Prayer & Praise
There is a time to be born and a time to die.
And this is a time to be born.
So we turn to you, God of our life,
….….….….….….……God of all our years,
…….….….….….…….God of our beginning.
….Our times are in your hand.
Hear us as we pray:
….For those of us too much into obedience,
….….birth us to the freedom of the gospel.
….For those of us too much into self-indulgence,
….….birth us to discipleship in your ministry.
….For those too much into cynicism,
….….birth us to the innocence of the Christ child.
….For those of us too much into cowardice,
….….birth us to the courage to stand before
….….….principalities and powers.
….For those of us too much into guilt,
….….birth us into forgiveness worked in your generosity.
….For those of us too much into despair,
….….birth us into the promises you make to your people.
….For those of us too much into control,
….….birth us into the vulnerability of the cross.
….For those of us too much into victimization,
….….birth us into the power of Easter.
….For those of us too much into fatigue,
….….birth us into the energy of Pentecost.
We dare pray that you will do for us and among us and through us what is needful for newness.
Give us the power to be receptive,
..……to take the newness you give,
..……to move from womb warmth to real life.
We make this prayer not only for ourselves, but
….….for our [community] at the brink of birth,
….….for the church at the edge of life,
….….for our [nation] waiting for newness,
….….for your whole creation, with which we yearn in eager longing.
There is a time to be born, and it is now.
….We sense the pangs and groans of your newness.
….….Come here now in the name of Jesus. Amen.
From the book, Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers by Walter Brueggemann
Thank you all for praying for our newborn grandson. He is still in NICU after 2 major surgeries.
People ask how I am doing….it depends on what minute you ask me. From great peace and trust, to depths of despair…..to tears of joy seeing a photo of him, or a smile from my son. Our theology becomes reality through the trials of life, and more than ever, I know in Whom I believe and I know that He sees and He cares. He doesn’t answer all my questions, but He speaks peace to my heart.
For any of you on Facebook, there is a public page called: Praying for Baby Bennet.
You can see photos and post prayers, promises, encouragement.
So many of you from here have been such a source of comfort to my heart through this. Please keep Bennet’s Mama and Daddy in your prayers.
Bless you!
“Our theology becomes reality through the trials of life, and more than ever, I know in Whom I believe and I know that He sees and He cares. He doesn’t answer all my questions, but He speaks peace to my heart.” amen, Nonnie – God keep
Yes, amen to Nonnie’s post. Your grandson is beautiful and our prayers continue. (((Nonnie))) God bless you and yours.
Nonnie…I thought of you guys this morning. Have been praying for your sweet grandson.
We had a meeting of the prayer team at church this morning and Kim, our pastor’s wife, was talking about how she used to just prepare to mourn when she heard a diagnosis of cancer. Now, she prays with hope…we went through the list of people from our congregation who are flourishing even in the midst of cancer treatment. Then we talked of Baby Pearl.
http://familiesforhope.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/1-2-3-4-5-6/
Her parents were told that the condition she had was not compatible with life outside the womb. They had prepared to hold her and see her only for a few minutes. As a church body we had followed the pregnancy and had prayed with this family, expecting to mourn with them and waiting.
She is six weeks old.
She is completely baffling the medical community.
She is a stunning example that God will do as He sees proper despite what the prognosis is, and can sustain life where it was thought impossible.
I worshipped with her dad today and we all broke into loud praise as we prayed for the next week of Baby Pearl Joy’s life…and for whatever it is that God is accomplishing through this little one.
When we look at these examples they add fervor to my prayers. I believe that God is able. I believe that He can heal. I believe that He can sustain.
And then He gives us an image bearer who breaks all the rules and who should bring suffering and struggle and yet brings joy….and captures the hearts of those who follow along, lifting this family and watching.
God who is able to sustain Baby Pearl holds Baby Bennet and our friends’ Baby Andrew and the named ones of so many other families who hold their breath and watch to see what God will do.
Praying for you and your little one….
Thank you Sarah, for sharing Baby Pearl Joy’s story. I read the articles and the blog. I am now joining you and others in prayer for Pearl and for her family. I loved how her father spoke of God revealing himself through Pearl.
” “I see the humanity of an unborn baby more clearly than I ever did,” her father says. “And because of Pearl, I have fallen in love with humanity once again. For years I was cynical, but even in the worst of this, I see people connecting, responding, and walking with us.
“I don’t know how long we have with Pearl, but I believe one day she’ll be made whole. Now I’m not even sure of what that means.”
Perhaps wholeness means Pearl will be completely developed within a metaphysical body, as Scripture tells us to expect.
Or perhaps wholeness means the rest of us simply will see Pearl as God already sees her — complete and perfect in his image and likeness.”
Praying for this family.
I know there are a lot of other needs in our community. Many adults out there hurting through illness or through life’s circumstances.
I just had a thought and I pray it will encourage you.
In my previous post I gave some quotes by a father who desperately loves his “imperfect” child….a child the doctors insisted should be aborted.
Over the past 2 weeks I have seen my own son, weep, pray, and have his heart broken over his newborn son who was born with a “broken heart.”
When I look at the incredible love these 2 earthly fathers have for their babies, the world sees as broken, and not perfect…..I see the heart of God.
