Hey, My Darling Ones!
Thank you so much for praying for our Bible study launch last night. God brought us such a great group! Lots of new faces and lots of familiar ones, too. I love a marvelous blend of both! It was my first time to teach in our newly renovated sanctuary. It was so beautiful and the quality of sound was the difference between night and day. I am profoundly humbled and blessed this morning that God would allow me, such a former pit-dweller, to serve a plate of His Word to a hungry soul. The way I see it, I’m a waitress.
Let me also give you a quick reminder that tomorrow is the 15th and you that are part of our Siesta Scripture-memory Team will need to be ready to sign in and give your 2nd Scriptures on that (not this) post. If God hasn’t pointed out a specific verse, you are also very welcome to share mine. I’ll give it to you tomorrow. You’ll know if you should share mine by whether or not it resonates with you as something you personally (“N” in our RENEW acrostic) NEED. Also, Siestas, thank you so much for your encouragement over the mini-tutorial! It built up my spirit more than you could know. You made me laugh over your comments about liking the rough videos because you could see the professional ones any old time. It was refreshing. YOU are refreshing. One last thing about the mini-tutorial. It meant the world to me to see you give so many shout-outs to Sabrina. She and the rest of this happy band of women (and one-lone man) at LPM work so hard. Thank you for always recognizing them. They are family to me. I could not esteem them more highly.
OK, now for how I’d like to hear from you today. I am very concerned about those of you who are suffering ramifications from our nation’s current financial crisis. Our unemployment rate is skyrocketing and the threat of further layoffs can be terrifying and demoralizing. I’ve already begun praying for servants of God who are suffering financial blows but my prayers feel more effective AND DIRECTED if I have some names and stories feeding them. If you are feeling the crunch and could use some powerful Siest-ercession (I just made that up. I made my own self laugh.), please post a comment so we can pray for you! Keep your comment limited to a reasonable one-paragraph length so we can read every single one of them and pray. It will really help if you’ll tell us your name and what part of the country (or world!) you are in, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, feel free! I know that we’ll all be tempted to write comments back to our Siestas who describe a need but it will be so much easier to use the comments to this post for prayer if we limit them only to the ones making specific requests. Thank you for your cooperation!
You are so loved and welcome here. You have become an extremely important branch of this ministry and all of us here at LPM are honored to be your servants. Keep fighting the good fight of faith, Sisters! Jesus is worthy!
PS. Girls, I’ve already been reading a number of your needs (over 200 at this point) and praying while nearly bawling. I have become so fond of you that your needs feel like my needs. The Apostle Paul told us that when one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts. I guess you could consider me the nose on this body. And it is really stinging. And running. I was nearly overcome by the one who is having to lay off 7 people today and is almost physically ill over it. Take heart, all of you! God never prompts us to pray with no intention of responding. It’s just not His style. He initiates prayer to initiate action…often first on Earth so that He can view love and obedience at work…then in Heaven where wonders reside then powerfuly descend in Divine timing. He loves you so much. ABIDE in that love. (Which reminds me, I totally loved the comment from the mom that ended with what her three year-old daughter says at the conclusion of her prayers: “Jesus love me, Amen.” HE DOES.)
The Journey Continues ~
Precious Beth,
It is 8:30 PM in California and I have just finished reading every single woman 370+ who shared her heart on this post. I am getting to know them by name and faces and cute icons.
I will join you and the LPM Siesta group in praying over this crunch situation.
TO BEGIN HEALING FROM FINANCIAL STRUGGLES, I BEGIN WITH THE FOLLOWING:
PRAYER ~
READ THE LIFE MANUAL DAILY ~
TRUST AND OBEY ~
ANSWERS ARE WITHIN FOR EVERY WALK OF LIFE PAST PRESENT FUTURE!
YOu will have a pug nose by the time you pray for all of us! No more big nose for you!!!
LET US ALL UPLIFT EACHOTHER IN OUR DAILY WALK DURING THIS ECONOMIC TIME.
I am NO BETH MOORE ~ however,I do have the gift of prayer warrior and teaching budgeting and finance to anyone in need.
