My Prayer Life - Part 13 - "God Answers - Big & Small Requests"

Part 13:

Our Carolyn (age 16) is learning to trust the Lord with her "big" problems and her "little" problems -- if we could decide which was which.

She had not had just a rush of dates during her junior year in school and had wanted to go with a certain boy for a long time. As the Junior/Senior banquet approached, she became more and more concerned as to who would ask her. One day I told her, "Let's just pray and ask the Lord to work this little matter out." She said, "Oh, Mama, do you really think He cares about something so little as this??" "Absolutely," I said. "He cares about every detail of our lives."

I prayed and told the Lord that Carolyn wanted to go with Christian boys and that she wanted to please Him in every way. I said, "Lord, she needs an escort to this banquet, and you know the boy she wants to go with, and that he is the finest of the bunch. She has chosen him and will you help him to choose her? I just leave it in Your hands, and thank You so much for the answer."

It was not many nights later that HE asked her to the banquet. She was as thrilled about the answer to our prayer as she was getting the date. Praise the Lord for answering little requests or big ones -- which is it? Thank You, Lord anyway!

Kevin & Carolyn's First Date

Addition to original: This turned out to be a BIG answer.... because that boy became her husband about five years later!

August 13, 1976

Next entry - "The Word of God in My Life"

My Prayer Life - Part 12 - "Letting Go"

Part 12:

I began to understand more about God--the Heavenly Father and His love for His children as my boys got into high school and college. I was staying on my knees more now and holding them up to the Lord. When I made their beds I would kneel and pray for that special child and the problem that he had that day -- they began to have many as they grew into teenagers and adults. When I ironed their clothes I talked to the Lord about that person whose garment I was ironing. When I washed the dishes I bathed my soul in prayer for whatever problem or joy that was on my heart. I don't know what parents and husbands and wives do who do not have the Lord to go to.

As Danny went to college we were so happy he chose Wayland Baptist College and was given a $1000 scholarship each year for running track.

Signing for WBC scholarship

He had been such a joy to us -- as were all of them -- but he was our first one and naturally everything he did was new to us. He became disturbed about his third year in college as he didn't know what direction he should go in his life. He was discouraged and even thought about quitting. His coach and teachers wrote us about encouraging him. I had taken it to the Lord in the mean time, and I asked Him to guide Danny in his life and show him what He had for him. I also said, "Lord, Danny is going to need a helpmate soon to steady his life and make him complete, and You know who she is. He doesn't, but would you please show him (and me) pretty soon?"

It wasn't very long until we went to Albuquerque to a track meet and he introduced us to this little "Linda Allen," and I remember putting my arm around her and loving her a little bit, and a warm feeling came into my heart. Every girl he had brought home from school until then I had thrown up a wall and found something I didn't like about her. I began to think that I was a possessive mother who would never be able to give up that son. I remember one day deliberately taking one of my aprons, cutting off the apron strings, putting them in an envelope, and mailing them to Danny at college to let him know that I was "cutting the apron strings." When it came time for me to give him to Linda, it was such an easy thing---because the Lord helps our love be a giving love.

Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "God Answers - Big & Small Requests"

My Prayer Life - Part 11 - "Surprise Blessing"

Part 11:

Our Jimmy came along as a sweet surprise to us and has been nothing but a blessing from the Lord all of his 14 years.

James Ross

His salvation experience came as no surprise to us as he had been asking questions. Talking about the Lord at our house was as common a thing as talking about Grandma or anyone else, so it was a natural thing. He was under conviction awhile before the Burton's left our church and Mildred (pastor's wife) prayed for him a lot. She said, "I just feel like Jimmy is going to accept the Lord just any time." But he was pretty young and I didn't want to press him.

Not long after the Burton's moved and Brother Ivaloy Bishop was our interim pastor, Jimmy went forward to accept Christ. Brother Bishop came out that afternoon to talk with him and ask him questions. He answered everything in a very satisfactory way. We praised the Lord that our last child had been born in the kingdom of God and praised His Name for such an abundant life He had given us. How could He love us so much?


Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "Letting Go"

My Prayer Life - Part 10 - "It's a Girl!"

