Urgent Prayer Request

I have a huge issue - I used an ATM machine on Saturday because I needed a little cash. (I only have a little cash.) When the cash and receipts came out, I pulled out quickly because I was in a hurry forgetting my debit card. I just talked to the bank to see if they could get it and the lady informed me that if the card is from another bank - it gets shredded. I really really really need that card to travel back home! Please pray.

A Day of Bad News

It is actually the wee hours of Friday morning - but within the last 24 hours there has been quite a bit of bad news. I found out that my uncle, who is a diabetic had to undergo emergency surgery for his foot. It appears that he had a wound of some sort that went untreated until it was gangrene. He is in a cardiac unit for his heart. Please pray for my Uncle Gene. He is a tough old bird, but he lost part of his other foot previously and it hit him pretty hard. I also do not know what this has done to his heart.
I also heard that my second cousin, Mark collapsed in his home on Sunday and was rushed to the hospital. It appears he has a very serious brain tumor. They have done surgery and don't expect him to live until the end of the year. It is terribly sad as he is only in his 50s and will likely be outlived by his parents who are in their 80s. Some things just feel so terribly wrong.
Please pray for these two men in my family.

Please Pray for Justin

My friend Justin spent most of his day after Christmas in the hospital. It appears he has a hernia and needs surgery to correct the problem, that causes him quite a bit of pain. He nearly passed out today because of it. This is when it is the hardest to be so far away from people we love - when we can't be there with them. Please pray for Justin that God would protect him through the surgery. I might just pace a hole in my floor on Monday praying for that boy! This is a picture of Justin with Kullen last November. Justin is Kullen's all-time favorite big boy. He wants to be just like him when he grows up! We love you Justin! Get well soon!

Does Prayer Change Things?

Yesterday I passed a church with a message board out front that said "Prayer Changes Things". I've heard a hundred different flavors of this same message - "Prayer Works", "Prayer Can Change the World", etc. I suddenly don't get it. What is prayer?
Wikipedia says this:

Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate, commonly with a sequence of words, with a deity or spirit for the purpose of worshiping, requesting guidance, requesting assistance, confessing sins or to express one's thoughts and emotions.

I think this would be a fairly accurate assessment of the common understanding about prayer. My thinking is this – when we say prayer changes things, we make God the passive activist of our wills. It is God alone who changes things as He purposes or wills. Yes, He allows us to come to Him as a child to their father with our petitions, but in the end has to choose the best.

I understand the sentiment behind such a statement – but we need to always be cautious to remember that it is not the Lord who does our bidding, but the other way around. It is a common expression that tends to credit the power to the person praying, when indeed true prayer is an act of humility in relationship with Father, and a confession in the act itself that we are powerless.

Geesh, I wish I could just drive through neighborhoods and notice the colors of people's shutters!

Prayer Is Not a Weapon Against Another Believer, and Other Rantings

In light of my last post, I am going to say that while I will save my goodies for my writing (did I mention I'm giving all of my faithful readers a FREE copy once I get published?? dream with me people!) I will never hold back on the rantings! Aren't you lucky?
Today I had a conversation with a family member, while sitting at my kitchen island, not wearing a bra, in my PJs feeling all vulnerable and was attacked by the expression "Well, I'll pray your eyes will be opened." Of all the infuriating things I've ever experienced, this is in the top 10. First of all, this is coming from a person claiming "spiritual maturity" - and yet it is THE most immature thing I think one believer can say to another. Maturity prays without a word to the person about it. Can I get an amen?
This same person is also always saying, in any conversation on spiritual matters that they've "already studied ALL of this stuff" and therefore indicating that they can benefit nothing from your participation in the discussion. Actually it's never a discussion, but a monologue and anything you have to say seems an interruption to the "wisdom" they are hoping to impart to you.
And here is the thing - maybe I don't get what that person is saying. (In this case I think it is ridiculous and a distraction from what God really wants us to focus on - BUT) Maybe there is nothing of benefit to me right now where I am in my life. Just like when my kids were babies - I didn't try to shove steak down their throats. Sometimes you have to wait for a person to cut their teeth in an area before they can chew on what you're serving up.
Anyway - I got the house pretty clean. The fury made me shake - and I swept the front porch, washed some dishes, swept and dusted the living room, cleaned up my son's room in a matter half an hour. Why do some people make it so hard to be with them?

