During the Depression, Claude and Judith O'Connor lived in Pomona, Calif., where they shared a rented house with another couple and their two school-aged children. One evening, they found themselves with no food except a small bag of cornmeal.

The women said they had several recipes using cornmeal, but they had no lard with which to cook. A quick search of pockets and purses produced the grand total of 6 cents.

One of the adults refused to shop at the nearby butcher shop with only 6 cents. "Give me the money; I'll go," Claude offered. "I'm not too proud to ask when the children are hungry."

Claude entered the butcher shop and saw the owner, who knew him and his housemates. "Give me 6 cents-worth of lard, please," Claude requested. Without hesitation the butcher peeled off a strip of brown paper and laid it on the scale. He dug his scoop deep into the vat of lard. "It just happens that we have lard on sale today," he said, plopping a large glob of lard onto the paper and reaching down for several more scoops. Wrapping it up, he said, "That will be 2 cents.

"Today we also have bacon on sale. Would you like some?" Claude replied that he would. The butcher reached into the cooler for a slab of bacon and peeled off several pounds. "That's 3 cents more," he said. "Now how about a penny's worth of candy for the kids?"

"That would be very nice," Claude responded. He left with several pounds of lard, bacon and a huge bag of candy.

Had Claude not set his pride aside, the butcher would have missed an opportunity to help someone. The family would have gone hungry, and they would have missed the blessing of seeing what God would do with 6 cents and a simple request.

One of Jesus' important lessons dealt with expressing a need and asking for help. "Ask and it will be given to you," He said; "seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened" (Matthew 7:7; New International Version).

Jesus considered this teaching so important, He repeated it often (Matthew 21:22; John 14:13,14; John 16:24). In spite of that, many people hesitate to ask for what they need.

In fact, some people go to great lengths to hide their need, erroneously believing that others will dislike them if they need aid. Yet the opposite is true—peeling off our mask of independence and self-reliance draws others closer. Asking for help results in a blessing for both the seeker and the giver.

Victor M. Parachin, an author and pastor, lives in Tulsa, Okla.

Jesus' objective was to reach the world. He devoted Himself primarily to a few men, not the masses. The men He chose would be responsible for carrying out the Great Commission, so He chose the Twelve not on the basis of what they were, but what they would become.

Jesus gave high priority to this group. They ate, slept, fished and sailed together. As the disciples got to know Jesus, they saw his heart for people and witnessed firsthand His miracles and teaching. From His example they learned to pray and worship. Such modeling required Jesus' constant attention and personal sacrifice.

He desired to build into them a depth of maturity and conviction so that they would be able to carry on the task after He physically left the Earth. His plan hinged on these few men.

What does your plan hinge on? Ask God for three men or women whom you can disciple—new believers, perhaps, who would welcome your encouragement as they grow to maturity.

I watched as the nearly empty communion tray moved down the row in front of me. With only one cup left, two men graciously deferred and passed the remaining juice to the woman sitting on the end. A courteous gesture, but I knew that the server would return with more.

Still, it sparked an absurd thought: What if there, literally, wasn't enough of Jesus' blood to go around? What if those three people had to decide among themselves who would be the sole entrant to heaven?

Mulling the question over, I pictured the faces of the ones I love. Whom would I choose? Myself? My mother? One of my friends? We're talking eternity here. I tried to comprehend the ramifications of such an ultimatum. Could I actually choose hell so that someone I love could go to heaven in my stead? It was a terrifying prospect.

I felt relieved to know that, in reality, I did not have to decide. Yet I could not shake even the imagined pain of weighing heaven and hell in my own hands. The struggle to choose plunged me into the darkness of Gesthemane. There I found the God of all Creation kneeling in the dirt, sweating anguished drops of blood. I understood like never before what His choice had truly cost Him. Christ knew in detail what He was to endure, yet still He chose to give His life for me.

Tisha Gentry is a former Worldwide Challenge writer who now freelances in Orlando, Fla.

People around the world are fascinated with royalty. Pictures of Prince Charles, the late Princess Diana and other British royalty fill the tabloids and television screens. When King Hussein of Jordan died in February 1999, nearly a million people—almost one-sixth of that country's population—lined up to see the funeral procession.

Hundreds of Jordanians broke through the security barrier to get near the coffin. As it reached Raghadan Palace, the coffin was placed on a cannon carriage, accompanied by the king's favorite Arabian stallion. A pair of boots placed backward in the stirrups remembered the fallen leader. All over Jordan, black flags waved from doorposts and car antennas. The country almost shut down for a week for official mourning.