PUT ON YOUR ARMOR AND MARCH ON SIESTA’S!!!!
With “Heaven Bound” blessings
Kim
http://kimsafinathejourneycontinues.blogspot.com
My husband didn’t receive a raise this year and they raised our insurance rates by 15%, which takes out a significant amount for us. We were barely making it before so now it is even harder. We are behind on everything and it doesn’t look like we will be caught up anytime soon. I work as a medical transcriptionist, but it still isn’t enough to make the ends meet
We could use your prayers. My husband is currently in nursing school after 20+ years of pastoral ministry. Because of his rigorous school schedule, he now is working less than part time and we no longer have benefits. I have been working part time since he started school, but haven’t been working as many hours as I’d like. God has been so faithful and has provided all that we need and I am so thankful that nothing is too big for Him! My children have even started saying “God is really blessing us” when they see low gas prices, etc. I hope that they are learning to put their trust in Him. I’m working on trusting Him no matter what and not worrying in the meantime about how things will work out. Thank you for praying for us!
Julie in Ohio
Siestas…my immediate family is fine right now…in debt…but working on being debt free and we are both employed by the GRACE AND MERCY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST …but will you please pray for my aging parents in a very small town called Grahamsville, New York. My mom fell downstairs in the dark before Thanksgiving, separating her foot from her ankle, and after surgery they are facing mounting medical bills, etc. My dad is semi retired, but drives a schoolbus to make ends meet and of course they lost almost half of their nestegg when the markets crashed. Their nestegg was pretty small to begin with…and now they have very little left to actually live on. My father is a blue collar worker and they live a humble life. I am just praying that God will restore their retirement savings and help them not have to worry about such earthly things. They go to church, but do not have a good solid foundation of faith in Christ to lean upon. Pray for their salvation as well. And pray also that God will enable us to help them as needed and as they will accept our assistance. Thank you…and I will be praying through this blog for all of ya’ll.
I am a self-employed single mom. I'm a massage therapist and most of my income comes from folks' disposable income and many folks don't have any of that anymore. Pray that God will continue to bring clients in for me to minister to..(Beth, I even worked on Jim & Jeanne Rogers the other day.} He is faithful to provide for us when we are working in the good works He prepared for us beforehand….
thanks for praying
Sherri
Ft. worth
Beth…as I was reading through these precious comments I was reminded quickly of our Esther study and “If _______, then _____.” I wanted to share with you that my “If” was…If my husband were to lose his job AGAIN…then GOD IS FAITHFUL TO CONTINUE TO SUPPLY MY EVERY SINGLE NEED IN CHRIST JESUS. Keep trusting him sisters. HE IS OUR ALL SUFFICIENT PROVIDER. He WILL make a way when there seems to be NO WAY. Sorry, I know I wasn’t supposed to do that…but I couldn’t help it. It helped MY tears go away too.
Thank you for your willingness to pray. My husband was laid off of his job (Builington Northern SantaFe Railroad) last week for an unknow amount of time. We are a homeschooling,one income family… we have no idea how we will pay the bills. We are praying the Lord brings in some side jobs for us while we are waiting for BNSF to call him back to work. Thanks again for your prayers.
Thank you for your prayer offer. Our prayer request is a dual request. I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in January of 2005 at age 44. I was completely healthy and had just completed the Portland, Oregon Marathon and training to qualify for the Boston marathon. I had some pain in my hip and my back thinking it was from running to much. Weeks and tests later we realized I had cancer in the breast which was never found in the mamagram & it metasizied to lung, liver, back and hip.
All this to say 3 years later to through the great power of prayer and to the glory of God I am here. I had a very close call in early December sending me to the hospital but God brought me MIRACOUSLY out and HOME by christmas to be with my kids.
I have 2 kids 11 anf 17 this has been hard on them and a wonderful husband of 20 years.
I have been through 15 different types of chemo, 3 separate rounds of radition. Of course with the economy it has put a financial strain on us too but God has provided every step of the way and I mean every step when your need is great his provision is profound.
I had to tell you this Beth because you have gotten me through the last 3 years along with other bible reading. We are steadfast in our faith desiring for God to receive all and any glory in this horrible time of testing.
