Prayer & Praise
God holy, sovereign, faithful, generous – that is the first thing we know and affirm at the break of day.
But then, from these old, hard texts we notice that your holy, sovereign, faithful generous way with us and with our people is in this endless tale of violence … war, plunder, rape, incest, deception, and death.
You stay hidden within that misery, at work even against such circumstance.
We notice that our long-term narrative is just like every other tale, wreaking with violence, just like every other … except for you … holy, sovereign, faithful, generous.
We trust your hidden ways today in our narrative and in all the narratives of violence in force today.
Work your good will,
give us eyes to notice what can be seen of you,
give us faith to trust what stays hidden of you,
give us nerve to obey you this day, even where we do not see.
We pray in the name of Jesus who confounds all our tales of misery.
Amen.
Walter Brueggemann. Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: The Prayers of Walter Brueggemann (p. 45). Kindle Edition.
I love You, my Lord, my Strength, my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer and Saviour. You are my only Hope in this life and the life to come. Help me to hear Your voice and follow Your ways. Amen
This year has been really hard one for having the energy to care about school supplies for kids.
It’s felt very much like I was on my own doing this project. Just wasn’t getting the buy in from my group who are all going through some kind of personal transition or another.
Today got a note from a donor that they can give us half again what they had said.
HUGE shock and relief.
Was really not sure where the money/supplies were going to come from this time.
Had put stuff on order in faith that the money would show up (not my normal style)
I’m grateful and in shock really!!
Every year we have been able to do more than the year before, but I didn’t think we would this year. But now we can.
Pretty happy about that.
Good news, London!
Yeah. Pretty much thinking this is the last year we are doing this ir the first year if something bigger. Can’t tell yet.
I can say this year is pretty much all the provision of God though. We are providing almost everything from a bounty we got two years ago.
This will be the end of that supply.
Not sure what the future will be.
No web access this week….daughter had emergency gull bladder surgery yesterday….she is home now and feeling better.
We’ve missed you, Dusty. Hope your girlie is feeling better very soon!
Prayer Requests: July 22-28
Dusty – Daughter had emergency gall bladder surgery.
brian – I just got some real hard news as to two people I had known for years had passed, one in a tragic accident and another who had struggled with illness. it has just been a rather hard weekend. I dont know what to do with the pain.
Trey – recovering from mono
Filbertz- been completely overwhelmed with tasks, trying to finish school year, business responsibilities, and a new grandson (our dear Amber) who along with his 14 month old brother and momma needs a lot of care and support. It has been very satisfying and enjoyable, but exhausting. Amber needs much attention and assistance with two little ones in diapers and hubby not available (long story) so we’re pulling long hours. Baby Charles is doing great and older brother Isaiah too. All that and career transitions…so prayer for strength, wisdom, and mercy appreciated.
.Michael and Trey Needing prayer covering
J2 and her husband facing nonsense from the local government which may result in $6000 in fees. Prayers for wisdom and the community voicing their frustration, and that they would be heard.
Michael Liles “Smurf” A man Derek served with in Bosnia and Iraq, he has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS. The lifespan for those diagnosed with this is very short. Prayer for Michael and his family. You can find out more, also about his speaking before Congress for more attention to ALS, on his FB page: https://www.facebook.com/michael.liles.169
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Nonnie- her Grandson Bennet’s recovery from his surgery!
Gary – for a solid job opportunity and something to come quickly for housing. Also, just for some encouragement during this frustrating time.
Michael Needs a job and income. Now.
J2thePerson – disability application processed quickly.
Chile -family member who was given just two years to live.
Ryan – dealing with loneliness and a desire for true friendship.
Derek – friend Dennis , served two tours with Derek and is possibly PTSD
London – for her eyes.
Sarah’s Nephew-in-Law Blake Serving 9 months in Afghanistan. Pray for safety.
Pastor Saeed FREEDOM
Gomergirl – coworker/ friend, Kathy. niece was one of the victims in Santa Barbara
Captain Kevin – cervical spinal stenosis (narrowing of the upper spinal column), which causes pain in my neck and shoulders as well as down into my hands. , bone spurs in my hands, and
what appears to be a separating of my left wrist and hand. I should be going in for an MRI on that hand sometime in the next week. I’m wearing braces and taking some pretty strong meds, but the relief is minimal. My pain specialist says that pain sensations I feel are probably heightened by the fibromyalgia.
