Edited on December 15th to add...On my sidebar for the past several months you may have seen the picture of Andrew. It is with a very heavy heart that I tell you he has gone to be with Jesus today. Please pray for his parents, his brother and his sister as they grieve. We know that God is in the miracle business. We can also know that if He chose not to heal Andrew here on earth that He has a greater purpose. But, wow, this is hard!!
Last year I wrote this post where I asked you to share what Christmas hopes and miracles you were praying for. What a privilege it was to give back in some way for all that you have given to me. You should go and read some of those comments...God answered many in huge ways.
Once again, I would love to ask you to leave me a comment about what you are hoping for. Praying for. Longing for. God is still the same god that performs miracles. He still restores. He still heals. He still provides. He still loves. He still bends near to hear us.
My hopes from last year did not "turn out" like I had planned. Some would say that God didn't answer. That could not be further from the truth. He knew just what I needed. He never left me for a second. He brought beauty from the ashes. I asked for joy. Do you know why? Because I feel that joy is something we can choose as believers. Happiness to me can be so based on circumstances. So I didn't ask for happiness...just the joy. Guess what? I got both. I have joy and I am HAPPY!!
My prayers for this Christmas would be that David and Ellie would find some healing for their broken hearts. That they would allow their dad in, even just a little. I pray that they would cling to what they know is true of the Lord. Also, I ask for continued healing of my body. For wisdom and discernment. And that God would never, ever leave me as I am.
How can I pray for you this Christmas? What are your hopes this season?
Monday, December 14, 2009
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23 comments:
I have been praying with a bloggy friend (Loren at Mcgoo's news) for her dad. He has terminal lung cancer and needed salvation. Her post today celebrates the best Christmas present ever. He accepted Christ and now when he dies in the coming hours or days she and the rest of the family have peace. I have prayed so hard for this Christmas miracle in her life...I think I had forgotten about my own. The need was so urgent and so great. I praise GOD for this tremendous gift. I will one day get to meet her dad in heaven and hopefully, she and I will one day physically meet here on earth.
Blessings, andrea
There are so many-
Praying for my kids at CR that they will grow in the Lord and become on FIRE for His word and His love for His people.
For my daddy's health.
For my own family- that God will make a way to get my business started so I can earn a little extra to help out in the areas we need it.
For all the many friends I have who are hurting- who need miracles in their own way... gosh there are so many people i'd love to see happy for a change. *sigh*
For my brothers and sister in law for salvation...
oh gosh sheryl I could go on and on...
My Christmas prayer is for my friend to find healing and salvation. For realtionships in my family to improve. And for God to deepen the friendships in my life and bring a few more... maybe an extra special one ;)
You are so sweet...
I'm going to ask that you pray for a young homeless man, Tim. I have seen him all over town and had the privelege of buying him a warm dinner last night. I was so blessed that he gave me his name...so I can pray for him BY NAME. He's only 21. Chris and I have decided to "adopt" him...buy him food when we see him, pray for him...and whatever else God leads us to do.
xoxoxoxox
I am praying that God would give us a child to love and raise and to give back to Him.
Hi Sheryl, seems like it's been so long since we have connected.
I will pray the same for David and Ellie and for you.
I'm praying for healing for myself and wisdom about a change that I may be getting ready to make.
WOuld love to talk and catch up soon.
My hope and prayer is that my husband steps up, and I step back. He is the head of our household, and I pray that he uses Godly wisdom to be who God wants him to be. I also want to be the wife that God wants me to be and that my husband needs.
I pray for my son David to get a job that is full time and has benefits. He's had some health problems that we just found out are related to anxiety. It seems to run in our family! I'll also be praying for your childrens' hearts to heal!
All I want for Christmas is for my sister to know who her little boy is in Ethiopia. I'm thankful for this process as it has opened my heart to others all over the world in a way I never realized. I hope my heart hurts every time God's heart hurts. I pray I am never numbed by the callousness of seeing the sheer numbers of hurting people.
Even as we wept with you, we now rejoice with you. The gift of joy you've claimed as your own is such a huge blessing, and already the Lord is using you to encourage and inspire others. What a good God He is!