I deeply thank you for how you have mentored me in the faith.
God is good he is always good. I am going to try with my chemo brain to memorize scripture with all of you. My last hospital visit I was so sick and had many drugs on board I could not find God. He told me to wallpaper my mind and heart so here I go. Hope I get to join you for the WHOLE YEAR. WE are praying for a miracle I need one and God is fully capable of giving one but I know he does not always choose to. But as you say in Believing God please don't take my hope away. If he provides a miracle there would be no question it was supernatural so many are watching us in our life to see if God is who he says he is . For His glory, Kalli
Thank you Beth for your enthusiasm and faithfulness. My boys tease me I have every bible study. Sorry so long
Please pray for several members of my church who are out of work. There’s not much out there in terms of jobs. One is a single woman who was already trying to sell her home to downsize, then got laid off.
Also pray for a divorced father of two. He’s significantly under-employed and has had to file bankruptcy. His car is about to die due to the transmission. He cannot afford to buy a car, yet needs a way to work.
Thanks.
Please pray for my cousin who has been out of work for over a year. She’s just doing substitute school teaching.
My brother is on a 3 month shutdown at his steel plant until March or April (depending on the economy).
My other brother is self-employed auto mechanic. He will be having hernia surgery in a few weeks and will not be able to work for a couple weeks while recuperating.
Thanks for your prayers.
My sister,mom,and dad do not have jobs, or money to pay their bills. They are up in Ohio where the housing market has slowed to a stop; they had to close their business. My sister cannot find a job so that she can also be home with her 2 young precious children when they need her. But she is also trying to pay the bills. Her name is Lisa.
I recently left my special ed job because a student broke my arm and I never had support from the administration, so I became a nanny, for a precious little girl. I now love my job and am happier, but took a huge cut in pay. I am glad I followed my heart, and I believe it was God’s will, but I sure could use enough money to pay the bills! 🙂
By the way Beth, the introduction to your ESTHER study was played at my new woman’s Bible study tonight and it was SUCH a blessing to me. I actually laughed– and I’ve been going through such a hard year that I haven’t laughed in a very, very long time. Thank you so much for your dedication to Christ and for using your gifts in such an amazing way. I thank God for you.
I work for a non-profit ministry organization called Young Life and so far so good. However, we are in danger of getting pay cuts very soon if our donors do not give what they have pledged (and they are not so far.) They are sadly struggling themselves and yet unfortunately we run solely on donors. Scary…yet I am claiming that God has never seen His righteous ones begging for bread and walking by faith in my calling! May you too siestas! Thank you so much for the prayers! P.S. Bible Study was amazing last night and I personally already witnessed one sister set free on night one….Hallelujah! 🙂 Blessings to you all! – Corrie 🙂
Miss Beth, please shed some wisdom for us mother’s that have to work outside the home during this time. So much of “THE CHURCH” is bombarding us with stay home with your children even if you move to an apartment. I understand this is ideal and I’m sure biblical. But if you’re already in a on-room apartment and can’t make ends meet with husbands salary the wife has to work. Many women I know have left the church because no one is addressing when the woman needs to be the breadwinner in a marriage. Please help.
My daughter, Sarah, and her husband are expecting their second child. My SIL had just taken a job at a pay cut because it was going to give him the opportunity to gain knowledge and make contacts in another field. He was going to get a part-time job to supplement their income. The part-time market has dried up and they have reassigned him at his job. He is looking for another full-time job which will probably move the family to another city (and farther from me). Please pray that my daughter & SIL's faith increases as they face this stress, for my daughter's health in this pregnancy, and for me as I face their potential relocation. Thank you so much. (We are in Texas.)
Thank you for having a heart that follows the Holy Spirit prompting.
I get so discouraged over trying to meet my bills. My husband and I are both on disability, and it has seemed the last 3-4 years we have had two more weeks of month than we have money. I know that I let the enemy get a hold of me on this issue, but even though we don’t have the money to make it through the month, we do not qualify for any help. I know God supplies our needs, but there are several bills I have to let slid each month, and I have to rotate them, so we do not get turned over to collection agencies.. the current economic situation has just added to the pressure of trying to get out of debt.
