Prayer Requests

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Mike Evans, an author of several bestselling books launch The Jerusalem Prayer Team to commemorate with Corrie Ten Boom in Holland.Enlisting one million people in America is the top priority of The Jerusalem Prayer Team as well as churches to pray daily for the peace of Jerusalem. The campaign expects to create a bridge of love among Christians to pray for the Jewish people in Israel.Pat Boone, Pat Robertson, Tim LaHaye, John Maxwell, Tommy Tenney and others support the prayer campaign.Evans said that these Christians will be praying for the Jewish people as they are in the midst of terror, similar to what America had experienced last September 11.Praying for the Jewish people as well as the Jerusalem is a Biblical mandate that no prophet, priest, King that didn’t pray for both. He said that you can’t love Jesus without loving the Jewish people.The Jerusalem Prayer Team appeared because of Corrie ten Boom’s legacy. Nazi soldiers caught Corrie Ten Boom doing weekly prayer meeting for the Jewish people in 1844. Ten Boom family’s lives were in danger for 100 years pursuing on what they believe is right. They continue living out their Christian faith in every aspects of their lives. Because of this, around 800 Jewish people were saved from the Nazis.Ten Boom sisters Corrie and Betsie were imprisoned and life there was unbearable.  Yet they continue to spread Jesus’ love among the prisoners until Betsie died. Corrie also believed that her life was a gift from God. She continues spreading about Jesus by her worldwide ministry to 60 countries. A movie “The Hiding Place” was based on her life story.Evans pointed that The Jerusalem Prayer Team brings back Corrie to life. During such difficult times, what the church can do was to unify in prayer. Evans meet with several leaders for the prayer effort. Corrie’s desire is to give love and refuge to the Jewish people as what God says from the scripture. The Jewish people only knew all the bad things that some Christians did and not those acts by more Ten Booms all over the world.

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June 2, 2008

I was a former Consular Investigator of the U.S. Embassy in Manila who worked with the Anti-Fraud Unit for more than a decade, until such time that I met an awful vehicular accident that resulted to my separation from the service. The mishap happened when I and my driver-colleague, Homer, were traveling back home to Manila after completing our background investigations in the far away province of Camarines Norte in Bicol region. While running in a moderate speed along the winding road of Maharlika Hi-way within the vicinity of Barangay Tigbinan, the vehicle suddenly went out of control and skidded right down the approximately 50 to 60-foot deep ravine. I was not sure whether I was scared in the face of my imminent death, but I supposed it was just a shocking reaction that I did nothing but to shut my eyes in terror, tensed all my muscles in anticipation of my broken cadaver, and for a split second, flashed back the memory of my good old days with my beloved family, while the vehicle was rapidly flying into the air and down the bed of the narrow valley.

Thank God I was alive!… I mean, my driver and I were both alive, with only simple bruises and no broken bones. Perhaps it’s because of the safety belts we wore at that time, and perhaps because the narrow valley bed to where the vehicle tripped up right-side down, was soft enough to bear the impact of the crash.

But that was a mere continuation of our misfortune. The embassy charged us of several violations in connection with that accident; one of which was the so-called “reckless driving resulting to damage to vehicle” (“U.S. Embassy Handbook for Filipino Employees” 17). This was done so despite the fact that I was not the one driving the vehicle. The grievance committee panel argued that I ranked senior in the trip and therefore, responsible for maintenance and protection of the official car. Despite my two Meritorious Honor Awards, several official recognitions for my loyalty to the interest of the diplomatic mission, and Public Attorney’s supported appeal for reconsideration, I finally found myself being terminated from the service for cause (“Notice of Termination” 1992).

Probably I could have done wrong somehow, but my spirit denied acceptance of any guilt. All I knew was that I enjoyed working with the embassy, with beautiful people around me and all those challenging assignments that I love so much, that’s why I did my job very well, and I did it with all my heart, my life and my soul, for my own glory and for the interest of the service. But such redundant car accident totally erased my dreams, suddenly refrained myself to keep on going, and most of all, severely affecting the future of my children. Homer, my colleague, probably in total desperation, got sick and subsequently met his untimely death. But I was still fighting back. I’ve always wanted to keep alive. I didn’t want to be completely discouraged by this emotional trial and finally say farewell to the world in such a younger age of 40’s, while leaving my bereaved family in future uncertainty. If we succumb to poverty, so be it! We shall be joined together in good times and bad times.

