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Archive for the ‘Prayer’ Category

Daddy's Little Princess

About five months ago Belle Mitchell, 2 years old and the daughter of our youth minister and his wife, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer.

The cancer was removed from the brain, but a spot remains on her spine. So far the spine is “clean” of cancer but the spot is still there.

Belle’s parents decided to take her to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, for treatment. Belle and her mother have been there a bit over four months now, with almost two more months of treatment before they can go home.

Never before have I been so near to a situation like this and never before have I ached for the entire family the way I do for the Mitchells who have three other children.

I visit Belle’s CaringBridge site daily and my emotions run the gamut of every emotion I have ever felt in my life.

Although family and some church members have been regular visitors to Belle and her mother Kelley, I wish that David could be with them so that Kelley would have someone who has the same concerns as she to lean on. Yes, the others love Belle and share the same emotions, but it’s not the same as it is with the parents.

David and the other three children visit also, but only for a few days at a time and at great personal expense to them. Of course, our congregation helps them babysit, shop and with money to pay the added expenses of traveling. I’m sure David could take a paid leave to be with Belle and Kelley, but then he has the other children to worry about too. By the time school is out Belle and Kelley should, hopefully, be coming back home.

I read the comments in the guest book and I am uplifted by the amount of people around the world who are praying for this little ray of bright sunshine that has come into all our lives as though she were our own. I see the human discouragement of Kelley at times, but I always see her faith and I think of how hard it must be to have your faith tested that way. To know that, despite the best medical care available, you still could lose your child and still show the faith she has shown is an inspiration to me.

Last week my husband spoke to David about another matter and asked him how Belle was doing. David was very cheerful and said she was doing well. I’m so happy they have such faith to sustain them and have a wonderful church family praying for them and asking friends around the world to pray for them.

I pray Belle has a complete recovery from her cancer and lives a long and happy life. I also know that, for some reason unknown to any of us right now, it may be God’s will to take little Belle home with Him. And I know we will all have to accept it as His will, no matter how this turns out.

You see, I’m weak, and I can tell you my human fears. I’m still a sinner and the devil still plants these ideas in my head. But her parents are strong and have not expressed these feelings.

For those of you who pray will you pray for Belle Mitchell’s healing and will you pray for David, Kelley and the other children? I’m not asking you to do this once a day, although that would be great, but I’m asking you to be burdened enough that you think of this lovely little child and her family several times a day and that you say a prayer for them every time they cross your mind.

I feel so helpless in this situation, but know God hears my prayers and those of the others who are praying for this family and this sweet little girl who doesn’t really understand why she has to take meds she doesn’t like or have to have “fuids” as she calls fluids. She shouldn’t even know those words at the age of two.

She shouldn’t have nausea and diarrhea for days at a time, frequently because of the poisons put into her body to kill the cancer in there. She should be home with her family, playing on her swing set and being the normal little two-year old she is trying to be while in Memphis being dosed with medicine that is poison, but is her only human hope for survival. Pray that the Great Physician will heal her completely and this experience will not have been in vain.

I thank you for your faithful prayers for Belle and the Mitchell family. May God bless you for praying for one of His little children.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

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I haven’t given you an update on Belle, our Youth Minister’s and his wife’s two year old daughter, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer some many months ago.

Belle and her mother have been at St. Jude Children’s Hospital (which is thinking of using Belle in a commercial) for nearly four months now.

It’s easy for us to pray for them all the time, but we aren’t the ones going through the fire. Although I have confidence that God will heal this baby, there are always those human doubts.

On Tuesday, Kelley (Belle’s mother) seemed to be a bit down and exhausted. Some of the women they know well from the church (our veterinarian’s wife in particular) have taken at least monthly trips to be with Kelley and Belle and to help with anything they can to make their lives a little more “normal” and “easy” if normal and easy are possible when your entire world has been turned upside down.

I want to give you Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s posts from Belle’s CaringBridge Journal:

First is Tuesday’s, which I found to be terribly difficult to read and yet inspiring at the same time. It’s been a long time away from the Dad and the other three children, although they do get to Memphis every few weeks.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010 1:04 PM, EST
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Heb. 12:1-3

In 2 days, we will have been gone from home for 4 months; I am tired. Although this is a remarkable place, I am tired of the day to day life of St. Jude. The labs, the waiting, the clinic visits, the waiting, the medicine room, and more waiting. Vital signs, blood and platelet transfusions, bags of fluid, IV poles, dropping counts, low magnesium, flushing lines, toxins being put into my little girl’s body in an effort to rid her of the horrific cancer that still remains, and the list goes on.

Why was this the race marked out for me, for Belle, for David, Taylor, Emily and Jack? I do not know, and it is not my place to question a Supreme, Almighty, Powerful God that has everything under His control. So, I will run the race with perseverance, fixing my eyes on Jesus, knowing that He endured far more than I have had to. I will not grow weary, and I will not lose heart.

I am not the same person I was 4 months, and I can’t say that I want to go back to being the person that I was. I am a more insightful, caring, compassionate, appreciative and patient person than I was a few months ago. I was snapped out of my “comfy” little world with just 2 words, “brain tumor.” I would not wish this on anyone, but this is now my race and I will run it the very best that I can knowing that my strength comes from the Lord.

