ECC - Lenten Devotions 2009 Page A

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The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. John 3: 8 (NIV)

On Sunday morning, September 14, 2008, Lorraine and I headed back to Cincinnati from an overnight stay in Lorraine’s home town, Racine, Wisconsin. It started as a light rain and then turned to a moderately heavy rain as we approached Chicago. Hurricane Ike had gone north and didn’t know where to stop. It had already dumped seven inches of rain upon Chicago and because of the flooding forced us to find open roads to Racine the previous day.

For the next seven hours I carefully drove though driving rain until we reached the south side of Indianapolis. That’s when we noticed the wind. About 25 miles later we noticed a truck on its side in the opposite lane. It was windy but nothing to seriously worry about.

When we exited I74 we noted that the stop lights were not working. When we arrived home, the first thing we noted was the brush that was on our front lawn. The second thing we noted was a backyard maple tree was down having spanned the distance from the back to our driveway. We also noted that the electric garage door opener was inoperative. Our son Dan, with chain saw in hand, was cutting up some branches from a maple tree (not ours) on the side of our house which had fallen on our neighbor’s garage. Our battery-operated radio soon gave us a quick estimate of the damage in Cincinnati.

That evening I notified a tree trimmer who I had employed a number of times and left a recorded message. Monday I picked up a few groceries from Kroger’s on Cheviot Road, now partially operating on generator power. No lights were on all the way to the grocery store. On Tuesday we still were without power and had no response about our downed tree. However, about 4 p.m., I knelt beside my bed and asked the Lord to restore our power. Two hours later the lights came on. Shortly thereafter I drove down Jessup Road to Cheviot Road. The traffic light was working. Stores in the corner mall were lit, but on either side Cheviot Road had no electrical power.

A week later, I had not seen our tree trimmer. Once again, I kneeled by the bed and asked the Lord if I could get tree service before Sunday. Early Saturday evening the man arrived. It took about two hours to cut up the tree and chip the branches, which I pulled up to the chipper. The last stump cut was nearly in the dark. I thanked him and paid him. That evening I thanked the Lord for so graciously answering my prayers.

Maurie Loomans

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving … Colossians 4:2 (NKJV)

We have a prayer-answering Father who can do abundantly above all we ask or think! For example, in December of 2007 Dave and I went to sing Christmas carols at The Burlington House Alzheimer’s Care Center located west of ECC. We were not seeking this out, but I am a retired nurse fond of this kind of thing, and when a friend from Messiah Lutheran Church asked me to go, we did. When I told Pastor Rich about it, he asked me if I would coordinate an ECC outreach there. Our Bob Cload had done some preaching/music there in the past but nothing was being done at present.

Usually facilities like this are begging for volunteers. But for about a year, I seemed to meet stonewalls. I applied to be a volunteer but my papers were lost. And I even went there for the required TB skin test. Later, I had to miss the one volunteer orientation day. Then Dave had some surgery in February and March, and the following summer we both had cataract surgeries. Throughout, several phone messages I left for the activity director were never returned. Yet all the while I kept praying for a door to open for ministry and asked others to do so too. Nothing happened.

Then in December of 2008, as I sat by my phone praying, the Holy Spirit encouraged me to try again. When I called I was immediately put through to the NEW activity director who enthusiastically signed me up to lead one of their regular Sunday afternoon devotional services. She also mentioned that someone else from ECC was scheduled for a visit December 2…..Stephanie Langdon with the Homeschooling Group that meets at ECC.

As a result, I attended that day with these beautiful children and mothers and grandmothers all dressed in their Christmas finery. What sweet voices! What a great leader Stephanie is! What a joy! It is hard to put into words the wonderful meeting of the children and the residents. One elderly lady said it had been so long since she had seen any children it just brought tears to her eyes. God had done abundantly above all I could ask or think and I really couldn’t take any credit. Interestingly, Stephanie couldn’t take much credit either because the unknown Burlington House was chosen only because Maple Knoll had not been available. And a non-member ECC mother had recommended Burlington. Is that a little coincidence or a big God opening doors?

Please pray today for this mission field, our neighbors, right next door to us - the 100 residents, the relatives, and the staff. Praying lifts us out of our self-centeredness, frees us from our self-focus. We need this kind of deliverance to share the great Good News: the message of salvation, of healing and of all the rich blessings of God in Christ Jesus.

Noreen Mocsny

PRAYERS FOR OUR NINE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Romans 11:33,34a (NIV)

It was barely more than a year after we had become born-again Christians and had joined College Hill Presbyterian Church, that we suddenly found ourselves facing the greatest challenge of our lives. Our nine-year-old daughter, Bonnie, was seriously ill, and her illness seemed to defy diagnosis. Because we had previously been devout Christian Scientists and had not believed in medical help, we did not even have a pediatrician.

Aware that "Dr. Bill" (Bill Gerhardt) was a fellow church member and was an excellent pediatrician, we turned to him. By this time Bonnie had been admitted to Children's Hospital, but her illness was still a mystery. There were many church members praying for a breakthrough. Unexpectedly, a doctor on temporary assignment from Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, informed the staff that the illness might be a rare disease called leptospirosis.

We informed Dr. Bill of this, and he spent countless hours searching for information in medical journals about leptospirosis. He had never seen a case of this before and was such a support to us in every way, as were the prayers of many church members. Lab tests confirmed that it was leptospirosis. Case histories indicated the most favorable results were from large doses of penicillin within a few days of onset. It had been six weeks.

Doctors administered penicillin without success. Then we were told that she was going to be released, as they could do nothing more for her. For three weeks at home, Bonnie suffered severe pain, fever and hallucinations and often could not even walk. All we could do was to pray and call on our dear church family to pray with us.

A group of our church friends, including Dr. Bill and his wife, Ruth, came to our home to pray for Bonnie. That was very reassuring to us. The group had fasted all that day, and as they offered up some very powerful prayers, we could feel that indeed the Lord reached out to lead us out of our old religion and bring us into a body of believers who lived out their faith in such amazing ways. The illness was not suddenly healed that evening, but the very next morning there was a miraculous full recovery. Bonnie, who had lost 20 pounds and had missed 44 days of school, never showed signs of that illness again. You can imagine our joy and gratitude.

