Shortly after my dad went to heaven in 2001, a very dear friend wrote this book, "Everything by Prayer", on dad's life and prayer ministry. The author is Fred Hartley, he has written quite a few books and pastors a church near Atlanta, as well as teaches College of Prayer to ministers and lay people all over the world. He is a busy guy! My husband always has said ' find the busiest, most productive guy if you want to get a job done'... that is true with Fred.
He and dad were close friends, and he considered my dad his mentor. This book is a joy for me, it captures so much of my dad. I'm just high-lighting some of the one-liners Fred includes... my dad loved one liners, so it's no surprise that I do too!
Here are a few of dad's one-liners...
"If we do what God tells us to do, He will do what He says He will do"...
"God never made anyone who couldn't pray... including you"...
"In the Book of Acts they are praying in every chapter except two; and in those chapters they are in trouble"...
"What we often call weakness, God calls wickedness"...
"There is not a scripture that says 'Be sad'. I looked for one but I couldnt find one"...
"The effectiveness of our prayer life is measured by the size of our answers"...
"If you only pray on the run, you run out"...
Here are a few of dad's one-liners...
"If we do what God tells us to do, He will do what He says He will do"...
"God never made anyone who couldn't pray... including you"...
"In the Book of Acts they are praying in every chapter except two; and in those chapters they are in trouble"...
"What we often call weakness, God calls wickedness"...
"There is not a scripture that says 'Be sad'. I looked for one but I couldnt find one"...
"The effectiveness of our prayer life is measured by the size of our answers"...
"If you only pray on the run, you run out"...
"On the cross, He died praying. He died as He lived"...
"You can't get a thousand dollar answer for a ten cent prayer"...
"If the Holy Spirit doesn't do it, there's nothing to it"...
"God will not do apart from prayer what He promises to do in asnwer to prayer"...
"Oh to be known at the throne"...
I can see dad right now, he kind of paused after a one-liner, with a quiet smile on his face, waiting to see if it made the point... then he went right on...
I can tell you that I am sure he is busy in heaven, and whatever work he is doing there, prayer is a large part of it!
24 comments:
"What we often call weakness, God calls wickedness"... Phew! That was an eyeopener! I am sooo weak in the natural - BUT GOD.....oh thank God for His Presence in our lives!
Isn't it reassuring to you to know that in his physical absense from you and yours - that his WORDS live on - kind of like JESUS, and HIS Love letter to us. This is a lasting love letter to you and yours. A testamnet to your big daddy's faith! AMEN!
"whatever work he is doing there, prayer is a large part of it!"
We have such a great cloud of witnesses still praying for us! ...Of this, I am sure.
God bless you for sharing this special testament to your dad's faith in God and his prayer life. Awesome, Sonja. Just precious!
hugs, Patrina <")>><
Sonja, I am honored to be reading this book about your father. So far, I've learned much about his prayer life and I'm trying to put it into practice in my own life. Pleading the Promises of God has been so helpful.
Often the evangelists become well known, but the real work is done in the quiet times of prayer. The Billy Grahams of this world need the Armin Gessweins to be about the Kingdom business. We are each called to different areas of ministry.
I want to grow in my relationship and intimacy with the Lord. And prayer is the key.
Thank you sis for the book, your love and encouragement and welcoming me into your family of love.
Love you,
Debbie
oh, my sonja. sounds like your dad was so special! i love the one about the book of acts. indeed without prayer, we stay in trouble!
love to you sweet sister,
Beth
I would have loved your dad. It is so great when you share about him. I enjoyed the one-liners! Have a great weekend,
Mary
Dear Sonja,
Your father's one liners are pure gold.
I sighed and chuckled as I read them.
I'm so glad the two of you were well connected.
I know from my Pentecost minister uncle and cousins, that being children of a spiritual leader isn't easy. Everybody's eyes will always follow you.
Your dad seems to have been of execptionally intelligence and pure spirit.
