The Great House of God

In the Great House of God there is a furnace.  This furnace affects the whole house, and your prayers fuel the furnace.  Your intercession is coal on the fire.  Your pleadings are kindling to the flames.  The furnace is sturdy, the  vents are ready, all that is needed is your prayer.

THE GREAT HOUSE OF GOD *  MAX LUCADO

I have been asked to ponder this question on more than just one occasion:  "what would happen if you gave up praying the very day before God had chosen to answer your prayer?"  Well, in at least one case I can answer that very likely my Dad would NOT be getting baptized this Sunday, three days after turning 63 years old, almost three years after being diagnosed with terminal lung and brain cancer, and coming to a sving knowledge of Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour.

How can I make such a bold statement?  Because I know my Mom faithfully prayed for that stubborn man for longer than I thought was necessary, or useful, or even sane.  She held hope long after I was done talking about it with her; holding on to this unseen cord of hope and belief that God truly hasn't become deaf so that He cannot hear.

My oldest went once to their home (at the time it was just down the road) when he was about nine years old, armed with the gospel.  He had had a horrible time sleeping the night before and announced at the breakfast table that he believed God wanted him to make an appointment with Granddad to discuss his lack of relationship with God.  He had all the Scriptures he felt the Lord had laid on his heart to share and was shaking in his little boots with nervous excitement.  So, with a quick phone call to my parent's place, off he went, giving my Dad exactly "three days to decide" if he would be for Jesus or against Him.  My Dad took a few years longer than three days, but he did phone to let Jonam know that he was carrying an awfully big burden that my Dad was releasing him from.  He thanked Jonam for being big enough to face my Dad, and let him know that he would "definitely think about it".

The power of prayer, in action.

So, on Sunday morning, at Dad's baptism (did I tell you how much he hates water?) with my brother and his family, my husband and boys, bestsister and her husband and kids, I have the privilege of witnessing another testimony to both the realness and the greatness of my God ... and this is what Jonathan, Cheryl and I will sing over the whole congregation ...

Darlene Zschech - I Will Never Be





I will never be the same again,


I can never return, I've closed the door.

I will walk apart, I'll run the race

And I will never be the same again.



I will never be the same again,

I can never return, I've closed the door.

I will walk apart, I'll run the race

And I will never be the same again.



Fall like fire, soak like rain,


Flow like mighty waters, again and again.

Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff,

And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.



There are higher heights, there are deeper seas,

Whatever you need to do, Lord do in me.

The Glory of God fills my life,

And I will never be the same again.



Fall like fire, soak like rain,


Flow like mighty waters, again and again.

Sweep aways the darkness, burn away the chaff

And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.



Fall like fire, soak like rain,

Flow like mighty waters, again and again.

Sweep away the darkness, burn away the chaff,

And let a flame burn to glorify Your name.



I will never be the same again,


I can never return, I've closed the door.

I will walk the path, I will run the race

And I will never be the same again.

And I will never be the same again.

And I will never be the same again.