How many people were praying for our daughter during her ten week illness we will never know; nor will we know the far-reaching witness to the power of the Lord to heal through prayer. Yet, we do know that many, many lives were touched by our family's experience.

Richard Rosene

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

For years I’d heard — and been reminded by the Lord — of that verse. People like me who work with computers should not have to worry about human bosses, right? Just turn us loose on those machines and the world ceases to exist! Well, it may seem that way but we “techies” still have to deal with humans, and human institutions, and rules established by those other humans and institutions.

It seems that over the years, often when I really wasn’t expecting it — God has answered my prayers about my work situation. I moved to my current employer, Duke Energy, when it was still Cincinnati Gas and Electric Company in 1990. Since then we’ve gone through two mergers, umpteen upheavals over changes in management and corporate culture, and countless other seemingly small changes. Long ago I lost count of how many managers, job titles, and department names have come and gone over the years.

Anyone who has ever worked in a corporate environment would tell you, with perhaps rare exception, that things can change on a whim. Sometimes the change is exciting and fun, especially when the changes turn out to be something you think should be done anyway. Other times, they make little sense on the surface, cause major disruptions to your way of doing your job, and add more proverbial hoops through which you must jump just to get something done.

I admit that I like to do things “my way.” I am usually fine with the way I have to do things at work as long as they work out “my way” in the end. Just change the rules, though, for no apparent reason, and make “my way” harder to do, and well — there goes my attitude, right out the window.

A couple of years ago I was in a situation like that. I had a new manager, different job responsibilities that I thought were mundane, and a recent merger was bringing about changes that I did not like. I was just feeling rather put out by it all. I wanted something to change but I had the wrong idea about who or what needed changing.

I prayed about the situation. I asked my wife, kids and others to pray about my work situation. My prayer was something to the effect of “Lord, I am not happy with things at work. Please let them change.” I had some time off at the end of that year and I prayed that prayer several times. Surely God would change those people and things to suit me!

That prayer was answered in a dramatic way. Little did I suspect that the answer would be “what needs to change is … you!” (Uh-oh! Not what I was looking for here!) God reminded me that I work for Him. I dropped my petition that “things” would change and instead asked God to change my attitude.

I went back to work after the holidays that year with a much better disposition. (My manager noticed the change too.) I settled in to do my work with the attitude that in the end my work mattered more to God than it did to anyone else. If I worked as though He were the manager, and trusted that He was in charge, how could I have anything but a good attitude?

I wish I could say I maintained that attitude 100% of the time from that point on. There were still some things that I did not think were right, but I was not in a position to change them and with God’s help and the support of my praying friends and family, I continued to work with a different outlook. I had been entrusted with various responsibilities and I carried them out as best I could.

Later that year, an opportunity came up to transfer into a different group. The opportunity would involve working with some systems and tools that I really liked, and that were being phased out in my current group. The skills required were a good fit with my background and interests.

I interviewed with the group (not just the hiring manager as I’d expected) and the interview went very well. About a month later, I transferred into the new role. Not for once did I doubt that the Lord brought me to this point. How else could such a “perfect” job come up, just at the right time and in the right place?

I have been in the “new” position about a year. Of course it is not perfect. There are times when the work can be very tedious and difficult. Somewhere along the way, way back there, I guess I listened when God’s answer to my prayers was a challenge to examine my heart and look to Him.

God did not change all those other people. He did not change the rules or remove the obstacles. He just changed me instead. When I was willing to change, God was willing to open doors that I did not know existed. Isn’t that just like Him?

Terry Eshom

DOES PRAYER WORK?

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Prayer is a “mysterious” thing. We are commanded to do it and even given some specific guidelines as to how we should pray. Sometimes there are specific, outright answers we can point to and sometimes answers are unquantifiable… that is until you take a look back over a period of praying.

Over the years Dennis has worked in Turkey, Mexico and North Carolina; he has traveled to Canada to the middle of nowhere and has returned safely from each trip. Could it be because I, along with others, was praying for his safety? I believe so. Our daughter would go out in the evening with friends and every time she came back safe. Could it be because her dad and I were praying for her safety? I believe so. Planes have been late and there have been traffic jams and often we’ve reflected that maybe it was answered prayer for safety. We may have been spared an accident because we had prayed for “travel mercies.”

Many times we get discouraged because prayers aren’t answered the way we want and when we want. I know I do. But if we take the time to look through our lives and the many ways we and our loved ones have been kept safe, how can we doubt the answers to prayer. This in itself is cause for joy and thankfulness. So let us not become weary in doing good as Galatians 6:9 tells us and prayer is a great “good”.

Becky Powell

THE POWER OF POSITIVE PRAYING

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13(NIV)

OK, Lord! You win! Right after I told John Wood that I wasn’t sure I’d had any answered prayer to write about, (considering Ruth’s condition in spite of daily prayer for increased strength, energy and activity), He showed me the result of answered prayer. Suddenly He permitted me to have a bout of severe diarrhea and resulting paralysis of my bowels, known as ileus, where I distended, hurt and couldn’t “move”. After a quick trip to the Good Sam ER and admission for possible bowel obstruction, and fervent prayers by Pastor Rich, brothers Maurie, John Green (from Hawaii), Mark Verhagen and the body of Christ at ECC, my bowel opened up and surgical correction was avoided. Then I could praise the Lord for answered prayer! I’m sharing this devotional from my bed in room 1471 of Good Samaritan Hospital where I feel fine and am convalescing from diarrhea, dehydration and weakness so I can return home to take care of Ruth again.

