Hearing God's Voice | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Hearing God's Voice | Previous Challenge Entry
By Janice Wappel
01/28/16
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I am the third child of seven children. My parents were hard working, loved their children and provided the best they could. There was plenty of sibling rivalry, and lots of hand me downs, but we didn't know we were poor or going without anything important because we simply didn't know the difference. We also did not know about the importance of attending church, or reading the Bible until the late 50's when a neighbor took it upon herself to introduce my parents to Jesus.

When I was around eight years old, my parents started taking us to Sunday School and church but, not because they wanted to or, because they were Christians. We started attending church because one neighbor would not give up inviting us to go with her to church.

Week after week on Saturday morning this lady would knock on the kitchen door, then wait patiently for the door to be answered. My dad refused to answer for many months and would tell us children to be quiet and not make a sound until she left, often pulling the shades when he saw her coming around the corner with her Bible sighing with relief when she finally left!

Because this precious lady was so persistent and heard God voice calling her to invite us to church, my dad finally answered the door and invited her in. The action of inviting her into our home was a major turning point for us, and led to the eventual salvation of my parents, some of my siblings and myself. Because of one neighbor, we have pastors, missionaries, and teachers in our family today.

As my parents grew in the Lord, so did their prayer life, and one of my favorite memories that helped to shape me into the person I am today, is the "Family Alter" my parents established soon after they gave their life to Christ. I can still to this day hear my mom's voice reading the Bible and my dad praying after she had read a chapter or two. Did we as young children always appreciate sitting still, and listening? No, but we learned respect for my parents, and for God's Word. We learned about faith, kindness, about tithing, the Ten Commandments, and most importantly, we learned about the importance of prayer and the family alter. We also have vivid memories of our 6 foot dad humbly kneeling before God pouring out his heart for his seven children.

My prayer for every Christian family is that they would feel a call, or a tug from God to start a "Family Alter" and to keep it going even after the kids have left the nest. I fully believe families would remain close to each other and have fewer problems IF they were praying and reading God's Word together on a regular basis.

Dear Lord,

I pray families around the globe would hear your voice calling them to a time of prayer- together as a family unit. May families take the time to read Your Word aloud to their children and grandchildren. I ask that every person reading this simple story would establish a family alter. Remind us that where two or three are gathered together, You are in the midst of them. May You be the glue that holds them together.

We pray all of this in the mighty and precious name of Jesus, a name that is above every name.

Amen

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