Do you find it hard to trust? Maybe wonder if God even hears your prayers? I know we aren’t shocked by the questions we have for God, or how weak we sometimes feel in our request, but what about spending some time sharing stories about the times HE DOES answer? What about sharing stories of miracles showing the power of prayer? Would that encourage you? Would that ignite your faith to ask more boldly in your prayer life?
Welcome to this special edition of Contagious Courage, where I’m excited to introduce you to my dad and have a conversation about something that is dear to me… our shared passion for faith and the power of prayer.
And I hope that as you hear about some of the stories of my dad’s faith, it will restore or increase your faith and truly see, and believe in the power of prayer.
A LITTLE ABOUT MY DAD
As a young girl I was told I had my father’s eye’s, and you could also say I was daddy’s little girl, then as an adult seeing how he gives back to others with his selfless love, I see how I have his heart and compassion. I’ve introduced you to my mom in a previous interview, called “A Heritage of Faith.” so it’s only fitting that I pull her into this conversation. Because together they have passed on a heritage of faith believing in the power of prayer.
But a little about my dad. He is a very humble and simple man, he loves unconditionally and followed his passion to help others by becoming a pastor. And after 30 years of church ministry, he is now a retired, and that hasn’t slowed him down, and we’ll get to that, but “back in the day” my dad (Eric Ings) was a goalie, a good goalie in fact. He had not only won a few trophies, but was actually drafted to the training camp for the Toronto Maple Leaf’s. That’s a whole other story in itself, but he choose family and didn’t look back.
My mom would say, “I don’t know if being a goalie made Eric a great dad, or being a great dad, made Eric a great goalie.” You see when I was in the “beginning to walk” phase, I would be climbing on something and almost fall, and my dad being on the other side of the room would be there to catch me. Let’s just say he was quick and had great reflexes. Great assets for a goalie and a dad, no? But what ever the reason, he was and still is a great dad, and still consider myself “dad’s girl.” Mostly because he’ll always be that over protective father, but I’ve learnt to accept and appreciate it.
A FATHER'S DAY PRAYER
Just week’s after I was rushed to the hospital, mom and dad were still by my side, yet wondering when they should return to their “new normal” life and ministry. 23 years ago on this very day, my day woke up on Father’s Day and prayed this prayer.
“God, I don’t know what to do, I know I have a church to return to, but I don’t want to leave Vahen. I’m struggling to know what to do. He then said, “God if you can show me that you are with her, I want to see her finger move today. This will let me know you are with us both, and that you will work a miracle in her life.”
When my dad arrives to my hospital room on Father’s Day that Sunday morning, before he could say a word, I yell out, “DAD! DAD!, GUESS WHAT? GUESS WHAT? And yes, YOU GUESSED IT, I didn’t know the prayer my dad prayed that morning, but with great excitement and intense concentration, I MOVED MY FINGER!
After hearing his Father’s Day prayer and basking in the excitement, and shedding a few tears, I couldn’t help but make a joke and say, “DAD! Why didn’t you pray for more than the finger?”
WORDS FROM A FATHER'S HEART!
To all father’s and young leaders. To all leaders young and old and those wishing to become leaders. To all of you in-between, my dad has these very simple yet powerful words of wisdom to share;
- Trust God
- Give up control
- Talk to God
- Let go and let Him take care of “it.”
My dad has more great words of encouragement and wisdom to share with you, so please take time to watch the interview, but here is the scripture he wanted to share with you all.
I waited patiently for the LORD; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Psalms 40:1-2
Trust God in all of the places you go and you will never be lead astray.
MY FATHER, HAS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER'S HEART!
It was quite common, to hear a story about how Pastor Ings, my dad, would show up for people in the most unlikely, or unexpected places. There was even a time when my dad showed up a local pub on New Years Eve, to connect with the men from community. Coming home with bear spill in his boots, and cigarette smoke, my dad said, “I left there feeling like a million bucks.” Why? not because he liked the loud music or smelling like smoke, but he said, “I was doing what Jesus would have done, and it was evident in the impact and results from that simple act of love.
Listen to the full interview to hear my dad tell the whole story, but my dad said, “Not long after that night, I seen 7 of those men show up in church one Sunday. Acknowledging — “Eric went where we where, so we want to go to where he is.”
I look back at my dad’s life, and his 30 years in ministry, and the scripture God gave me when he retired and it holds true today…
“I say unto you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest. But the workers where are they? John 4:35-36
I told my dad that while he might be retired from “fulltime church ministry” there is still work to do, and because of his Father’s heart, I knew he was set up to do more “work” than he could even imagine.
So with his faith in the power of prayer and a little help from his wife Susie, as we like to joke. I know that God is indeed going before my dad and making the crooked places straight…. Isaiah 45:2
I PRAY TODAY YOU FIND SOME TIME TO CONNECT WITH GOD AND REIGNITE YOUR FATITH AND BELEIVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER AS YOU SEEK YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER'S HEART. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
A quote that bears repeating, on this Father’s Day and for all the days ahead.
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” – John Wesley…
And as you look for things to encourage you in that time, I have also added a few additional videos for you.
WHAT IS YOUR PRAYER TODAY?
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO MY DAD TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS OR ENCOURAGMENT ABOUT TODAY’S CONVERSATION, OR INVITE HIM TO SPEAK AT YOUR CHURCH OR SMALL GROUP!
EMAIL: susieings@gmail.com
POWER OF PRAYER - MOTIVATION
THE POWER OF PRAYER - CONNECT WITH GOD!
FATHER'S LOVE- GARY VALENCIANO
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