My reliance on prayer took a big jump at Medical School when I read the Norman Vincent Peale bestseller The Power of Positive Thinking and I eagerly latched on to his suggestion to pray Philippians 4:13 at every trial. Through med school, internship and residency and my pediatric practice, a silent prayer that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” preceded all venapunctures, IVs, lumbar taps and all difficult procedures. Dr. Peale encouraged us with scripture from Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” and I claimed that throughout my professional career.

I would be remiss, as a two term elder of ECC in our early years, if I didn’t mention how, after several trials of discouragement and disappointment, God answered our leadership and corporate body prayers to so thoroughly bless us now with worship, preaching, teaching and the talented staff and lay leadership that we enjoy today. I am so grateful to Him for our answered prayers for ECC.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Bill Gerhardt

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A GOOD THING

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD. Proverbs.18:22 (ESV)

I began reading the Bible in earnest in my early twenties. Up to that point, my record in the “girlfriend” department was pretty grim. I never attended a high school dance (a source of pride, not regret). In fact, I spent the night of my senior prom pumping gas. At the time I ran across this verse as a grown man (or so I thought), it probably gave me hope for better things to come.

As the years ticked by, however, presumption turned into frustration, as no such blessing was forthcoming. Each year, this verse triggered much introspection. Is something wrong with me? Am I being punished? Am I being called to start up a support group for social rejects (“Hi, my name is Dave, and I couldn't find a date with a map and a flashlight.”)?

After a decade and a half of thinking the answer to my prayer was “no”, it turns out the answer was “wait.” I would love to be able to tell you that I was the poster child of patience, but too often I was the guru of grumbling. In my mind, I had figured out how and when my prayer should be answered. Why wasn't God on board with my vision?

I would imagine that throughout Israel's history, the Jewish people thought that their time (whatever time it was) was the right time for God to send His Messiah. Yet, Christ came in the time and manner of God's choosing, something that was missed by many of the “experts.”

As I look at my wife, I realize that I have found a “good thing”, in a time and manner that I did not anticipate. God's vision was better than my vision (duh!). I can't imagine being with anyone else. I am humbled, and reminded to be patient in prayer, trusting that His ways are higher than my ways, and His thoughts are higher than my thoughts.

Dave Matre

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PEANUTS AND THEATERS

If you make the Most High your dwelling even the LORD, who is my refuge - then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. . . . ‘Because he loves me,’ says the LORD, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.’
Psalm 91:9-10 and 14-15 (NIV)

As some at ECC know, I am seriously allergic to peanuts. A single peanut or a small bit of peanut butter could prove fatal. And, as a few people may know, I am very interested in theaters. A few years ago, God showed His faithfulness to me in a powerful way that combined peanuts and theaters. In 2002, I was blessed to be able to attend a theater convention in New York City. One day involved a walking tour with a buffet lunch provided at a Chinese restaurant with theatrical décor dating from the late 1920s. After a close call years ago, and since much Chinese cooking involves peanuts, I don’t eat at Chinese restaurants. I saw a McDonald’s near the Chinese restaurant and figured I would slip away, have a safe lunch, and then rejoin the group. God had another idea. I heard very definitely, “I want you to trust Me and go to the Chinese restaurant. I will take care of you and you will get enough to eat.” It felt like walking into a mine field, but I obeyed and went along with the group, very much on edge, and trying to listen very carefully for any promptings from God. The first pan in the buffet line was empty. The sign indicated it had contained General Tsao's Chicken. The next pan contained broccoli and I took some. There were more vegetables which looked safe and I took some of them. There was another pan of broccoli, this time in brown sauce. I like sauces, so even though I already had broccoli on my plate, I picked up the serving spoon to take some. I heard an unmistakable “PUT IT DOWN” so I put the spoon back and went on. I got enough to eat, did not get sick, and got to see the ornate restaurant interior. Afterward, I learned that General Tsao’s Chicken has peanuts as garnish and is usually cooked in peanut oil. The brown sauce on the broccoli was peanut sauce. God was indeed faithful to His promise to me, and the experience gave me a much deeper insight into how much He loves and cares for us.

Mike Detroy

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THIS FAR AND NO FARTHER

. . . when I [God] said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt.’ Job 38:11 (NIV)

Several years ago, when I had breast cancer, many of you were praying for God to set a boundary on the cancer and the side effects so I could be healed. During that time, the above verse defined my journey. Although I had to go through the cancer, chemo, surgery, radiation, and the battle with fear, it was never as bad as it could have been. At many points along the way, God stepped in and said, “Enough! No farther!”

This verse, which came to mean so much to me, is from God’s breathtaking and slightly playful four chapter speech at the end of Job where He questions Job: “Where were you when I created this and that?” In the above passage God refers to the limits He puts on the oceans. What a magnificent thought! As I journeyed through my cancer, I saw God exercise those same limits on my behalf. My tumor was so large, the doctor was sure the cancer had spread to other organs. It hadn’t. I thought the terror of the diagnosis would last through the whole journey. It didn’t. I thought having chemo the first time would be awful. It wasn’t. I thought losing my hair would be horrible. It wasn’t. I thought wearing my wig to church the first time would be embarrassing. It wasn’t. I thought the surgery would be devastating. It wasn’t. Each time and countless others, God’s sufficient grace took over. The dreading was so much worse than the actual event because God gave His peace so generously. In fact, the magnitude of that peace took me by surprise every time.

The first couple weeks, however, the terror of the diagnosis was overwhelming. The treatment had not yet begun and very few people knew. It seemed like I only had relief from the fear when I actively fought for it by praying, reading comforting psalms, or taking fearful thoughts captive. I called my Bible study group together to pray for me the following Sunday before church. Peace wrapped around me that day. I didn’t have to work for it. For the rest of the cancer treatment, I enjoyed the peace that passes understanding. Yes, there still were some times when I had to battle fear and take thoughts captive. But for the most part peace was freely given. God had even set a limit on my fear. It could only come this far and no farther. To God be the glory!

