So Peter
was kept in prison;
but earnest prayer
for him
was made to God
by the church.
[Acts 12:5]
***********************
"Lord, is it better
if Christians pray for you?"
[PATIENT SIGH.]
"WELL?
Is IT?"
"Better than what,
My child?"
"Ya know; better than
if say, I PRAYED?"
"No."
"Uh uh, Lord!
I don't think so."
"I listen to all My children."
"Uh uh, LORD!
You know that's not TRUE!"
[PATIENT SILENCE.]
"Uh UH, LORD!
Come ON!
You know that's just not TRUE!"
[SILENCE.]
"See what I MEAN?
If one of my CHRISTIAN
friends was talkin' to You,
right now, this WHOLE
conversation would be
MUCH more FRUITFUL!"
"Fruitful, My child?"
"Yeah. I just stuck that
in there, Lord. I know
how much You like the
word, 'fruit'."
[LAUGH!]
"Ah, yes.
Fruitful:
in what way?"
"YOU know, Lord!
Remember what I was
prayin' about, the
other NIGHT?
WELL?"
[NOD.]
"SO?
What HAPPENED?
NU?"
[SILENCE.]
"I was really PRAYING
for something!
And, it just went
FLYIN' out the
WINDOW!"
[SMILE.]
"WELL?
What about IT?
See what I mean, Lord?
You DO listen to the
Christians, more!"
"What are you, My precious?"
"A scruffy JEW?"
[GENTLE LAUGH.]
"EVERYBODY knows it, Lord!
If you got somethin' real
bad, to pray about:
ask a CHRISTIAN,
for it!"
[CHUCKLE.]
"You KNOW it's TRUE!
EVERYBODY knows that!"
"Have more faith, My child."
"Yeah.
(Frown.)
(Pout up at the air vent.)
That's easy for YOU to say."
"Whom are you speaking to,
child?"
(Sigh.)
"I dunno.
I just......
(Squirm.)
I dunno."
"Perhaps, My child....."
"WHAT, Lord?"
"That is what you need
to find out."
*******************************
.....he went to the house of Mary...
where many were gathered
together and....praying.
And when he knocked.....
a maid named Rhoda
came to answer.
Recognizing Peter's voice,
in her joy she did not open
the gate,
but ran in
and told (them).......
But, Peter continued knocking;
and when they opened,
they saw him
and were amazed.
[Acts 12:12-16]
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