Please continue to pray that Belle’s counts would rise; that David and the kids would remain healthy for their upcoming visit, and that we would see miraculous results on Feb. 26th. Thanks for your prayers, it is where our strength comes from.

Love,

Kelley

Where does she find the strength to go on in this mission to save their daughter’s life? She finds it from God and from the members of the church, who are constantly praying for them. Friends of people of the church, all over the country, are also lifting them up in prayer.

We pray for them, which is the best thing we can do even if we could be there, and we ask others to pray for them and we all wait, with the faith she will be healed. But, what if God sees fit to take this child Home with him? This little girl I have come to know only from the journal entries since I have no youth of ours in the church.

As a human I feel so helpless in my own powers to do anything to help these people, except make a meal for the family still here in town, volunteer to watch the children if David goes alone to visit his wife and daughter, but I haven’t done that yet as I do not know David, but telling him I’m a member of First Baptist Church would certainly mean he would be welcoming of at least a meal and help in doing the mundane chores of cleaning the house and doing the laundry, grocery shopping etc.

I can’t help with the children because they don’t know me and it would be tough for them to be around someone they don’t know, but God has been good and has touched the hearts of everyone in our church congregation so that people who do know them–teenagers and their parents especially, plus the other ministers and their families have been able to fill that gap.

If I were a betting person I would bet they even buy the family groceries without charge to David, although my husband did run into David at the grocery store recently.

When Belle was first diagnosed David had a high deductible insurance plan he chose because he thought with a young family he wouldn’t need something more. I’m sure he changed it since then since the church benefits offer a variety of insurance plans. Back then there was an extremely high deductible and co-pay for the Mitchells and it would have made a huge dent in their finances.

The congregation was notified, the church gave some to help with the expenses, and a lot of us pitched in with gifts so that in the end they had their deductible met, relieving them of one more worry. Maybe it’s time for us to donate more money, as these trips to Memphis, even if David takes the kids by car, are expensive.

Let me tell you an anecdote: Last week Jack, their son, and then David came down with strep throat. David and the other children were to have gone to Memphis to visit Kelley and Belle that weekend. Because they were sick and because Belle can’t afford to be around anyone sick David asked the airline if he could change the tickets for the trip. The airline said they could change the tickets but it would cost $150 per ticket to change. That’s $600, probably the same price as the ticket, if not more.

Word got out and people began to pray that God would work this out. There are some in our congregation who could have, and probably would have, given them the $600 as a love gift, but people began to pray about the situation.

You may think we are crazy, but the Lord sent about 3 or 4 inches of snow on that Friday night, and it was enough for the airline to change the tickets at no additional charge! They will be flying to Memphis this weekend, with everyone so far still healthy! God works in mysterious ways, and now we are calling it our answered prayer for the Mitchell family. The snow melted quickly the next day. Three inches of snow in this area of the country is enough to shut everything down for days.

Now for Wednesday’s entry in the Journal:

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 2:35 PM, EST
Belle’s counts are up today! Her hemoglobin, platelets and magnesium were all good; and her ANC was 6,000! She is napping right now and looking forward to playing with Haley when she wakes up! Continue to pray that her counts would remain high and that David and the kids would stay healthy. We are looking forward to a great weekend with them! Thanks for your prayers and the encouraging messages.

Love,

Kelley

What a difference some numbers make in the weariness of the mother, who misses her husband other children, and is worried to death about her youngest child.

For daily updates and to offer your encouragement I urge you to go to Belle’s CaringBridge Journal

For those of you who do pray and believe in our God I ask you to pray that when Feb. 25 gets here and Belle has tests to see if there are any tumors in her back or anywhere else, there will be none and Belle will be able to go home with her family and get her medication in pill form.

It’s been a long 5 or 6 months for this family. Please lift them up in prayer and ask God to perform the miracle that is necessary to keep this child alive and cancer-free.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

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We’ve been telling you about Belle, the two-year old daughter of our youth minister and his wife.

Belle went home the end of last week, but is set for a longer journey in her quest for a cure of this aggressive cancer. She and her mother will be going to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN, on Sunday.

Belle’s Daddy and siblings will stay behind during the expected 4 month treatment of Belle. Please be praying not only for Belle’s complete healing, but for her Daddy and siblings, who are going to miss Mommy and little sister.

Monday, October 12, 2009 11:04 AM, EDT

After much prayer and consideration we have decided to take Belle Belle to St. Jude’s. I guess that we knew it all along but was just trying to be sure. God seemed to open the door for St. Jude and it just feels like the place to go. I know that they want Belle there ASAP, so we are making a mad dash to get ready. Please pray for Kelley to have strength and stamina during this process. Pray for Belle Belle that God would continue to heal her little body. Pray for Taylor, Emily, and Jack as they do without their mommy for 4 months.
Thank you for making this journey with us.

Love you All,
David, Kelley and Belle Belle

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:27 PM, EDT

Everything is falling into place for St. Jude. They are great to connect with us and make sure that we have everything that we need. Kelley and Belle will be heading out Sunday to go to Memphis. Pray for their safety and for those of us who are going to be lost without mommy and baby Belle Belle.

We are hopeful and ready to get things moving so that we can get our baby well. The heavens have been bombarded by your prayers and I want to thank you for sending them heavenward.

Love you all,
David

We are not asking for your money, but your prayers and prayers are free. Pray for a complete healing of this beautiful little girl, and for comfort for the brother and sisters who will be without their mother for so long at such a young age.

