Dear friends:

Pastor friend Bill Powell shared this great story today in his e-mail devotions:

Walking through dense woods at Camp David, Ronald Reagan could be seen bending over and picking up acorns.  Then he’d place them in sacks.  For it seems the President enjoyed feeding the fortunate squirrels in the White House Rose Garden.    A. C. Lyles, the Hollywood producer and long-time Reagan friend, was present one afternoon in the Oval Office.  Conversing for some minutes with the President, Lyles heard an odd scratching sound apparently emanating from a glass door facing the Rose Garden.  Looking in that direction Lyles caught sight of a squirrel standing on its hind legs and peering in.  Without a word Reagan rose and collected some acorns from a nearby pack.  He opened the door and then tossed several handfuls into the garden.  Somehow those White House squirrels had learned to identify the abundance of tasty acorns with “the big man in the building.”  When they experienced need they boldly came up and scratched on the door.  Never mind that Ronald Reagan was one of the most powerful authorities on earth! Be assured that the Heavenly Father not only hears our prayers but also anticipates them.  He has graciously provided for all our legitimate needs (as He defines them) with a meticulous care that should boggle the imagination.  And without question God enjoys it when we come boldly and “scratch” at the door of His throne room, peering in and waiting in anticipation for Him.  “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)        

 Some further thoughts:

•  In their own way, the little squirrels had and exercised faith that the big man would meet their need.
•  Paraphrased, the Bible says that we should scratch and keep on scratching (Matthew 7:7).
•  God's people don't just scratch at the door, we actually enter His "Oval Office" so to speak (Psalm 100:4 and Hebrews 4:16).
•  It's even better than that -- we are seated with the Big Man in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6)!

Let us at least have the faith in the promised provision of our Heavenly Father that those little squirrels had in President Reagan!

Jim