Prayer Requests

Please pray for Tyler.  He broke his leg yesterday and is going through surgery today.

Please pray for Carolyn for healing from cancer.

Please continue to pray for Mary.  She will having surgery for her cancer soon.

"They cried out to God during the battle, and he answered their prayer because they trusted in him..." 

(1 Chronicles 5:20, NLT)

The Decision

(4/13/12)

How many of you have a person in your life you would rather not have to deal with?  I think we all do.  It’s that person who on some days you get along with just fine, but on other days it takes all your effort just to be nice to them.  It could be a family member, a co-worker, your child’s teacher, or a friend of a friend.  It’s someone that makes you inwardly groan when you see them, but you grin and bear it until they’re gone.  Well, I’m dealing with that person today.

This morning as I was driving my daughter to her grandmother’s house, I got a message from this person; and in four little words, he managed to tick me off.  As I sat in the car humming to keep from spouting inappropriate explicatives about this person, I knew that I would have to forgive him.  At that point, however, I just wanted to be mad.  I liked being mad.  In some odd way it made me feel good just to be mad at him. 

Then, later, as I was sitting in class, I realized that I was having a very difficult time concentrating on my teacher.  All I could think about was how angry I was.  My teacher was up there giving us information on learning principles and I could barely pay enough attention to him to ‘learn’ any of it.  I knew it was my anger that was causing the problem but I couldn’t seem to let it go.  Then the thought hit me, “I bet he isn’t even aware that I’m mad.  He has no idea and is not even affected by it.  I’m the one who’s suffering… not him.”

Though I knew I was going to do this eventually, I then made the decision to forgive.  That doesn’t mean that I still didn’t feel some amount of anger, I just knew that I had to start the process of forgiveness with that decision.  And even as I’m sitting here typing, I’m still feeling angry.  But what I do know is that God will help me get to the other side of that anger, and eventually, it will be gone altogether.  So the next time you have to deal with ‘that person’ in your life, set your mind to forgiveness.  Have that decision ready to go in your heart and mind.  You may not have to make it on that particular day; but I promise you… one day you will. 

Matthew 6: 12, 14-15

Prayers and Praises

Please pray for Mary for healing from cancer.

Praise!  My daughter's rash went away in a matter of days instead of weeks!

Please pray for Charlie for healing.

Please pray for the people of Texas who are dealing with after-effects of the F3 tornadoes that went through on Tuesday.  Thank God there were no deaths reported!

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. 

(Psalm 5:11, NLT)

Prayer Requests

Please pray for my daughter, Zoe, for healing.

Please pray for Deborah.  She is having back surgery soon.

Please pray for Rhonda.  She has a tough week coming up.

Please pray for the ministry team coming back from Peru today.  Pray for safety on their trip back, and a restful weekend.

Please pray for W. for salvation.

"Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer." (Psalm 4:1, NLT)

I Understand

 (03/29/12)

The other day my daughter told me about a friend of hers who was crying at school.  After telling me why she was upset I told her, “You know how she feels don’t you?”… to which she answered, “Yes, Mommy.  I guess I should have stopped and told her, ‘I understand’.”  I smiled.  I am always amazed at how God uses the smallest things to remind me of His love.  Those two little words: I understand.  Think about how important they are.  When you’re upset and talking to your best friend about how someone has hurt you, what do you want to hear?  I understand.  When you’ve had a stressful day and you’re venting to your mother, what do you want to hear?  I understand.  You want people to understand who you are, why you do things the way you do them, and how you feel.  Those two little words… I understand… make a big difference.

We can take comfort in our friends and family understanding us, but what’s even more important to remember is that God understands us.  He understands who we are and why we do things the way we do because He created us.  He understands how we feel because He came to earth in human form and experienced joy and happiness, pain and sadness the way we do.  He knows what we go through day after day; and He’s always there for us.  So the next time we are having a bad day, let’s have a talk with God.  And when we are through letting go of our emotional baggage, let’s stay really quiet and listen to those two little words that He will inevitably speak to our hearts… “I understand”.

Hebrews 2: 16-18

Hebrews 4: 14-16

Prayer Requests

Please pray for Sharon and her family.   She has dealt with two deaths in her family in the last three weeks.

Please pray for Janet for healing.

Please pray for a young woman who was assaulted yesterday on ASU's campus.

Please pray for the family and friends of Sam Wopat.  She died Sunday.

Please pray for Bobby and his family.

"I love the LORD because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy."