People from the church who know the children are caring for them while David works and are bringing in groceries and cooking for the family.

Any money needed has been provided by the Lord touching the hearts of the church membership and the church itself giving money to take care of the large deductible that was due. God is working in this family’s life, and it has brought the sense of community into our church in such a way I have never seen before.

All praises go to God, and we thank Him for beating the doctors’ prognoses so far. Keep praying He will heal her completely.

Thank you for your prayers.

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We praise God for all small and large steps in Belle’s case. She is now home until she goes back in to have the ports for her chemo put in.

Here’s the latest report:

Thursday, October 8, 2009 12:53 PM, EDT

Guess who is sitting at our table at the house eating? Belle Belle, yeah! She hugged her big brother and wanted to go swing and play in the yard. It is awesome to sit in our on home and play with all of our kids.

We will go back to the doctors next week to find out when her next surgery will be planned. As soon as they insert the ports they will begin Chemo. They will give her those treatments until she turns three then they will start Radiation. Doc said that he doesn’t like to give radiation to anyone under 8 years of age, but this cancer is so vicious that they will need to start it as quick as he can.

I am not sure how to feel anymore! I know I can trust God, but my emotional state is in major fatigue. We will keep seeking the Lord and trusting in Him. God’s power is not limited by my feelings or my exhaustion.

We love you all for taking this journey with us. We have miles to go before we sleep. Miles to go…

Love you,
(Daddy), (Mommy) and Belle Belle

Pray hard!

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Here’s the latest from Belle’s father:

Wednesday, October 7, 2009 1:24 PM, EDT

Guess who may be going home in the next couple of days? Yes, Belle Belle. The doctor said that she was doing awesome and made an amazing turnaround.She has been doing some physical therapy in the playroom and getting stronger by the day.

This little girl is making up for all of the missed meals. She is eating everything that isn’t nailed down. She is also turning into her normal self with her two-year old attitude. It is awesome to behold.

We are waiting on the oncologist who is coming by this afternoon. I will let you all know what he says about the next steps.

We are excited about progress and fearful about the future. I know God is with us and will work all things for His good, but somehow I still have a giant butterfly in my stomach.

We love you all and thank you for your continued prayers.

Mommy, Daddy and Belle Belle

This is wonderful news and we need to continue to pray that any other tumors will be dissolved and she will be cured of the one taken from her brain.

Praise God for answering prayer! Keep praying!

Journal updated at 2:12 PM:

Just spoke with the Oncologist and are trying to digest what he has told us. Looks like we will start Chemo right away. They are going to try to use chemo to keep the cancer under control until she turns three. They will not give radiation to children under 3 due to the damaging effect.

Belle’s cancer is rare and tough to beat, so the docs arent giving us much to hope on. They are painting a fairly dismal picture of her chances, but they are not impossible. I keep thinking that with God, all things are possible.

I just want Him to step in and show these doctors what He can do to heal a baby from cancer when they can’t find a way. Please pray for the next steps. I hurt every time I hear about the process she is getting ready to go through, the surgeries and the treatments.

As Jeanette asked above, please keep praying. Sue

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Thanks to the many who have visited and graciously offered their prayers and thoughts for Belle and her family.

Here is the latest update on this precious little one via CaringBridge:

Monday, October 5, 2009 2:04 PM, EDT
I wish I had great news update for you all, but we are still in the deja vu loop of waiting. We are waiting for the doctors to give us the updates to pass them on to you.

Belle Belle has been sitting up and talking to her mommy and daddy, but after about an hour she crashes and has to sleep a while. She is so cute. It is hard to see her little body hooked up to all of those needles pumping meds into her body.

I know this has been a long process, but please dont grow weary and continue to pray for my baby girl.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.Galatians 6:9

*Update

Monday, October 5, 2009 7:59 PM, EDT
Prayer update. They have shut off the drain in Belle’s head and are planning on removing it totally tomorrow. Tonight is the test to see if her little body can handle the fluid. God has led us to this point, and we expect great things in the morning.

Thanks for your prayers.

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I’ve been telling you the story of Belle, the two year old daughter of our church’s youth minister.

Belle was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor and was operated on last Monday to remove the orange-sized tumor.

Here are the latest posts from CaringBridge on Belle. I am deleting all names except Belle’s to protect the family’s privacy.

Saturday, October 3, 2009 12:12 PM, EDT

I wish to write a huge entry about how she is doing better than anyone ever dreamed, but that just hasn’t happened yet. It seems that for every step forward she makes, she slips back a little here and there. We are still waiting on the drains to be removed and for her body to get rid of the fluid on its own. We made the move from ICU to Progressive care which has been a blessing because that tells us she is progressing. Belle is starting to experience a little more pain as she comes around and that is concerning.

They are going to try to stand her up today, but we can’t get her to sit up because it hurts her little head. So Daddy will not hang around for that or I might hurt some physical therapist. She did tell me that she loves me, which started another round of tears.

I have tried to sit and read the posts that you all have written, but every time I try to read them I breakdown in tears. I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to (my wife) and I to hear from some of you and to read your prayers for our baby girl. We love you all so much and thank you for your continued prayers as we go through this storm.

Love you all,

Daddy, Mommy and Belle Belle

PS – While I was typing this update Belle began to throw up and was rushed down for a CT scan to see what is going on in her brain. This is like a roller coaster. Please pray hard.

