June 2009 - Prayers and Praises

Well, summer is here and some of you are well into the hotter temperatures and others are still getting there, but in either case, the signs of summer are wonderful and alive.  Everything is turning green and the birds are a little more lively. Another sign of summer is more people filling the streets, running, biking and walking. So now is the time to take full advantage of the good ole outdoors and get some fresh air and sunshine (and tank up before next winter!)

We've decided make a monthly link for prayers and praises for the summer, so this one will be for June.  Please post your prayers (and praises) here, so that we can all lift each other up with any specific needs.  God's word says that "we have not because we ask not" (James 4:2), but also says sometimes "we ask amiss" (or not in accordance with God's will).  I have found in my own life that prayer, like anything else, is something that gets better with practice.

I like to get alone somewhere and pray aloud, there is something special about hearing your prayer - you know how special it feels to hear someone else pray for you, well it works just about the same when you hear your own prayers. I think it's because the Holy Spirit guides our words and brings things out that you may not have even known was inside of your heart. 

And then the word tells us to bear one another's burdens and lift each other up in prayer.  Have you ever gone through your day and thought - "someone must be praying for me" - I've read many wonderful testimonies of people that have seen God work in mysterious ways, and later found out that someone was praying for them at that very moment.  Not that the person praying had any power to change things, but our God is so great, and faithful and merciful, that he loves to hear our prayers - but also loves to grant them out of His great Love for US.

So that brings us to Praise! He also loves to hear our praises. I have been reading every morning in the book of Psalms, which is full of King David's prayers and praises. If you are looking for a place to read daily, I would highly recommend it.  It's been a wonderful time for me learning and seeing how much our heavenly father loves us, and cares for us, and protects, and makes provisions for us daily.

So, to kick off June:

Pray for all of our members to #1, to draw closer to the Lord and hear His voice.  To seek his guidance and learn to love to talk with him daily.

Pray for all who are facing health challenges, that they will be comforted in their discomfort and that they will lean on the Lord for healing (he made our bodies from dust, and has made them able to heal - either naturally or through the assistance of doctors.)

Pray for all to get a vision for their future and be bold in stepping out in faith to obtain our goals, for God's word says that a man (or woman) without a vision will perish. If you have lost hope, ask God to give you a vision.

"Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed." (James 5:16)

Norma Jean(njakamarilyn):  I have a Venus Doppler test set up at Los Robles Hospital for June 10th (next Wednesday). After I receive the test results (probably in 7-10 business days), I will know if the blood clot is gone in my right leg and I can stop the medication.  I had to set up a medical transport to pick me up at 8 am with the wheelchair.  I am unable to get into the truck.  I am a little anxious right now because of the "unknown".

Katy(loudflower): I'm losing my job at the end of this month, I screwed up my ankle and have been in a big boot for the last 3 weeks, and we need to relocate to Vallejo and get out of my parent's house.  It's hard to get a job in a new city when you don't live there, and it's hard to find a place to live there when you don't have a job.  I hate Catch 22's...

Sherri (mamavas)

Please pray for my husband's job...his factory has been hit hard by the "economic downturn" Here in Ohio, there are not many good jobs out there.He works 3 weeks and is off one week, but was told that in a week there will be another massive layoff...The medical insurance (for me) is our biggest issue. If he gets totally laid off, no insurance and the unemployment benefist put our income at a level where we won't be accepted for medicaid.  Please pray that this doesn't happen.  Thank you!

Denna (dlbrown1020)

Please pray for the job situation in our household also.

As the school year is coming to an end, there are some jobs that are opening up within our school district for the upcoming year.  I qualify for the teachers aide and a school secretary position.  I am more suited for the school secretary.  I would be more comfortable with the secretary position.  Pray for the right job to be opened up to me.  I won't hear from the school board until the middle of July to the beginning of August.

Karen (nanny317) ~ Has a Doctors appointment on Monday, June 8th, to find out what is going on with her hip.  Karen talked to her cousin, a doctor, and she said from Karen's description it sounds like it may be an infection in the bone or deep muscle.  (Probably muscle as bone infections are fairly rare.)  Would like to find out the problem, what the treatment is, and then she can get back to exercising. 

Original Post by njakamarilyn:

Karen (nanny317) ~ Has a Doctors appointment on Monday, June 8th, to find out what is going on with her hip.  Karen talked to her cousin, a doctor, and she said from Karen's description it sounds like it may be an infection in the bone or deep muscle.  (Probably muscle as bone infections are fairly rare.)  Would like to find out the problem, what the treatment is, and then she can get back to exercising. 

 Karen has also added that she has surrenedered  it up to God.  Shel asks that our prayers would be for acceptance of the results and move on with her life.

I'm in the mood for singing praises!!

