Prayer Requests and Updates for July 2007

Please add Stu to your prayer list. He has cancer. Thanks, Scot.

Please add Ruth, her daughter Debra and son Patrick, to the prayer list. Yesterday morning, Ruth’s youngest daughter, Brenda, passed away from a massive heart attack. She was only 52 years old and leaves behind 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren. Brenda’s husband died in August of 2005. This is an extremely difficult time for all of them. Thanks. Emmie

I have a prayer request for Joyce. She was on the list about a month ago for back surgery to put in titanium rods. She was doing better and got to come home Thursday week ago. Well on Friday, the next day, she had a Stroke and is still in the hospital. Her daughter, who is a good friend of mine, told me today that they almost lost her three times that Friday night. She requested that her mother and father (Gene and Joyce) be put on the prayer list. I also request that their three children be added to the list for God to give them Grace and strength as they go through this battle. Their names are Mike, Cathy, and Brenda. I thank God for what he has done in this situation and for what he is going to do. She has already improved some but still has a ways to go. In Christ’s name, Debbie

Update on Blake who was put on the prayer list last month:
God is Great! Blake’s kidneys actually worked three times last night and he knew that he had to use the bathroom which is more than he knew on Saturday when I was there. I just got off the phone with his mom to find out if his kidneys had worked today and she told me they had not. If you remember, the doctors told us early last week that his kidneys would not be working and he would have to have a transplant if he lived. God has other plans for Blake because his kidneys worked three times last night so there is hope. The doctors had really burst my bubble in telling me that if Blake lived that he might not be any better than what we have right now and I tell you Saturday was really bad as one moment he knew who he was and the next he did not and I had resolved in my mind that if God seen fit that Blake live that his quality of life was going to be so bad that I didn’t know who would take care of him as he would need round the clock care. God showed me differently once again last night at 10:00 p.m. when I got the call that his kidneys had worked and he had actually told the nurses that he had to “pee”. I am so thankful that not only did he have to pee but he knew he had to pee and that is such an accomplishment. Please continue to pray for Blake and our family. This is the most horrible thing that we have ever had to go through and I know that God has a plan and we just have to be patient and wait to see what it is. Pray that the doctors find out exactly what this is and how to treat it so that other families will not have to go through the rollercoaster ride with life and death as we have. We have had so many highs and lows these past three weeks. Thank you all for praying for Blake and our family and I will keep you informed as new developments arise. God Bless. Lisa
Another update:
Good News! Blake has just been taken to a step down room and despite being very tired he is doing very good. He has ate solid food now three times and he has a little kidney function but not much but anything at all is encouraging. I just talked with him on the phone and he is alert and can answer simple questions. He is still too weak to sit up but he will be starting therapy for that in the very near future. Blood pressure has been good since last night due to medication change. Hopefully some he will be able to sit up in a chair within the next few days. Keep praying because God is answering! Lisa

I have a friend at church, a fellow choir member, who is pregnant at 46 with her first child, after many years of trying, treatments, etc. She went into labor last night, but the baby isn't responding well, so this morning, they have decided to do a c-section. I have heard nothing since. Please pray for Janice and the baby. She is at 37 weeks, so the baby should be fine as far as time is concerned. Janice is very, very tiny also (maybe 4'8"), which has concerned all of us from the beginning. Love, Beth
Update:
I just got this email, not long after I emailed you. Prayers were answered! I'm so very happy for Janice! Beth
Janice and Charlie are the proud parents of a baby boy, born this a.m. by caesarean section. The baby weighed 5 lbs; 3 oz and was 18” long. Mother, baby and father all fine. Thank you for the many prayers that went up for this beautiful family this morning. God was listening and he was there. Praise God!
Another update:
Janice and her husband finally named the baby Matthew. I heard at church today that he is doing very well.

I want to give a praise report for the fund raiser yesterday for Simon. He is the 17 year old with liver cancer who was put on the prayer list earlier. The singing raised over 4,000 dollars yesterday afternoon with a biker group promising to raise more money. What an awesome God we serve! How can anyone ignore the wondrous things he does for others and through others? I PRAISE him for what he has done in this young man’s life and THANK him for what he is going to do in the future. I pray that if it is his will, he use this young man, and make him the preacher that he wants to be. I also want to thank every one praying for Simon. Don’t stop now, keep praying as God is working on him. I send my love and prayers to every one of you. It does not matter that I don’t know you, for God tells us to love one another. Thanks again, Debbie

Ony minute each night in WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. This had an amazing effect as bombing stopped. There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here inAmerica. If you would like to participate: each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens and for peace in the world. Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless. Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.

