-----Original Message----- < > >> >> >> Subject: Faith >> >> >> > A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray >> with her >> > father. >> > When the minister arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his >> head >> > propped >> > up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed. >> > >> > The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his >> > visit. "I >> > >> > guess you were expecting me," he said. No, who are you?" said the >> > father. >> > "I'm the new minister at your church," he replied. >> > "When I saw the empty chair, I figured you knew I was going to >> show up." >> > >> > "Oh >> > yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing >> the >> > door?" >> > >> > Puzzled, the minister shut the door. "I have never told anyone >> this, >> > not >> > even my daughter," said the man. "But all of my life I have never >> known >> > >> > how >> > to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, >> but it >> > went >> > right over my head." "I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old >> man >> > continued, "until one day about four years ago my best friend said >> to >> > me, >> > 'Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation >> with >> > Jesus. >> > Here is what I suggest. Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair >> in >> > front >> > of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky >> because He >> > >> > promised, "I'll be with you always." Then just speak to him in >> the same >> > >> > way >> > you're doing with me right now." So, I tried it and I've liked it >> so >> > much >> > that I do it a couple of hours every day. >> > >> > I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty >> chair, >> > she'd >> > either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm." >> The >> > minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man >> to >> > continue >> > on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, >> and >> > returned >> > to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the >> > minister >> > that her daddy had died that afternoon. "Did he die in peace?" he >> > asked. >> > "Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over >> to his >> > bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I >> got >> > back >> > from the store an hour later, I found him dead. But there was >> something >> > >> > strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he >> leaned >> > over >> > and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make >> of >> > that?" >> > The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could >> all go >> > >> > like >> > that." >> > >> > "So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as >> we >> > live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. That is >> why we >> > live >> > by believing and not by seeing. We live by faith, not by sight." >> (2 >> > Corinthians 5:6-8) >> > >> > When you receive this, say the prayer. There is nothing attached. >> Send >> > >> > this >> > to four people and Do not break this, please. Prayer is one of >> the best >> > >> > free >> > gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's >> > continue >> > praying for one another. >> > Father, I ask you to bless my friends reading this right now Lord, >> show >> > them >> > a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You >> to >> > minister >> > to their spirit at this very moment. >> > >
