28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me,is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.” ~ John 10:28-30 (ESV)
Hello everyone, and welcome to this week’s Prayers for the Week post. More and more often, we hear of tragic events that are happening in the world, and it’s important to me at times like this that we refocus and remember what our Lord said as recorded in the Book of John.
We are approaching the two year anniversary of when we started our prayer posts, and during that time, we have seen the tragedy that comes with the loss of a loved one. Ofttimes, that loss is of a child. I think that this is why I was led to John this week — that, despite the loss, if we acknowledge that Jesus is our Savior, and that He died for our sins, and was resurrected, if we believe that, then we will have eternal life when we die, regardless of when that is. If you are not sure how to be saved, please check out this post. Now, please take a moment and read our prayer requests and praises.
Prayer Requests & Praises…
- My friend Jeff needs some prayers, please. Here is what he wrote on Facebook:Everyone please say a prayer for my Mamaw Davis this morning. She fell and broke her hip this morning and is currently headed into surgery. She’s 94 years old, but a very strong woman. Much stronger than I ever will be. There is always a risk involved of course, but she needs all of your prayers to pull through this.Please pray for his Mamaw’s healing as she goes through this. Thanks everyone!
- My friend Natalie has a prayer request. Here is what she wrote:I am asking all my friends to remember my cousin when you pray. This is going to be a very hard surgery with a VERY long recovery. I plan to love her through it all and be by her side for the surgery. So, whisper a prayer for her family as well. She has been blessed with an amazing husband that loves her to the moon and back. She also has a 10 year old little girl that deserves to have a healthy mommy.The context of that prayer is her cousin, who wrote this on Facebook:
With a bitersweet feeling I want to share a somewhat thankful yet somewhat scared announcement! Most of my closet friends and family know that I’ve battled severe debilitating bouts of pancreatitis that have escalated to the point of worrying whether I’m going to make it or not while still clinging to the faith My Lord and Savior holds me in the palm of his hands. … For those who are not familiar with pancreatitis it many cases it is not linked with alcohol abuse or chemical exposures, more times than known until so severe and investigated deeply pancreatitis is found to be genetically inherited. I found out just recently after extensive testing by a team of specialist that is the case with me also discovered that I as well have a pancreas birth defect that in itself puts my body in a struggle that keeps me very sick and that combined w the genetics is more than one can imagine to handle. … With years of high labs, near fatal lapses and close calls w the knowledge of the reasons and where it developed from they were able to determine my risk for pancreatic cancer is not only a risk but most definite. With all that being said a date has been set for my TP/AIT to remove my pancreas and to transplant the cells that will keep me alive. So within the next couple of months I will be having this surgery although very extensive and very scary, I am at peace that this will lengthen my time on earth. … I hope to be a voice of inspiration to some and to share my battle so that those who feel without hope may find some. Prayers are asked in advance for the days to come for me and my family and thanked for most indefinitely from the bottom of my heart…. Warmly, Tyra
Please pray for her healing, and for all of their strength, comfort, love, support, and most importantly, peace. Thanks everyone!
- The Brackbill family in Pennsylvania is in need of your prayers. They have recently learned that their daughter, Tori, has Infantile Krabbe’s Disease. The average life expectancy is 2 years, and there is no cure. Please pray boldly for a cure, for healing for Tori, for God to perform a miracle and show all of us that He is in charge, and that He can do anything!Most of all, though, pray for God’s Peace, Comfort, Strength, and Love to descend upon all of them. Thank you. If you want to read their post, click here.
- Lastly, we give praise to You, God, for all that You do for us. We know that we are not worthy of any of the blessings that You have given us, but we thank you for them anyway. Our prayer, Lord, is that You would lead us, guide us, to be the type of servants that You would have us be.
Now, please pray with us the prayer that Jesus taught His Disciples to pray:
Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed by thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever and ever.
Prayers please for Decatur, Alabama police officer Josh Driggers and his family. Here is the press release:
Press Release
On February 4, 2015, Decatur Police Officer Josh Driggers went to his
doctor after experiencing persistent headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Medical
tests were conducted and it was revealed that Josh had a tumor on his brain.
After initially scheduling Josh for immediate surgery in Huntsville, his
physicians reconsidered and referred him to Duke University Medical Center.
Josh and his family will leave for Durham, North Carolina on Wednesday.
His surgery has been scheduled for Friday.
Josh has been with the Decatur Police Department for almost five years
and is married with two young children. In addition to his work as a patrol
officer, Josh serves on the department’s Honor Guard. His condition came on
suddenly, with very little warning. In addition to his concern about his
condition, Josh is dealing with the financial impact it will have on his family.
An account has been set up at Redstone Federal Credit Union under Joshua
Driggers Love Offering.
We ask that everyone remember Josh and his family and keep them in
your prayers as they go through this difficult time. We will provide updates
on Josh’s condition as we receive them.
Earlier this month, we had this prayer request on behalf of my friend Jodi:
My friend Jodi has a prayer request for us. Here is what she wrote:
Can you please add my friend Laura to your prayer list this week? Her brother Todd, to whom she’s always been extremely close, has been fighting cancer. They learned yesterday it has spread to his brain. He has been sent home with hospice care. Todd is Laura’s son’s favorite uncle, and this is very hard on him too (Sam, age 9). Thank you!
Please pray with me:
Heavenly Father, we hear daily of struggles that people are going through with that horrific disease — cancer. We really are at a loss to understand how these things invade the lives of Your people, but we also know that You have a plan for all of us. We take heart in Your Words from the book of Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” So we know that, despite the disease that Todd is fighting, we know that his life has a purpose, and it is a purpose that You have written for him. Please be with Todd, with his sister Laura, with her son Sam, and with all of their family. Please give Todd the Peace, the Strength, the Comfort, the Love that he needs. Please be with all of them and enfold them in Your Loving embrace so that they would know You are with them. Also, Lord, if it is Your Will, Lord, we pray for healing for Todd. Show us Your Power, Your Glory, and show us that all the medicine in the world means nothing when compared to what You can do. We ask all of these things in the wonderful name of Your Son Jesus with Thanksgiving. Amen
Unfortunately, I learned from Jodi that Todd passed away recently. Please continue to pray for his family, for his sister Laura, and especially for her son Sam, who is missing his Uncle right now. Please pray that God will be with them all in the days, weeks, and months to come. Thank you.