Wendy Detroy

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REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE OF PRAYER

In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. Psalm 118:5(NIV)
…and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. Psalm 50:15 (NIV)

As I reflect on my prayer life, I recognize that I have changed quite a bit when I commune with God. When I was in my younger days, I was more in line with Psalm 118:5 and would really lay out my heart before the Lord when I was in deep trouble. My prayer life had a lot of “please Lord”. Then later in my life when I was in contact with more of the “gifts of the spirit” believers, my prayers became more demanding like “you promised Lord”. Now that I have attained a “few” gray hairs, my prayer life is more in line with Psalm 50:15, the big change being that I now seem to be in trouble all the time.

My mind seems to be slipping a bit. When working on a project I often find myself addressing the Lord by saying, “Lord, I just had that tool in my hand but now I do not know where I put it. Please open my eyes”. When I drive at night I now easily get lost and ask “Lord, please show me the way”. Does the Lord always answer my prayers? Well, sometimes it is immediate like in Isaiah 65:24; sometimes there is a delay as in Luke 18:7; sometimes it is a different answer than asked as in 2 Corinthians 12:8 and sometimes beyond expectation as in Ephesians 3:20. But at other times I am asking amiss as stated in James 4:3 “when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures”.

Lent is a time when many Christians prepare for Easter by observing a period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline. Most of us think of Lent as a time for giving up something. The other side of Lent is doing more, or saying yes. Lent is the Church's invitation to go forward, to move ahead, to grow in faith and devotion. The season prepares us to celebrate with greater intensity and love the death and resurrection of Jesus. I am very happy that the topic “answered prayers” was chosen for this devotional, as it gave me an opportunity to search my prayer life. I must ask the Lord for many more things than I realized because He has given me such an abundance of answers and reassurances. But I also realize that I have to straighten out some of my habits, actions and expectations of my prayer life. As I look forward to Easter, I see that our Lord gave himself totally and freely for me, in spite of who I am and what I do as long as I earnestly seek my salvation with fear and trembling, lean on His promises and believe that his sacrifice was sufficient and complete for my salvation.

Francis Lieuwen

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SUFFICIENT GRACE

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

God really showed me His power in my weakness one weekend not too long ago…

The month was December, an already very busy month just by nature. I found myself often praying the only way I could at times, “Help!!” I had been sick with bronchitis the entire month and it seemed that no matter what I tried I could not take time to just be in my bed so I could heal. I was continually imploring the Father to help me, to heal me. One particular weekend at the end of the month I was especially overwhelmed. I had just been newly diagnosed with pneumonia, yet I had a schedule that was not in keeping with being sick. I had meetings to attend and kids to pick up from various places. On Friday of this particular weekend one of my daughters who had just come home came to me with mysterious “bug bites” on her back. We treated them. By the next morning she was covered in a serious case of hives all over her upper body. So even though I had pneumonia, we spent a very long day in the emergency room. She was treated and told to return if they worsened. In the meantime I begged my mom to keep my other daughter, who had been visiting her, for another day. I really needed to be in bed, but that was not to be. The hives worsened and we spent the evening back in the emergency room.

The next morning my other daughter called to say my mom was sick and extremely confused, so for the third time in twenty-four hours, I spent time in the emergency room, this time with my mom. My family was very concerned about me before I left that morning but I assured them that I was really ok. I should have been rattled by this turn of events but I was not. I had peace that I knew was from God. I knew He was giving me His grace to get through what appeared to be a very trying weekend. God’s grace is truly sufficient! We have what we need when we need it. Of that, I am sure. Thank you, Jesus!!

Jennie Baumgartner

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GOD’S PEACE

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you… John 14:27a (ESV)

No lady likes getting a mammogram. I sure don’t, but my history is that I have for years been on the “every six months” schedule. Fortunately, at the Barrett Center they keep the x-rays from “way back when” and string them all out in a row for yearly comparison. (I have seen this awesome sight.) One time many years ago they did a biopsy that turned out OK. Then about ten years ago they became concerned about some calcium deposits. Dr. Coith sank into his chair, covered his face, looked at me and said in an unusually soft voice that he was sending me over to Christ Hospital to have a stereotactic core biopsy. My doctor’s indication that he feared the worst sent me into a tailspin of emotions.

As Keith and I sat at dinner that evening, he stopped everything, reached over to me and began to pray. And pray he did! When he was finished, the world was bright again, my fears were gone and while I was not void of concern, I was at peace. Not just the usual basic calm, and certainly not the kind described as a fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5. Until that moment I had no concept of the supernatural peace that comes from the Lord. The Word tells us that Jesus is our peace and I was most certainly secure in His peace.

I also remember that the folks in my Wednesday morning prayer group that met at the Loomans’ home also gathered around me and prayed for healing.

The day of the biopsy was uneventful. The doctors at Christ Hospital indicated that they were sure the test was revealing that everything was fine, and so it was.

I recall. It was during the months that followed when I began to notice the casual and routine manner we all use the words “grace and peace”. They have such deep meaning and are sometimes so casually spoken. To feel God’s supernatural peace is to feel His overwhelming presence and holy calm enveloping you. The world cannot have it. Believers sometimes do. For this is God’s precious and personal supernatural gift of peace.

Ann Kintner

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NOT GROWING WEARY IN OUR PRAYERS

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before Him endured the cross. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12: 2a, 3 (NIV)

Boy, no truer words have been spoken into Bill’s life and mine! A commentary that I read stated that these words were written to the Jewish Christians to encourage them in their faith. Hardships, it seems, have been with us since Man was run out of the Garden of Eden. So how do we not “grow weary and lose heart”? How do we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus who “endured the cross” for us? The most obvious answers are to read our Bibles faithfully to find the encouraging words of our loving Father and to pray without ceasing. But I also find that I need to reflect on the answered prayers in my life.

I prayed for years (yes, years) that God would find a job for me that was something I looked forward to doing on a daily basis. That prayer was answered! For nine years I have served joyfully the mathematics and entry year teachers of Clermont County. I reflect on how God has been faithful to keep me safe and not forsake me even when doubts assail me. Because He kept me employed as I seriously contemplated retiring a few years back, we currently have a steady paycheck coming in and health benefits. Another answered prayer was the ability of our realtors to sell our house just as the housing market was starting to crash.