My deepest desire is that my entire family serve the Lord, and that those that are lost be found of Him.
May your children find their comfort in His arms.
Blessings,
Kathleen
Beautiful post, Sheryl. As though I'm a broken record, I still pray and hope for the miracle of restoration and that God would do a huge and mighty transformation work in beloved heart. To open his eyes to the deceit satan has laid before him, the work satan wants him to do. All unbeknownst to him. Pray he will let go of his anger, bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness and his heart would be open and softened for me and our marriage. Let God's truth reign!!!!
Love,
Paula
What a wonderful gift at Christmas time :o) My prayer for this coming year is that God gives us wisdom in raising our children...Aly will be a TEENAGER this year and my heart's desire is for us to have a strong relationship with her as she enters this season of her life.
My most urgent prayer is that my husbands very ill grandfather accepts Christ on this Earth. My heart aches for him as he is very ill and coming to terms with the gravity of death. I pray for the Hope that only Christ offers. Also for my parents and sibs and inlaws... that they also find salvation.
We are starting a new ministry at church working with very poor people in our community and I pray that God reveals himself through this ministry and is glorified in all that we do with it.
I pray that I am a good and patient wife and mother as we go through the hard and very very broke years of grad school. That God will provide for us and give us Joy even when money is a big struggle for us almost constantly.
That all the doors will be opened for me to start school in the fall.
Praying for you friend. *hugs*
My prayer this Christmas is that I allow God to use me for His good. That my voice and my words become His words. That I see people the way He sees them. That my heart feels what He would want it to feel. That I stay focused on Him.
(((hugs)))
Erin
You are such a blessing to me, Sheryl.
You probably already know my prayer, but it would be to surrender my FEAR. This fear that has been so deep rooted in my life. Also to open the dialogue between Andy and myself.
Thank you for your obedience. You are loved!
Lala
One of the blessings of my life this Christmas is that He allowed our paths to cross in this blogging world. You have touched my life in so many ways. I find it a joy to continue praying for you and your two dear children.
I am so sorry to hear about Andrew. I am sure his family are hurting so deeply. Their sadness grips my heart.
Sherly,
There is so much that I am praying for, but it fails in comparison to the need for me to pray for Andrew's family and friends as many are.
I pray for you always...have since we "met". Hope this Christmas is the best yet!
Love you to pieces...kb
There are so many places here in this little bloggy community that invoke tears...illnesses, struggles and death...I hate that but God is good. I can't wait to meet Andrew one day and tell him how he strengthened my faith and yes, this is hard.
My Christmas miracle list can be summed up simply like this, we are embarking on a new journey and I pray that we would honor God better, love others better, serve others better than we ever have before. amen.
Merry, merry Christmas. I'm praying for you and your family now =)
About a few years ago, God began teaching me the importance of looking at my life in terms of seasons. The life we live here on earth is not a series of random events or disjointed circumstances. Indeed, there is a divine connection to our years - from the moment we were conceived, to our dying breath, there is a purpose.
As a mom-your purpose would most likely be to your children-best not to bring someone else into your lives because its just not the season-that would stop their pain and bring glory to God.
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven.
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1
Such wisdom and tremendous blessings in choosing JOY... I am so proud of you... I know the journey has been difficult, but you are clinging to the God of HOPE, the God of JOY, the God that never leaves us.
My heart breaks for Andrew's family.
My Christmas prayer is a prayer of celebration, gratitude and worship... for Christ who left heaven and walked on this sin-filled earth, so that we may have life and have it to the full. What a precious, precious, life-filled, glorious gift that needs to be celebrated 24/7/365.
What a blessing you have always been......and continue to be!
My prayer is that I find true 100% peace in my heart this year....God knows my heart. I pray that He enlightens me to where He wants me to be based on what He has placed on my heart. May I be the daughter that makes Him proud.
Marry Christmas Sheryl!!!!
I will one day get to meet her dad in heaven and hopefully, she and I will one day physically meet here on earth
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