They Were There!

  

“There were also some women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and Joses (little in size or age), and Salome.” (Mark 15:40)

Hey Gang:  In the development of the Village we were especially blessed to meet many wonderful people.  Many of them were grandmas who kind-of adopted this young couple, who were up to their armpits in alligators.

One that was very special was Granny Bliss.  She commented that she gets up in the morning and the first thing she does is read the obituary column to see if her name is in it.  If not she goes about her day with as much gusto as she can muster - but she also was quick to confess that a lot of her get-up and go has long since got-up and went.  I have learned in recent years what she meant. 

I have heard some of those who qualify for the rocking chair gang say, “They feel so worthless” because they cannot do great things for the Lord”.  That, my friends, is from the pit!  It takes a spark to build a fire, gasoline to provide fuel to run the engine.   In the Christian walk sparks and gasoline are the ingredients of a powerful and effective prayer life.

When we started the Village we were blessed to have six grandmothers who prayed fervently and continuously for us.  When the alligators were especially active I would call them and soon the tide would turn and the alligators would retreat into the swamp.    Would the problem suddenly disappear?  Not necessarily, but when I knew those ladies were praying, I also knew that Satan had his hands full trying to deal with them.   

My grandma once told me that some people are commissioned by the Lord to do the works of the Lord, and some folks were commissioned to provide the prayer covering for the workers.  There were many days when taking time in my prayer closet was not possible but I knew the grandmas “Were there” in their prayer closets doing battle for us.

In the story of the cross we find the women “were there”.  They “were there” at the trials, the beatings, the road to the cross, the crucifixion, the burial and the victorious trip to the empty tomb. 

We had the opportunity to see the movie War Room several nights ago.  The testimony of the movie was powerful and I would recommend you get a whole barn full of people with loads of popcorn. The wife was at the end of her wits with marital problems and a lack of faith in her life.  She was lead to the true star of the movie, an elderly grandma by the name of Ms. Clara who, throughout the movie, opened God’s love to Elizabeth. 

To give you the entire story would take away from your enjoyment in watching the plots unfold, but I want to share two prayers that, if every Christian in America prayed with the same fervor, it would drive Satan and all of his hordes into the pit where he belongs.  Elizabeth finally got angry enough to declare war against Satan, who was in the process of destroying her marriage and family.

First she claimed the verse, “Submit to the Lord.  But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).  She repeated the verse over and over in each room and then outside and announced to Slue Foot that His victorious days were over.  That he is already a defeated foe and had no place in their home so get lost.

The second was Ms. Clara’s prayer when she learned that Tony, Liz’s husband had given his life to Christ. 

It was not the words alone that were powerful, but the zeal and power with which she delivered the prayer.    She closed the prayer with these words, “You’ve done it again, Lord.  You’ve done it again.  You are so good and You are mighty and You are merciful.  And You keep taking care of me when I don’t deserve it.  Praise You, Jesus, You are Lord.”  She looked like a prize fighter all the time she was praying with arms up lifted and a smile that covered her whole face.

She showed me how very bland my prayer life has become; I vowed, Lord, I will do better from this day on.  So my young colleagues, keep in mind that someone is depending on you and God will bless you in the same measure that you reach out to them.   Also keep in mind Elizabeth’s prayer, “Submit to the Lord.  But resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7.  Memorize it and get it firmly entrenched in your hard drive.

Blessings,

Gramps