Pretty amazing grace is what You showed me
Pretty amazing grace is who You are
I was an empty vessel
You filled me up inside
And with amazing grace
Restored my pride.

Pretty amazing grace is how You saved me
And with amazing grace, reclaimed my heart
Love in the midst of chaos
Calm in the heat of war
Showed with amazing grace
What love was for.

You forgave my insensitivity
And my attempt to then mislead you
You stood beside a wretch like me
Your pretty amazing grace was all I needed.

Stumbled inside the doorway of your chapel
Humbled and awed by everything I found
Beauty and love surround me
Freed me from what I feared
Asked for amazing grace
And you appeared.

You overcame my loss of hope and faith
Gave me a truth I could believe in
You led me to a higher place
Showed Your amazing grace
When grace was what I needed.

Look in a mirror I see Your refection
Open a book You live on every page
I fall and You’re there to lift me
You share every road I climb
And with amazing grace
You ease my mind.

I came to You with empty pockets first
When I returned I was a rich woman
Didn’t believe Love could quench my thirst
But with amazing grace, You showed me that it can.

In Your amazing grace I had a vision
From that amazing place, I came to be
Into the night I wandered, wandering aimlessly
Found Your amazing grace to comfort me.

Pretty amazing!
Pretty amazing!

You overcame my loss of hope and faith
Gave me a truth I could believe in
You led me to that higher place
Showed me that love, and truth, and hope, and grace
Were all I needed.

Bill (billsaint) and Bobbi Jo (bojo1963):

Their son, John William will be coming for a visit on Tuesday for 6 weeks.   Please pray for God's will to be accomplished during his visit.

My friend Roberta (girlpeacocks), needs prayer. She is dealing with some heavy issues concerning her job. Please pray for God's truth and power to overcome any evil, knowing that it's not flesh and blood that we wrestle with, but with powers and principalities, but Our Lord is great and mighty.

Prayer Request Reminders:

1. Karen (nanny317) ~ Has a Doctors appointment on Monday, June 8th
2. Bill (billsaint) and Bobbi Jo (bojo1963) son is coming for a visit on Tuesday, June 9th, for 6 weeks
3. Norma Jean (njakamarilyn) ~ Medical testing on Wednesday, June 10th
4. Katy(loudflower) ~ job ends this month, ankle injury, need to relocate to Vallejo and then getting new job
5. Sherri (mamavas) - Husband needs his current job - another round of layoffs this week
6. Denna (dlbrown1020) ~ job for Denna in Fall and finances
7. Roberta (girlpeacocks) ~ heavy job issues

Today I received a confirmation call from my doctor regarding my test Wednesday at the hospital - to see if the blood clot is gone from November.  I am not so much concerned about the test, but having a little anxiety of the drive to and back home.  We are trusting ourselves with transportation we have never used before.  I will be actually transported sitting in a wheelchair.

Original Post by njakamarilyn:

Prayer Request Reminders:

1. Karen (nanny317) ~ Has a Doctors appointment on Monday, June 8th

PRAISE:   Just read in 300+ group good news for Karen.  She can get back to her walking.  Her x-rays look ed fine.  The doctor said it is a deep tissue infection and inflamed ligament.  She has to take 3 different pills but is able to "start" walking again.

8:50 ET  - Hey NJ - Praying this morning for your test to go well and and for good results and that your transport back and forth goes smoothly! And for you to just enjoy the ride and adventure and not to be anxious over the results!!!!

PRAISE:  I arrived home safely.  Transportation was 10 minutes late arriving.  It was like a regular van with the seats taken out - not what we expected.  WE could not wheel the wheelchair up the ramp because the door was not wide enough.  I walked up the ramp to the rear and sat on a bench seat.  The wheelchair was brought in and leaned against the front seats.  Andy said he would keep an eye on it when the guy went to strap it down.  It felt so good to sit upright.  i felt like a human being going for a joy ride.  I was trying to relax and take in all the scenery while we were on the freeway.  I have not seen the area for 2 years now and there are many changes.  When we came to the off-ramp and as we were making the turn - you guessed it!  The wheelchair fell right against both my shins.  I did not scream but the pain was excruciating.  The driver started panicking and Andy said he had it.  Needless to say we arrived at the hospital on time 8:40 am for my appointment.

While in the waiting room there was a woman who answered her cell phone.  She was talking pretty loud and we could hear her "business" of course I, Andy and another patient kept giving each other looks.  Finally, I turned to her and said, "Excuse me?"  she looked at me quizzically and I just lowered my hands (you know the sign to keep it down).  She got the message, but had this look "how dare I".  Where is the common courtesy?  I thought phones were banned in the hospital.