And bad times did occur. Our imminent economic shortage was compounded by ailment of my two younger kids. Still fresh from being separated from the service, my two-year-old child, Maybel, and my eight-year-old son, Bimbo, suffered serious Dengue fever and both were rushed to the nearby hospital at the wee hour of the night. The kids suffered a lot of pain. Each had a plastic small pipe inserted into their noses so as to flow out rotten dirt that looked like black decomposing human particles coming from their stomach – aside from several hoses of dextrose injected into different part of their skin. The worst, the kids were not allowed to take any food or liquid and this punishment went on for several days. Maybel whom I loved the most, was despondently wondering over my refusal to give her something to eat despite her repeated clamor for food.

My heart was melting! It was the most challenging moment in my life. Both kids were in 50-50 condition and I was not so sure whether I could bear acceptance that they might finally be leaving us for good.

In my state of hopelessness, I appealed to the Lord harder and ever and without let-up, to spare my kids from the toil of death and to send them hasty recovery instead. Then I suddenly felt a strange spirit that crept into mine, more burning than the spirit of brandy that I consumed awhile ago to reinforce my emotional strength. It was a splendid feeling I’ve never felt before. And as I rushed back to the hospital, I found my children in peaceful condition, my wife had refrained from crying, and the doctors and nurses were at their normal faces.

The children were recuperating fast! God did not totally forsake us! He still had a gracious heart for us to be heard of and for us to ask for forgiveness. Amen.

What process could be better than seeking the convivial arms of the Divine Providence at times of trouble and at times when one had sorted to all recourses but they didn’t seem to work at all? Anything beyond the capability of man should be consigned into the custody of the Lord. As Jesus said, “Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

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Image taken on 2007-04-30 05:01:08 by Shreyans Bhansali.

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At the heart of the Circle of Love vision are the needs of those on the streets of our city and we seek to implement practical solutions that address those needs. We meet immediate needs by providing food, shelter and clothing. But we believe that a vital emphasis on spiritual values provides hope and results in changed lives. At the Circle of Love shelter, those without hope will find a safe place that provides a vision for people and the wisdom for living life. It is a place that allows …

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“Strong family relationships don’t just happen. It takes time. It takes commitment, it takes prayer, and it takes work.” — Eugene Hansen
Raising a family isn’t easy but if one has strong family relationships, then we can make better choices. We’re human and make mistakes but there are certain guidelines that can help us avoid future problems with our children and perhaps save a lot of heartache. First, we must try speaking to our children in a calm voice if we intend to get anywhere. Second, it is imperative to show love and affection toward our children. Third, we must compromise with them and try to understand their point of view. Fourth, we should have personal interviews with our children and find out how their week has gone and if there is anything we can do to help them. This shows that we care about them. Fifth, we must compliment our children and uplift them, praise them for their efforts and accomplishments.
As we get older, we usually have good advice for young parents, hoping to help in anyway possible. In the July 1996 Ensign Magazine, parents were asked what they would do differently if they could go back and raise their children again. Through the valuable experiences of these parents, I would like to share an example of the five points I mentioned.
First: One mother wrote that she would never raise her voice to her children again. She said, “Yelling goes way back in my family tree.” When this is the case, then we have a tough time undoing what has been engrained in us from childhood. When we use this method of communicating with our children, then we give into emotions and anger. This creates more frustration and the communication has ceased to exist and the spirit of contention enters the home, causing negative feelings.
Second: We must show affection to our children. Too many times we think that our children know of our love for them but we forget to show it. Showing affection can be difficult for some people but we must overcome it so our children will know of our love. As I read the response of one mother, it tugged at my heart as she expressed her feelings. One of her sons had been incarcerated and was paying for his mistake. She wrote, “As I looked at his sorrowful countenance behind that glass wall, my heart nearly broken, I only wish I had held and rocked that baby boy.” This mother was devastated as she realized that she had very seldom taken her son into her arms and kissed him and held him next to her heart. It dawned on her that she had done all the duties of a good and faithful mother and taken care of his physical needs, but had forgotten his emotional needs by telling him of her devotion and love, by spreading sweet kisses all over his little face. She had not taken the time to show her innermost feelings for her young son and now she was looking at him through the glass barrier, her heart wrenching with pain and wishing that she could undo the past and start again. How many times have we wished to start again? We should not berate ourselves but start anew, beginning today and kiss those little tears away. Remember, a child is like a blossom. He or she will be in your garden for a season but gone the next. We should never waste a moment to express feelings of love.
Third: Another mother from Warsaw, Poland said that she believed her choices were the only right ones when it came to decisions of the family, and now she regretted her actions. She wrote, “I considered any deviation by my children from my instructions to them as an affront to my authority.” This belief causes tension in the home because the children are not able to share their feelings and concerns. A child’s point of view is important to him and we must listen and learn from our children. This is where compromise comes in.
Fourth: The interviews with your children don’t have to be formal. You can talk to them while doing dishes or setting the table, in the car as you’re traveling, while shopping at the mall, or tucking them in bed. This kind of communication helps your children know you care about them.
Fifth: I believe that complimenting your children helps to build their self-esteem, helps them to feel good about themselves. Whenever my mother would tell me something good about myself, I felt encouraged, that I wasn’t such an awkward teenager after all. Children need to be recognized for their efforts they do each day.
When I had little children, I knew that I had to treasure every moment, for that moment would not pass this way again. I remember how I held my child and wished within myself that “time” would stand still and hoped I would never forget that moment for the rest of my life. Those were moments of happiness in which I took the time to sing to my baby and spread tender kisses all over her face and neck, making her laugh and smile. It was a time in which I said a special prayer — a prayer of thanksgiving, of joy, and a prayer full of love. I enjoyed watching my baby as she nursed and I would smile at her and say softly, “I love you.” Then she would stop nursing for a moment to give me a smile, and then resume her nursing. What precious moments those were to me. Time passes swiftly, though the memories are still there. My children are grown and I now realize that my daughters will feel what I once felt, holding their babies close and humming softly.
Gordon B. Hinckley, a great religious leader, said, “Women who make a house a home make a far greater contribution to society than those who command large armies or stand at the head of impressive corporations. Who can put a price tag on the influence a mother has on her children, a grandmother on her posterity, or aunts and sisters on their extended family?”
Grandparents should never underestimate their worth. This poem tells the value of one such grandparent, a tribute to a great man, expressing the devotion these children had for their grandfather:
Praise of a Grandfather
He stands in Godlike dignity–
A man and something more.
His soul is filled with charity,
All the children him adore.
They listen for this footsteps,
They follow him about;
Such love they feel for this kind man,
To him they are devout.
–Claudia Weaver Johnson
Copyright 2006

