Jake the Rancher

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"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." (Psalm 5:3).

Jake, the rancher went one day to fix a distant fence. The wind was cold and gusty, and the clouds were gray and dense. As he pounded the last staples and gathered tools to go,the temperature had fallen and the snow began to blow.

When he finally reached his pickup, he felt a heavy heart, from the sound of that ignition, he knew it wouldn't start. So Jake did what most of us would do if we'd have been there. He humbly bowed his balding head to say a little prayer.

As he turned the key for the last time, he softly cursed his luck. They found him three days later, frozen stiff in that old truck.

Now Jake had been around in life and done his share of roamin'. But he was amazed when he saw Heaven -- it looked just like Wyomin'. Of all the saints in Heaven, his favorite was St. Peter. And Jake was thrilled when the gates opened wide and Peter was the greeter! They sat and talked for a minute or two, or maybe it was three, Nobody was keepin' track of time – 'cause in Heaven time is free.

"I've always heard," Jake said to Pete, "that God will answer prayers, but one time when I needed Him, well, He just plain wasn't there. Does He answer the prayers of some, and ignore the prayers of others? That don't seem exactly square -- seeing we all are brothers. Or does he randomly reply, without good rhyme or reason? Maybe, it's the time of day, the weather or the season. Now I ain't trying to act smart, it's just the way I feel; and I was wonderin', could you tell me, Pete -- what the heck's the deal? "

Peter listened patiently and when ol’ Jake was done, a smile of recognition came, and he said, "So, you're the one! That day your truck, it wouldn't start, and you sent your prayers a flying, you gave us all a real bad time, with hundreds of us a trying. A thousand angels rushed to check the status of your file, but you know, Jake, we hadn't heard from you in quite a while. And though all prayers are answered, God ain't got no quota, -- but, He didn't recognize your voice, and started a truck in North Dakota!"

The moral of the story is make sure God recognizes your voice! Talk to Him every morning....and you just might discover that He will talk to you throughout every day.
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