Part 10:

Well now, let me back up, I've gotten ahead of myself as I tell my prayer experiences. When Danny and Joe were  small, we were busy helping take care of my mom, whose cancer had returned after 10 years or so. I had suddenly gotten sick, and found out one of my ovaries was hemorrhaging and I would have to have emergency surgery to have it removed. I remember telling Dr. Spring not to take everything, because I wasn't through having my family. He winked and said, "Okay, I'll leave the "girl" side!"

My mother died on Joe's 5th birthday. Our days of caring for her were over and about a year later, another prayer was answered and our little girl was born. We had not asked the Lord for a little girl especially, but you know the Lord says, "You shall have life and have it more abundantly." The Lord had blessed our life with two fine boys, who were 9 and 6, so what could be more abundant than giving us a daughter?

When I came out of the delivery room back into my room, Curtis came in just beaming. We felt we should thank the Lord right then and there, so we held hands and prayed with tears of joy streaming down our faces, and we gave her to the Lord that very first hour of her life.

Carolyn Kay

I had such a closeness with the Lord as I went home and rocked my baby and sang "prayers" to the Lord for her lullabies. I prayed selfishly one prayer--that I would be the one to bring her to the Lord in salvation experience.

That prayer was answered about nine years later. One night in a revival meeting she was sitting with Debbie and Mildred Burton, and I was on the other side of the church. I could not find her as I searched the church with my eyes. I felt the Holy Spirit so strong that night and I knew He must be dealing with Carolyn. I said, "Oh Lord, please don't let her go forward until I've had a chance to talk to her. You know I've asked You to let me be the one to lead her."

The invitation time closed and we went home. Curtis had some kind of meeting that night and didn't come home with us. As I went in to tuck Carolyn in for the night, I leaned down to kiss her, and she put her arms around my neck and said, "Oh, Mama, I know I'm a sinner 'cause I've told stories and done so many things I shouldn't." I said, "That's wonderful!" She had a surprised look on her face because she thought I would be mad that she had told lies and done things she shouldn't. I continued, "You've already completed the first step to being saved --- you've realized you're a sinner and have admitted it. Now Jesus says if we believe in Him and confess our sins He will forgive us. So if you want to, you can just kneel down by your bed and ask Him to forgive you and to come into your heart." She jumped out of bed and knelt, and prayed the sweetest prayer I've ever heard -- asking God to forgive her and asking Jesus to come in. Then she jumped up and threw her arms around my neck and said, "Oh, Mama, I feel so much better! I feel like a load has been lifted off me!"

We went in to tell her big brothers and they rejoiced and we waited up to tell Daddy. It was one of the sweetest family times we ever had as the boys recalled when Carolyn was born and how excited they were when they got up on Sunday morning to have Daddy call and say they had a new baby sister.

She's always been our "Sunday child." She's always liked to go to church. She has felt the Lord dealing with her many times since she has become a teenager. She is 16 now and sings, "He Touched Me" and you know He has as it makes cold chills every time she sings it.


Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "Surprise Blessing"

My Prayer Life - Part 9 - "A Son Goes to War"

Part 9:

A few days before Joe left for Viet Nam

God did answer that prayer (previous post) many years later just before Joe went overseas to Viet Nam. I was so troubled and torn up with the thought of sending my boy off to war, maybe to be captured by a ruthless enemy who could break his spirit and cause him to deny Christ, or maybe to lose his life. Mothers have a way of looking on the bad side of things when it comes to her children. I began to pray that the Lord would just let me know about my boy. I was so disturbed and torn up I couldn't think of anything else. One day before he left, I was sitting in my chair reading my Bible. I began to cry and pray, and I raised my hands toward heaven and said, "Lord, Your Word says to lift up holy hands to you, and I lift mine up through the blood of Jesus Christ because that is all the holiness I have. I ask you now to take Joe and keep him, and give me peace in my heart and strength to bear whatever You have for us... In Jesus' Name I pray."...

...and...

the Holy Spirit fell on me in such a mighty way. A peace came flowing over me and it felt like it went from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. I was so happy and relieved! I just praised the Lord! I knew what the scripture meant when it said, "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace...." I experienced it there on my knees.


Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "It's a Girl"

My Prayer Life - Part 8 - "The Faith of a Child"

Part 8:

Seeing Danny and Joe saved within a few years gave answer to more prayers. Danny was six years old when he began to question us about how to accept the Lord. I explained as easily as I could, not thinking he was old enough to make the decision. One service not too long after, Bro. C.M. Fields was offering the invitation at the end of the service, and down to the front Danny went as big as you please. We were so afraid he didn't understand what he was doing, and we prayed with him and talked after we got home from church. We told him we'd like for him to wait about being baptized for a year, and if he still felt he had truly accepted Christ at the end of that year, he could be baptized. On the day the year was up he told us one Sunday morning, "My year is up and I still know I'm saved and I want to be baptized." So, joyously we let him. "Except ye become as little children," Jesus said. It is so simple and they are so easy to believe.

One night in a revival meeting the preacher preached a sermon on "hell". I could see that Harold Joe was taking it all in. When the invitation was given and our heads were bowed I could not help but lift mine to look at Joe. He was slipping out into the isle and down to the front to accept Christ as his Savior. I had prayed many times since that time that if Joe went forward that night for "fire insurance" and didn't experience real salvation, that the Lord would let him know and let me know.

Read the answer to that prayer in the next post - "A Son Goes to War"

My Prayer Life - Part 7 - "The Lord Provides"

Part 7:

My Daddy was saved about a month before he died, and it was an answer to my prayer from the first day I trusted Jesus when I was 12 years old. I went home and told him I had accepted Jesus as my Savior and I wished he would too. He said he was glad and that he would someday. That day didn't come for about another dozen years.

Me and my Daddy

After his death we moved back to Texas to take over his dairy and be with my mother. We were so  broke by then we didn't know where the next meal was coming from. Our second son was born and we didn't even have a penny to pay the doctor and hospital bill. The Lord knew our needs, though, and the day I was to come home from the hospital, a man came wanting to buy a plow that we wanted to sell. It brought just enough (no more) to pay for our baby. We have laughed many times and said we should have named him "Graham Hoeme" after the name of that plow! But we knew Who sent that man that day.

Graham Hoeme - AKA- Harold Joe

Danny Wayne & Harold Joe

Another time we had a note for $300 coming due the next week at the bank and we didn't know how we were going to pay it. A man, who has helped us in many ways, came out one day and asked Curtis if he could plow some land for him with our equipment. The amount was $300...no more...no less. But we had asked the Lord about this and we were so humbly grateful when He answered.

Through this experience we became convicted about our need to tithe. The Lord had answered so many prayers for us and we were not giving Him anything in return. Oh, true, we put some offering in the plate each Sunday so we could check the "Offering Giving" on our 6 point record system envelope, but we weren't giving systematically. We had quite a struggle with this, because when the Lord starts dealing with your pocketbook, He gets next to your heart! Our pastor was so good in giving us the promises of God and told how many times they had given their last penny....not knowing where groceries would come from the next week....only to find a $10 or $20 bill that someone placed in his hand or pocket. Many told us their blessings of giving the Lord His part, and we became convinced it was the thing to do.

One day we had a Layman's Program at church and Curtis was given a part on the program. It scared us both to death because we were so young in the Lord. What could he say? That speech was another turning point of our lives as he chose the scripture in Joshua 24:15-16, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the gods of the Amorites in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

This scripture was taken literally by my husband that day and is underlined in dark ink in his Bible today. He decided to be the spiritual leader of our home. He began to read the Bible to us each morning at the breakfast table and all four of us would pray. Our boys were about 2 and 5 then. He began to tithe and then bring an offering above. The Lord was good to us and gave us many physical blessings and many spiritual blessings.


Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "The Faith of a Child"

My Prayer Life - Part 6 - "Afraid I Would Die"

Part 6:

There were many things the Lord used while we lived in Colorado almost two years to start us growing in the Lord. I was expecting my second child and we were making frequent trips to Texas to see our parents. For some reason, I became afraid I was going to die. Each time we started on these trips I would die a thousand deaths thinking perhaps this trip we would probably have a wreck and I would be killed. A lady I knew, who was expecting her baby a few months before me died after giving birth to her baby and I began to be afraid of delivering my baby. I do not know why it took me so long this time to go to the Lord with this problem, but I suffered through many a trip just knowing, "This will probably be the time."

