Empty ChairA 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. > > The minister told him his name and then remarked, > > "I saw the empty chair and 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 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 will 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." > > Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. > > I asked God for water, > > He gave me an ocean. > > I asked God for a flower, > > He gave me a garden. > > I asked God for a friend, > > He gave me all of YOU... > > If God brings you to it, He will bring you through
it. > > Happy moments, praise God. > > Difficult moments, seek God. > > Quiet moments, worship God. > > Painful moments, trust God. > > Every moment, thank God. |