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Image taken on 2009-05-17 11:41:27 by Lawrence OP.

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quranichealing.com – QH- Peace of Mind Spiritual Healing Program – Ways to Soul’s Nourishment and Perfection QH- Peace of Mind started a Spiritual Healing program to combat problems usually could not be solved by traditional methods. The program consist of 4 stages; Signs – Diagnosis, Healing – Treatment, Protection and Purification. Along with the book, the program comes with Healing videos and audios, transliteration of prayers and Black Magic Self Help Quiz Spiritual Healing is your …

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All over the world, most people recognize the importance of a uplifting start in the

morning. The whole day is heavily impacted by how we begin our day in the morning. Starting the day with morning prayer is the only way. Many people who love God dearly don’t make the time to start their day with prayer-so it is an issue that affects all types of religious/spiritual people.

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, commotion and combustion in our lives-we need more peace and calm to function daily. Our qualities of lives are being stained by the stresses of the world by TV, work, family, and interaction with people. The “little purple pill or blue pill,” can not permanently bring peace, joy and happiness in our lives during these times. Medications provide a temporary illusion to the mind and body that peace is present.

Seeking God in the early morning strengthens your faith and knowing that you serve a loving God who wants you to always have an expected end-no matter what obstacles we face daily. Commencing your day with prayer allows you to get control of the day by expressing to God that you depend on his guidance and protection. God knows we have decisions and plans for the day- he alone knows the future and the outcome of those plans/decisions as well.

We are human beings that always seem to forget how we made it through trials and tribulations of the past-especially when times are good. So prayer humbles the conscious mind and reminds the unconscious mind of the need for us to depend on our heavenly creator. God is our source of life and morning prayer allows that belief to reflect in our actions as we progress through the day.

How we begin to have Morning Prayer will be different for everyone. Just like the relationship we have with our heavenly creator is unique for every individual. In my opinion the best time to pray is before getting out of the bed. Spend a few minutes just thanking God for waking you up another day. Some people have morning rituals-like going to the toilet first for a morning release.

Personally I have received so much revelation from having a little prayer time with God while on the toilet in the morning. Talking to God while brushing your teeth or in the shower adds a bit of refreshment to our prayers- in the sense that we are washing off yesterday and looking forward to a great new day.

