I'd like to share a few more things concerning prayer. Some you might find a bit humorous, some trivial and some quite serious.
I suppose somewhere along the line we taught our children the need, joy and value of prayer. I remember when Claudia and Allen were quite small, Pre-Paula, we had them kneel beside their beds and pray. At first it was the bedtime prayer: "Now I lay me down to sleep." Soon we graduated to praying for the things for which we were thankful and things we requested of God. I tried to have them not get into the habit of just a rote prayer, but to think of different things for which to be thankful, or for different needs.
Here we are with our children in 1963 during their formative years.
It seems this must have taken effect even down to the 5th child. Frank certainly believed his mother's prayers had clout with God. From a very early age he would ask me to pray that he do well on a test and things like that. Many times when he was older, junior high and high school, he would call from the school phone and remind me to pray that he make a good grade on a test he was about to take. I always told him the same......I would be praying he would recall everything he studied for the test. I didn't want him to think he didn't have to do his part and fail to study!
Frank as a Senior in High School. He was still asking for prayers on his tests, as well as other things. Needless to say, he graduated with honors both from High School, College and with his Masters!
One day he proved to me how much he believed in the power of prayer. He was an excellent basketball (as well as football) player and seemed to live and breath each sport during the season.
Here is Frank as 7th grade quarterback talking over a play with his coach.
One morning when he was still in grade school he requested that I pray for him to be 6'4" and black! I wondered why in the world such a request. He explained that the very best basketball players were tall and black. He also said that he had observed the Lord answered prayers just a little less than was asked ( I have NO idea where he got that notion) and he really wanted to be at least 6'3". I had some explaining to do! I've never known, at least in my lifetime, God to change a person's color, and in our family, I had never known anyone to reach 6' on either side (we have a couple over that now; one being Frank's youngest son.) He was never stretched past his present height of 5'9" and the blackest he's ever been is when he got a good sun tan (which he has now after spending two months in Florida.)
Here is Frank as a little fellow in his Miami Dolphin uniform (He's still a fan) and as an adult, the darkest he's been in a long time.
I shared in my last post about the chess tournament, the deer and the snow. Now, I'd like to tell you about our daughter, Claudia's, prayers. She is one of the most powerful prayer warriors I know. If I have a need I usually go to her first, though I request prayers from all of my children and a few of my friends who I know to believe in the power of prayer.
Claudia has been through a lot of struggles in her life and I know there must have been times she probably wanted to just give up, but she didn't. Through it all I've rarely seen her without a smile on her face and a song in her heart......in fact if you ever visit her don't be surprised to hear singing as she sings all the time! And.....she prays about everything. She prays for marriages, divorces, babies, friends, family and people she rarely knows. And, she thanks God for answered prayers as well as those He hasn't answered as requested. She knows God has other plans. She doesn't worry about jobs or houses as she knows God will supply the things she needs. And He always has!
Last year she was able to buy her first house as a single lady. The kitchen appliances, minus the fridge were included in the house. She really wanted a French door refrigerator but only had a certain amount to spend on it. She had looked and looked but found nothing she could afford. She was about to give up and was on her way home when she decided to stop by one more store and check there. She pulled into the parking lot at Home Depot, turned off the engine and prayed, "Lord, if you want me to have a French door refrigerator let me find a white one in the 'scratch & dent' area to match the other appliances and for X amount of $'s or less." (I can't remember the amount). She walked in, back to 'scratch & dent' and there it was; a white, French door, with tiny scratch on the side toward the back and just a few $'s more than she asked! Now, maybe you think the Lord had nothing to do with this. That's okay. But. I chose to believe He provided just what she wanted.....no more, no less.
Just a few days ago Claudia needed (wanted) some old wood for a project she had in mind. Two of her grandchildren were with her and she told them what she wanted and told them they should all pray if it was God's will that they find some weathered wood beside the road ready for the garbage truck. Later, on the way home, she asked God to provide the wood in order to show the children the power of prayer. And, there it was....just what she wanted right beside the road just waiting to be picked up. And here's the results of that prayer....by the way....the two 15 year old grandchildren give God the credit!
Weathered wood hanger over the TV, an answer to prayer.
A true prayer warrior! And sometimes the Lord blesses us with little things and smiles.
The weekend of her 60th birthday celebration we, along with our best friends, Nancy Cantrell (mine) and Nannette Cantrell Lyon (Claudia's) stopped at Cracker Barrel and Claudia found this lying among the merchandise.
The effective prayer of a righteous man (woman) can accomplish much. James 5:15
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