Answered Prayer

Let me brag on God's goodness for a minute here, and tell you what a humongous deal it is that we got to be a part of what He was doing. Kendra has a friend named Michael that we met at the beginning of the year. He is a high-energy, fun-loving guy, but there was a darkness about him. We were struggling first with wanting her to maintain a friendship with him, for fear of it causing her to stumble, but instead of doing anything, Kendra and I committed to praying for him. More recently, my other daughter, Kaitlyn started having a recurring dream about Michael being attacked by demons. She had it over and over. She was sitting at the island in the kitchen last Saturday telling Kendra and I about it - when.he.called to see if he could come by. She said she knew that God wanted her to pray with him, but she didn't want to. Not because she didn't want to pray for him, but because she is the shier of the two girls, and putting herself out there like that is not something that comes naturally to her. When he got here Kaitlyn told him about her dream and asked if she could pray with him, so four of us in our kitchen put our hands on him and she prayed with a sincere heart for this friend. It was so awesome to see her obey in something that was difficult. But the best part of all is Michael couldn't wait to come over and share with us all that God had taught him through the week when he was at camp. He stopped by on his way to work this afternoon and came in carrying his Bible! I can't explain how I know but he was just different. You could feel a lightness in his presence and see it in his eyes, and he was excitedly telling us all about all the things that he has come to understand over the past week. Praise the LORD!

URGENT Prayer Needed

I arrived home last night at 11 pm to my happily waiting husband - but since that moment the world has fallen apart! My computer crashed while I was traveling and he isn't sure he can fix it. All my info may be lost. Please pray about this! It would be devastating!
Secondly - the oven glass broke while I was gone - and while he told me about it - it was traumatic to see it. The home warranty may cover this - if not we'll have to get a new door. Also - our fridge is still on the blink and looks like we'll have to fight GE with Home Depot on our side to get them to give us our money back. Ugh.
I am so so so happy to be home - but the world is a little shaky right now.
Missed y'all terribly. Hope to be back soon!

Update on Prayer Request and a Contest

If you read the post earlier about my health concerns, I will tell you that I haven't stopped feeling dizzy all day long. It is best if I sit still - but getting up and bending over are absolute no-nos. However, around 5 o'clock this evening, my left ear started to ache something fierce. Actually I think ache is too dull of a word - because it felt like a fiery hot poker being stabbed into my ear. After a handful of Advil it seems to have calmed down - but I am thinking that there is a possibility of an ear infection. I may go ahead and make a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I just don't know what exactly to do. Right now I am going to go to bed. G'nite.

Oh before that - I wanted to put the word out - I am going to have a contest here soon - so stay posted. I just haven't figured out all the ins and outs of it yet. I would love to hear any suggestions.

Teensie Weensie Prayer Request for Me

A few months ago I was having some dizzy spells. What really freaked me out is that they were happening the most severely when I was lying down. I would roll over IN BED and feel like my brain hadn't rolled with me. In the last couple of days it has been happening again. Yesterday I was dizzy all day long. I kept trying to work through it and get myself going - but never felt 100%. This morning, I woke up when my husband was puttering around the room for his work boots and tried to roll over and it was worse than ever. It made me cry. Then after calming down I tried to stand up to go to the bathroom, and immediately fell to the left. Thankfully I was right by the wall, and was able to steady myself, but it happened so fast, had that wall not been there I would've been on the ground. A little while ago I started to see what looked to be black bats flying up in the corner of my right field of vision. It wasn't like actual bats - but something from one of the kids fantasy movies that is a cloud of dust that assimilates itself into a solid object. Honestly it is all starting to freak me out a bit. The worst part is that our medical insurance does not start until April 1st (Lord willing). If you would like to pray for me, I sure would appreciate it. I am starting to feel an unhealthy dose of fear, I don't have a doctor here that I know, then there's the insurance thing, etc. etc. I am trying to take all of my thoughts captive, or they will surely run away with me!

Prayer and Beware

I may be a day late and a dollar short on this - but my friend Karen and her family are ending their journey as missionaries in Romania. You can go to her blog and read all about it - but what I wanted to ask you here is that you would pray for her family as they make a very long distance move. Her most recent post was called "The End of the Story" - but I was thinking about that how it is more like the end of a chapter. As I commented on her blog, the beauty of it is that God is always writing a new one. In our lives I am slowly seeing the ink and letters on the pages of our new life. Please pray for them as God begins writing the new chapter for the Woodwards.