Saturday, October 3, 2009 5:40 PM, EDT

Today has been a day of ups and down. Belle is doing much better after her spell this morning. She has stopped throwing up and has even been more responsive to some of the medicines. She has had a rough day! Lots of test and checking things to see why this drain is not working.

She has taken to her new favorite game, kicking daddy in the head. She thinks its funny!

Doctor said that unless she responds better to the drains and the fluid quits building, she will have to have another surgery. We do not want her to have to go through another surgery. Please keep praying.

Love You All,
Daddy, Mommy and Belle Belle

PS – I am not sure what it is about writing these things, but as I was writing the above she started throwing up. Just a little, but it still scares her daddy.

Please continue to pray for Belle and her entire family. She has two sisters and one brother who are having to have grandparents care for them while her parents are at the hospital for Belle, and they are all young too.

We are taking this day by day with faith that God will remove whatever obstacle is in the way that day and eventually that she will be healed of this terrible disease.

While I’m talking about sick children let me mention that both Sue and I have had and are still having sick grandchildren.

Sue’s granddaughter has been sick for a couple of weeks with whatever crud is going around now. She’s on antibiotics and seems to be improving, but has still had to stay home from school sick again. Sue says she’s getting better.

My husband’s and my granddaughter in Texas has just gotten over a mild case of H1N1 (swine flu) and our little guy (the youngest grandchild and he lives in town with us) was sent home from second grade last Thursday with a sore throat and fever.

The doctor said he tested negative for both kinds of flu and we kept him with us Thursday night to prevent my husband going over to his house early and our granddaughter from having to get up earlier than necessary on Friday. (We also kept our granddaughter here that night so she could sleep an extra hour).

Thursday was a rough night with the little guy spiking a fever of over 105 degrees at one time. He still had fever on Saturday and visited the doctor again. This time the doctor said the flu tests are not completely accurate and in addition to bronchitis (not diagnosed till Saturday) he thinks he has the flu. He had to have a chest X-ray to see if he had pneumonia, but thankfully, that turned out negative.

He is now finally on the same antibiotic Sue’s little one is on and hopefully he is on the road to recovery.

Please keep these children in your prayers and all children during this sick season of the year. And don’t forget the unfortunate ones in third world countries who don’t have the same medical care available to our grandchildren here.

Send a little something to those third world and poor children in our own country through a charity of your choice. It doesn’t have to be a lot, but a million people giving one dollar each is a million dollars to help feed, clothe, house and give medical care for these children. There have been many earthquakes in Asia and the need is great for all those people.

Thank you for your prayers and acts of kindness in these hard times.

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Here are the updates on two-year old Belle. Please pray earnestly for this little girl. Thank you.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 11:26 AM, EDT

Belle Belle is trying to wake up today. The doctor had told us that she would be paralyzed in her right side, but she has already shown movement in her hand. She was sucking her thumb this morning when (her Mom) checked on her. The doctor couldn’t be happier with her response to the surgery.

We just spoke with the doctors this morning and they are telling us that this tumor is a very rare tumor especially in a child. They are going to have to be very aggressive with her treatments and are still trying to figure out what path that will take. The spots on the spine are what has us most concerned. From what we know it is an aggressive form of cancer and we have to pray for the next step.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. It sure has been special for (my wife) and me to know that you all are praying. We are in a marathon, so pray that we make it to every check point.
The docs haven’t given us much to hope for in the area of medicine, but we know that God is not bound by their medical knowledge.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 6:11 PM, EDT

Today Belle has had a few setbacks. They tried to remove the stints from her head, but the fluid built up too fast for her body to absorb. She will remain in ICU until they get this under control. She still doesn’t recognize mommy or daddy.

All names except Belle’s have been deleted to protect the family’s privacy. ~Jeanette~
* Thank you Anchoress and your readers for any and all prayers offered for Belle and her family.

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Belle

The little girl in the above photo is Belle M., whose Daddy is the Youth Minister at our church. Little Belle is two years old and has one brother and two sisters.

Last week Belle was diagnosed with a brain tumor and on Monday surgery was performed for about 8 hours to remove the tumor. The doctor thinks he got all the tumor, but it was malignant.

In addition, a couple of spots were found on her spine. She has had an MRI done to determine what the spots are but I am not yet aware of the outcome of the MRI.

Our entire church is praying Belle will recover fully, her parents and loved ones will have peace and comfort, and that Belle will be able to live a normal, happy life after this horrible diagnosis.

I am earnestly asking you to pray along with us for Belle. The first 48 hours after surgery are the most dangerous, and that will end at approximately 8:00 pm Wednesday.

As I write this we have people at the church taking turns praying all night, round the clock for Belle and her family.

Thank you for your prayers for this sweet little girl.

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Sometimes, there are just no words…..

Please stop by Wide Awake Cafe to offer your prayers and support.

Thanks.

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We received notice that INC’s father passed away on Sunday at 3:15pm.

INC is an occasional poster on our blog and a member of the J’s Cafe Nette family. She is a very devout Christian and is going through a hard time right now, as everyone does when they lose a parent.

We extend our prayers and good wishes to her and her entire family during this very difficult time.

We ask for you to be in prayer for INC and her family as well.

