e-Praise & Prayers - July 13, 2004
God shapes the world by prayer. Prayers are deathless.
The lips that uttered them may be closed in death, the heart that felt them may have ceased to beat
but the prayers live before God, and God’s heart is set on them.
Prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them;
outlive a generation, outlive an age, outlive a world.
E.M. Bounds
I praise Father tonight for the extraordinary people that He allows me to meet and to influence my life. This weekend I had the honor of meeting a young seventh-grade girl and her family. This precious child has a rare disease that - barring a miracle from God - is terminal. My heart broke and I could barely hold back my tears as the mother told of what her daughter had already gone through and what was still waiting for her. And yet, the mother also spoke of their faith in God and His mercy. They praised Him for things we take for granted. I am awed and humbled by the faith and strength of this family. Because I was busy falling in love with this girl & her family, I didn’t think to tell them about the e-prayer ministry - so I don’t have this family’s permission to give you their names - or any other details. But God knows the details much better than any of us could anyway. Please pray for this little girl. She is so sweet and loving. Pray for the family as they walk this difficult path. And as you pray - praise God for the strength and courage of His children.
I spoke to both Donna and Ray Hemphill this past Sonday and they are both just glowing at how well Walter is responding to his changed medications. Praise God for His loving-kindness!
I have a friend from work who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. She is preferring to keep it confidential for now - but I would appreciate prayer for her.
Ruth Rush, our beloved prayer warrior, underwent knee replacement surgery on June 29th. I spoke to her husband on Sonday and she is recovering well.
Emmy Lou Graves, one of the brightest and happiest people I know, is in isolation over at San Joaquin Gardens because of pink eye. I talked to her last Saturday - she is getting better- and is anxious to get back to church. We’re anxious to see you too, Emmy.
Please pray for Don Kramer, Geri Kinnish’s 17 yr old grandson. He broke his neck in a diving accident at Kings River - and may be paralyzed.
Lillian Seward recently underwent a “no-incision” operation to remove a gallstone. (I wonder how they do that?) Please pray for quick recovery for Lillian.
Ray Rahn, Jr is undergoing dialysis treatments. Ray is Doris’s son and Ilene Luna’s brother. Please pray that Father will have His way in Ray’s life.
Please continue to pray for Dan and Lois Hansen. After 32 years -Dan’s job will close at Vendo - probably next spring. When I started at FFBC Lois Hansen was one of my first teachers in day-by-day faith. Dan was very ill - it seemed like it was a touch & go situation with him as to whether he would ever get well. I was really new to the church - I didn’t know Lois from Adam. But every week in our Sonday class she would give an update on Dan. Although you could see and hear her worry, you could also see and hear a quiet confidence and solid faith in the goodness of God. I watched her every week - waiting for her to fall apart - but she never did. Her actions taught me the reality of faith..
Please continue to pray for 8 year old Kyle Speer. I have not gotten an update from Bobby on Kyle - but when I do I will pass it on.
Please continue to pray that God will guide and influence Joanne as she is making decisions that will effect her whole life.
Please continue to keep Connie & her baby, Kris Baiz, Judi Wright and her mother in prayer. Please continue to pray for Chuck Johnson and his ongoing battle with cancer. Kelli Hastings was in services on Sonday - but I didn’t get a chance to ask her how Chuck (her father) was doing. I still haven’t heard from Crystal Snow - please pray that she will contact me. Pray for the staff up at Sugarpine that they will continue to represent Jesus to these young children. Remember Annie Dennis’ father, John Rogers and his battle with cancer and his need of a personal relationship with Jesus, Cheryl Baledra and her cancer, Mandy and her cancer, Chantel and her upcoming surgery. I saw Khamla at the Friday night movie - but I didn’t get a chance to talk to her. Despite the obvious effects that the chemo has had on her, she looked great! Please continue to pray for her full recovery. Please pray for Biana’s nephew Brent and the film he is working on, Robert Kammer & his sleep apnea, Rick, Leslie & Kayla, as Rick continues his chemo treatments. If you know of any updates on these situations - please let me know about them.
I sent out an update from the Martin’s in Thailand earlier this week. For those of us who didn’t have a clue as to what a weir is - I went to www.askjeeves.com and found out that it is a low dam built across a stream. I got a quick note from Remo at Reaching Hand Society. I am sure he is really busy while his mom, Dr. Iris, is here in the USA. Continue to pray for Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos and the volunteers who have taken up the work as Khamla recovers from her cancer. Continue to pray for Dr. George Pe Myat Win in the Congo.
Please continue to pray for our pastors. How blessed we are of God that He has put them into place at all of our churches. Pray for the leadership and the finances of our church. We have a crew of men who come to our campus every Tuesday and take a list of all the things that need to be repaired or replaced - and then spend the day repairing and replacing. I am sure that their ministry has an official name - but I just call them our “Fix-er-up-er Guys”. They are absolutely extraordinary! Let’s spend a little extra time in prayer and thanksgiving for them.
Please pray for our country, our leaders and our military.
Holy One,
You are the LORD our God. You teach us what is best for us, You direct us in the way we should go. With awed hearts we thank You for Your provision and care of us.
Great Healer, we praise You and thank You for the courage and strength of Your children - particularly for this young girl and her family. LORD, hold her close to Your mighty heart, bring her and her family comfort and peace during this time.
Great is Your name, LORD God, and greatly to be praised! Thank You for all that You are doing for Walter Hemphill! Please continue to restore his health.
LORD, I lift up my friend and ask that You grant her peace as she struggles to come to grips with this bad news on her health.
God of Comfort, we thank You for the life-testimony of these great women, Ruth, Emmy and Lillian. We ask that You continue to heal their bodies and bring them back to services quickly.
We pray for Don Kramer that You will bless this situation and that Don will recover both mentally & physically.
We ask Your blessings on Ray Rahn, Jr. as he undergoes these treatments, and we ask that his spiritual needs be met.
Provider, we ask that You rain down Your love on Dan & Lois as they face the ending of Dan’s job. We thank You for the example of faith that they are. We know that You will provide for them.
Everlasting Father, we ask Your mercy on Kyle and his family as Kyle fights the leukemia.
Holy Guide, we call out for Joanne, that You show her the way that You would have her go as she makes these decisions.
Father God, we lift up all of the names that we are continuing to pray for and ask that You continue to bless and guide each situation.
Good Shepard, we ask Your continued blessings on our missionaries wherever they may be in this world. We pray that Your protection surround Reaching Hand Society, Jan & Larry Martin, Bounkham, Khamla and all of their volunteers, and Dr. George Pe Myat Win.
Redeemer and LORD of all mankind, we pray for a special blessing on the pastors of Your churches. Give them the strength to fly like eagles. We pray for the lay-leadership that You will bless them and provide for their needs. Father, we ask that You take the resources of our churches and multiply them like the loaves and fishes so that Your work may be accomplished. We pray for the fix-er-up-er guys and praise You for their servant hearts that are so like Yours. Their service is truly a service of love for You and for the Church.
God of Wonders, the USA has changed so much in these years - and too much of it has been change away from You. Use us - Your children - to bring our country back on her knees to You. Bless our leaders both great and small for their service to our country. Guide them in the decisions that You would have made. Bless and protect our military all over the earth as they protect us.
You are the Alpha and Omega of time - You are eternity. We worship You with wide open hearts of love. Amen.
Posted by Valerie at July 13, 2004 07:54 PM