When We Don't Get What We Pray For

Several days ago as I was doing my morning devotion, I ran across a poem that touched me in many ways. It's honest, true, reflective, and gives one a lot to ponder. Today, I thought I would do something different and simply share it with you. Perhaps it will impact you the way it did me.

I asked for strength that I might achieve; 

He made we weak that I might obey.

I asked for health that I might do great things; 

He gave me grace that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy;

He gave me poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;

He gave me weakness that I might feel the need of God.

 I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;

He gave me life that I might enjoy all things.

I received nothing that I asked for;

He gave me all that I had hoped for.

 (Michael P. Green, ed., Illustrations for Biblical Preaching.)

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Blacksmith and Livery in 1880 Town

In some of the smaller western towns, the blacksmith and livery might be combined, but in 1880 Town, they were separate buildings. Of course, the blacksmith worked with forging metals, including horseshoes, tools, household utensils, nails, etc. He was a necessary part of the community.

In my novel, A Match for Silas, Silas Barrett is the blacksmith in Pinyon Falls, Texas. In a moment of desperation, he sends for a mail-order bride, but he specifies that she be from a poor, common family. He doesn't want to marry a woman who couldn't be satisfied with a blacksmith the way his mother was. Who does the matchmaker send? A lady from high society.

A Match for Silas

The livery mainly boarded or rented out horses as well as wagons, buggies, and other conveyances. His building was usually larger than that of the blacksmith because both the horses and the vehicles took up more space than the forge. Sometimes a livery might have the horses stabled in a separate place from the wagons.

In Carmen's Wedding Dilemma, Holden Judd owns a livery in a small Utah town. He goes to buy some new horses from a local rancher and finds some magnificent horses with Spanish bloodlines. He also finds a beautiful daughter that draws his attention, but he knows his prejudiced mother will never accept her Spanish heritage.

Carmen's Wedding Dilemma

*1880 Town is in Midland, South Dakota

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 Missions

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).

If you've read many of my blogs, you may have noticed that I've done both short-term and longer-term mission work. Some of it has involved construction and church programs, but the long-term assignments have been teaching missionary children whose parents are working to get the Word to people groups who don't have the Bible in their language. 

. . . remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35).

When someone volunteers to spend time in the mission field for the first time, they go with the idea of helping those less fortunate or sharing Jesus with those who don't know Him. However, when they return home, they realize they've been blessed even more than they've been a blessing. It's hard to explain unless you experience it, but I've never known it not to hold true. You go to give, and you come home blessed beyond measure.

Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king (1 Peter 2:17).

It's always more fulfilling to have a giving heart, but less fortunate people have also shared precious gifts with me. I've never met people more in love with Christ than I have in places like Oaxaca, Mexico, or Davao, Philippines. The love they shared with me will stay with me forever. The lessons of faith they taught me have been invaluable. Never be condescending or look down on anyone. God expects us to treat everyone with love and respect.

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Sawmills and Lumberjacks

My father's family owned a sawmill in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina in the late 1800s and into the early part of the 20th century. Grandpa had three sons who helped him in the operation. During the Great Depression, he bought a 500-acre farm in Wilkes County and moved the family there. Years later, the eldest son, Raymond, bought the sawmill from his father, and my dad worked for his older brother for several years.

My dad knew timber since he'd grown up and worked in the industry. He could name and tell you about any tree he saw. As a child, I absorbed much of this information. I'm sorry to say, I've lost some of this knowledge from lack of use, but I still remember some too. When I read the guidelines for the multiple-author project, Mountain Men and Mail-Order Brides, I knew my mountain man would be a lumberjack, and I set the book in Washington Territory in 1878.

Noah's New Bride will publish on Thursday (10-3-24). In it Noah is concerned that no woman will want to live in a rugged lumber camp, so he asks his oldest sister back in St. Joseph to help find him a match. He's almost surprised when she does, but Meleah's situation brings problems neither of them suspected. The book will be released in Kindle, KU, and paperback. The Audible version is in production, almost finished, and should be out soon. Don't miss this wonderful story.

Noah's New Bride

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 The Necessity of Prayer

. . . yet ye have not, because ye ask not (James 4:2b).

Prayer is essential to the Christian life. We should live by it, so it becomes a lifestyle. Even Jesus prayed long and often. He would get up early in the morning and go off alone to pray. "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed" (Mark 1:35).

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth (Psalm 145:18).

Charles Spurgeon tells us, "Asking is the rule of the kingdom." He goes on to explain, "It is the rule that will never be altered in anybody's case. If the royal and divine Son of God cannot be exempted from the rule of asking that He may have, you and I cannot expect to have the rule relaxed in our favor. God will bless Elijah and send rain on Israel, but Elijah must pray for it. If the Jews are to be delivered, Daniel must intercede. God will bless Paul, and the nations shall be converted through him, but Paul must pray" (Charles H. Spurgeon, Twelve Sermons on Prayer).

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us (1 John 5:14-15).

Prayer has so much power; never neglect it. It is our direct communication line to God. Use it often, praying in all circumstances and offering praises to the Holy One who loves us and wants the best for us. Live your life as a prayer, depending upon God.

Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

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 Churches in 1880 Town

As the West became more settled, churches were also established. By 1880, people were interested in seeing their area cease from lawlessness and become "more civilized." They wanted families, businesses, schools, and churches as well as ranches or farms. However, getting specific data on the number of churches or denominations west of the Mississippi can be a challenge since detailed records from that period aren't always available.

Yet, in the late nineteenth century, we do know that the Western United States saw a significant growth in various Christian congregations. Here is some general information I found:

Many Baptist churches were already well-established in the West by 1880.

The Methodist Church was one of the largest denominations of the time, and they had a strong presence in the West.

The Catholic Church had an early presence in the West, especially in areas with a large Mexican or immigrant presence.

The Presbyterian Church also expanded westward, building many churches.

There were various Lutheran synods active in the West, such as the Missouri Synod.

Many other denominations had a somewhat smaller presence, including Episcopalians, Congregationalists, and Pentecostal groups.

1880 Town in Midland, South Dakota, has two churches, but only one was open to the public when we were there. The Protestant church sat on a hill just outside of town but was visible from there. It had not been renovated or opened yet.

St. Stephen's Church, the Catholic church, was located at one end of town with beautiful stained glass windows as well as other furnishings. It was closed for repairs on the day we were there. It was originally in another South Dakota town and was preserved by moving it to the reconstructed town. 

Whatever their denominations, Western churches became an important part of their communities and often the hub of town society. All my books set in the West have a church congregation of some sort, and most of the time they play an important part in the book.

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