My elderly neighbor was doing the "heavy looking on" from the other side of my backyard fence. He watched my friend, Dave, and me passing power tools back and forth and shuffling planks of wood. "You've got Dave as chief carpenter, I see?"

Frank knows I wouldn't build a swing set, wooden fort and giant slide all by myself. Far from the handy type, I need help with a project like that. I needed Dave, a real handy neighbor, as chief carpenter.

A few weeks prior, I had asked Dave about the play gym in his backyard. He told me that he had built it with a small amount of cash, and offered to help me build one in my backyard.

"We can do it together," Dave said.

"Can we make it a foot taller than yours? And build room for three swings instead of just two?"

"Sure!" he said.

Soon after, Dave showed up on my doorstep with a typed list of lumber and parts, complete with prices. So I drove to the hardware store, loaded up my minivan (sans seats) and returned home, emptying everything into my garage. Then I waited for Dave.

I could not imagine this pile of wood and bolts as a playground. I needed the chief carpenter.

A few days later, we started building. I had to take some time off from work—weekdays served Dave's schedule best—but I appreciated his offer to help me, so I arranged my time around him.

Dave could have built the play gym himself. He didn't need me. But instead, he told me what to cut, what to drill and how much to measure. When I got frustrated, Dave patiently explained what I needed to do, encouraging me to persevere. Together, we worked on something that my children will enjoy for years to come. And Dave and I became better friends along the way.

As believers, we have all received an invitation to work under the guidance of the ultimate Chief Carpenter. He calls it prayer.

God can accomplish His will alone—certainly the Creator of the world needs no one. We would do well to see our desperate need for a chief carpenter. And yet, in spite of our desperation, God invites us to play a part in the process. He lets us participate.

In this issue, we want to remind you of God's call to prayer. He asks us to set time aside to spend with Him. He welcomes us to ask for big things. And He insists that we not give up.

Don't miss out on God's invitation. He wants to spend time with you, and use you in the lives of others. He wants you to pray.

You can contact the writer at Erik.Segalini@ccci.org.