Lampasas High School senior Jacqueline Hensley prays with her father, Luther Hensley, center, and First Baptist Church pastor Rick Willis at a National Day of Prayer breakfast held last week at Grace Fellowship. PHOTO BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Christians from across Lampasas County gathered last Thursday morning at Grace Fellowship to pray for area schools, churches, local leaders, and state and national government officials.

The breakfast gathering was part of the 59th annual National Day of Prayer, an event that emphasizes prayer for those who exercise influence in a variety of spheres of American life.

Joey McQueen, Badger head football coach and Lampasas Independent School District athletic director, spoke to those assembled about living for God’s glory. McQueen based his talk, “Chasing the Wind,” on the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes.

In Ecclesiastes, Israel’s King Solomon emphasizes the futility of pursuing material possessions, success and fame, McQueen said. Just as one never can capture the breeze as it blows, Ecclesiastes 6:9 compares the quest for earthly pleasures — which the author says do not endure — with “striving after wind.”

Joey McQueen prays after speaking to Lampasas County residents who participated in the recent National Day of Prayer breakfast. PHOTO BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Just as hunger never is permanently sated, Ecclesiastes 6:7 uses the stomach as a metaphor to teach that man never can find satisfaction in earthly desires, McQueen added.

“People who strive after success will never be satis- fied,” he said.

Instead, McQueen said trusting in God and living to honor Him brings true fulfilment.

“True joy is a gift of God,” he said, “and it has to be laid in your heart by God.”

McQueen began learning that lesson at age 13, when he and his friend Gary Proffitt — who has led Goldthwaite High School to three state football championships — were baptized. McQueen’s parents had never taken him to church, he said, but he began getting rides from his older brother and from friends so he could worship with other Christians.

With 28 years of teaching and coaching experience — and the goal of becoming athletic director of a school district with multiple high schools — McQueen said he constantly scrutinizes his motives. He often asks himself if, in pursuing his goals, he is “chasing the wind,” or trying to glorify God.

A friend, who McQueen said has won five state titles, helped put the Lampasas ISD football coach’s quest for a state championship in perspective.

“You can’t take those state championship trophies to heaven,” McQueen said.

Earthly achievements are not wrong, however, McQueen said, unless they distract a person from pleasing God. Christians are commanded to work, the coach said, because in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, the Apostle Paul writes that the man who does not work shall not eat. McQueen encouraged his audience to pursue excellence in order to give honor to God.

Concluding his remarks, McQueen encouraged those at the recent prayer event to be content and trust God regarless of the results of their work.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful,” he said, quoting Colossians 3:15 and 3:17. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

After McQueen’s speech, those in attendance prayed in groups for Lampasas County schools, churches, families and government officials, as well as for the military, the state government and national elected officials.

Lampasas High School freshmen Levi Holland and David Henry Straley were among those who met at the recent event. They said they were praying especially for Lampasas ISD schools and for safety.

“If you all pray and gather together, your prayers have more power,” David Henry said.

David Henry’s mother, Alicia Straley, said Matthew 18:20, in which Jesus states, “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst,” encourages her in prayer.

“It’s one of my favorites, so I cling to it,” Mrs. Straley said.

The National Day of Prayer, Levi said, is important because “it gets everybody closer to God.”

According to National Day of Prayer estimates, as many as 2 million people attended about 30,000 prayer observances during last year’s National Day of Prayer. Thousands of gatherings took place Thursday across the United States.