One day as I could stand it no longer, I fell on my knees before the Lord and said, "Lord, I know that You are my Savior. I know You will take me to heaven when I die, and I know when it is time for You to come for me, You will. I can do nothing about it. I am ready any time you call. Help me not to be afraid." Well, that same peace came to my soul that came the day I came back to the Lord. I got up rejoicing and singing, and I was never afraid of those trips or of my baby being born. Even several years later when I had emergency surgery, I could look back to that experience and remember the calm and peace that came over me that day and not be afraid.

That didn't keep us from asking the Lord each time we went on a trip to watch over us and to give us a safe journey and to thank Him when we did get back safely. I don't think that is a sign of fear, but that we are ever conscious that "today" is the only day the Lord has promised us. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come, so rejoice in today and be glad and know that it is God who gives life and Christ who gives it more abundantly.


Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "The Lord Provides"

My Prayer Life - Part 5 - "Saying Grace"

Part 5:

By this time we had about lived our bank balance up trying to farm and buy equipment. My husband had taken a job with an Implement store. He was sent to Denver to a week's school to learn the parts department, so we went and stayed with my oldest brother who was a preacher.

My brother, Lawrence and his daughters

This too, we saw later, was the leadership of the Holy Spirit, because each morning my brother's family sat down to breakfast and each of them prayed. We listened as they talked to Jesus as easily as if He was there at the table. My brother could make love to Jesus in a way that it made you love them both. We joined in this time with them each morning "awkwardly." I remember because we had not brought Christ out in the open at our house. When we got home again, we felt ashamed as we sat down at the table that had not been accustomed to prayer. My husband said, (and I was so thrilled it was his decision), "We are going to start offering our thanks at the table." This pleased our little son as much as it did me and he never let us forget. At first we didn't know if we should give thanks for just a snack, and we would sometimes start without bowing, but our boys would remind us. Even our oldest, 3 years old and our second son, big enough to sit in his high chair would close his eyes and jabber something. One of the first words he learned was "Amen."

I began to teach my boys to kneel and pray and they would add their own, "God bless Grandma and Granddaddy...." and many, many more names. One night our oldest stopped in his prayer and asked, "Mama, God bwess Wussel, too?" Russel was an uncle who didn't go to church, and we loved him very much. I said, "Yes, honey, God bless Russel, too!" Russel was saved not many years after that and God has blessed Russel, too!!

Sweet Uncle Russel

Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "Afraid I Would Die"

My Prayer Life - Part 4 - "Colorado Prayers"

Part 4:

After our first son was born we moved to Colorado to farm. We had made a good crop that first year in Texas so we thought we'd strike out on our own. We had $5,000 in the bank, an old car and a beautiful little son. What more could anyone ask for? The world was ours, and so out into the world we went.

We moved out on the farm and attended church a time or two, but as I've heard many times since, "They were not friendly," so we didn't go back. We went hunting on Sunday afternoons with friends who were not Christian, and we usually ended up going to the show that night.

I used to love to listen on the radio to Don McNeil on the "Breakfast Club" each morning as I washed dishes. If you've ever listened to this you know that at one time during his program he paused for silent prayer. "Each in his own words, each in his own way, bow your heads and let us pray." Then soft music played for about a minute. Now it had been an awful long time since I had prayed....Things had been going smoothly...no problems....plenty of money...a good husband and a fine son....What was there to pray about? I found myself at these moments in his program finding something to do in the other part of the house. I soon became so uncomfortable at the time I almost wanted to turn it off, but I loved the rest of the program, so it would be over in a little while.

I remember one morning as I was in the middle of the dish pan and this time of prayer came on, and I stopped and broke into tears and said, "Oh, Lord, forgive me!" That was about all I could get out that day, but in days to come I would stop and close my eyes and pour out my heart a little at a time. One day my little boy tugged at my dress an said, "Mommy, you pray?" and I gathered him in my arms and said, "Yes, darling, I pray."

