The Empty Chair

A man's daughter had asked the local minister to come and pray with her father.When the minister arrived, he found the man lyingin bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed.

The minister assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.
"I guess you were expecting me, he said.
'No, who are you?" said the father.

The minister told him his name and then remarked, "I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew I was going to show up,"
"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man.
"Would you mind closing the door?"
Puzzled, the minister shut the door. "I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man.
"But all of my life I have never known how to pray.I abandoned any attempt at prayer," the old man continued,"until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me,"Dear, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with God. Here is what I suggest.
"Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you,and in faith see God on the chair.It's not spooky because hepromised, 'I will be with you always'."Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now."
"So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do ita couple of hours every day.I'm careful thoughIf my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair,she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send! me off to the funny farm."The minister was deeply moved by thestory and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey.Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned .

Two nights later the daughter! called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon.

Did he die in peace?" he asked.Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock,he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek.When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead.But there was something strange about his death.Apparently, just before Daddy died,he leaned over and rested his head on the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?"

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said,"I wish we could all go like that."

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.
I asked God for water,He gave me an ocean.
I asked God for a flower,He gave me a garden.I
asked God for a friend,He gave me all of YOU...If God brings you to it, Hewill bring you through it.
Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship GodPainful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.