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 30:41)

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Thursday, May 7th, is the 58th Annual Observance of the National Day of Prayer.

The theme, “Prayer…America’s Hope”, is derived from Psalm 33:22:

“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,

even as we put our hope in you.”

John Page, writing to Thomas Jefferson, July 20, 1776, on the signing of The Declaration of Independence:

God preserve the United States. We know the Race is not to the Swift nor the Battle to the Strong. Do you not think an Angel rides in the Whirlwind and directs this Storm?

Benjamin Franklin, Speech to the Constitutional Convention, June 28, 1787:

“The small progress we have made after four or five weeks close attendance & continual reasonings with each other—our different sentiments on almost every question, several of the last producing as many noes as ays, is methinks a melancholy proof of the imperfection of the Human Understanding. We indeed seem to feel our own want of political wisdom, since we have been running about in search of it. We have gone back to ancient history for models of Government, and examined the different forms of those Republics which having been formed with the seeds of their own dissolution now no longer exist. And we have viewed Modern States all round Europe, but find none of their Constitutions suitable to our circumstances.

In this situation of this Assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance?

I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proof I see of this truth that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that “except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move-that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service.”

From the National Day of Prayer Official Website:

The History Of National Day Of Prayer

Why We Pray: This is a brief statement of the importance of prayer at significant times in our nation’s history.

What to Pray For: The National Day of Prayer Task Force is suggesting 7 points of prayer x 7 days a week:

7×7 involves praying for seven centers of power seven days a week:

Government, Military, Media, Business, Education, Church and Family.

If you click on the embedded links, each will take you to a page with reflections, suggested prayers and Bible verses for that point of power. If you would like to pray with others in your area they have a map that will take you to local gatherings.

May we remember and ponder these words of the Lord to Solomon:

“If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (NASB)

This is perhaps the most important National Day of Prayer in our lifetime. Pray for our country.

Crossposted to Be John Galt and RedState Member Diaries.

__________

H/T: The National Day of Prayer Official Website, The Congressional Prayer Caucus, The Sheila Variations.

Benjamin Franklin’s speech: Holograph manuscript copy, from Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.

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Here they are. The titles of those twenty five movies Prime Minister Brown tucked in his suitcase as he headed back to Britain:

Thoughts anyone? HT: Slashfilm

At the moment many are interested primarily in self preservation. It is completely understandable given the rising unemployment numbers and the losses in the market. Who among us could say we have not been touched in some way by this recent economic downturn?

There are those who are as affected as the rest but also have another burden to carry. One which could take from them something far more valuable than any material possession.

These are the folks who, whether military or civilian, have loved ones in harms way, far from home.

Yes, times are tough at present but if you could find a moment, would you please, if you are so inclined to fit in a prayer for the brave men and women who are currently on battlefields or will soon be deployed?

This is a real “shoe on the other foot” moment for me.

My son – my only son – just got orders for Afghanistan.

He’ll be the third generation of my family committed to a foreign war. Stretching back to WWII one of us always seems to have been among those serving the nation during conflict. Except this time it’s the guy who once was small enough to sleep on my chest.

Thanks.

Absolutely beautiful!

Last month, the Denver Zoo welcomed a brand new bundle of joy. This time, it’s a Golden Lion Tamarin. The newborn weighed less than 100 grams, about as much as an average kiwi fruit.

Hope you all have a good weekend!

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From the time I was eight until I was twelve years old I attended Bible Camp for two weeks in the summer.

The thing I loved most about the day was at the end of the day when we would leave chapel and go to a big building where there was a roaring fire (this was in northern Maine and was cold) and people would hear a short sermon followed by testimonies of love for Christ, and then we did singing around the campfire.

Enjoy this campfire singing with me:

I can never sing “Near the Cross” without breaking down because it is so beautiful to me, in spirit and in music.

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Feb. 13: Mourners of the Continental Connection Flight 3407 crash listen to a sermon during a vigil at the Eastern Hills Wesleyan Church in Clarence, N.Y.

With the plane crash near Buffalo, NY, came a lot of sadness and psychological damage to those who witnessed the crash, along with untold grief of those loved ones of the ones who perished on the plane and in the house that was hit.

We see people in a church, praying or grieving, but it seems when a cataastrophe hits our nation we turn to God.

God gives us the comfort and strength to go on, and the blessed assurance He is in charge of all things. He didn’t make this plane go down, but He knew it would and, for whatever reason, He decided it was time to call these souls Home.

As Sue quoted the Anchoress, we should also be in prayer for our country. We are commanded to pray for our leaders that our lives will be easier.

The same God who is with us in the valleys is still the God of the Mountain. Now, more than ever we all need to be praying for the families and loved ones of the victims and the witnesses to this crash and for our country as well.

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Kate has posted a Prayer Request for her Grand-Niece.

Please stop by and show your support for this sweet little girl and her family.

Thanks.

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Sometimes when you hit rock bottom, there is only one way out.

Orson Bean (in his own words) found his way:

“Get down on your knees,” he told me, ” and thank God every morning. Then, do it again at night.”

“But I don’t think I believe in God.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “Just do it.”

“Why do I have to get down on my knees?”

“He likes it,” said Bobby. And that’s all he said to me. He stood there looking at me for a minute and then I said OK and thanked him and he took off.