Danny Wayne

Danny & Me

I had quite a prayer experience with the Lord that week as my empty soul came back to life and I said, "Lord, if You will but let me live until Sunday, I will go to church, publicly rededicate my life to You, and try to serve You. I could hardly wait until Sunday. I was afraid I'd loose my nerve, I guess, but I didn't tell my husband a thing about this because he might not understand. Then at church, when the invitation was given, I found myself down at the front telling the Lord and the preacher I was coming back and I wanted to serve Him from that day forward. Do you know what those "unfriendly" people of that church did? The came down and loved me and rejoiced with me! One fine Christian lady said, "Would you help me with the Primary? We need you so much." Happy!! I have never felt such a burden lifted and as I drove the ten miles home to share my happiness with my husband, I sang, "My Jesus I Love You" and many more songs of praise with a heart of joy I could never forget. I'm sure that was one of the first of many times that "my cup ran over!"

When I got home, these friends* were there for lunch. They had hardly heard the name of Christ, except in vain, so they didn't understand what I told them. I told them of my promise to serve the Lord and that from here on I was going to quit going to the show on Sunday night and instead go to church. They didn't understand "salvation" much less "re-dedication" so the devil began his work. We ate lunch and got in their car and went hunting, and then drove to town for a hamburger, and then, by the force of habit, went right over to the show. "Hadn't they heard what I had said? Didn't Curtis understand what had happened to me? Were we deliberately going to the show after I told them my promise to the Lord??" But the devil said, "Don't say anything. You might make them mad or hurt their feelings." So I went in. Oh, I felt so terrible just deliberately doing what I had just promised my Lord I wouldn't do! I sat down and looked up at "Ma Kettle" in her dirty dress and sloppy clothes and I felt just like that in my soul. I picked my little boy up and got out of there as fast as I could. We got in the car and rode 'round and 'round the church and I cried, but I didn't go in. I went back and parked in front of the show and waited until it was over. When my  husband came out he knew I had meant business with the Lord and he ever asked me to go to the show on Sunday night again. He began to go to church with me and grow along with me. I have never seen "Ma Kettle - Marjorie Main" that it doesn't bring back this experience to me.

It made me realize that in the moment we are having our greatest victory with the Lord, the devil stands ready to jump between and try with his might to come between you and the Lord. He can succeed many times if you do not "pray without ceasing." Prayer changes things. Yes it does!! From that time forward I began to work with Primary boys and girls. I began to learn Bible stories and found the the Lord could tell those stories through me so exciting. I learned more teaching the boys and girls than they did!

*I witnessed many times to these friends about Jesus, but they were never saved. They were killed in a plane crash later and I was so sad.


Read the next entry in my prayer journey - "Saying Grace"

My Prayer Life - Part 3 - "Early Marriage"

Part 3:

After I was married we went through a trying time of adjustment. It had been nearly three years since we had seen each other, (Curtis was gone overseas for WWII) and we had both gone with other people while he was gone by mutual consent.

After we married he got some letters from a girl and she didn't know he was married. He let me read them. Oh, I became so insanely jealous I was sick. I didn't let him know I was, but it ate at me constantly. I could not relax in his arms at night wondering if he might be wishing it were her. Finally, I got in such a state of mind I had nowhere to turn. I couldn't dare talk to anyone about it for my pride's sake. One day I fell down before the Lord and poured out my heart. You see, after God had answered my prayers and brought this man home safely to me, I had forgotten about God. I had forgotten the many times I had trusted him and He had never let me down. I said, "Lord, I do not know if Curtis loves this other girl or not. I have imagined all sorts of things and I am sick with jealousy. I know that is a sin and it is ruining my life. Take this terrible disease from me and help me to be the kind of loving wife that he needs." I cried before the Lord a long time. That night when we went to bed I opened my heart to my husband and told him my fears--my sin of jealousy and asked him to help me. He had not realized what was wrong with me and he laughed and took me in his arms and assured me of his love for me---and, oh, the burden was gone, and joy and happiness came rushing in. It was the beginning of our "good marriage" because we told each other we should always talk these things out instead of keeping them to ourselves where they grow bigger by the day.