To grow spiritually and in our walk with God, we have been in a Bible study group that has been praying with us and for us. Most amazingly, our group recently decided to take up the study of the Westminster Confession. The very first night of the study, Harvey Landholm led us in the history of how the Confession came about. You want to talk about a reflective walk of the faithful! Those loving servants of God have given us a living document that has endured for hundreds of years! That is answered prayer!

So, yes, I will be a faithful prayer warrior, thanking God for the many blessings that He has given to Bill and me. Yes, I will work tirelessly in serving Him who loves me and keeps me safe. Yes, I love Him with all my heart and soul as I fix my eyes on Him who endured the pain and suffering of the cross so that I could be with Him for all eternity.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for always guiding our paths. Continue to lead us in Your ways so that we when we meet you face to face we will hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Amen

Barb Weidus

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POWER TO FORGIVE

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

I wrestled much of the night with God, with my conscience, with my inability to forgive. I was angry. I was very angry and my efforts to forgive, up until that point, had gotten me nowhere. My weakness was all too evident. The offense was real; the effect of it was keenly felt. Justification of my anger was so easy, and felt so “naturally” right.

But… what does God say?

“he made you alive…having forgiven all your transgressions.” Colossians 2:13
“The one who forgives an offense seeks love…” Proverbs 17:9
“For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:14
“But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.” Matthew 6:15
“Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think…” Ephesians 3:20

I wanted to go there, to be in this mindset. I wanted to reflect the character of Christ by forgiving as I had been forgiven. But honestly, part of me also wanted the offender to feel the pain, to be imposed upon the way I had been. It was beyond me to forgive, not just in word or in desire, but truly from my heart.

So I prayed. Hard.

In the morning, I found that His grace really was enough for my need, even a need as great as mine. I found myself able to forgive, with a power that was not from me, but was now in me. I was tired, but had been handed a victory that previously was out of my reach.

With Paul, I could say, "I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.”

He truly does answer prayer.

Pam Dollard

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A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING

The sons of Noah who went forth from the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the people of the whole earth were dispersed. Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. Genesis 9:18-23 (ESV)

Those of you who know me well have undoubtedly heard this story, which happened some twenty years ago. If that’s the case, feel free to skip this reading! However, I know that there are members of our congregation who are currently experiencing a similar family situation, and I hope that the insight the Lord gave me during that stressful period might prove helpful to them.

My father died in 1985. A few months after his death we began to notice some changes ion my mother’s behavior. My dad had been a very organized person and had always taken care of any administrative details such as seeing that the bills were taken paid on time, so at first we attributed Mother’s forgetfulness and lack of organization to grief, loneliness and the need to make adjustments no one ever really wants to make! However, it soon became apparent that something more was amiss.

I began to receive phone calls from her friends that Mother was missing appointments, becoming confused when she was out, misplacing things and then accusing others of taking them, and neglecting her personal appearance. We also received hysterical calls from Mother, often in the middle of the night. My uncle phoned and suggested that we needed to “do something” about her. Easier said than done!

Dealing with this situation long distance, with me here and my only sibling in Lexington, and both of us being employed at the time, was a distinct challenge. My sister and I spent literally every vacation we had travelling back and forth to North Dakota. To further complicate matters, Mother vehemently denied that anything was wrong and stated that she was perfectly competent to manage her own affairs, even though it was obvious she wasn’t! She was very resistant to the idea of moving into a retirement community, refusing to sign rental agreement sat the last minute after all arrangements had been made, or of having a live-in companion in her own home. And, she continued to drive even though we had taken her keys. The last straw came during one of our frequent visits, when she literally threw my sister’s suitcase out the door, and told us what ungrateful daughters we were, and stated that she never wanted to see us again! The next day, she told a neighbor, “The girls are upset with me but I don’t know why!”

In the meantime, Joan and I had checked into a hotel, at that point feeling pretty desperate. Before we went to bed, we prayed together that the Lord would show us what to do. In the middle of the might, I awoke suddenly with the story of Noah in my mind. Noah’s son had covered his nakedness, because to be seen unclothed was a disgrace. Then I understood that figuratively speaking, Mother was naked; her bizarre behavior was exposed to all, something which would be terribly humiliating to her. In removing her from the situation, even though we were acting against her will, we were covering her nakedness.

It’s never easy to switch roles and become the parent of a parent, but from that point on, we were able to make arrangements for Mother’s care confidently, even though she still resisted the idea, because the Lord had shown us that in His eyes, we were doing the right thing and thus honoring our parent.

Nancy Stauffer

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CROWNS AND STRANGE THINGS

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!” Luke 5:26 (NKJV)

“It wasn’t a tax question.” Dad disclosed the “mystery call” from Steve Doughman in November 2007. Instead, Steve had called to express his interest in me (!) and his desire to begin a courtship. His actions from the last couple of months began to make sense: a long conversation at ECC’s luau, frequent appearances at the cafe where I served, enthusiastic praise after my choral performance and deliberate introduction to my dad just days prior to this “mystery call”. This earnest, joyful, handsome young man intrigued me, but until that call, I didn’t realize God had turned his heart toward me. Dad asked Steve to give us a week to pray about it.

Prayer about my life partner wasn’t new, this was just the first time a name was attached! Since June of 2006 I had prayed daily and specifically from Scripture for my future husband. Before then I didn’t feel free to pray this directly, but knew God wanted me to focus on serving while single. Now, He gave me indescribable peace as I prayed about Steve. The day after he called, this verse stood out from my regular Bible reading (when Jesus heals the paralytic), “And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today!” Luke 5:26. The word “strange” encompasses “wonderful, marvelous, unusual.” I smiled as I thought about how Steve and I might appear unusual to the average onlooker. If God was truly leading, however, our relationship would cause others to glorify Him--a testimony of how He prepares good things for His children.