I was living, in those days, in a little joint in Venice with a Murphy bed. That night, when it was time for me to go to sleep, I got down on my knees beside the Murphy bed, feeling like a complete fool, and spoke out loud.

“If there’s anybody there,” I said, “thank you for the day.” I had finally decided, I suppose, that since all else had failed, I would follow the instructions. That night, I slept like a log and in the morning I got down on my knees again and said, “If there’s anybody there, thank you for my night’s sleep.”

I kept doing this, day after day, and without my even being aware of it, it stopped feeling foolish to me. It started to feel good, in fact. After a while, I began to sense that my prayers were being heard. I didn’t know by who or what, but it was a good feeling. Then, before I knew it, I felt as if there was Something or Someone there who knew me and cared about me. Actually loved me.

Thanks to Mr. Johnson at Power Line for sharing this touching story. Take a moment to read the whole thing..it is well worth your time.

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Reading stories like this just makes me shake my head at scoffers and smile at earthly confirmation God is revealing more and more to unbelievers that He is real and so is His Holy Word, the Bible.

HIRBET QEIYAFA, Israel — An Israeli archaeologist digging at a hilltop south of Jerusalem believes a ceramic shard found in the ruins of an ancient town bears the oldest Hebrew inscription ever discovered, a find that could provide an important glimpse into the culture and language of the Holy Land at the time of the Bible.

The five lines of faded characters written 3,000 years ago, and the ruins of the fortified settlement where they were found, are indications that a powerful Israelite kingdom existed at the time of the Old Testament’s King David, says Yossi Garfinkel, the Hebrew University archaeologist in charge of the new dig at Hirbet Qeiyafa.

Other scholars are hesitant to embrace Garfinkel’s interpretation of the finds, made public on Thursday.

Why is it such a surprise to learn Jews lived in Israel when the Bible says they did?

I am constantly told by non-believers the Bible is just a collection of stories written by unknown men and is not literal. Then they insist I “prove” God exists. Duh! Look out the window and take in nature. Try to tell me it all happened by chance.

A couple of weeks ago I read that scientists now believe (at least some of them) that there is a void around the earth and that void is protecting us from objects in space. I immediately thought of Genesis 1, the story of creation and the first two verses of that book: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

If you want to know more about past, present and future happenings in the world just go to the Bible. The answers are all there if you have the eyes to read and the open mind and heart to understand.

None of these things surprise me. It only surprises me that I seem to be in the minority of people in this world, and getting that way in our country, who believes God and His Word. It disappoints me more than surprising me because I hate for someone to die and not know Christ and our Wonderful God Who loved us so much He became man while still God and shed His Godly and righteous blood that you and I can have the fellowship with Him that He has always wanted with us, but will not force upon us. We have the free will to accept or reject His message of love and salvation.

There can be no compromises. There is one God and only one way to heaven. That one way is through confession of our sins and acceptance of Jesus as God’s begotten Son, Who gave up His physical life, went to the depths of Hades, and rescued the righteous and took those souls to heaven. Until then they had been in a “holding area” of Hades because the souls couldn’t go to heaven until Jesus shed His blood.

If there is no God then we have been fooled for all our history. If I’m wrong what will happen other than I will die as a pet does and just rot in the earth? If I’m right, and I’m positive I am, I’m on my way to a place much more beautiful than this planet in all its glory.

If you are not a believer and you are right then you, too, will just rot after you die and become fertilizer. But if you are wrong…You will spend the rest of eternity in torment reserved for Satan for his rebellion. And don’t think you’ll see your buddies there because they will be in the same torment and pain and won’t have the energy to recognize you, if there is any light for them to see you. Think about it, and then pray and go to your Bible or to Bible Gateway and read the Book of John, first.

May the Holy Spirit of God open your eyes and your hearts. You’ll never again agonize over what’s going to happen because you will know there is a plan of God for everything.

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Sue and I have forged such a friendship that we can complete each other’s sentences most of the time.

I love her like a sister, even though we have never met, so you can imagine my distress when she called me Thursday.

It seems she had her furnace worked on Wednesday and had the need to turn it on on Thursday morning. The furnace wouldn’t kick in so she called the people who worked on the furnace. She was told to go to the basement and check something so see if it was working properly.

While going to the basement, she twisted her left foot and fell on the last step of the stairs. She crawled back up the stairs to tell the people whatever it was they wanted to check wasn’t working.

Because she tends her two granddaughters in the morning and one in the afternoon due to the older one being in half-day kindergarten she had to stay calm while in excruciating pain.

She got hold of her daughter and her husband. Her daughter took her to the ER while Grandpop took care of the girls.

She has broken her left foot from the small toe up. She said the X-Rays look like a broken tree trunk, as it is splintered and surgery will be required to repair the fracture.

She’s on “happy pills” now, but won’t take two when the instructions say she can because she doesn’t want to be too dependent on pain pills. I told her to take the second one so she can sleep and if the instructions say every 4 to 6 hours take it in 4 hours to keep the pain under control.

Needless to say, my workhorse will be out of commission for awhile and we’ll miss her commentary.

The most important thing, though, is not the blog but her healing. I ask your prayers that she will recover quickly and not suffer too much longer.

Thank you, and I love you, Sue.

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If I had to choose one ad and one only which I could view this political season, the following from Citizens United would be it.

Sarah Palin should be proud to be in such fine company.