Read my next entry - "Colorado Prayers"

My Prayer Life - Part 2 - "Praying with Mama"

Part 2:

Another prayer experience I had that strengthened my faith was when I was about 14 years old we found that my mother had breast cancer. She was to have surgery immediately. As we waited the day before we took her to the hospital I said, "Mother, would you like for us to pray about this?" You see, even though my mother had taught me to pray as a child I had never heard her pray. I'm sure she did in her times alone, but we didn't have prayer at the table except when my older brother, who was a preacher came (this was a very strained time, too) but this time my mother said, "Oh, yes, let's pray." So down on my knees by her bed, holding to her little hand, I asked God to take care of my mother and if it was His will to heal her completely. Then my mother prayed as tears streamed down our faces. God heard and answered that prayer and I was so grateful that after she had gotten out of the hospital and I was able to go to church, I went forward at the invitation time and told the preacher I had something to say. He stopped the singing and there I gave my testimony of how the Lord had heard and answered my prayer and how thankful I was. I wanted to give Him the praise and glory. Needless to say it was a good spiritual service and I was so blessed.

Read my next entry - "Early Marriage"

My Prayer Life - Part 1 - "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep"

The following is a lengthy account of my most memorable, life-changing prayers, from the 1930s to the 1970s. I will publish it in several parts.

Part 1:

My first recollection of learning to pray was when I was a very small child. When my mother put me to bed she had me kneel and taught me to say, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."
                                                                                     

                                              

Gertie - age 4 - 1928

     

I have mixed emotions about this prayer. It taught me to pray---it placed in my heart and mind the knowledge that we are in God's hands for keeping---but it gave me a disturbed feeling that I carried through my teen years. I was afraid to go to sleep at night without first asking my heavenly Father to watch over me and keep me through the night. 

                     

Gertie - age 5 - about 1929

As I grew older I branched out on this simple prayer and told God many things and asked many things before I closed my eyes in sleep--feeling much relieved and secure after having talked with the Lord. I remember in those "pillow prayers," (as I soon gave up the kneeling by my bed except for special prayers when I felt the Lord so close), I remember praying, asking God to guide me to the right person for my husband. I said, "Lord, help me to know the one you have for me and then help us to have a happy home." That must have been when I was about 15 years old because by the time I was 16 the Lord had answered that prayer. One Sunday morning as I was singing in the choir I noticed this dark, handsome stranger on the back seat. My heart did a little extra beat, but I didn't think too much about it. I kept seeing him there for several Sundays, but I had never mentioned him to anyone. I had not even asked who he was. One night as I was with another boy whom I had been dating a lot, he asked me if I would "go steady" with him. Immediately this stranger came into my mind and I knew if I ever met him and he asked me to go with him I could not refuse, so I told my friend that I was not ready to go steady. "Is there someone else?" he asked. And I truthfully said, "No."

Age 15 - 1939

The next Sunday as I saw him come in dressed in a new tailor made suit, I could wait no longer. I punched the girl next to me and said, "Who is that new boy on the back seat?" She said, "He is my cousin and he wants to meet you." Oh--my heart just sang as we sang that day. After church we bashfully were introduced and that afternoon he asked me to go for a ride with him and some other young people. I knew from the first meeting we both knew that we had found our future, even though it was several years before we became serious enough to make plans. And only then, when the war came in 1941, Dec. 7th, we heard the news on the car radio, and he began to sing "Good-bye Little Darling, I'm Leaving...."

Sure enough, his was the first number drawn for the draft and he was off. My memory is very clear on my prayer life again as I feared now to go to sleep without asking God to keep not only me, but most of all Curtis and Doug, my brother. Only as I prayed and then in my simple faith I left them in God's care for a whole 24 hours and didn't worry.

My dear Curtis - 1942-1945

God answered those prayers and brought back to my parents their son and future son-in-law. We had to wait three whole days before we could be married to live happily ever after.

August 30, 1945

To read a poem I wrote to Curtis before he left for the war click here.
Next entry of my prayer journey - "Praying with Mama"