Also, I don't think that Karen would mind my sharing this as a warning to all bloggers. Last week when they were in the process of moving and on the computer very little, someone left some very ugly spam comments on her blog. I found it interesting that the post that was commented on was one giving God the glory for all that He has done for them during this time of transition. (Three guesses who was behind that one!) Anyway, just beware and make sure you have your comments set for moderation. I know it is one more thing to do - but I am telling you - it may save you a lot of heartache. When I saw the comments it was so upsetting that I tried to find a phone number for her in ROMANIA because I felt as if her cyber-home had been vandalized. Take care of your homes peoples!

Prayer Request - Our Pastor's Family

When we started visiting the church we are currently attending on the last day of 2006, the pastor shared with us that his mother had just been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He is a self-professed “mama’s boy” and you could tell it to be true by how he spoke of her. Sometime this weekend – there was some confusion at church this morning about whether it was Friday or Saturday – his mother went to meet Jesus. Please pray for this hurting family.

I would like you to especially pray for this precious man that they call “Brother Randal”. He’s a big old guy with the dearest heart, and he loves the Lord so much. But as I have recently read A Grief Observed, I have come to know that even those whose faith is strong can be shaken while grieving. Pray for his strength.

This morning, the substitute pastor preached out of Habakkuk – chapter 3, verses 17-19 – which say this:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.

We can rejoice in the Lord in spite of our circumstances. And yet saying this to someone who is grieving seems as if you have no understanding of their pain. Through the grief, it is the enemy’s battle plan to take us out. Please pray for this man of God that he would be able to stand, even through this greatest hurt of his life.

While this was on my heart today, I read this wonderful post about death at a blog I read frequently – and it says it all. Death has been swallowed up in victory! I Cor. 15:54

Lord, please comfort the hearts of Brother Randal and his family with this blessed assurance.

Back Update - Or Up Backdate

I talked to my friend Carol yesterday who was wondering if I was in a wheelchair! No, not really, but I think it must've sounded like my back was worse than it was. It was just painful to move - but has seemed to ease up over the last couple of days - so I am good to go. I am up, and moving around - no bedrest for me! I even spent three hours yesterday morning helping to decorate the fellowship hall at church for the youth Valentine's Banquet. I can feel a little soreness when I move my left leg a certain way - but I just don't move it that way! Thanks for the prayers!

Part of My Heart Goes to Iraq

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This is my brother Rob. Okay sure he is handsome and all that good stuff. He is 34 - and happily married to his wife of more years than I should probably give away. He is the guy that three awesome kids named Travis, Haley and Zachary call "Daddy". Right now, as I type this, he is probably on an airplane - destination: Iraq for his second tour of duty. I know there are so many courageous, talented, extraordinary men and women overseas - protecting and defending our many, many freedoms. They are all so very special, and as believers we should be taking them daily to our Lord - for protection, companionship when they are lonely, courage when they're afraid, inspiration when faced with challenges, strength when they feel weak and tired, and the Presence of the Almighty when they are homesick and alone.
This hits a bit close to home for me because this MY little brother. To help you understand, travel back in time with me 30 years - and see a little blonde headed boy wearing footie pajamas, standing on kitchen chairs next to his brown headed sister, very close to the same size - looking out the window at the snow, blowing their breath on the glass and drawing pictures. A few years later, imagine these same two children in elementary school, being picked up by their dad and driven to a hardware store where they would spend the afternoon in a back room while their dad moves the entire contents of their family home to an apartment that he rented in another city. Later, they sit together on a bench in a long, stoic hallway as their parents separation agreement is issued by a judge, and forever their hearts are torn by a word called divorce. All these two really had consistently for years afterwards was each other.
When we were small, I was the big sister - I was his caretaker and protector. I was the only one that understood what he wanted when he broke his leg at three years old and refused to talk. I was the one that made him use the bathroom before our attempt to run away together to our dad's when we were 7 and 8 years old. I was the one that held his hand on an airplane as we flew through a lightening storm while he cried. I was the one that he talked to when he was so confused about our parents, and life and knew I was the only one who would truly understand.
Somewhere along the way, this little boy that I love so much became and extraordinary man. When our grandparents died four days apart in 1991, he was a brand new father, and I was expecting my first child. I remember how grown up and handsome and strong he looked that day at the funeral home in his Air Force uniform. He held me up while I cried unconsolably. Tonight when I go to sleep, I will ask the Lord to protect him while he is away from us - far from family, home and country. But, I will feel a little safer because what he is doing is so important to him that he was willing to risk it all, and I know how capable he is to do his job well.
God bless you Rob! You are on my heart and in my prayers.