Promptly at 9:00 am I was ushered in for my test.  She completed the test within 25 minutes.  Off the "record" she saw no "blue" for the flow of blood in my lower leg.  The upper was fine.  She compared it to the one taken on October 30thin ER and there is just a slight improvement in the right calf.  I will have to wait to hear from my doctor what the next plan of action will be.  Doesn't look like I will be coming off the medication anytime soon.  I guess that is a good thing to a certain extent - we can't talk about gastric bypass surgery until I am off the medication.  I weighed this morning at 461.6 one pound less than I did yesterday.

Well, when we came out, the transport guy was not there.  We called his cell phone and got voice-mail.  I called 2 more times and then called the office and said I had been waiting 10 minutes already.  The first driver calls back and says a driver from Thousand Oaks is closer and will pick me up.  I ended up waiting 30 minutes for the ride home, something I wanted to avoid.  This time a larger vehicle came.  The back door opens and there is a lift.  I was strapped in - felt almost like Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs except I had no face mask.   Then of all things, he starts taking a different route.   AT first I do not question but the road became real bumpy.  Then I realized he was not getting back on the freeway but taking the "old" road which is winding.  Now I know why I decided not to have anything to drink or eat before going for testing.  Andy became upset and we both are using raised voices with the driver.  He is Hispanic and there is already a language barrier.  He was depending on the GPA (mapping router?) but he wasn't even listening to the directions.  We went 8 miles out of our way and finally on to the freeway.  Three miles from there and I was home.  Safe!  What an experience.  Andy almost did not pay the guy because he was so mad about the driver switch.  I called and explained to the dispatcher what had happened.  I do not think we will use this service again.  The thing is to get me moving so I can get in the vehicle myself.

After all this, I sat down for a few minutes.  Then I got up and did my walk lap before signing on to CC.  I need to go and eat something and rest.  Will be back on later.

My 26 year old sister is having her gall bladder removed on Monday. Please keep her in your prayers that the procedure will go smoothly and that she will have a quick recovery. Also, please pray that my parents will be safe as they travel to be with her during the next week.

Lora (nanainohio) made a post in a thread called "I need Prayer!!!!!"

She needs the Lord in a mighty way to help her through a battle.

nanainohio
Jun 12 2009 00:00

It has been a very tough week for me.

I feel myself falling back into the depression I was in last fall. I dont want to do that again. My 12 yr old son is giving me a lot of problems. He is acting up very badly at church. My daughter is getting ready to have another baby in about 8 weeks. She lives with us and does not have a job. It is going to be hard for her to find a job around here. Over 8000 people in this area have lost their jobs due to DHL leaving. No place is hiring. We have custody of our almost 4 yr old grandson. My daughter was more interested in partying than raising her son. She has matured a lot and is now taking care of him but we are still supporting all of them. We are strapped financially. I feel guilty about that cause I am on disability and cant work. I have two very serious illnesses that could be life threatening to me. My dad is about to have surgery. My mom is stressed cause my stepdad was just in the hospital with heart problems. My grandmother has been in and out of the hospital the past few weeks. I know that I am whining. I need a safe place I can come and whine a little bit. I know that God is in control. I pray everyday and keep giving all of this to him. I dont hear him talking to me right now. Why is that? Have I done something wrong, am not not trusting him enough? I am ready to just give up. One thing my doctor is always telling me is as little stress as possible for me! How is that possible. I just need prayers.

Lora

Dear Lora,

You post touches my heart.  I am feeling your pain through your words. You have so much on your plate, it's no wonder you're overwhelmed.  Our "humaness" always seems to get in the way doesn't it?  I often give things to God only to turn around and pick them back up again. We are in Ohio, too and having financial difficulties, and I also have serious health problems and suffer from depression.  Are you taking any medication for your depression?  I sure hope so, becasue it makes a world of difference and there are several kinds that are available in generic now to help with costs.  If you do take depression meds, I urge you to talk to your Dr. about changing them, ect...  You don't have to feel this way.  Through God and your dr. help you can get out of the that horrible dark place that depression causes.  I'm praying for you, and I'm sure others here are too.  Take comfort in that and take as much time as you can and spend in the Word.  God will use this time to draw closer to you if you let him.

In His Love,

Sherri

2:10 PM PST

Just heard from the doctor.  My test results show abnormality in my lower leg circulation.  There is nothing that can be done about that.  He said I do not have to take the blood thinner any longer.  I have been on it 6 months.  He told me to keep moving.

NJ, I'm guessing he believes it will continue to improve with the walking. Will they do another test?

No - there is nothing that can be done.  The keep moving is so another blood clot does not develop and I end up being hospitalized again.

Original Post by ilovemytwins:

My 26 year old sister is having her gall bladder removed on Monday. Please keep her in your prayers that the procedure will go smoothly and that she will have a quick recovery. Also, please pray that my parents will be safe as they travel to be with her during the next week.

Praise:  the sugery went well.  They removed 12 stones. Still pray for a quick recovery from the surgery.