More, Please...

I have always associated the words, "More, please," with greed and selfishness. However, this past weekend, my association with this expression was radically changed. I am no longer ashamed to say the words, much less to truly mean them with the deepest desire of my heart.
My change of mind and heart came this past weekend when I attended a women's conference featuring Anne Graham Lotz as the key speaker. Anne is the daughter of evangelist Billy Graham, but I had never heard her speak or read any of her books. My church, which is quite large was bulging at the seams of the walls with the thousands of women who attended, and for good reason. We were all there for one reason, and one reason ONLY... it was to get closer to God.
Well, the Lord didn't disappoint. He used Anne to admonish us to cry out for "More of Jesus" in everything we do, and in everything we are all about. It wasn't an emotional experience for me. I have had those before, but as emotions pass, so does the resolve to make changes in my life. Now, I have been a Christian for over 30 years, and before that, I knew the fear of the Lord as I was brought up in the church, and especially from having a godly mother as an example. This was different. I realized that I needed to WANT and DESIRE God's Word more than anything else. No matter that I go faithfully to church, or even am part of a ladies' bible study group and complete bible study lessons. This was even MORE. Anne gave a practical step-by-step way to study the Bible. It wasn't given as a prescription, but rather the very sharing of what she does in her daily life. It made me think that what I saw on that podium-- a tall, stately woman with piercing eyes like her dad's, was not a product of simply growing up around fame and recognition, but a woman-- like me. One who had pains, groanings, struggles and fears. Yet, one thing set me apart from her-- her infectious desire to WANT MORE. The first thing I picked up this morning was my Bible. It's not enough to have it around, but to pick it up, open it, and begin reading. Praying the Lord would open my spiritual eyes to it's truths for my life, I simply say to the Lord, "MORE, please."-- unashamedly, as a child stretching out her cupped hands for a filling of more candy!