My parents confirmed my feelings, and our courtship ensued: first with insightful conversations between Dad and Steve and then our own sweet friendship building. During those treasured days, Steve became my best friend. One of my prayers was to be “a crown” to my husband (Proverbs 12:4). Then I learned Steve’s name means, “crowned one"! Was God calling me to be Steve’s crown?

After an eagerly accepted proposal in April and special preparation times, we were married on September 27, 2008. Throughout my life, God has confirmed the role of His Body as encouragers through prayer. Many praying friends believed God would reveal just the right man for me and encouraged me to be patient. I know the same is true for Steve. As our friendship grew, we were blessed by wise counselors, family members, pastors and friends who prayed for God’s will to be confirmed. We thank God for the privilege of prayer and glorify Him for bringing us together.

Emily Doughman

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A SONG OF HEALING

Sing a song to the Lord, O you His saints and give thanks to His Holy name.
You have turned my mourning into dancing,
You have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness
That my glory may sing Your praise and not be silent.. Psalm 30:4, 11-12a (ESV)

Barb Browne, organist/choir director and elder at the former Salem Church, loved by her choir and congregation, received news from her doctor that she needed to have a catscan performed for a hernia. When the catscan results came back, masses showed up on three of her vital organs. The doctor then requested for an MRI to be done.

The choir gathered for prayer. They knew nothing about healing ministries but they knew Maurie Loomans who had preached in the church innumerable times. They turned to him for counsel. I joined the choir and the pastor at a gathering at the Loomans home. Barb was seated in a chair, facing the choir. The choir knelt on the rug in prayer, and began singing hymns of praise. Maurie anointed Barb with oil, and then prayed for healing, with words of praise and the commitment of all who had gathered.

As the singing continued, some began to weep. Later, the choir admitted that they were sure that the Holy Spirit had come into the room. All they knew was that a new peace as well as a new kind of praise entered their hearts.

A week later, when Barb and a choir member went back to her doctor, they waited to hear bad news. Instead, good news was told …no masses showed on the MRI. Dr. Delamerced, her general practitioner, examined the results and was dumbfounded, along with the pastor and me! Barb was told to still go to the surgeon, Dr. Mahalingam, for her hernia. After the surgeon examined her, he told her that he could not feel the hernia. He kept pushing on her abdomen, but felt nothing.

That special night at the Loomans, all had encountered the God of healing, and they rejoiced and thanked their Lord. But more than this, God had touched each one with spiritual healing in his or her inmost heart. Our hearts sang!

Reverend Wayne Brouwer, of a Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Michigan, wrote in his book; Hear Me, O God, “A friend asked Franz Joseph Haydn why his church music was so full of gladness. He answered, “I cannot make it otherwise. I write according to the thoughts I feel. When I think upon my God, my heart is so full of joy that the notes dance and leap from my pen.” (p. 63)

May our hearts sing to Thee, O God, and never be silent.

Jo Youst

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GOD’S ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23:1 (ESV)

The other night, I went to visit a friend at Mallard Cove and had a wonderful visit. He asked me to stay for dinner. But he wanted to have an early dinner at 4:15, and not at the usual 5:00 hour, so I declined and headed for home. As I turned on to Sharon Road, I heard a flapping noise. I continued to drive a few blocks and it did not stop. I pulled over to the side of the road and got out of my car to see what the noise was. My right rear tire was in shambles. I was standing there looking down at it, wondering how in the world you tear up a tire like that. I had no time to get worried because very soon, a jogger stopped and said to me, “Lady, if you have a spare I will change that tire for you.” I said, “You will do that for me?” He said “Yes”.

I opened my trunk and he took out the tire and the wrench. He could not get the old tire off with my wrench, so he went to his home a couple of blocks away and returned with a younger man and a bigger wrench. The young man got the old tire off and the new one put on, but they could not get the hubcap off. They told me that two blocks up the street I could get some air in my tire and they would put my hubcap on the new tire. I offered them all the money I had on me, but they refused, saying they were glad they were able to help me and they left.

I drove off to find the place they had told me about, and found it closed. I stood there looking at the “closed” sign and began to pray, “Well, Lord, You sent Your angels to change my tire, but it is low on air and they cautioned me not to drive too far on it. Lord, I don’t know anything about this area of town. What in the world do I do?” That wee little voice in my head said, “You are not for from Ford on Northland and Kemper.” I said, Thank You, Holy Spirit!” and got in my car and drove there.

Upon arriving there a young man greeted me and said, “Yes, lady, we can do that for you.” I talked with him as he worked and found out he was a very nice young Christian man. When he finished I asked him, “How much do I owe you?” He said, “Lady, it’s on me.” I said, “No, this is Ford’s; surely I have to pay you for your time or something.” He said, “I have enjoyed servicing you and no charge.” I said, “Then, since I am old enough to be your grandmother, can I give you a hug?” He said, “My pleasure.”

If I had stayed for dinner I would have missed the jogger and this might have been a very different scenario. But, praise God, He is my shepherd and I shall never want.

Toni Benford

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THE PERFECT TIMING OF GOD

We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice for we trust in his holy name. Psalm 33:20 (NIV)

The Israelites had an amazing miracle at the Red Sea, and we understand why it's passionately celebrated every year. God opened and shut doors, His timing was perfect, and His provisions were abundant. Our "Red Sea Experience" happened about seven years ago in California.

I flew to California to be with daughter Lisa and family during the birth of their third child. Crazy, scary things began happening. The day before Daniel was born she woke up unable to move on her right side for about an hour, and her brain just wasn't working right. Her husband Fred took her immediately to the local hospital, hoping to have tests and appropriate treatment if this were, indeed, a stroke. God clearly shut that door. The intake personnel were very disinterested and slow. He wanted to take her to the superior UCLA hospital, but they wouldn't accept their insurance. They spent a day at another hospital, coming home around midnight after refusing advice that the baby should be delivered C-section in case Lisa were to have another seizure. (Wouldn't surgery be risky with so little information?)