Once you start to tune in to your heavenly creator every morning, the universe tunes into you. Your thoughts are acted upon sometimes before you can make a verbal request to God. You become a light to other people who start their days in a “bad space.” They might not know that morning prayer is healing.

Morning prayer is a meditative time that affects every aspect of the mind, body and soul. It opens the mind and heart to receive insight, instruction and increase from our heavenly creator. Also we receive strength because prayer reminds us the life’s challenges don’t have to be handled by our might; we have a supernatural protector and angels that are here to help us when we call.

Consistent morning prayer restrains us from making so many unanticipated mistakes. This is the gospel of good news that Jesus encourages us to spread all over the world-God’s everlasting love and protection.

Copyright 2007 Sakkal Ent.

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Hope, at best is a fragile thing, but as years pass with no evidence that hope is being fulfilled, it slowly disappears. But as long as there is life, there is hope!
When the call came, it was more than a surprise; more like the heavens had opened and a voice from the dead was speaking; a voice I had never heard before. She was just a baby when I last saw her almost 40 years ago. There was a time during the latter years when I actually convinced myself that she was dead. Now after decades of wondering what had happened to her, my daughter was talking to me.
Her mother and I had been blessed with her when we both were merely kids ourselves, without the good sense to know that life is not always the fairy tale we dreamed it would be. That dream came to an end just a few short years later when my wife and I went our separate ways. They moved to another state a short time later and started a new life as a new family, with a new name and with a new husband and father. That was the last time I saw my daughter until she called that night a few years ago.
“You’re the answer to a thousand prayers!” I exclaimed after I composed myself enough to speak. One month earlier I had reconciled myself to the fact that she was gone forever and that it was time to put the issue to rest. I had one picture of her when she was eleven months old, my constant reminder of the child I had lost. That day, I slipped it into an envelope and stuffed it into the trash can.
Television today generally depicts the father as being a dunce without any noticeable intelligence and with little feelings for anything but himself. In real life it doesn’t always work that way. At least it didn’t for me. Many times I had wished that it did.
The first twenty years were the roughest. Every time my children from a later marriage would reach some milestone in their lives; little league, girl scouts, band, etc., I would wonder how my other daughter was faring in the same situations. Certainly I was proud of my kids for their achievements I, but a little sad at the same time.
There’s no good excuse for allowing someone else to adopt your child when you’re capable of rearing that child yourself. In later years I tried to convince myself that I was young and scared, more boy than man at that time. I remember the brow beating and sage advice from people I thought at the time were friends. Finally it seemed that I would be making some noble and mature gesture by agreeing to the adoption. As I see it now, it wasn’t noble or mature; just cowardly.
Time does not heal all wounds without help from the wounded. While it marches on, the pain of loss always seems to be bringing up the rear. After the initial shock of a divorce and the remarriage of her mother a short time later, I found that I still had a life to live. Years swiftly passed with my new family taking up most of my time and thoughts, but still in idle moments, there would be the vision of my daughter and what she might look like at that moment.
Her mother had told me those many years ago that they were moving to Texas. Not knowing exactly where they moved, whenever I visited that state on business, I would look in the telephone books and hope to find some sign of their presence. That never happened. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had found them.
Finally after I had finally given up any thoughts of finding her, she found me! She was told about me in her teens. Twenty years later, she became determined to find me. Her grandmother gave her enough information about my family and where I lived to give her search a chance to succeed. But still, it took her five years to get up the courage to dial the number she had found. She wasn’t sure how she would be received. Thankfully, she had enough guts to put aside her fears and call.
After that evening’s call, I’ve spent the last seven years running up tremendous telephone bills. I think we talked almost every night for the next six months, getting to know each other again! I have two beautiful grand daughters I didn’t know I had. I’m sure both of them will grow up to be Miss Texas someday.
My daughter and I have a relationship that is stronger than I could ever have imagined. Maybe it’s because we’re both mature now and we both know what we’ve missed not knowing each other. She thinks I’m a pretty cool guy. She gets her intelligence and good looks from my side of the family!
I have to believe that God had a hand in getting us together again. I don’t know why she appeared shortly after I gave up and tried to push her from my mind. Maybe it’s his way of showing us to never give up on anything important. Knowing her and seeing the bright, determined woman she has become, lets me know that God was keeping an eye out for both of us all the time.
I know my daughter well enough now to know that there’s no quit in her. Maybe that’s the way it should be for us all!

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