Month: August 2014

“You are in our prayers has become a cliché, just a nice thing to say when we see someone struggling. But do we really understand the power of prayer.”~Myles Munroe.

I started to notice this on Facebook and when commenting to people that are in need of prayers. It is as if the phrase” you’re in my thoughts and prayers” have become a cliché. I’m not sure why I’m just now noticing it, but I have been over time. When we repeat the same words or phrases are repeated often enough, they begin to sound like clichés.

While reading some of the posts and comments I began to realize that the phrase “thoughts and prayers” has become such a condolence cliché that it is now just words for many. I’m guilty of this myself. When I don’t know what to say, I will use the phrase, “you’re in my thoughts and prayers”. I think I need to actually post a prayer for them whoever needs one instead of saying, “thoughts and prayers”.

Prayer is not only a vital in every believer’s life; it is also a privilege that some believers choose not to use. Believers and nonbelievers use it freely saying, “I’ll keep you in my prayers,” only to forget or never pray at all. Prayer should literally be the lifeline of the Christian.

There are many verses in the bible that talks about the importance of prayer, that is because prayer is an important part of our everyday lives. When we pray we are communicating with God.

• Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice always, PRAY WITHOUT CEASING, in EVERYTHING give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
• James 5:13-18 : Pray for one another that you may be healed.

When I was working at Lins Marketplace, I had the “sappy line” as some would say. Many knew that I was a Christian and they would come through my line since they knew I would be more than happy to pray for them. As I was ringing up their groceries, people would hand me papers with their prayer requests. I couldn’t pray for them at that very moment, but as the day went on and I was walking about, I would try to make sure to pray for them.

I would come home with many little scrapes of papers with prayer requests written on them. There were many times I forgot what the prayer was for and I would pray for them and ask that God is there with them during their time of need.

On September 11 when thousands of lives were lost when the World Trade Center was destroyed because of terrorism, prayers was said around the world. I remember a week or so later when watching the funerals and those from around the world come together in unison and prayer, thinking about how long this will last. How long will it be before everyone goes on with their lives and prayers cease. Many times when people pray, it is because of a tragedy or need. Unfortunately the prayers stop and lives goes on. Which is a tragedy in itself.

Here in the United States we are pretty blessed to be able to do something that all Americans can do for the most part. And that is that we can pray any place, any time, in bad times AND good times. Not just when something horrible happens or tragedy strikes.

When someone is in need of prayers it shouldn’t just be a ‘’thoughts and prayers’’ kind of moment. We should be praying every day for the leaders of our country, persecuted Christians and anyone else. At our church we make sure to pray for our country, the persecuted Christians, missionaries and anyone else that may be in need of prayers. Tragedies remind us that we aren’t the ones in control, only God is.

Prayer connects us to heaven like a phone call home. If you disconnect your communication with God you disconnect mainly everything you have with God, this is because “everything we have is because of God”.

I have no doubt in my mind that prayer works. God always answers our prayers. He may not give us the answer we are looking for, but He does. There has been a prayer I have been praying for a long time since I have been going to my church. Not all would think my prayer is a worthy one, but God must have known it was a good one.

My husband and I moved to St. George in July of 96 I think it was. We have been going to the same church since then. In our church was this organ. I know many love the organ, but my head and ears was not seeing it the same way, lol. I wanted that organ to go out to someone else’s pasture. Every Sunday I would have to take Tylenol for a headache.

We recently got a new pastor and in a short time that organ was gone. I prayed without ceasing for a very long time and I endured to the end. When I heard the news that it was sold, you can even imagine how happy I was.  After the sale our church bought a baptismal which is much better. The pastor sold the organ to a church in Texas and they have been searching for a new one and they love that organ. And all I can say is that God answered with a one two punch. Wonderful things can happen when we pray without ceasing.

Lately the Ebola virus has been in the news a lot. They are bringing two United States patients to Emery Hospital in Atlanta GA. I’m not sure how I feel on this though. Some of the information for this blog was obtained through Samaritans Purses website and Yahoo.

