Yesterday I had a full schedule of clients until around 2 pm.  I was  about to pull out of the parking lot when I saw a text come from my wife (be assured I don’t text while I drive).  The text wasn’t unusual, but the request was.  She and Tyler wanted to know if I and Carter would like to go bowling.  They had both run Pinnacle Peak hiking trail and were ready for some more exercise.  Bowling isn’t that strenuous and they were both game so I said, “why not.”  I called Carter to see if he wanted to make it a foursome and he was “down” for the experience.

They all needed to take a shower and were ready to plow down pins with a holy ball.  When we got there, I asked if they had any special deals going for four people who rarely bowl and would be lucky to break 100.  The cashier at the counter made some comment about coupons for those who had signed up for them and I wasn’t in that category.  About that time a manager came up and heard us talking as we were about to pay the full price for bowling.  He asked the same question about being signed up to which I replied that I had not.  I did ask the manager if we could get the coupon anyway and he responded, “(Paused initially), No problem.  I have a coupon in my cell phone and I will let you have it.  It will save you about half the cost of bowling regularly.”  I said thank you very much and paid $30.00 rather than $60.00.

The bowling was ugly for the most part, but the boys learned a valuable lesson from the experience.  If you don’t ask about deals, or coupons, you will never experience coupons or deals.  Asking needs to be seen in a “No lose” situation.  Think about it for a minute.  If I asked about any specials they were having and they said no, I wouldn’t be out anything so I haven’t lost anything.  If they tell me of a special and causes me to save money, I have gained some money in my pocket.  Nothing to lose and everything to gain.  The money we saved by asking and receiving allowed us to go out and have the savings pay for our dinner.  The savings didn’t cause us bowl better, but it did cause us to multiply our fun by going out to dinner afterward.

There is a biblical principle found in James 4:2 that talks about asking.  “. . .You do not have because you do not ask God.”  How many times do we miss out on God’s blessings for our lives because we don’t ask Him.  It’s important to note that in the following verse it says that it’s important to ask with the right motives, but if we don’t ask, we won’t receive.

This journey is filled with all kinds of special perks and benefits in life if only we take the time to ask a few questions.  Who knows whether we might be in for a special blessing from the Lord if we only ask Him.  Ask wisely.