When was the last time you felt truly loved? Not just loved by a girlfriend or boyfriend, or by family and friends, but completely and wholly loved and accepted - beyond measure, beyond what you deserved, and beyond explanation? Our friend Alex shares an incredible story of what it feels like to experience God’s overwhelming love and grace in the most unexpected of times and places.
It was the end of a bad week. Lots of personal failures and feeling so far from meeting the mark. Felt like God was calling me to be so much more and I failed once again.
I had to catch an 8am flight at LAX. I went out hard the night before and woke up at 7:59. I started freaking out – I had to make my flight and get to my destination. I fly a lot and I always make the effort to get to the airport on time. Even this time, I had my routine down, boarding pass done the day before, had my carry-on ready, I was ready to roll. Except I woke up as my flight was taking off because I went partying too long the night before. I was already feeling like a complete failure, now I was a complete failure who missed his flight. “I am such a tool”, I thought to myself.
I got to the airport about 30 minutes after my flight had left. When I got there I never saw a line as big. It was not a holiday or any weather – it was just a lot of people. I got even more discouraged. I started to wait in line. Texted the people who were waiting for me at the destination: “Missed my flight – waiting in line – will see what happens”. The line between me and the counter lasted a total of 45 minutes to 1 hour.
During this entire time, I just kept praying…[click ”Read More” below to continue]
Read More
Last week we asked you to come to together as a community to pray for healing for Christie’s mother Annette in New York, who had suffered a ruptured aneurysm and required three brain surgeries. Read the original post here.
Your prayers have already made a real and tangible difference! This weekend, we received an incredibly encouraging update from Christie by email, which we’ve included below. God is definitely at work in their situation, and once again this has shown us that prayer is the one thing we can do on a regular basis to literally change the world and the lives of those around us. Please continue to keep Annette, Christie and their family in your prayers and to declare healing in Jesus name for a full and complete recovery!
From Christie:
Good morning from NY! I am happy to report some change in my mother. For the first time yesterday, she opened her eyes and actually kept them open pretty much the whole day! Not only that, the doctors had her breathing off her respirator for 4 hours! She is not in any way out of the coma, but the Dr feels now that she is “over the hump” in terms of survival.
Since your prayer session there were some setbacks such as a random heart condition popping up so they had to perform a variety of cardio exams and hook mom up to a machine and then there was rapid eye blinking causing concern mom was having seizures or spasms in her brain and yet another machine was hooked up to mom. She beat the odds and is now opening her eyes and following my voice and my movements with her eyeballs! [Click “Read More” below to continue]
Read More
Please join us in prayer for Christie, whose mother, Annette, is hospitalized for a ruptured aneurysm. Annette has undergone 3 brain surgeries to date and remains in critical condition. The last surgery had to remove bone from her forehead to alleviate the pressure from the swelling in her brain. Annette is a beautiful person who loves God, her family, and her community. She has tirelessly served in her community as a teacher’s assistant at a local highschool, on the board of directors of school boards, and by volunteering her time through one of many organizations like the civic association. In all that she does, she goes above and beyond the call of duty and serves with all heart.
Christie and her family have been praying for her mother’s recovery. She read on our blog how prayer woke up Jimmy from his coma and healed a deaf man, so by faith she is reaching out to our community to pray with her in seeking God for healing. As a community, we know that nothing is impossible with God and that our prayers can help to release God’s grace and mercy in providing healing and recovery for Annette. We want to declare in Jesus name that the swelling will subside in her brain, that there will be healing and full restoration of brain function, that Annette will wake up like Jimmy did, that there will be no loss in memory or any motor function, and that new neurons and pathways will be grown miraculously as we pray in faith and believe that God will deliver. Please come together with us in praying for Annette and her family and friends. Thank you.
“ We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” — Psalm 33:20 (NIV)
We ask you to come together again in prayer for another friend in our community. Yesterday he was told that his mother was hospitalized because she tried to end her life. She is suffering from depression. We’re told she will be released from the hospital today. He’s very distraught. He’s had a difficult upbringing all his life. His parents were divorced when he was young, and given their personal problems with addictions, he was forced to grow up fast and take care of himself and his younger brother. He has worked really hard to breakaway from the generational sins of his family and has done well for himself both personally and professionally. He is not a believer however he is not closed to the notion of God. Will you come together with us to lift this family in prayer? Will you pray for redemption, reconciliation, healing, protection, and comfort? Will you pray that they come to experience and know in their hearts the love of Jesus Christ? Thank you.
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.” psalm 40: 1-3