We have a heavenly Father who knows about your broken heart, a heavenly Father who cares about your physical distress and your imperfections, and He tells us He is working, He is in the process of healing, even when we don’t understand all the poking, the prodding, the pain that we are going through….just like Babies Pearl and Bennet cannot possibly understand the loving, life saving pain their parents are allowing them to go through.
God bless and keep all of you. May each one of us know that our Father is here and we are loved.
I had THE MOST INSANE night tonight!
It’s clearance time for school supply sales so we go shop places and try to negotiate deals.
For the last week or so, I’ve had it in my head to go to a store. Finally today after our Sunday lunch my mom and I headed out that way.
We got there and noticed they had quite a few of a certain item we need for next year and started negotiating with a mgr.
I told him what we were up to and he worked a HUGE deal with us.
I had to call in every available vehicle I could find!!
We basically cleared their shelves for them so they could bring in the Halloween stuff, but it was such a massive haul for us that we may be VERY close to having next years supply shopping done.
We were blessed beyond measure. I don’t know much, but I know it was God pushing me toward that particular store.
It was insane!!! Thankful for the fact that we have such amazing, flexible, fantastically wonderful people who will come when called last minute like that.
We need a storage unit now! 🙂
London, I am thrilled to read this testimony. When I think of how you asked us to pray about this a year or so ago and now to see what the Lord has done and continues to do in ways you never dreamed! Thanking God with you!!
London,
This made my week.
God bless you, my friend.
praying for storage for London’s haul 🙂
we are seriously burning in my neck of the woods and such a shortage of manpower that they are triaging – protecting homes and lives and letting it burn and they’re overextended even then – we’ve been burning since Sunday a.m., if nothing changes from the last 2 days, the fire will bring me an evacuation notice Wednesday evening, so i”ve lined up important papers to go with
i do have a praise – the plumber just left and fixed the big sprinkler that is on top of my house for fire protection – i’ll sleep more soundly tonight…
kind of funny, tho – my house goes on the market tomorrow and the hills around me are on fire! my agent just called and asked to bring the paperwork by tonight as they are on notice to evacuate … a prayer for the safety of the folks around here would be appreciated
praying Em
thank you, jlo – you remain in my prayers, you are such a faithful pray-er no matter what is going on in your life – your affirmations bless me here often
Em…praying and hoping that you were not evacuated last night. Praying for strength for the firefighters and protection for all of you….
thanks jlo and Sarah – prayer for the fire situation appreciated – they brought in the A team yesterday (3 days into the fire) and those guys spent the night setting backburns, so we don’t feel quite so much like sitting ducks
praying with and for all today – so many folks under trials in so many ways – much more serious this fire going on here
meant to say 🙄 so much more serious *than* this fire
Nonnie…I love your comments above.
thanking God that the fire is moving south past my end of town with room to spare – only a very big wind could bring it down here – there is much to ponder thru these times as i pray with all for the grace of God’s supply through the mysterious and confusing trials coming at so many of you and those you love
God keep all close and comforted
Em, glad to hear it, and thanking God with you.
Have been so heavy hearted about the killings in Libya (it sounds as though they endured great terror in the end) and all the debates politically.
Praying as we near the election and things will continue to be heated, and of course one group will be hurt and frustrated after the election.
Praying for God’s great mercy.
Reading through the post and the impact it has on our spirit when someone recognizes us as people and shows concern for us.
Praying that God will speak clearly to His children in these coming days. I do pray that He will direct us as we seek His will in electing a president…but beyond that I pray that He will speak clearly to us in remidning us of compassion and of grace and of healing.
I pray that He prepares us to be ministers of grace in this election season. May His Spirit so enliven us that we are able to carry ourselves through this time with a heart that is filled with love, truly, for our fellow citizens. A heart that is willing to listen and to hear in the midst of the fears andt he hurts and the frustration and the anger and the hopes and the joys and the desires that all get intertwined in our emotions as we seek a leader.
May God hush our spirits….may He speak peace in our midst as we walk through the politics and may that peace be present as we go to the polls and as we interact in person and in virtual ways through the next 50+ days.
Father, be our very present God in these moments. They are key moments, and we all hold grave concerns about our country…and hopes and dreams and fears….and we know that there is no simple solution. Father, help us as we are so quick to resort to our own strength…help us to rest in You even in these decisions. Guide our hearts and remind us of Your care.
Help us to be kind and to be gracious even in being fervent in our thinking and critical and decisive in moving toward voting. Give us keen minds but hearts that are soft and eager to bring peace rather than division.
And Lord, please….please…breathe Your peace through Your troubled world. Halt the hands that would commit violence. Protect the innocent and raise up strong ones to stand in the breach. Breathe Your peace….quiet the unrest and the hearts that are filled with hatred. Breathe Your peace…to the families who have lost loved ones already.
Father…there is much to be in despair over…and yet…You are near.
Father…speak so we can hear. Speak louder than the confusion around us.
Amen and amen and amen…
… and amen again from my corner of the world, too
I just found out about a young woman named Ashley who’s cancer has returned. She has been diagnosed Stage 4. She has a little child who isn’t much more than a year old. Praying for God’s healing touch.
lxtlan, praying.
praying