Chaos, Chaos, Chaos

I have a lot going on in my life right now - and even though there are the physical things, like homeschooling, schedules like work and housekeeping, activities like roller skating and Awanas and play practice - most of the chaos is in my head. I have spent my prayer time each morning for the past couple just trying to quiet my mind enough to focus on telling the Lord about the spinning feeling. My mind wanders and I feel guilty. I don't know how to get focused - and partly that is because I am avoiding some things I know that I have to do.
The biggest of those things is writing a difficult letter. I have at least made a step in that I wrote the draft about a week ago. When I re-read it, it sounded much like that sound you hear from down the hall in the middle of the night when your kid gets a stomach virus and between two of the wretching sounds is a gasping call for "MOM!" Yep - it sounded a bit like that - and that is not at all what I want to convey. I want to speak the truth in love, and yet everytime I attempt to think it through or write about it, this nasty, foul stuff is all that comes out. So I wait - but not patiently or peacefully knowing that the Lord's timing is right - but anxiously turning it over and over in my mind. As I lay in bed at night, the rough draft begins to re-write itself in my head, and my heart aches because what I will say, even in love, I know will hurt. What I really want to do is what I did before I was a Christian - I want to run away. I want my house to sell quickly, so I can get out of this situation, and never have to deal with it. The Lord allows no peace when my thoughts go here. I have been wrestling Him for two months on the issue, and the only time I feel like the match stops is when I settle it in my mind that the only right thing to do is to write the letter - and convey a message of love and forgiveness. Perhaps the Lord has not allowed me to write the complete letter because He knows I am not there yet.
Everything else I am juggling is much easier than this burden I am carrying. I am going to continue to seek His help in this area. I know He is patient with me, even when I am like a wiggly child, squirming on His lap. I am so thankful that He is the perfect parent - unlike me who would be saying "sit still!", "be quiet!", "pay attention!" The Lord just continues to patiently pull me back into His arms and speaks to my heart with that still small voice until I gaze into His eyes - and all of these trials and troubles melt away when I get my focus on Him!

TEXAS - Prayer Request and a Funny!

We have many family members in Texas right now that we cannot contact by telephone. We are very worried about them. Travis' grandmother is 92 years old, and she is with his parents and aunt, cousin and her three very small children. They are already very tired from being in the car yesterday for 19 hours. My dad just called and said he heard that Lufkin, their hometown was being reported from on CNN and that they are in harms way and should probably be evacuating. We haven't been able to get a phone line to Texas all day. Gas is also in very short supply there. Usually I am glad that I do not have cable - but right know I am only getting bits and pieces of what's happening from others. I will trust in my great big God to protect them. I am asking you to ask Him to take care of them and all the people in danger from this terrible storm tonight.

On a lighter note, one morning this week, Kullen and I were driving Travis to work so that we could have the car for the day. On the way back, on WGTS 91.9, they had an elementary school class saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Having worked with Kullen on that last year, I was coaxing him to say it with me and them. He didn't seem to remember much of it - and so I started in my mommy lecturing way telling him how important it was to know the pledge if you live in America. He is in the backseat, and I was looking at his face in the rearview mirror when he said, "Mom, pretty soon, we won't LIVE in America. We'll live in Texas!" I just cracked up! And I remembered the blinkie that I pasted just above this paragraph!!!! Too funny! I can't wait till he gets to tell Memaw and Papa that one!