My mother, Dorothy, has just requested that we pray for her as she "needs all the prayer [she] can get." After Ray died in April, his kids have contacted a lawyer and demanded a 3-page list of things that include the beds that Mom and my father bought in 1949, a clock that my father made, lamps, end tables, chairs, beds, etc. They are not wanting Mom to follow Ray's will and last wishes. Mom is not going to give Ray's children things that were hers and Dad's before Dad died. She is a person who does what she promises to do, and is upset that any lawyer cannot make sure that a will is followed. Mom was already going to give Ray's children those items that had been Ray's. She had us help move things into rooms downstairs so there are four huge piles including an organ, lamps, tables, clocks, and boxes of stuff. They were there before she found out about the list of demands and about their having contacted a lawyer. Please pray that Mom holds up under this stress she is going through as she sounds very distressed. Pray that her lawyer represents her well and brings this mess to a close letting those kids know that all they are entitled to is what is in Ray's will and none of Mom’s stuff. Pray for those greedy Dixon children, too! Their names are Chris, Steve, Don, and Jackie. Thanks, Patty

I have a prayer request I need sent around to God’s people. It is for Janet, one of our Prayer Partners. Their youth are leaving this morning at 5:00, heading on a Mission trip to Florida . She and several other parents were going also. We need to pray for their safety there and back. I would also like for every one to pray that they will come in contact with people who need to hear and learn about our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ. May their trip be rewarding and successful! If only one is saved, it is worth it all. After all, if you were the only person needing Salvation, Jesus would still have gone to the cross. Blessings to all, Debbie Palmer
I need to add my husband, Doug, to the prayer list. They put him in the hospital this morning. He has some kind of infection in his leg but that is all we know at this point. Blessings and many thanks, Debbie
Update:
They have done chest x-rays; they were clear; they have done x-rays and ultrasound on his leg but they were inconclusive. His sugar was higher than it is supposed to be so it may turn out that he is diabetic. He is on a special diet and they are monitoring his sugar levels. They took his salt away, so he is not a happy camper. The doctor has scheduled another test to check the deep veins in his leg. Doug said they are looking for blood clots since he has a history of clots. Blessings, Debbie
Another Update:
Doug got to come home from the hospital. God has blessed our family yet again. Doug almost died in 1994 from a pulmonary embolism. That was in September, in March of that same year, our 22 year old, then 9 year old, appendix burst and turned to gangrene before the doctors found it. He went through two weeks in the hospital, two surgeries, and we almost lost him three times in that two weeks. Then on July 2005, I had a stroke that left me paralyzed on the left side of my body. I spent almost 10 days in the hospital and was then moved to Siskin Hospital where I stayed another 30 days. The Lord was so good to me again. I learned to walk again, help myself, and over the past two years, I have been able to do easy things like wash dishes, vacuum and wash clothes. I can bathe myself now and almost able to dress myself again. My husband does every thing else. I tell you this, not for your pity, but to Glorify God. Things could be a lot worse. I look around at times and see others that are a lot worse off and I thank God for getting me where I am today! Lord, I praise you for all blessing, no matter how small or how large, for they are all blessings that you have sent my way. I thank all the prayer warriors out there who prayed for this family years ago and the present. Without God and you, things would have turned out differently. May God bless everyone out there as well as he has blessed me or better. All my love, Debbie

Please add Willetta to your prayer list as she is having chest pains. She goes for a stress test Friday. Thanks, Patty
Update:I aced the stress test with no pain and no problems. I've been getting a lot of advice from the nurses at my church. I have a hiatal hernia which may be the cause. My cardiologist suggested I see the gastroenterologist for acheckup. I'm doing much better and am watching what I eat. Thanks for the prayers. Willetta

Please add Lisa to the prayer list as she is having problems with anxiety attacks along with abdominal and back discomfort. Thanks, Patty