Psalm 116:1, NLT

Waiting on You

 A few weeks ago I got the privilege of taking a tour of two local prisons.  I had never been able to take a tour like that before and I was very excited to see what God had in store for me that day.  I was anxious to not only see the facilities, but meet some of the prisoners and staff.  I got my wish, and eventually I will write about each of the people who touched my heart that day, but right now I want to tell you about Miss Minnie.  She is an elderly lady who volunteers at the prison in order to teach the inmates music. That day when she saw our tour group, she came slowly towards us, cane tapping as she walked.  She smiled at each of us; and without even being asked, she gave us her testimony.  She had been a single mother of four children during a time when single motherhood was not very prevalent.  She worked and volunteered at her church, all the while taking care of her kids.  One day a man from the local prison called and asked her to come and teach the prisoners music.  She found the request interesting; but as most of us are prone to do, she let life get in the way.  Then several years later she got down on her knees and asked God to give her the direction she felt she had been lacking.  The next day she called the prison.  The man who answered the phone was the same man who had asked her to help several years earlier.  He asked her, “Are you ready to start up that music program now?”… to which she replied, “You mean in all these years no one has started one?”  He said, “I guess we’ve been waiting on you.”  Over and over again we get so caught up in waiting on God to move that we forget there are times when He’s waiting on us.  Whatever it is you’re waiting on God for, check with Him to make sure He’s not waiting on you. 

“You see, his faith and his actions worked together. 

His actions made his faith complete.”      
 (James 2:22, NLT)

Prayer Requests

Please pray for my friend Kelly, and all the people that are going with her to Peru next week to give out shoe boxes.

Please pray for Allen.  He is awaiting test results.

Please pray for the people of Mexico City and the surrounding areas as they are recovering from an earthquake.

Please pray for healing for Mark, Kimberley, Lois, and Denise.

Please continue to pray for the family of Thomas Cook.  He died two weeks ago.

Please pray blessings for my father.  His birthday is today.

Please pray for Dona and Colleen.

Please pray for Piper and her family.  

Please pray for Scott Pierpoint.

Prayers and Praises

Please pray for my daughter.  She is dealing with the flu.  Please also pray a hedge of protection around her family so that none of us get it!

Praise!  I am doing much better after having bronchitis last week!

Please pray for the people of Branson, Missouri.  They are struggling with the effects of a tornado that went through the area early this morning.  Four people were killed.

Please pray for the family and friends of those who died in the Ohio school shooting.

Please pray for my niece.  She recently lost a very good friend of hers.  Details are still vague at this time.

Please pray for all the students who are struggling through mid-terms right now!  We all need energy and sleep!

Praise!  Leslie's pre-natal testing came out good!

"The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock! May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!"

(2 Samuel 22:47, NLT) 

Embracing God

(02/21/12)

 

This morning I saw a note written on a public bathroom wall: “Embrace the beauty of life’s chaos…”  I don’t know who wrote that, but I wish I did so that I could thank them.  That one statement can teach us a lot.

The other day I had to take my daughter to the emergency room.  Now, I know that those two little letters, “ER”, can send any parent into panic mode; but on this occasion, there was a story behind getting there.  A few days prior to our bout to the “ER” my daughter was sick with a stomach virus.  Approximately 7-10 days prior to that, she had a cold.  Through all this sickness, the one thing she couldn’t seem to let go of was her congestion.  Being that she has asthma, I finally decided to take her to the doctor to make sure she wasn’t dealing with bronchitis.

That morning I took her to the nearest urgent care clinic.  We got into the waiting room, told the receptionist our story and gave her Zoe’s insurance card.  Due to the type of insurance we have, our visit had to be approved by her regular doctor.  I guessed this wouldn’t be a problem seeing that it was a Sunday and the pediatrician’s office was closed.  Unfortunately, I was wrong.  Zoe’s doctor could not approve the visit; therefore, our insurance wouldn’t pay for it.  In order for her to be seen, we either had to wait until the next day and go to her pediatrician, or go to the emergency room.  Needless to say, I was furious.  I tried to be gracious to all involved, but on the inside, I was fuming.

Since I didn’t want to wait to get Zoe some help, I decided to go ahead and take her to the emergency room.  When I got there, I told the receptionist our story, and she took our information and got Zoe in right away.  Well, there was one thing to be grateful for.  We didn’t have to wait nearly as long there as we would have at the urgent care clinic.  After seeing the nurse, the doctor made it into our room within just a few minutes.  Another miracle!  It usually takes forever for the doctor to get to you at the ER.  Once the doctor assessed the situation and got a quick check of Zoe’s lungs, she had a game plan: give Zoe a breathing treatment and do chest x-rays to check for any signs of pneumonia.  WOW!  I never would have gotten this treatment at the urgent care.  And as I was sitting there, thinking about how well we had been treated, I realized that it was a good thing that we were not “allowed” to see the urgent care doctor.  Don’t get me wrong… they may have done a fine job; but I really felt like Zoe’s needs came first at the ER.  She had several nurses to check on her… the doctor took all precautions… and there was even one nurse that came just to tell her jokes in order to make her feel better!  I know I wouldn’t have gotten that at the urgent care. 

So what’s the moral of my story?  In the chaos and confusion that ensued that day, God was still at work.  What Satan tried to harm us with, God used for good!  So the next time you have a little chaos in your day, just embrace the beauty that is God… in other words, hold on to Him and enjoy the ride!  He has a plan and it is good!

1 Corinthians 2:9

Romans 8:28