Remembering Fathers Day…..

Today is Fathers Day in Australia and I often share about fathers especially about our Awesome Abba Father, today I want to remember all those who have lost their Dads with this heart touching story below.

My Daddy’s Chair

A daughter had asked the local Minister to come and pray with her father who was very ill and unable to get out of bed.

When the Minister arrived, he found the father with his head propped up on two pillows, his hand resting on the empty chair beside his bed, and he seemed to be talking.

The Minister interrupted and asked if he had been expecting him. “No, who are you?”, said the father. The Minister told him his name and then remarked, “I saw you talking to the empty chair.

“Were you lonely?”

“Oh yes, the chair. No, I was not lonely but 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 strange, 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 for some time every day. I talk to Jesus about everything. I’m careful, though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she would find it hard to understand, and think it strange, although one day I will share with her that I do this, and why.”

The Minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on his journey with Jesus.

Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, thanking Jesus for His Love and for always being there.

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 with his head resting on the chair. He had died that way…

 “What do you make of that?”

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said, “How wonderful that he didn’t go alone”, and he told her about her father’s chair.

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.

Happy moments, Praise The Lord…

Difficult moments, Seek The Lord…

Quiet moments, Worship The Lord…

Painful moments, Trust The Lord…

Every moment, Thank The Lord…

He is our closest Friend and understands when we are in pain and dries our tears with His Love.

If Life brings us to it our Abba Father will bring us through it.