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Today around 9:00 am EDT Senator Edward M. Kennedy will be undergoing approximately six hours of surgery on his brain tumor at Duke University Hospital.

Duke is one of the premier hospitals in the country, and I ask you to be in prayer that God’s hands will be working through the doctors’ hands. After the surgery the Senator will have chemotherapy and radiation on the area.

The 76-year-old senator was diagnosed last month with a malignant glioma, an especially lethal type of brain tumor. A statement from the Massachusetts Democrat’s office said he would be operated on Monday morning in Durham, N.C., by Dr. Allan Friedman, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Anthony Coley, a Kennedy spokesman, said the surgery is expected to begin around 9 a.m. It is expected to last about six hours.

“I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and to my friends, colleagues and so many others across the country and around the world who have expressed their support and good wishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge,” Kennedy said in the statement. “I am humbled by the outpouring and am strengthened by your prayers and kindness.”.

He expects to remain at the North Carolina facility for one week to recuperate and then will begin further treatments at Massachusetts General Hospital and start chemotherapy.

Kennedy said that over the past few days he and his wife, Vicki, “along with my outstanding team of doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, have consulted with experts from around the country and have decided that the best course of action for my brain tumor is targeted surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation.”

Kennedy said he selected a team of neuro-oncologists from Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital and Duke University Medical Center.

Friedman is chief of the division of neurosurgery in the surgical department at Duke and also co-director of the neuro-oncology department there. His clinical interests are brain tumors, skull-based tumors, peripheral nerve surgery, pituitary tumors and cerebrovascular disaster, according to his resume on the Web site of Duke Medical Center.

All our prayers and good wishes are with Senator Kennedy and his family today.

Update: Senator Kennedy’s surgery is complete and his surgeon has delivered his first statement:

“I am pleased to report that Senator Kennedy’s surgery was successful and accomplished our goals. Senator Kennedy was awake during the resection, and should therefore experience no permanent neurological affects from the surgery.

The surgery lasted roughly three and a half hours and is just the first step in Senator Kennedy’s treatment plan. After a brief recuperation, he will begin targeted radiation at Massachusetts General Hospital and chemotherapy treatment. I hope that everyone will join us in praying for Senator Kennedy to have an uneventful and robust recovery.”

HT:Drudge

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I have just returned from Wednesday night services at my church.

For a couple of months I have felt that I was not walking with God as closely as I once did. I have prayed and asked God to give me back my tears of love I felt when I first met Jesus.

My neighbor has also been going through the same thing and we confessed it to one another just last week and started praying for each other, though I wasn’t sure my prayers were going any higher than the ceiling.

Tonight we had the most unusual communion service I have ever attended. Instead of the deacons serving communion to us, we went to the altar in two groups of eight at a time, with the senior pastor at one table and the associate pastor at the other table.

We actually broke bread and then the pastor asked one of the men to pray. We then ate that bread, the symbol of Christ’s body. We went through the same ceremony with the grape juice (no wine for Baptists) while the pastor quoted scripture again and had one of the other men pray. Then we drank the juice.

All the while this was going on music was being played by the bell choir or being sung by a soloist who was then joined by the congregation.

All the music that touched me so deeply as a child–”The Old Rugged Cross”, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?” and others that seemed to move me with each one, until I had to quit singing and just started crying. Not little tears but giant, shaking sobs of regret and re-dedication to my Lord and Savior, who gave up Passover until He can have it with us in Heaven.

God gave me back my tears and now I feel as though I can walk on clouds and I feel emotionally drained all at the same time. In other words, I have been given the privilege of falling in love with Jesus all over again, and I wanted to share it with you.

The last song was not the usual “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” but was “Victory in Jesus” instead and one could feel the Holy Spirit moving in that sanctuary as people went forward to pray and re-dedicate their lives.

What a wonderful joy! He looked beyond my faults and saw my need. And He filled that need. Praise God!

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On Tuesday I told you our daughter in law had been taken by ambulance to the hospital for a suspected aneurysm in her brain. After sending emails to our church list and to prayer warriors on my email list we were so relieved to get the answer in such a short time. She suffered a “complicated” migraine and sinus infection and thus the blood in her spinal fluid. She is feeling fine now.

What I didn’t tell you was that my husband had to undergo an endoscopy and colonoscopy on Friday due to the lab having found blood in his stool.

We spent the afternoon at the hospital with the doctor running about 40 minutes behind. Everyone in there to be tested was starving, but they had gone through the prep and had to stick it out. One doctor was on call at the ER as well as doing these scheduled procedures. Not very good scheduling on the part of his practice.

When I went back to the cubicle made with curtains my husband was lying there, seemingly awake, and doing what they tell you to do after this procedure.

Soon the doctor came in and told us he had removed a couple of polyps and could not find the source for the bleeding. He says that can happen from almost anything and my husband is on aspirin therapy per the instructions from his cardiologist. No, he doesn’t have heart trouble yet. They are watching a couple of small blood vessels to make sure they don’t get more blockage than they have.

My husband has to go back June 6 to have his colon checked with barium and an X-Ray. This is because my husband has gained weight and his colon has grown as a result. The doctor ran out of tube to check the entire colon and wants to see all of it.

We expect he will be fine and he went to bed almost as soon as he got something light to eat last night. He’s still snoozing away.

Just when Satan tries to put doubts in my mind about God and Jesus, the Lord takes them out by showing us the power or prayer and His healing powers.

