The Power of Prayer

I recommend you read the scriptures looking at how they can apply to your life.  The other day, I was reading Mosiah 27 in the Book of Mormon. I was touched by the story of young Alma being involved with all sorts of wickedness with King Mosiah’s sons.  Then an angel visited the wayward boys in an answer to intercessory prayer.  Alma’s family and friends were praying for them to stop their evil ways and return to God and accept redemption through grace.  This was a big moment in Alma’s life.  He finally repented and turned to God.  When we repent from sin, we repent to (turn to) God.  Alma didn’t stop there, he began to evangelize and share the gift of Christ – salvation from all sin.

Alma’s conversion reminded me of my own.  I was visited by an angel (of sorts) and after much investigation, scripture reading, and prayer I came unto repentance.  Now I continue my scripture education (pursuit of a Master’s degree in Christian Counseling) and sharing the Gift of Christ with everyone. Remember, Christ came for us sinners not for the righteous.

Well, another thing struck me: the answered prayer.  If we are in humble, right-standing, the Lord will answer our prayers (Mosiah 27:14).  I thought I would give it a try.  So, I prayed for one man in my dorm that he would turn to the Lord and that the right person would have the right words to help him along. The very next day, he came to my room to tell me he wanted to go to church.  I told him the time it started and he went on his way.  In 27 years he had not gone and was as far from the Lord as one can be, next without me saying anything to him, he went to church on his own.  Talk about an answered prayer!

I encourage you to wait on the Lord in faith.  The Lord will answer our prayers (Psalm 38:15).  The Lord will speak to the humble (Isaiah 38:15). In Mark II: 22-24, Jesus tells us we can move mountains with our faith.  When we ask in prayer, believe that we receive it, then it will be ours.  My favorite verses on prayer are in Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4 where it describes the prayers of the righteous as sweet incense to God in Heaven.

Keep Praying.

Grace & Peace

Happy Birthday Derek

1/16/2015

Happy Birthday, my Son.  A teenager – WOW!

While I am far away, please indulge me as I share some thoughts with you.  If you get nothing out of this, then at least it can be an object to rebel against.  When I was your age, I felt the need to rebel against something.  Perhaps, in time, you will re-read this and see that I do love you and that I want nothing but the very best for you.  The past cannot be undone, it can only be forgiven.

“Build me a Son, Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid… And then I, his father, may dare to whisper ‘I have not lived in vain.’” – General Douglas MacArthur

Derek, be strong, brave, careful, and considerate.  Men deal with the world. Boys are born to contest the world.  “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you, if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubting too.” – “IF” by Kipling. 

Then you will succeed in my eyes.  I am proud of you.  I am proud of what you have achieved and overcome.

“Forgive me, I’ve done everything wrong, I have done nothing right.  I was, as a model, insufficient, and as a preceptor, hypocritical.  Here is what I wish to have said: Our time is almost done, and I have taxed you with my pomposity and garrulousness and officiousness, and you have been supremely patient with me.  But perhaps you might listen for just this last time, in the hope that these words might aid you.” –Polonius

Derek, your distance from God is based on your own standing.  God is where He has always been. “The best way to know God is to love many things.” – Vincent Van Gogh.  The power of love is the greatest power in the universe.  It’s beyond defeat.  It never fails (1 Cor 13:8).  God is love.  Releasing love is releasing God into any situation.  Then Jesus becomes responsible for its successful outcome.  Talk about powerful.  Keep faith, hope and love, but remember that love is the greatest of those.

I love you, buddy!

            -Dad

Pics of Ryan

A Dragon Blessing

Atra esterni ono thelduin,

Mor’ranr lifa unin hjarta onr,

Un du evariya ono varda.

May good fortune rule over you,

Peace live in your yeart,

and the stars watch over you.

(From the Eragon series)

Grace & Peace

Condemn not, and ye shall be not condemned...........

Chinese Proverb:

“Where there is a will to condemn, there is evidence at hand.”

Grace & Peace

Ryan Lee Sumstad - Guilty

I, Ryan Lee Sumstad, pled guilty today, March 20, 2014, to manslaughter and a 20 year sentence to TDCJ in the death of my wonderful wife, mother of my children, angel on Earth, Christie Michelle Sumstad (Mercer).  I was reckless and, oh, so selfish.  It was an accident, but that’s no excuse.  I will forever be tormented by what I did do and what I didn’t do.  I was flat wrong.

I am now a ward of the State of Texas.  I do not know what the future of this life holds for me.  I do know that I repented (several times until I was at peace) and I am saved.  One day, I will see Christie in Heaven.  She is there looking down on us now.

In the meantime, I must endure.  I am determined to serve God and demonstrate my faith.  I will occasionally post to this BLOG as a kind of therapy.  Not all of my posts will wallow in despair since I tend to compartmentalize the world around me.  If an article offends you in some way, just know that it was not my intention, but it’s my guess that it is my very existence that offends you.  Please read on and observe my journey into the future one step at a time. Positive comments welcome.

Please pray for me, my children, my family, Christie’s family and all of our friends.  There is much healing needed by all.  Please be patient, be filled with peace, and as James wrote in his epistle: “Count it all joy” when we face many afflictions.  God bless you, gentle reader.  Amen.

Grace & Peace

Don't Know What To Say

Look, I screwed up.

Now I’ve been chewed up, swallowed by a demon that threw me up.

Words can’t describe how I feel, when you say I’ve got a heart as hard as steel.

Sometimes it feels like I’d rather have a martyr’s deal.

I don’t even know how my own mother feels, ‘cuz I’ve been abandoned.

I pray to God to be like Samson, so I can pull through this mess.

I just asked to be blessed since I’ve confessed for what I’ve done.

________________

Thanks to my little buddy, Van.

Grace & Peace