Prayer

I was truly blessed by many as I went through this heart surgery in the area of prayer. The many that just told me they had prayed for me or would pray for me or would share my request with their church group was amazing. To be honest, at church prayer meeting sometimes I grow weary of all the "requests" and want to get to the praying. But, this is such a selfish desire. Sometimes you hear of so many that are suffering that you get kind of "oh, just another one to add to my long list". I'm trusting the Lord to be more sensitive to the needs of people, even when I don't know them. I think it was just amazing how so many people knew about my surgery, either before or after, and prayed for me. A couple of things were memorable. Sarah's cousin, Luther, who is just newly taken over his father's travelling evangelist schedule called me from Indonesia the night before the surgery. He right on the phone, prayed for healing. I was touched by his concern. I was transported by ambulance to Vegas and was accompanied by three Bullhead firefighters. One of them, Chief Don Evans, goes back a ways with our church. In the early days his father and their family attended Trinity Bapitst around its founding. Since then, Don has been working for the fire department for many years here in Bullhead. His wife Donna has become a friend since she is our #1 sub at the high school. She agreed to take my classes for as long as I'm gone (a new prayer request). Getting back to the ambulance---As the Bullhead crew turned me over to the staff at the LV hospital-Don prayed for me out loud, in the presence of everyone around. It was kind of a random thing-but probably something he does to encourage believers and non-believers. It was another shot of encouragement. When speaking of prayer I must give thanks to one of the most effective prayer warriors I know, Betty Geant. She made sure my request was spread all over the valley. I was talking to a good friend who goes to another church in town and she told me that they had prayed for me on Sunday in their church service. I automatically knew that Mrs. Geant had expanded the prayer list for my case-what a great encouragement. I am thankful for the prayers fo the saints through my trial. James said it well in this verse I'll leave at the end of this blog. Every time we go to prayer may we remember "availeth much." The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16