Pray Boldly

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

It was 1934. Men gathered in Frank's cow pasture to pray. They had prayed in several locations around the city but this day Frank had offered his place of business - a dairy farm. 

The men gathered each time to pray for revival. This time there was a more specific, more bold request. Vernon one of the men made a request that they pray boldly for God to raise up a man from their city to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. That man was Vernon Patterson. That dairy farm belonged to William Franklin Graham. That city was Charlotte, NC. 

In the coming months, Dr. Mordecai Ham was invited to speak in an evangelistic meeting. Frank's son Billy had no intentions of attending the meetings but there was a rumor of teens stirring up trouble at the meeting. Billy thought he would go see the show. Six days before his sixteenth birthday Billy received Christ. He still didn't know he was going to be used in answer to those prayers but he did know his life was changed - for the better. The call to evangelism came later while he was in college. 

We still have great men called by God to do great work but our nation is crumbling around us from moral decay. There is little commitment to marriage and family. The murder of our unborn children is rampant. 

In the days of King Saul Israel found itself in trouble from lack of Godly leadership. God told Samuel to go anoint a new king that He would show him. 
Samuel was afraid to go because of Saul. God showed him a plan. He was to go make a sacrifice, to worship. Samuel obeyed. When he saw the sons of Jesse he thought he knew who God wanted but God's answer was no. 

Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. I Samuel 16:7.

Samuel asked Jesse if he had more sons. Jesse sent for David from the pasture where he was tending sheep. 

Have we prayed boldly for spiritual leadership? Let us pray we don't look on the outside but wait on the Lord for answers for a spiritual leader He chooses.

Hey Kids:

Billy Graham's parents prepared their children to serve the Lord.
Can you guess how? 

Every night the Graham family prayed and read their Bible together. 
Though Billy Graham did not receive Christ until he was almost sixteen, his parents laid the groundwork for a Godly man. 

How can you encourage your family to prepare each other for God's work? 
Here's a start: Pray boldly. Keep a journal of your prayers and God's answers. 
Be aware that YOU are the future leaders. 
Prepare to be spiritual leaders chosen of God. 

Praying Boldly,

 Gail

Used by God

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Sound like anyone you know? The death of Billy Graham is prominent news this week. Ninety-nine years old they say. But God prepared him to preach from the time of conception which would have probably been in February 1918. So, he actually was alive 100 years. 

The verse I quoted was written for the Prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 1:5 KJV) Psalms 139:14 makes a similar statement about King David. God even had plans for Samuel before he was born (I Samuel 1:11, 26-28). Each came to know the Lord and His plan at different times in their lives. 

Samuel was a child when He heard God's call. King David was probably a teen. Jeremiah said he was too young, but he was old enough for God. He stood before the people of a crumbling nation to preach, warning them and calling them to repentance. Billy Graham was near his seventeenth birthday when he came to know the Lord. He was a mighty man of God in our day. There have been others, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, and Billy Sunday to name a few. 

Does God have a plan for you? You don't have to be famous to be used of God. Remember the story of the little slave girl in II Kings 5:3? She was responsible for Naaman's journey to the prophet who told him to wash and be healed of his leprosy. And what about the boy with five loaves and two fishes (John 6:9-12)? We don't know their names, but they were used by God in a mighty way. There are no mistakes. You are important to God.  You too, have a special call on your life. Have you answered?

Hey Kids:

Do you know God has a special plan for you? Look up some of the verses above and see what children were able to do as part of God's plan. 

I have four grandchildren. One is a talented singer. Another is quite the athlete. The one pictured above is a budding artist. The youngest is still developing her talents, but she is a linguist for sure. They don't know yet how God will use them, but they are strengthening those talents. God will put those talents to use in His timing. 

What is your special talent?
How are you working at perfecting that talent?
Has God already shown you His plan? 

Let us know what special gifts God is calling you to use.

Blessings,

Gail