There is another need for a friend of mine.. she and her son are in dire circumstances at this point. If they do not make a truck payment by Friday the bank said they would repo his truck, their only means of getting around. i would love to be able to pay it form them, but I can’t. Please pray that she will find peace.
Thank you again! I love you guys!
Delilah NW AR
I would be so honored if you would pray. I am divorced and the sole caregiver to my elderly mother. Each week seems to be a struggle.
We lived in north GA.
I will be reading and praying for all f these sweet ladies and their families as well.
Blessings, Lyndy
Thank you for your heartfelt prayers and words of encouragement (Beth) and to all the siestas for their heartfelt prayers, prayer requests, encouragement and courage. WOW! When God unites a group of people…it’s very impressive. The Power of prayer and the power of agreement.
Ok the tough part…lol…asking for a “Siest-ercession” ~ LUV THAT!!
I have been walking a small bridge more like a tiny plank regarding everything(health/financial you name it kind of stuff) in my life this past year or so…no complaints though…I have experienced more of God in this short time than in almost any other time combined in my life. A quote a friend gave me…if God brings you to it, He can bring you through it and its true even when you get their another way, God will still bring you through”
My prayer request, please pray that I will have the courage to do what God is asking me to do. With so much uncertainty in the world around us and even personally right now, I need to hear God’s voice so clearly and so directly. I need His guidance, His wisdom, His discernment and than I need the courage to do it. I feel like I don’t have a lot of room for error…Please pray for God’s divine will and purpose to flood my mind and heart and that it’s so plain…like He told Habbakuk in 2:2 “..write the vision make it plain…” And anything else you are led to pray. I am most thankful for all your prayers.
May God surround all of you in his love and His protection. May you all “dwell in the secret place of the Most High,(may you)remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].” Psalm 91:1 (Amp). Lord bless you and thank you again!
Doris
I have been unemployed since November due to a recurring health issue that prevented me from keeping up with responsibilities in my job. I was in this exact same position one year ago, as well. This is a dreadful time for a job search, as we all know, and I am a single woman with no additional income, but I know that my God is Faithful and True, I know that He has plans for my life, and I have come to view this season as one of renewal and restoration. He has provided some direction for long-term healing, and He continues to provide each physical need one by one. I await His revealing of what shall come next, and I am learning to trust Him without anxiety. Just today, in fact, He offered up the answer to how my rent will be paid in a few weeks! These days are difficult, but I am grateful for this precious time of teaching and healing. Thank you all for placing my name in your hearts for prayer to our Lord.
Thank you for praying. My husband and I welcomed our daughter in May of 2008 and at that time we felt that God was calling me to stay home with her. In November, my husband was let go from his commercial construction job here in Houston and we have been living by faith since. And what stories we have to share about God’s provision and faithfulness to us. We have decided since there is not too many opportunities on the horizon for him that it is best that during this season I will return to work. So, on Monday I will be leaving my baby girl with my precious husband and serving kids with developmental disabilities. It is tearing my heart out to do this, but I know that God has a plan in it all. My sweet mother keeps saying to me that it is “only for a season.” We are praising God that He isn’t finished with us yet.
Thanks for all that you do to encourage us, Kim
Beth — thank you for this request. I’m blessed to be working and my hubby is also. I am honored to pray alongside of you for theses sweet Siestas.
It’s a privlege to pray for all of you.
I am requesting prayer for our house to sale. We have had it on the market for 5 months now. We just moved back in August to serve in full time youth ministry from Kentucky to Arizona. We are staying with family now, but both of our families are experiencing the financial pressure. I appreciate this post for making me realize the importance of praying for others and not staying so focused on my own circumstances.
Believing God!
Christy
Phoenix, Arizona
Dear Beth,
Your prayers are timely, effective, and appreciated. Please pray for my dad, Ron, who has been out of a job for nearly a year. I can see God at work, but dad is getting very discouraged. Thank you so much for everything you do!