The two cases underscore the seriousness of the horrific outbreak that is spreading throughout Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea and infecting hundreds of people at an unprecedented rate. The deadly disease, which causes massive internal bleeding and has a mortality rate of 60 to 90 percent in most situations, has claimed more than 725 lives.

The hospital and CDC didn’t specifically say who the patients are, but I am guessing it is Dr. Kent Brantly from Samaritans Purse and nurse Nancy Writebol. They went to Monrovia, Liberia to help treat those in need. Dr Kent Brantly is married father of two young children. Dr Kent Brantly has prepared himself to be a lifetime medical missionary.

Nancy Writebol has been a lifelong missionary from Charlotte, N.C., had been working as a hygienist who decontaminated patients entering and leaving the Ebola isolation ward of the local hospital.

An experimental serum arrived in Monrovia, Liberia, but there was only enough of this serum for one patient. Dr Brantly instructed his medical team and those treating him to give it to Nancy Writebol. From what Dr. Billy Graham said ““Their heroic and sacrificial service — along with the entire team there — is a shining example of Christ’s love in this crisis situation,” Graham said.”

On Samaritans Purses website, their stands ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. We specialize in meeting critical needs for victims of conflict, disaster, famine, and epidemics throughout the world, often working through ministry partners on the ground. We provide food, water, shelter, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ. If you want to learn more about Samaritans Purse, click here.

On my heart also are some missionaries that our church has been supporting and praying for. I don’t know if Craig and Allison Fowler are directly affected by this in their area. They are missionaries in a small village outside of  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They have a medical clinic where they treat the Gumuz people physically and also share the Word of God with them. They have a wonderful mission field going on.

As I said at the beginning of this post I’m not sure how I feel on bringing them back to the US because they are both obviously very much infected with Ebola. The deadly disease, which causes massive internal bleeding has claimed more than 725 lives so far this year. The CDC has said that it is taking every precaution and making sure that they are quarantined and not in direct contact with anyone. I don’t doubt they are being cautious.

I also feel that God will provide the protection that is needed. These workers went out to help others in the name of Christ and now they are in need of help. Many for good reasons are worried about it coming to the United States. I would guess that if any country is able to help find a cure it would be the United States.

Besides Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol may be able to help them find a way to treat this and find a serum that can be used. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta directly working with the patients, they can see first hand and do testing that they couldn’t do there. God has a way of turning the horrible things into something good.

Honestly, I know and have faith that God will take care of them and heal them. Maybe not physically and here on earth, but they will be cured. Where my faith isn’t too strong when it comes to this is man. Man is very fail able. If I was living in Georgia, I would be stressed. Even though they are taking every precaution, there is always human ere.

These Dr’s and nurses that put themselves as risk to help others in need are in desperate need of prayers. I know without a doubt that miracles happen and that even when Dr’s give up and throw in the towel, You never do.

I would like to leave a short prayer for Dr. Brantly, nurse Nancy and all of the others that are trying to treat those who are battling Ebola.

Lord, our heavenly father, we humbly ask for your mercy and grace on this Dr, who served the poor and sick. Your healing Hands are mighty and gentle. These healthcare workers are willing to give their lives to help others selflessly. Please touch Dr.Brantly and give him Your complete and timely healing for Your glory, so that he can continue working for Your Kingdom. I pray that this disease will not continue to take the lives of people.  Please send a miracle, You have all Power and that You are our deliverer!! Touch and heal their bodies, and send your Holy Spirit to bring him strength, courage, and comfort. Give his family peace.

May Your Name be glorified amidst this horrible epidemic. I pray for those who are going to be treating them and the Dr’s that will be treating them in Atlanta. You are the great Physician, and nothing is impossible. Guide and direct those Dr’s and hospital staff here in the states. Only through You can they find a cure. I pray that there is no others affected by this and that there is understanding from those around Emery Hospital. I pray these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ… Amen and amen