We truly had the peace that passes understanding with my husband’s condition, but our daughter in law threw us for a loop since she has a history of cancer brought on by Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. At one time she had three tumors on the base of her skull, and we thought they might be acting up.

Fortunately, that was not the case.

I cannot appropriately praise God in words even in the best of times, but at times like this I feel even more humble.

Words are not enough to express my love for each of you for praying for Lucy and probably for Don too as you read Sue’s post on Friday to pray for us.

It’s so wonderful to know the Lord, and if we didn’t have Him we would have been downcast at the very least. I’m convinced of that.

Now I’m also exhausted as I didn’t realize the strain on me until it was all over. I never panic as long as I know something has to be done, but after it’s all over, I collapse in exhaustion and exhilaration at what Jesus has done for us in addition to His blood sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary.

Have a wonderful week-end, everyone, and please go to church on Sunday. You will be amazed at how blessed you will be.

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Please keep ~J~ and her dear hubby in your thoughts and prayers today.

Thanks!

From ~J~ In case you are wondering what is up, my husband has had blood found in his digestive tract and the doctor is doing an endoscopy and colonoscopy to find the cause of the bleeding.

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Those recent twin shootings in Colorado rattled a friend of mine. Greg Stier, head of the Dare2Share youth ministry, sends his kid to the same campus where the first murders took place.

Around the blogosphere, I’ve seen well-deserved praise for the ex-cop (turns out disgraced former cop who has now been redeemed by the Lord) who took down the shooter before the guy blew his own head off. I’ve also seen plenty of “enjoy hell!!” comments directed at the murderer.

But on his blog, Greg had this to say just after the first incident:

“Our hearts break for the victims of the shootings at the YWAM Training Center in Arvada, Colorado. This tragedy took place less than five minutes away from Dare 2 Share Ministries International headquarters in Wheatridge, Colorado. This hits close to home to me personally because I live in Arvada where this horrific shooting took place. I ask all Christians to pray that the perpetrator of these horrible shootings is caught, brought to justice and then to Jesus. I ask that every Christian prays as well for the surviving victims and all the families that have been affected by this shocking and senseless tragedy.”

“Pray…that the perpetrator…is brought to Jesus.” Of course, we now know the ultimate outcome and know some of the background of the killer. But Greg, amid what really was a terrifying episode, was asking for grace for the shooter instead of joining in with the chorus of those damning him to hell.

Think about that for a while.

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Kimsch from Musing Minds is having some gastrointestinal distress that has been going on for over a week now.

The doctors are stumped and I know from talking to her she has been in a lot of pain and discomfort.

I ask you to pray for her if you feel so inclined, that the Lord will put His healing hand on her and restore her health.

Kimsch is a very good friend who has done the design of this blog and I care for her very much on a personal level too.

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The Anchoress is asking for prayers for her in-laws.

Both are suffering from medical problems, but her father-in-law has been taken to the hospital for emergency surgery. This is, naturally, difficult on his wife and the entire family.

Please pray for God’s Will to be done and, if it is His Will, to heal the father-in-law. Pray that the surgeon’s hands will be guided by those of God Himself as the surgeon operates on this man.

Thank you.

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I am still not at liberty to give you the details for the Anchoress having to go to the ER except to tell you she had more kidney stones and an infection from it.

She’s slowly on the mend now and I wish to thank everyone who took the time to pray for her, as she would for you.

She says she felt the prayers and I’m sure she did. She contacted Captain Ed, me and her brother Thom because she describes us as prayer warriors. I am humbled by that description, and will admit I got my circle of prayer warriors involved in praying for her too.

Again, thank you for praying for her, keep praying and praise God she is on the mend.

I consider the Anchoress to be one of my best friends and she has never been anything but kind to me.

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I went to bed early last night and awakened after 8 wonderful hours of blissful rest.

I checked my email and saw that Sue had written to say her aunt in Delaware has suffered a massive stroke and she had been asked by her cousin to be with her cousin and uncle.

The next 48 hours are the touch and go hours and I ask all our readers and bloggers to say a prayer for Sue’s aunt and family and for Sue and her husband as they travel back and forth to visit with them during this difficult time.

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Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas is in serious condition while undergoing his second round of chemotherapy for treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

“Doctors have been administering a second round of chemotherapy to control the disease, but the senator’s blood cancer has proven resistant to their most recent efforts and he continues to struggle with infection in addition to the leukemia,” said Susan Thomas, wife of the senator, in a statement released Monday.

“At this difficult time, all we can do is give him as much love and support as possible. The support and prayers of Wyoming folks have made a tremendous difference to us. It has meant everything to Craig, and I know it helps him today,” she continued.

Our prayers and good wishes go out to the Senator and his entire family.

Update: Senator Craig Dies

Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas, a three-term conservative Republican who stayed clear of the Washington limelight and political catfights, died Monday. He was 74.

The senator’s family issued a statement saying he died Monday evening at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He had been receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

Just before the 2006 election, Thomas was hospitalized with pneumonia and had to cancel his last campaign stops. He nonetheless won with 70 percent of the vote, monitoring the election from his hospital bed.

Two days after the election, Thomas announced that he had just been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, will appoint a successor from one of three finalists chosen by the state Republican party.

Our prayers are with his family as they go through this trying time.

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