These prayer requests are for some people I met while I was in Siskin Hospital. They are special people. The first one is for mom that was in the room with me there. Please ask God to bless her and protect her.
The second is for a husband who has had open heart surgery and very sick. Please ask God to touch him with a miracle. Third, they have a 9 year old nephew who is heading to Nashville , T.N. the 18th of this month with a mass on his brain. He is also in need of a miraculous touch from our Heavenly Father. Please remember these folks and their whole family while they go through these trials. May God bless each of you in your daily lives, Blessings, Debbie
It is with great sadness to tell you about the passing of Patricia, the sister of our Coroner, Dr Stephen Boyle, but I wanted to make sure you were aware and ask that you keep him and the family in your prayers. I have a prayer request regarding one of my friends. Pray for Julia and her husband as they go through a very difficult time due to financial issues, unemployment, and health/injury issues that may mean disability and the inability to work. The situation is desperate for many reasons. I rarely come across a situation that I view as hopeless, but this might be one of those times. She is a strong Christian; her husband was, but he's drifting away from church. Please pray for them! Love, Beth

Please pray for me and my family. We are really struggling financially and I have been feeling so low lately and I am asking you to please have everybody pray that God will see me through these times. Thank You, Janet

Please add Emmie and Doug to the prayer list for safe travel as they are going on a motorcycle trip for the Southern Cruisers Riding Club state rally tomorrow morning and back home Sunday afternoon. While we're at it, lets pray for the safety of all of the motorcylists involved. Thanks, Patty
Update:
Thanks for all the prayers! We made it back home this afternoon after riding most of the way in rain. Everyone had a good time and a lot of good food! We always eat way too much when we go on these trips! Good exercise, too! Emmie

I need to request prayers for a cousin and a friend who are in Iraq or will be very soon. Their names are Samuel Palmer and Joe Yother. Joe is giving up 13 months of his life being a police officer here to go to Iraq to train police officers. Please remember them in your daily prayers.

I also have a prayer request for Wendell, Janet’s brother-in-law. She got a call while I was talking to her, telling her they were admitting him. He has fluid built up and was having trouble breathing. May God send his blessings to each of you, sister-in-Christ, Debbie Palmer

I have a prayer request from a special friend. Her nephew just found out he has Cushions Disease. He is only 29 years old, raising a 5 year old by himself. She said that he is over 400 lbs. and over 6 ft. tall now and gaining about 13 lbs. a month. I don’t know much about this disease, but she went to the doctors with him and they told him if he continues growing, his body will burst open. This young man needs a lot of prayers and could use a few miracles thrown in too. Blessings, Debbie

I just got an e-mail from a friend from childhood, Emily. She let me know her father has had a stroke and asked me to be praying for him. I don’t know what condition he is in but he is at home and they are trying to keep him comfortable. He is an elderly man in his eighties I think. His name is Joe. I will send more as I find out more. Please be in prayer for this man and his family. Many Blessings, Debbie
Update:
Emily says he was paralyzed on the right side and has lost his speech. He is aware of his surroundings but gets frustrated because he can’t talk. She said that he had always had a horror of having to go to a nursing home, so she is glad that they are able to take care of him at home. Thanks and Blessings, Deb

Update:
It is with much sorrow that I report that Joe has now passed on. The family and I wish to offer our sincere appreciation for the many thoughts and prayers that came our way.

I have been given another request for prayer. It is for Leonard. He is at the hospital but I do not know if he is being admitted. His need is unspoken, but God knows all about it. Blessings, Debbie

My husbands Father and stepmother (Clayton Lamar and Barbara) asked that I put them on the list, for God to give them strength and ability to get out and go to Church more often. Lamar has been in the ministry for over 60 years, part of them being a Missionary to the poor Caribbean Islands until he had to retire because of his health.

My step-mother-in-law, Barbara, also asked that I put her youngest son Terry and his daughter Anna on the list. There is a lot of rebellion involved with the teenage daughter and the father is living with a woman out of wedlock. She asks that we pray for them to make things right with God before it is too late. Many Blessings, Debbie

A friend just called me to put Vera Murphy on the prayer list. She has very bad arthritis but cannot take any medicine for the pain because she is on Coumadin. God Bless You, love Debbie

My brother in law Bill had open heart surgery yesterday and everything went well. How ever last night they having problems getting his blood pressure stable and getting him off the ventilator. So please remember him in your prayers today. Thanks Sue

It is 122 degrees in Iraq and the low is 111. Our troops need our prayers for strength, endurance, and safety. This is doubly true for me as both of my son in laws are in Iraq . One came home for a 2 week furlough and his feet are in terrible shape. My daughter had to massage and rub lotion on them all the time while he was home. They are sweating so bad over there with the heat they can't keep their socks dry, and with all the walking and stuff they do they get really red and chaffed, and blisters form and then bleed. Thank you, Brenda