Prayers

WVUMountie, Dave will be added to my prayers along with your sister, Debbie.

Lord, please strengthen Debbie's faith in You as our Healer and comfort her in her depression.  I pray that the cancer has not spread into Dave's bones but has remained in the prostate bed where it can be treated with just radiation.   Thy will be done.  I pray this in Jesus name and through the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Buckeye Genius,

Ashley is definitely rejoicing with our Lord now as she was an innocent child.  Our Father, please comfort Scott and his family and Ashley's friends as well while they mourn the loss of her on this earthly plane.  I ask that through this horrible tragedy, Scott may come to know you and accept you into his heart.  Please speak with your still small voice and enable Scott to hear that whisper and come to you on bended knee and welcome you into his life.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Thank you OGR, my friend and brother.  I will remember to put on God's armor each day and let go and let Him do His will in that courtroom.

In Christ,

Anita

Amen, Jobob!

Matthew 5:1-11
"When He saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.  Then He began to teach them, saying:

'Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.
Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.'

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely  say every kind of evil against you because of Me.  Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven.  For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.' "

Matthew presents Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and other discourses in his Gospel as actual events rather than anthologies of Jesus' teachings, and thus the parallels to individual sayings appearing elsewhere in the other Gospels should be taken as evidence that Jesus taught similar and consistent things on multiple occasions and are documented by multiple hearers of Jesus' teachings.

OGR and Anita, good to see you both tonight.  Your encouragement and wisdom is so very precious to this fellowship.  God bless you.

Anita, my prayers continue for you and Adam and your family and the courts.  Please take care of yourself throughout this process.  I know you will rely on our Lord for strength and refreshing.

PII, your compassion and encouragement for Ashley's parents is truly touching and you are indeed a servant of God in your dedication to Him and to others.  I pray your healing continues.

"The effective, fervent prayer of the righteous availsmuch."--James 5:16

Hello All,

My roomate Monica's Uncle (With whom she was very close!) passed away this evening at approx. 9pm Eastern time. He had pancreatic Cancer. Would you please include Monica and her Family in your prayers tonight? Thank you!

Hello KIR, Hey Anita! It is good to see you here! Sorry if I don't seem very talkative but I am trying to be a supportive friend. I just brought Monica  home from the Hospital where she has spent the better part of the last two days and she literally collapsed on her bed from stress and grief! She is physically ok she is just emotionally bereft.

Could I please have some pointers on how to deal with a grieving person who is not a Christian?

cblue,

Monica will be in my prayers.  As for comforting her, you don't have to check your Christianity at the door, just avoid being preachy.  Be a good listener; do things to make her days a bit easier (you are already doing some of that like transporting her to and from the hospital; do other things to help her meet other needs now like seeing that she eats, rests, gets calls made, etc.).  Your actions and willingness to listen will be a witness. 

If questions of heaven/hell come up, I usually say that it is between a person's heart and God and that we can't judge what might have transpired in the last minutes.  I use the example of the thief on the cross who acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God and Jesus assured him that he would be with Him in paradise.  Death bed conversions can happen and we would never know because it was between man and God.

If the opportunity presents itself (and you must have the ability to know the Spirit is leading you), share as much of the Gospel, especially the love and comfort and grace of God, not the works of man.  Share only what may comfort and wait for opportunities to add on to the message over time.  She may be more open as time goes on; don't push it but listen for chances to share God's love.

Generally I avoid the expressions, although they are well meaning, of "He's in a better place" or other such expressions.  It is more important to listen to her.  If the "Why?" question comes up, point out that there is suffering in this life.  The answer, if we had one, to "Why?" wouldn't comfort anyone; we don't care WHY suffering happens, we just want it not to happen.  Crying and talking are appropriate; stating that we don't have all the answers but we can be there for each other through the grieving is realistic.  You can offer to pray for her as the opportunity presents itself; you may even offer to pray with her if she seems open to it. 

You will both be in my prayers for God to work in and through this time of sorrow.