The throne of an earthly king or queen, however grand it may be, cannot compare to the glories of God. If we took away the royal trappings from any human sovereign, he would look just like one of us. His honor is derived from ceremonies and the homage paid him by other people, which can be removed in a moment. He may have the power of an army behind him, but in himself, he is a sinful, imperfect human being just like you and me.

God's reign is different. He does not need to drape Himself in grandeur to appear more regal. God does not derive His right to rule from anyone or anything. There is no higher authority anywhere.

God Sovereignly Rules the Universe

Whatever God wants to happen will happen; His will cannot be thwarted. Daniel explains, "He determines the course of world events; He removes kings and sets others on the throne" (Daniel 2:21, New Living Translation).

God's creative actions set the stage for His sovereignty. He was able to create because He was in absolute control of every particle of material even before He brought it into being. Once He formed something, no matter how simple or complex, He remained in absolute authority.

Jeremiah reminded God's people of how completely God is in control. Because of their disobedience, they wanted to escape the judgment of the God they had spurned. God sent Jeremiah to the house of a potter. As the potter worked on a piece of clay, he skillfully shaped it with his hands into a beautiful vessel. But when another pot he was making was marred, he tossed it aside and began a new pot. He did what seemed best to him.

Through this illustration, God pointed out His limitless sovereignty. "O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand" (Jeremiah 18:6, NLT). As Creator, God could do whatever He wanted with His creation. No matter how much the clay complained or rebelled, it was shaped by the strong hand of the potter.

God Sovereignly Works Through His Laws of Nature

"He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. . . . God's breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water. He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with His lightning. The clouds turn around and around under His direction. They do whatever He commands throughout the earth. He causes things to happen on Earth, either as a punishment or as a sign of His unfailing love" (Job 37:6,10-13, NLT).

God established the scientific laws that regulate the universe; only He can overrule their effect. For God, miracles are routine. He did mighty miracles through Moses and other Old Testament characters. He spoke through the prophets. He personally invaded our time and space in the form of His Son.

It is unthinkable that an earthly sovereign like Queen Elizabeth II would put aside her jewels and dress in rags. But that is exactly what God did. When Jesus Christ was born in a drafty stable, the only people who worshiped Him were lowly shepherds.

He did not live like a king either. He became tired and hungry, was ridiculed, beaten and spit upon. The soldiers ripped off His clothes, and He was taken to court before a cruel ruler named Herod. Just the thought of our sovereign God putting aside His magnificent glory brings me to tears. How can we ever reach the depths of that love? How could we ever fear putting our lives into His hands?

Understanding God's sovereignty causes us to focus on Him, not ourselves. Our response is to fall at His feet and give Him everything we are and everything we own. Humble yourself before Him and totally and irrevocably submit to His lordship in your life.

On a sunny afternoon last August, I married my fiancée, Lauri Manlove. Friends and family packed the room while music from a harpist and string quartet permeated the day with elegance. Our siblings and closest friends stood with us as we pledged our lives to each other.

Then came the consummating moment of the ceremony.

"Mike, I know you've waited a long time for this," said the pastor. "You may kiss your bride." It was our first kiss.

I do not mean this was our first kiss as husband and wife, though it was. I also do not mean this was merely the first time we kissed each other. This was the first kiss either of us had ever given anyone.

"Why did you do that?" people ask us. Moreover, "How did you do that?"

I answer simply that timidity largely paralyzed me in high school. I harbored secret attractions for certain girls, but shyness directed my steps.

As I grew in my faith, I developed a strong desire to honor the woman I would marry. What would make my wife feel most special? I would think. It occurred to me that saving my first kiss for my wife (not just my fiancée) would make her feel special. I came to believe that unless I actually committed myself to a woman for life, I had not earned the right to kiss her.

The more I think about that first kiss, the more I see how much this way of honoring my wife mirrors how I need to yield myself to my Lord. Romans 12:1 says, "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."

Paul describes a complete commitment to Christ as "acceptable," pleasing to Him in every way. Just as I presented Lauri the honor of my first kiss, I need to present Christ with the honor of unrestricted rights over my life.

I know Lauri feels deeply honored because I saved my kisses for her. As our first kiss will forever resonate in my mind, so must the joy of honorably presenting ourselves to Him.