tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47896135549200258442024-02-20T22:09:20.339-08:00Just Checking In, a different type of prayerKen Aitkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15561317283895450005noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789613554920025844.post-20237441695187439532007-06-07T14:07:00.000-07:002008-02-26T02:46:46.533-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVvOkHk8BZHGelbahcV4CS0mYeT8_6dReQbFqGzb50wY1Vr8JWr0vwNdl0exn6YHIJjiR6CDhaJ1OHLxR-Br1L6Y6IDloW4oeVWyafssZVwskmbTRb04anKYzB1pOKkWvTyQBpb5IzFM/s1600-h/29875845.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVvOkHk8BZHGelbahcV4CS0mYeT8_6dReQbFqGzb50wY1Vr8JWr0vwNdl0exn6YHIJjiR6CDhaJ1OHLxR-Br1L6Y6IDloW4oeVWyafssZVwskmbTRb04anKYzB1pOKkWvTyQBpb5IzFM/s320/29875845.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171238478426158610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeUEGmdVvHsRwIGU9wYDIie0s2s9ElKscglfZApaxc9-o06rTqQWzyb9nO-Nn0egAHeptrFVY16h7o0HC_QshOCKvulC9sExUdsrzkMJJDQXfFLx2StDI8cfGbtTl19ffe4vA_P6RL6E/s1600-h/29875292.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeUEGmdVvHsRwIGU9wYDIie0s2s9ElKscglfZApaxc9-o06rTqQWzyb9nO-Nn0egAHeptrFVY16h7o0HC_QshOCKvulC9sExUdsrzkMJJDQXfFLx2StDI8cfGbtTl19ffe4vA_P6RL6E/s320/29875292.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171238259382826498" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><strong>Just Checking In, a different type of prayer.... Via Michael O’Conner .....</strong><br />_________________________________<br />A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day, decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. Just then the back door opened, a man came down the aisle. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The minister frowned as he saw the man hadn't shaved in a while. His shirt was kind a shabby and his coat was worn and frayed, the man knelt, he bowed his head, then rose and walked away. In the days that followed, each noon time came this chap, each time he knelt just for a moment, a lunch pail in his lap. Well, the minister's suspicions grew, with robbery a main fear, He decided to stop the man and ask him, "What are you doing here?" </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="center">The old man said, he worked down the road.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Lunch was half an hour.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Lunchtime was his prayer time, For finding strength and power. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">"I stay only moments, see, because the factory is so far away; </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">as I kneel here talking to the Lord, This is kind a what I say:</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, LORD, </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">SO, JESUS, THIS IS JIM CHECKING IN TODAY."</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The minister feeling foolish, told Jim, that was fine. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">He told the man he was welcome to come and pray just anytime. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Time to go, Jim smiled, said "Thanks." He hurried to the door. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The minister knelt at the altar, he'd never done it before. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">His cold heart melted, warmed with love, and met with Jesus there. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">As the tears flowed, in his heart, he repeated old Jim's prayer:</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU,</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">LORD, HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN, </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHER'S FRIENDSHIP AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY, BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME CHECKING IN TODAY."</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Past noon one day, the minister noticed that old Jim hadn't come. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">As more days passed without Jim, he began to worry some.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">At the factory, he asked about him, learning he was ill.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The hospital staff was worried, But he'd given them a thrill. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The week that Jim was with them,</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">brought changes in the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Changed people, were his reward. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The head nurse couldn't understand why Jim was so glad, when no flowers, calls or cards came, </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Not a visitor he had. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">The minister stayed by his bed, He voiced the nurse's concern: </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">No friends came to show they cared. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">He had nowhere to turn.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Looking surprised, old Jim spoke up and with a winsome smile; </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">"the nurse is wrong, she couldn't know, that in here all the while everyday at noon He's here, a dear friend of mine, you see, He sits right down, takes my hand, Leans over and says to me: </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">"I JUST CAME AGAIN TO TELL YOU, JIM, </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN, SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP, </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN. ALWAYS LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY, </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I THINK ABOUT YOU EACH DAY, AND SO JIM, THIS IS JESUS CHECKING IN TODAY." </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">If this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. May God hold you in the palm of His hand and Angels watch over you. But for those of us who are already His, He not only holds us in the palm of His hand, but has engraved our names there, and we are continually in His sight (Isaiah 49:16) Please pass this page on to your friends & loved ones. . Jesus said, " If you are ashamed of me," I will be ashamed of you before my Father." Yes, I do love God. He is my source of existence and Savior. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">He keeps me functioning each and everyday. Without Him, I will be nothing. Without him, I am nothing but with Him "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me." Phil 4:13 This is too good not to share - So this is me ... Just Checking In.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">_________________________________</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div>Ken Aitkenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15561317283895450005noreply@blogger.com0