Dear Children and Grandchildren,

I have enjoyed the Word of God more than I ever have since I am no longer preaching 3 or 4 times a week and am not pressed for time. Some times I find things I'd like to share with all of you, or some of you individually. With your mother's encouragement I'd like to start a "Bible Blog" and share some of my thoughts with you. Last night I told Joanna that I opened a can of "Pork and Beans" for supper, (your mother is in Arizona helping Becky while Adam recuperates from a serious operation) but I found no pork so I renamed it "Beans and Beans". With a hearty laugh she wondered if I had "looked under every bean?' I trust what I send you will have some "pork" but if you find it to be only "beans" just push the delete button.

Ps.119:168 "I have kept Thy precepts and Thy testimonies: for all my ways are before Thee," As you were growing up one of the things I was careful to emphasize in our daily devotions was that the time would come when you would no longer be under the eye of Mom and Dad but you would never be out of sight of God's eye. What an encouragement we find here to keep God's Word. "all my ways are before Thee,"

"Experience makes many a paradox plain, and this is one. Before God we may be clear of open fault and yet at the same time mourn over a thousand heart-wanderings which need his restoring hand."--C.H. Spurgeon

"I may hide Thee from my eye, but not myself from Thine eye."--Wm. Gurnall

Friday, May 8, 2009

Ps. 142:1 "I cried unto the Lord with my voice..."

Dear Children,

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading, studying, and meditating on Psalm 142 this past week and would like to share some thoughts with you. A lady testified in our Sunday service recently that she has trouble with wandering thoughts and imaginations while praying. I have found that when I pray out loud like David in verse one of Psalm 142, where we find the words “cry” and “voice” each used twice, it has helped me in the problem mentioned above. I’m not advocating that there are not other ways to pray. I believe, as C.H. Spurgeon says, “There is a voice to the great Father in every cry, groan, and tear of His children: He can understand what they mean when they are quite unable to express it.” But I write from my own experience that when I pray aloud it is easier for me to keep my mind from wandering.

I know this may be difficult for many of you who are unable to find a place where you are out of earshot of husband, wife, children, or others. After living for the last three years in a fifth wheel trailer and a small, unfinished basement, I can readily sympathize. After several years of working in a steel mill and shooting on firing ranges in the military without ear protection (we didn’t have that back in the 50’s, believe it or not) plus hunting for 23 years in Alaska, I have found your mother can pray as loud as she likes and it doesn’t bother me! Funny how of late everybody mumbles when they talk. However, your mother’s hearing has really sharpened with age. I have found it best not to even mumble unless I’m 100 yards away--that is, if I don’t want her to hear.

When I arrived at BJU, we students were told there was a prayer room on each hall. I tried it only once! A dozen students were in the same room praying, many of them audibly. I soon found my car was a welcome refuge for prayer.

Prayer may be the most difficult of all graces. Those wandering thoughts don’t just “happen” to come at that time. There will be times when you will almost “feel” the opposition when you try to pray. Don’t give up!

“I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers.” Dad
Posted by at 8:32 AM

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