The next day was lovely, and after good rest, a healthy baby boy, Daniel, was born naturally. Fred spread the good news but continued to work on appropriate care for Lisa. He found it. Dr. Fritzhand here in Cincinnati had a friend at UCLA who was willing to see Lisa. Amazingly, when Fred called, there had been a cancellation and she was able to see Lisa that afternoon. They came back happy that Lisa was now a patient and very encouraged with medical options. Good thing. The next morning Fred couldn't wake Lisa up. He and a buddy carried her to the car and they drove off. Within 90 seconds of arrival they found her sugar level dangerously low, very close to permanent damage, and stabilized her in about 20 minutes. Finding the cause wasn't as fast, and they had neurologists and endocrinologists working together for weeks. They were finally ready to send her home advising her to monitor her sugar level and stick to a helpful diet. The night before her dismissal one of her doctors couldn't sleep. The diagnosis just didn't fit! She wondered if test A had been evaluated incorrectly by test B criteria and got out of bed to find out. The next morning her findings were a show-stopper, and she insisted that more testing be done. More weeks of testing, more seizures, and finally a pancreatic tumor was found and operated on. Lisa has been fine since.

God opened and shut doors to get her where He wanted her. Daniel's perfect birth, a cancelled appointment, the willingness of a UCLA doctor to see her, a doctor's sleepless night, etc. confirmed that His timing was perfect. Fred missed a lot of school while caring for Lisa. That was sad, but we sure appreciated his priorities. Professors were understanding, and God graciously enabled him to read books, finish papers, and pass tests--especially amazing since this included learning ancient Semitic languages. Truly, our trust is valid, and it is in Him.

Ruth Cload

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WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO PRAY FOR

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 (ESV)

We generally tend to come to prayer with lots of requests. We spend most of our time on the “daily bread” portion of the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray. This is not wrong, of course, but in Jesus’ prayer, it comes after requests for the accomplishment of God’s will and the establishment of His kingdom. I think this order is important: as Jesus modeled in the garden (Luke 22:42), we are to desire God’s will above our own.

A simple reason for this is that we do not know what is best. Lacking eternality and omniscience tends to limit one’s perspective. Yet see how patiently God bears with our weakness! Since our ideas, thoughts, and words are woefully insufficient to supplicate Almighty God, the Holy Spirit prays in our place! Our flimsy prayers for what we see as best are transformed by the third Person of the Trinity into that which is in accord with the divine will.

I saw this in my own life in the summer of 2006. I had spent the previous year teaching at an international Christian school in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and returned to the States to renew my visa. Over the course of the summer, a series of set-backs, delays, and rejections sent me and many others to prayer. The request was simple: Give me this day a visa! I had no plan B. I had come to the States on a round-trip ticket with only summer clothes. I had a classroom ready and a school counting on me to teach for the second half of my contracted obligation. The King of the Universe, possessing every conceivable resource and ability, chose to allow the government of Uzbekistan to reject all three possible avenues of visa application I pursuedand this despite all the prayers!

As it turns out, God had intended my path to intersect with that of one Christine Thomas, now my wife. Had my visa come, I would have left for Tashkent from Seattle, not stopping in Cincinnati to help my parents move here. I believe that God heard those prayers for a visa. I believe he heard them through the Spirit’s groanings, recast as a plea for me to be furnished with everything I would need to do the work of the kingdom that was set before me. And God answered that prayer.

[The school in Tashkent continues to need prayer for ongoing difficulties with visas for Western teachers.]

Isaac Gould

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GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. Psalm 48: 14 (NIV)

I always stand amazed and filled with overwhelming joy and gratitude when God moves in marvelous ways that one can only attribute to Him. My job change from PregnancyCare to Kroger is one of those incredible occasions.

At the end of 2005, I sensed that God’s purpose for my season at PregnancyCare had come to a close. The vision the Board hired me to accomplish had largely been achieved. For over 18 months, I prayed for the Lord’s guidance and He confirmed His plan for me through a series of significant answers to my various prayers for discernment.

The most notable answer to prayer that I sought, if I was in fact hearing Him correctly, was a new job. I did not have the energy to pursue a job search and I wasn’t even sure I wanted to return to Corporate America or return to my former compensation career. “But if there is one job I might like”, I told the Lord, “It is a job like Steve (my former boss at a consulting firm I worked for) has at Kroger.” You can only imagine my amazement when I received a call from Kroger.

In early 2007, unbeknownst to me, Steve had left Kroger. The VP of Human Resources remembered me from a client project Steve and I worked on together in 2001 for Kroger. Over six years had passed since I had interacted with the Vice President! The Vice President wanted to know if I had an interest in interviewing for the job. One thing led to another and I accepted the position.

During my time of seeking the Lord’s will, I also prayed that wherever the Lord might lead me I could be of help to those with whom I would work. I again stand amazed as the Lord has brought to remembrance skills I had not used for so many years, has used those skills to help those with whom I work, and has even inspired my work in ways I never would have thought possible.

It is to His glory that I am forever grateful. Great is His faithfulness.

Sue Brown

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A RENEWED MIND

Bless the Lord O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. Psalm 104:1-2 (ESV)

This has been an enlightening year for me as a student of God’s Word who also happens to teach occasionally. I have been trained to approach the study of Scripture in a sort of 3 step process: 1) Observe the text, 2) Interpret the text and 3) Apply the text. This is good inductive Bible study practice. I still do this, but with a new mindset. I used to look for specific things that the text pointed to as applications to my life, or to the lives of those I would be teaching — something really concrete, practical, not just abstract or theological. I still find those things to be helpful — seeing the way Joshua led the people of Israel by faithfully obeying God is a wonderful picture of the kind of leader that God can use, and of course that application is helpful. But I have come to understand that there is so much more to Scripture than that. Every page breathes out the glory and majesty of God!

