, OK
Decatur Adult Transition Center, Decatur, IL
Palm Beach County Jail, W. Palm Beach, FL
N. Central Correctional Institute, Marion, OH
Esther House Women of Destiny, Chicago, IL
Bucks County Correctional Facility, Telford, PA
Four Miles Correctional Center, Canon City, CO
McNeil Island Correctional Center, Steilacoom, WA
Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility, Lakeport, CA

Bringing People to Christ

While getting ready to deploy to Iraq I was
experiencing one battle after another. Every morning I went to chapel to pray. While there I saw Prison to Praise on the shelf. I picked it up and after I read the first page I couldn't put the book down. This book is truly a blessing. I have passed the book around and others have been blown away by it. Here in Iraq, we have many units spread throughout many different locations. Could you send me free copies of Prison to Praise so that I can give them to the troops? Emma, Iraq

I am so grateful for the copies of Prison to Praise you sent. They have reached Brixton Prison and have been very gratefully received by the staff and inmates. Your books have a way of bringing others to Christ. David, England

I just read Power in Praise and hope to get Prison to Praise. Thank God that He is leading me into His precious presence. Samuel, India

No matter how many times I read Prison to Praise I always experience something new. I went to the website to see if you have other books I could read. Thank you so much for all the beautiful books. Jo, Australia

Thank you so much for continuing to send Praise News. It comes at just the time I need a boost! Linda, MA

I am in a juvenile detention center for my bad actions. I have read Prison to Praise and I have accepted God as my Lord and Savior and it has changed my whole life. I have passed the book on to my friends. Alfred, AZ

  

I was given Prison to Praise and You Can Be
Happy Now as a Christmas present. My first
thought was, “Gee, thanks.” You see, I'm not a big book reader, but I did act very thankful so I would not offend my sister-in-law. I was a baby Christian at the time, doing more crawling than walking. I thought I would give You Can Be Happy Now a try. What happened next was amazing. I could not put it down. These written words spoke to me. I got excited and couldn't wait to read Prison to Praise. I called my sister-in-law and told her thank you for the wonderful books and how much they have meant to me. Justin, MI

It was such a blessing to hear your
message on the website. I receive the Praise News but had not been on the website in years. Prison to Praise helped me to put the Word of God into practical everyday use. I liked the book so much that I sent it to everyone with our Christmas cards. Joann, WY

Our sheriff told me on more than one occasion that your ministry contributes greatly to the attitudes of the inmates. We have men and women saved nearly every week. Books such as Prison to Praise are very helpful. We would appreciate another shipment of Prison to Praise and Power in Praise. I assure you that they will be well received and used. Chap. Wilson, Houston Detention Center, GA

I teach a Sunday Bible service and the girls come into the service clutching your books with joy on their faces. They tell me your books
have been life and soul saving. If you
can send more books I know they will be
cherished by everyone. Helen, Denton
County Jail, TX
 

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Read excerpts from Merlin Carothers best selling books!
 Prison to Praise    •   Power in Praise    •    From Fear to Faith    •    You Can Be Happy Now    •    Secret Sins

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P.O. Box 2518  •  Escondido, CA  •  760.741.2755

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