Children on the border
j2theperson – trouble with city plumbing and electrical permits
I came by to update on little Michael, and thought I would post the prayer requests for Dusty while she is off the internet and tending to her daughter. Praying she recovers quickly.
London…that made me smile to read of the donor! So thankful for what you all do…
Little Michael, the child who was found at the bottom of the pool here in our community, is doing remarkably well. It looks like they have been approved to move him to a rehabilitation center in Atlanta. He had surgery to have a feeding tube placed, and has been off the ventilator. He has opened his eyes and has shown some responses (popped his eyes open when they put his favorite marinara sauce under his nose 😉 )
If you’d like to follow, here is their page on FB with updates:
https://www.facebook.com/M1CHAELVANDYFAN
Thought I should give you all an update on our grandson Bennet. He was born with only 1/2 of a heart. (HLHS) He has had 2 open heart surgeries, to re-wire the 1/2 heart, as well as undergoing several other surgical procedures. This spring he was weaned off being fed through a gastric tube and is now eating really well. This is huge!
Next month he turns 2 years old, and we rejoice over every day we have with him. He faces at least one more open heart surgery, probably next summer. HLHS kids are “fragile” and a common cold can put them in hospital, but for now, he lives a very normal (for him) life, filled with laughter and joy and surrounded with love. Thank you all for praying for our boy. I’ll keep you posted of any changes. Please know how much it has meant to me to know this community has held him in prayer. Thank you.
For those of you following the story of Meriam Ibrahim, who was under a Sudanese death sentence for “converting” to Christianity, here’s some very good news!
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/christian-meriam-ibrahim-meets-pope-francis-after-escaping-sudan-n163681
Meriam was raised as an Orthodox Christian and ran afoul of the enemies of Christ when she married a Christian man. She refused to deny Christ. Axios!
She’s free and in Italy. I am not sure why the Pope is in the picture? Maybe he had something to do with getting her out of Sudan? Anyway, glory to God!
Thank you, Sarah!
I’ll be blunt without sounding whiny…I hope.
This trial has gone on so long it’s depleted all my emotional resources…to say nothing of the financial ones.
I’m having a very hard time thinking clearly and concentrating…sleep is also running from my bed when I get into it.
The Lord is in control…but I need some clarity and hope to keep going.
On the praise side, Trey is doing much better…recovering a bit every day.
Praying for all the requests…and praying that God use this thread in much greater ways.
Michael…I don’t know how it would be to be in your shoes. Praying for rest and for ease of mind. Continually praying for work and for refreshment and for financial help.
Praying for each today…I know many are under great strain. Praying even for simply moments of rest in the midst of struggle. Moments of refreshment to strengthen each.
Praying for hope that does not disappoint and does not disillusion.
Praying for God to sustain, to heal and to encourage today.
Praying
Xenia…I know the Italian deputy foreign minister travelled with her, and the Pope met with her and spoke about her witness. I think I read that he said he wanted to affirm her situation as one of freedom of Faith in general, but also affirmed her specific Christian witness.
As you said…regardless it is great to see her free.
The plumbing and electrical issues are pretty much taken care of. The plumbing inspection went great. It’s gonna be a month or two before we get the electrical inspection, but the person we’re working with has said that it should be no big deal. So I think you can take those off the list.
Rob’s disability filing is moving forward. He’s scheduled to undergo a mental health evaluation by a Social Security approved provider in a few days. It’s good that they haven’t needed any more proof of his physical issues and just want to confirm his depression and anxiety. So, hopefully, the evaluation will go well and his filing will be approved soon afterwards.
This last week has been tough. Had a terrible panic episode while driving my mom to the store that shook her up badly. I had two more on consecutive days.
j2…. praying things go well for your husband.
Thanks for the prayers for my eyes.
Went to the doctor today cause it was floured up again. He still doesn’t know what the issue is. Said its definitely not an infection but is inflamation. Just can’t figure out why it is happening. Will try non-medicine interventions for now. Then check again if (when) it happens next.
Most importantly he said there’s no damage or scaring.