This past Sunday (Pentecost Sunday), Quest devoted the entire gathering to Prayer & Worship. While I certainly enjoy teaching the Scriptures, it was very refreshing. For the first time, the staff chose to implement the idea of asking folks to share ‘anonymous’ prayer requests on Post-It notes and to stick them on the sanctuary walls.
I can’t speak for the other pastors or staff but I was blown away at the number of post-its on our walls. And the stuff that folks shared.
I was again convicted of what I shared couple weeks ago that in the midst of “my stuff,” I’ve fallen short in praying for our church community. This past Tuesday, our staff gathered (for our Tuesday prayer/devotional meeting) in our sanctuary to read and pray through the post-its and it was pretty overwhelming.
I was personally moved by a post-it (that led to a conversation) written by Quest woman who was born blind with glaucoma. Over her life, she’s had numerous surgeries that have allowed her to see. She has a very young daughter who she dearly loves. She asked for prayer after being notified by her doctors that she may lose her vision…any day. What do you say to someone who is unsure if she’ll wake up one morning to realize she no longer can see?
I’m just praying and trying to care for people.
- What are your prayer requests?
- Who are you praying for?
We also showed this video (again) this Sunday as a reminder to all of us that Jesus is our Everything. I chose to show it to our church again because I needed to be reminded again.
Our fellowship did something similar. We had boards up front and simply placed our confessions on the board. It was wonderful to see our honesty and humility before God and one another.
It took great vulnerability, but I think everyone realized that vulnerability is needed in love.
I too struggle to pray on a regular basis. But this week I have been very concerned about Laxmi – a wonderful woman I met in India who is struggling right now with TB and a urinary tract infection, which is complicated by her condition as an AIDS patient. Laxmi is a widow with three children, and is fortunately under the care of a very cool ministry that provides food, medicine, shelter, and an education for her kids…but she is in a lot of pain.
Puts things in perspective, huh?
Glaucoma can be operated??? My dear husband has glaucoma, but was told it cannot be operated.
i just got out of a relationship, and both of us are hurting at the moment. and after talking to a pastor, i’ve come to the realization that we are both broken people, with heavy fear of rejection from the people around us as well as desperate for comfort and the need to be dependent on others.
i was born into a Christian family, but was spoon-fed everything. I thought I was saved, and perhaps I was saved. But I’ve come to a realization that instead of depending on God, I was depending on other people instead…especially the ex-boyfriend. Thanks to the Pastor, I was able to recommit and be absolutely sure of my salvation.
I am still hurting immensely because the relationship ended quite suddenly. I am trying to focus on other things, but it is very difficult to move on, especially after being so attached to my ex.
I’m not sure how he is feeling right now, but I do believe that he is hurting as well, especially since he is not a strong Christian himself.
I’m praying that I will be able to come out on top and keep my focus on God, now. That I will learn to depend fully on God, and because I can depend on God, my hopes will be 100% in God.
I’m also praying for my ex. I pray that somehow he will be able to meet God, once again, and to reaffirm his faith…that he will finally come to realize that God does love him and forgives him of everything.
And I’m not quite sure what God has planned for both of us, but I’m praying that God will allow the us to be friends. Of course, there’s a high chance we won’t be the best of friends. But I do hope sometime later (perhaps months or years), we will be able to laugh and hang out every once in a while again.
@prayer needed – praying for you