How good to walk in his footpaths.
My favorite is the one punch liner you opened with:
"If we do what God tells us to do, He will do what He says He will do".
It fills me with awe, but also with expectations.
I must try to remember that one.
P.S. Thank you for your nice comments on my blog.
You are always so very encouraging.
I appreciate that.
Almost finished my second read through. For your readers, it's a must-have... I'm still waiting to write my own post. Thank you for sharing it with me.
peace~elaine
I did not join in on Spriritual Sunday, but I do like to go around to each blog reading everyones thoughts and inspirations. I am also following you.
Would love to have you stop by my blog
My Journey With Candida
http://myjourneywithcandida.blogspot.com/
How lovely that you have a book of your Dad's words. Fred must be a real blessing to you. Your dad had some very wise sayings.
Blessings and hugs always for you!!
love,Gwen
I love one liners. I've always admired people who can get there point across with as few words as possible. Jesus was the master of one liners.
Proverbs 10:19 (New King James Version)
In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
"if you only pray on the run, you run out!" -brilliant and
sounds just like me. now, i know why i'm always out of
gas!!
i had a thought . . . i know, shocking!
you ought to take each of those profound statements
and write a separate blog about each. they are worthy
of special recognition, and none of us would ever
remember that you posted them altogether. :)
Just wanted to let you know there is an update on amden on arise 2 write.
Hugs,
andrea
Sonja, what an opportunity to have a book about your father! Not many get to have a life in print. Thank you for sharing this post. Blessings dear one.
Those one-liners are precious! They are quick and to the point!
What a legacy! No wonder your roots sink so deep in God's soil.
It's obvious from his perspectives that your Dad spent many long hours with the Lord. It's not hard to envision him doing more so now that he resides in His presence.
Hugs,
Kathleen
This is a most precious legacy your father has left to you and others after him. It's amazing to see a life lived for Christ so completed for His glory!
Thanks for sharing just a glimpse of this treasure trove!
Blessings, Stephanie
I bet he would give a heartier "Amen" to each of those sayings now than when he was here on earth. What a blessing it is for him to have instilled those valuable and life changing principals into his children's lives. Thank you God for the gift of this man and his legacy.
What an inheritance...thanks for sharing I will have to get this book. I told the Lord recently I was realizing my prayers were just hitting the ceiling and falling back down...not good, I know better. So prayer and its power have been on my heart lately.
Thanks for sharing your heritage
What a treasure this is!!! And I love the quotes!
me too!!!!!
"When you pray on the run, you run out." That's powerful! All these one-liners are. What a treasure it must be to have this book, a beautiful legacy from your dad. You are like a movie star, Sonja! Your life is so rich and full of treasures in the way of family and friends. You are blessed...
You know as one who has been blessed to receive and read (devour) this book about your Dad, I am so blessed to see this post of his awesome and powerful one-liners!
I still have to write a message sharing my heart on the book as well. You, as you know, were/are truly blessed in your parents!
Love you dear friend!
Wow! Sonja.......love every morsel of these one liners!! Where can I get this book?
Hugs!
My precious friend,
So much I want to say to you today but please know that I love you and I'm praying for you.
I am actually downtown at the big public library working on my second book on courage. As I came to the section on pursuing more of God, I thought of your Daddy and the book written in his honor and for the glory of God--Everything By Prayer. There were a few quotes I remembered I loved in the book but I'm not home so I'm not near the book. I quickly got online and googled your site and the book and came to this post. So glad that I did, first so that I can love on you and secondly so that I could ask if I may use the quote: "Oh to be known at the throne" of your Dad's and reference the book and author in my book? I would be so honored to do so. Please email me and let me know.
I am so sorry that I've been SO incredibly scarce on blogs. It's been that way since 2011. I visit around sporadically because time just stop allowing it as God shifted my life and ministry schedule off-line and that caused the shifting on-line. The seasons of time change but my love for you and admiration remains.
Love you,
Lisa
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