The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it, a chapter a day, over the next few weeks.
Every time I had met with Bill and Nellie Murray, whether at the law office or at their home in Douglas, she had given me an index card containing a single Bible verse. The verse was always a prayer promise.
Now, it is Friday morning in late October 1998, less than three days before the start of their wrongful death lawsuit. True to form, Bill and Nellie walk into the conference room where Matt and I are seated and Nellie hands me a small index card reading: “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22.
“It’s justice time for Wendi and Cindi.” Nellie said as Matt helped her with a chair.
“It certainly appears that we have as strong a case as we could ask for.” I said.
“I just wish the prosecutor back in 1973 had had all this evidence during the murder trial.” Matt said.
“I do too, but that was not God’s will. Nellie and I realize that no amount of money from this civil case could ever satisfy the longings of our hearts for our dear daughters. But, we have come to believe that the impact a multi-million-dollar judgment will have on these five families might just break their power and control in this little town.” Bill said.
“Bill and I are ashamed for not remembering to invite you two to a final prayer meeting tonight at Calvary Baptist. It starts at 7:00. Pastor Brown will deliver a sermon first and then everyone who is led to will pray and lay hands on us.”
“Thank you for the invitation. I will be there.” Matt said.
“I’m sorry but I cannot attend. For the past several months I have not been a very attentive husband or father. Two weeks ago, I promised Lewis I would take him and his grandmother to Huntsville to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. None of us were sure how long the trial would last. Will you forgive me? I trust you know that I will be there with you in spirit.” I said.
“Completely understandable. You go and enjoy these precious moments with your son and wife. Bill and I thank the both of you from the bottom of our hearts. You two have been such a blessing, just the encouragement Bill and I needed.” Nellie said.
After an hour of reviewing, once more, the evidence and what to expect starting Monday, Nellie asked to lead us in a prayer.
“Dear Lord Jesus, we praise you for the privilege of coming before your throne. We don’t begin to understand why we lost our beautiful daughters, Wendi and Cindi, over 25 years ago. We acknowledge that we are sinners and lack full knowledge and wisdom. But, we trust you and your ways. Sweet and Holy Jesus we ask you for complete victory in this legal battle against those who murdered our daughters. You know Father that Bill and I are not greedy and that this lawsuit is not at all about money. We simply ask you for justice for Wendi and Cindi. We claim victory because we believe in You and trust You, and have faith in You. We have complete confidence in Your Holy and infallible Word. Thank you for all your promises you have given us, and right now I especially thank you for Matthew 21:22: ‘And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.’ Amen and Amen.”
Bill and Nellie stood and hugged each other. Bill became emotional and started to cry. Matt followed him out into the hall while Nellie lingered. With tears in her eyes she handed me a large gold locket. I held it in my hand not knowing exactly what to do. She motioned for me to open it. Inside, there were two pictures. On the left was Wendi. Her 9th grade school picture, according to Nellie. On the right side of the locket was my Senior portrait. I now knew why a few weeks ago Nellie had asked to borrow my 12th grade annual. She had made a copy of my picture to use with the locket. Nellie said she had given the locket to Wendi on her 15th birthday, May 8, 1969. She had worn it virtually every day even though it contained only her picture. Nellie said Wendi always claimed that someday God would bring to her the love of her life. “Wendi didn’t wear her locket to the graduation party. I think someway she had a premonition.” Nellie reached up and kissed my cheek. As she walked out of the conference room she said, “I have no doubt that Wendi found the love of her life. You would have made a wonderful husband and son-in-law. Keep her locket close during the trial. God will guide your thoughts and speech.”
I followed Nellie out into an empty reception area. Matt had followed Bill all the way outside to his car. As Nellie opened the door she turned and said, “I forgot to give you this. It is a list of prayer promises I cherish. Just like Wendi’s locket, I wanted you to have these close as we spend the next week or two in trial. God will not fail us.”
I thanked her and we hugged once again. After she left, I walked back to my office, sat down and read the list of prayer scriptures Nellie had just handed me.
(See Appendix A for Nellie’s prayer promises.)
APPENDIX A
Chapter 34
Nellie’s prayer promises:
Matthew 18:19
“Again, I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Luke 11:9-13
“So, I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. “Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?
“Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Matthew 21:22
“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
John 14:13-14
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. “If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
John 15:7
“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:16
“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
John 16:23-24
“In that day, you will not question Me about anything Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. “With a long life, I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.”
Psalm 50:14-15
“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
Psalm 10:17
O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear.
Exodus 22:22-23
“You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. “If you afflict him at all, and if he does cry out to Me, I will surely hear his cry;
Psalm 102:19-20
For He looked down from His holy height; From Heaven the LORD gazed upon the earth, To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To set free those who were doomed to death,
Isaiah 41:17
“The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, And, their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, As the God of Israel I will not forsake them.
2 Chronicles 7:14
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Ezekiel 36:37
‘Thus, says the Lord GOD, “This also I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their men like a flock.
Zechariah 10:6
“I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph, And I will bring them back, Because I have had compassion on them; And they will be as though I had not rejected them, For I am the LORD their God and I will answer them.
Zechariah 13:8-9
“It will come about in all the land,” Declares the LORD, “That two parts in it will be cut off and perish; But the third will be left in it. “And I will bring the third part through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.'”
1 John 3:22
and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
Mark 11:24
“Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.
1 John 5:14
This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
The Pencil Driven Life 