Prayer Requests

Good Morning!

Day 2 was much better for Miss N. She was able to get up and move around a little – and I saw flashes of her feeling better. We still have a ways to go but she is doing better.

My friend, John, is going through a rough time now. His mother who is 92 or 93, I can’t remember, is in her last days before going home. He and his sisters are aware that time is limited – but still, when it’s Mom, we don’t want to let them go. Keep John, Elaine, and Ann in your prayers.

Another request is for a friend named Jim. He is an older gentleman who was on stage with me when we performed “Fiddler on the Roof” several years ago. Jim has ALS – commonly referred to as “Lou Gehrig Disease”. I spoke with his pastor Tuesday and found that his mind is sharp but his body is going down. Little by little his muscles are loosing their ability to function. Add Jim to your prayers, please.

I have another request that is a little harder to describe. It is for a grandfather who molested his granddaughters. And by no means am I condoning his actions … but his greatest need is to come to terms with his sin and to repent and ask for forgiveness – from his wife, child, and grandchildren and from God. Jesus taught us to pray for our “enemies” … and a person who does this is an enemy to God and therefore to us. Why then pray? Because only God can change a heart and a mind.

We need also lift up the young ladies, their mother, and their grandmother – each impacted by this terrible action. The terrible tentacles of sin reach far and devastate many. One only has to see this pattern to know this.

There is a cure for the sin nature of mankind. The cure is found in our Lord, Jesus Christ. There is a balm for the sins of our life – it is forgiveness given by God when we are faithful to confess our sins. Confession is simply agreeing with God that we have been disobedient. We don’t have to beat ourselves up or perform any ritual – just come to an agreement that we have done wrong. Here’s what the Apostle John said about sin in our lives:

1 John 1:5-10 (English Standard Version)
Walking in the Light
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

In our relationship with God, there will be times that His light will reveal to us our disobedience to His will. The remedy is found in coming to an agreement with him (confessing our sins) – then He takes over (emphasis is HE TAKES OVER) and forgives us (releases us) and cleanses us (blots the sin out). Our role is limited to coming to an agreement that we are in the wrong – which is not easy to do as our human pride gets in the way.

So, while I know you may have some strong emotions regarding this situation, I ask that you lift each one up in prayer. You don’t need to know their names – just need to know the needs. And God will bless. I know – for He has heard your prayers and has blessed me.

Have a great weekend. I hope to be able to report that Miss N is home come Monday – but we continue to leave all of it in God’s capable hands.

Agape’


Mr. Jim