In all of the familiar “stories” of the Bible, there is so much to learn about the character of God and His sovereign plans for us and for history. The account of Deborah and Jael is about so much more than strong women who defeat the enemies of Israel. The battle of Jericho is about so much more than a faithful commander following bewildering orders (“You want us to do WHAT, Lord?”) and achieving victory. It is about God who brings victory to His people, working through them in unlikely ways and yet maintaining His preeminent sovereignty. And what practical good comes of viewing Scripture from this perspective? Peace, blessed peace, in uncertain political and economic times. Peace, when parents begin to show the weaknesses of aging. Peace, when life brings change that while exciting, is still unsettling. Peace, when my mind wants to scream in impatience or frustration at myself, at others or at circumstances. I can’t tell you all of the other consequences yet, because I suspect I have only just begun to scratch the surface. But what I have learned is that this kind of theology is totally practical. My prayer life is bolder, my willingness to talk of God is more confident and my study of Scripture is energized. May God continue to help me and all of us to be teachable students of His Word.

Colleen Grogan

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VIBRANT DEPENDECY

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. Psalm 81:10 (NIV)

There was a time in my life when I lived by faith because I had no choice. God had royally backed me into a corner. Convinced of Jesus' soon return, I had committed myself to serving God overseas to lead as many as I could to faith in Him. It was an exciting time, for I had no resources to repay my $5000 college loans but God — and the $500 I reluctantly believed He wanted me to use to start graduate school. He wanted my best, it seemed, and my conditions made no difference.

After applying in May for acceptance and financial aid to a single school, Wheaton, He bulldozed my objections by getting me a scholarship, housing and full acceptance as a broadcasting student for September. For a full year the tuition and housing money always seemed to come in at the last minute as I learned the lessons of faith. When it didn't, and I was offered a position with Moody Broadcasting, I had learned to love that total dependence, and feared a job would make me too self-sufficient to keep my passion for God.

Nothing could have been further from the truth then or now. God has ways of reminding us of our bedrock need for Him. My loan was paid off anonymously so I could go to the mission field. Here daily life is, as always, filled with needs only God can meet, for finances, wisdom, health, safety, effectiveness, and love, for others and myself. Ironically He has me once again studying by faith in order to offer Him my best. With the years my awareness of my need, God's faithfulness and Jesus' love, has grown. Without Him I can do nothing (John 5:19, 30; 15:5), but He has said, "Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it." We serve a great and generous God.

Anne Alexander

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FINDING A PROVERBS 31 WOMAN…IN GOD’S TIME

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)

If you’ve talked to me at length over the past few years, you know that one of the greatest desires of my heart was to be married. I wasn’t looking to be married for the sake of checking it off of my list of things to do before I die either. I believe it was a desire God placed in me. So, why did it seem like finding my future wife was humanly impossible? I firmly believe that it was because of God’s ultimate plan for my life.

I lost count of the number of times I asked God to introduce me to a lovely, godly woman with whom I could share my life. I love life. I love that each day is new. I love the grand things in life and the subtle nuances even more. It seemed that God was using me to bless people as a single person, so I pleaded: “How much more could people be blessed with the help of my life-long helper?”

I’ll be the first to admit that I was impatient at times. Praise the Lord that He is slow to anger and abounding in love. I can also say that I was very persistent in praying for my future bride to be revealed.

In 2008, God did wonderful and amazing things to answer my prayers for a wife. I began courting a lovely young lady named Emily Crisp. Neither of us knew much about each other, but I had heard some amazing things about Emily; specifically her love for the Lord, godly character, desire to be a stay-at-home mom, sense of humor, humble and gentle spirit, and her servant's heart. I couldn’t believe it! Everything seemed perfect. At first, I did my best to guard my heart by suppressing romantic feelings for her. After spending time with her and learning first-hand about who God had made her to be, I knew she was the one God had chosen for me.

Emily is my best friend. She is a Proverbs 31 woman. She laughs at my jokes, too!

What I’d like to share the most is this: No matter what’s going on in life, there will be peaks and valleys. If you find yourself in a “valley” stage of life right now, don’t give up! It’s easy to encourage people to press on toward the light at the end of the tunnel. What some motivational speakers forget to mention is that the road you’re on might be a little bumpy at times. God tells us that trials will come. The point of those trials is not to wear us down but to strengthen us and give us hope in our Lord which will never disappoint us!

We serve a mighty God who knows us personally!

Steve Doughman

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PRAY RIGHT NOW

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5: 13-16 (ESV)

Many of us have been in the situation where someone has approached us in person or by phone and requested prayer. For me a natural reaction is to say yes and then try to remember to pray for the request. I sometimes write a note (often on my bulletin) or use some other means. Invariably I forget to pray and the opportunity to take the petition to God is lost or delayed.

I understand that God is bigger than my problem to remember and that that the person remains under His care despite my forgetfulness. I also realize that I suffer in this scenario because God often blesses me when I do remember to pray for the person.

I applaud all of you who have conquered this dilemma and I promise as an elder to work on this diligently. However whenever I am on the wrong side of this situation I remember a dear saint and prayer warrior who solved this problem in her own unique way.

Lori’s life had not been easy and she had suffered much over the years but she was a true prayer warrior. You knew when Lori was praying that she was giving it her all and that those she was praying for appreciated her zeal. Lori has the same problem as me in forgetting to pray for someone.

I am not sure how she arrived at the solution but it was very effective. If someone would encounter Lori and ask to be remembered in prayer, Lori would most likely say “Honey I know I will forget this so let’s pray right know”. I was the beneficiary and an observer of this and was aware that despite some initial awkwardness (Lori rarely offered a quiet prayer as she was a very energetic woman) the prayee really appreciated the prayer even if it was occurring on a sidewalk, in a busy hallway after a church service or on the phone.

Lori’s solution was simple. Pray right now. It didn’t mean that she wouldn’t pray later but it brought immediate attention to the need. It helped Lori fulfill a request and brought comfort to the requester.

I have often used Lori’s technique and I know through reports back that many have been comforted and received the answer they desired. I also know that I have been blessed. My recommendation is that whenever you can when someone asks for prayer to remember Lori and PRAY RIGHT KNOW.

John Wood