Reality Check

I was having a bad day. Everything was stressing me out. Ever have one of those days when you know that you are overwhelmed, but even that knowledge isn't enough to pull yourself back together and get it in check??? Well it was one of those days - living in the flesh- being short tempered, and trying foolishly to regain control on my own. There was not good news from the union today - and although it is likely temporary (they have to investigate the employer that withheld his final paycheck illegally) - I wanted it to get better NOW! I am ashamed to see how much my temperament can remindme of a two year old not getting their way is sometimes. I feel a bit like I am in quicksand - pulling harder, and harder, and HARDER - as if there is one thing I can do to make anything happen any faster than it is happening. When we first decided to move - our goal was to be in Texas by the beginning of August - and we didn't even get the house on the market until late August. I didn't want to start the school year here - and am being forced with so much else going on in or lives to try and get things going.. Wah Wah Wah

And then it happened - just before dinner my husband turned on the news - and the first half hour of stories were about the victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and Mississippi - and suddenly my problems didn't seem so bad. Families have lost their homes, people are looking for loved ones, levees have broken and cities are flooded, people are making mass exodus from their hometowns to unknown places, and highways are literally jammed with people trying to leave the ravaged areas.. It is just heartwrenching.

I don't know how it is so easy to get off track - caught up in sin - as Paul says that "so easily entangles". I repent - in dust and ashes - well at least cobwebs and an unswept floor! Turn my complaining to intercession for the needs of others Lord, and help me not to be so focused on the ridiculously minute details of my own little life and reality. Give me eyes to see the things that are eternally important.

For those affected by Hurricane Katrina

Please Pray - Layoff

My husband works in the construction industry - and the problem with building things is that eventually they are finished. The jobs he has been working on have been slowing down - and there wasn't work for him two days last week or yesterday. He worked a whole day today and was laid off at the end of the day. The problem is that his employer in order to keep him from being able to draw unemployment - found a "reason" to lay him off - and (how ironic?) several other guys on the same day. They also found a way to keep him from getting his pay for the past week. Long story short, we are going to be at the union hall tomorrow and see if we can get them to work things out. I think we could use prayer. He is expecting to get transferred to Texas soon - but in the meantime, we have to provide for our family.

I felt so terrible this evening when he came home - he looked so discouraged. He is a good husband - and he works hard to take care of us. I am so proud of him. He never complains - even though he never gets a sick day or a day off for fun. He works hard so that I can stay home with our children - and I am so thankful. Please pray that the Lord will provide. I am wondering where groceries will come from this week, and money for prescriptions for my asthmatic child. Also, my little guy has his 8th birthday in less than two weeks. It can be really exciting to be in this position - to see the hand of the Lord provide. He always does more than I could ever ask or imagine. Thank You Lord in advance for Your hand of provision!

Precious Prayer

Last night the youth leaders and parents of youth at our church had a meeting to discuss what we're doing, where we're headed, any issues or concerns, etc. Being someone who was called to minister to the teenagers at our church years ago, this ministry is so close to my heart. I care so much about what happens here even once our family has moved on.

Porky had all the youth leaders stand up in the middle of the room, and had all the parents gather around us, lay hands on us and pray for us. It was such a very precious time. To hear the parents thank the Lord for the things He has used each of us to do in the lives of their children was such a tremendous blessing. Sometimes in youth ministry you wonder if you are having any effect at all. Some of the blessings included simple things like creating an environment where their teens like to come to church.

I was second in line for prayer. The prayers of praise to the Lord for how He has used me were so precious and sweet. When Pam, my friend and pastor's wife, prayed for our family and the hole that would be at the Chapel once we've gone, I couldn't hold back the tears, and they lingered throughout the rest of the prayer time. They brought our family and our move before the Lord, someone asked that our marriage would be strengthened through such a strenuous time, and almost prophetically Porky (my pastor) asked that the Lord would be with me when times of discouragement and doubt come, when I am away from my friends and everything familiar, and that I would remember the things He has been showing me.

Ten years ago when I walked into the doors of that little Chapel in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I had no idea what a work the Lord would do in my life. My life was a train wreck. I was 25 years old, with two small children and separated from my husband. What I experienced there was genuine worship. I saw in others something I wanted - which was a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He planted me in fertile soil, and now He is uprooting me. I pray I will be able to continue to grow elsewhere!

Last night when Porky prayed over me and thanked the Lord for my "faithfulness" it was almost too much to bear. I am only able to be minimally faithful because of His extraordinary faithfulness to me. Thank YOU Jesus!