Libby’s Mama
Thank you so much for your prayers! It means so much to know that you all care and are taking time to lift our needs up. 🙂
My husband has a business renting out beach houses all over Southern CA. God’s hand has totally been on this business from day one (2 1/2 years ago) but things have definitely slowed down. Well before we really really feeling this crunch, we decided to rent a HUGE house for a huge amount of rent. Now, obviously, we see we cannot stay here. On top of my husband’s business struggling and not being able to buy much in groceries or pay bills, we have the added stress of finding a new home without making too much of an impact on our 2 young children. I so appreciate, and covet, your prayers. Thank you so very much!!
Well, I just wrote about what’s going on at my house. Thanks for the prayers.
For me, it’s not just the economics of being unemployed and in a job search, but knowing that it’s time to be a part of something new that God is creating yet not knowing where to look or who to talk to in order to put my transferable skills to work. May God Bless your prayers for all!
My husband is meeting with a company tomorrow and things are not looking good. We may lose half of our income. We are straight commission. I could so use the intercession.
Thank you for praying for us. Just the facts first:
Husband received a 20% pay-cut, plus now pays for his own gas. And more may be coming.
My job is shaky, they no longer help with insurance. Family coverage went up to $1054 a month! Changed our hours and may cut our pay, we find out next week.
We are doing ok, really better than I would have ever thought. But we kinda are at the end of being able to cut back. The next cut backs will be things that seem like a part of everyday life, cell phones, internet and such.
We have a 16, 13, and 10 daughters. What happens next??
Thank you again!
We are doing ok, but we are having more and more ladies who can’t join us for Bible study because the money for the book is considered an “extra”.
The church is tripling our out reach to help people pay electric bills, and food. We have had several big carpet mills lay-off people. Our unemployment rate is 11% in our town. But that doesn’t count in all the people working less hours.
We are praying that teachers like you, will be lead to offer resources that are free or discounted.
Karen
Psalm 91:3-4 (NLT)
3 For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Michelle, Manassas,VA
My husband's job is on the line. He's been asked to take a one week without pay furlough. We're afraid the next step is layoff. I'm working but not making that much, so the loss of his job would be devastating. We have two young children (5 & 8). I'm going to take your advice and pray not panic. I know God is in control and bigger than all of this.
Susan
I feel so guilty because as I read some of the struggles others are going through, I realize my situation is minimal. My husband is retired and brings home a retirement check every month and I am full-time employed. And yet we struggle with out finances because of poor planning on our part. mostly mine. We do have alot of bills so since the economy it has been pretty tight, you know, gas, groceries, etc. Yet I pray that God will give us wisdom in how to get out of the mess we have gotten ourselves in. It is getting close to being “more month than money” which scares me so bad! And yet, once again, I feel guilty because others are in such worse shape than us, so it’s almost like you feel you don’t deserve someone praying for you because your situation is not as bad as others. Yet I do ask for prayer that we will be guided in what to do to get our situation more stable.
Thank you!
My husband is self employed and recently lost a very large client. He’s trying to replace the income….but no one is spending money right now. Our 401k is worth less that half of what it was a year and a half ago due to the stock market. We have some debt from 2 adoptions from China in the last 5 years. 6 kids total–2 in college, 2 in high school, 2 preschool.
sherri in alabama
My husband is self employed, he does custom cabinetry for closets/offices/garage systems, etc. He has no business right now, and a spec home he did do has not sold and is in foreclosure with the builder who is a friend and fellow Christian. So, my husband lost a considerable amount of money on the job. He is trying to decide if he should close the business and seek employment elsewhere. We seek His will. We also ask for prayer for the friend and builder as he feels such a heavy burden over this. I feel very blessed that so many will read this and pray.
Please add me to the prayer list. This economy has affected my husband’s business. He was also recently diagnosed with diabetes. Putting our older son through college, paying as we went, has really depleted our savings and made things difficult. Our son has graduated, recently married and had a child, and we helped as much and more than we could financially during all of this. I do have a stable job and am thankful for it, but I am overwhelmed!!!! I know my God is faithful, but my “human-ness” rears its head and causes me to start to doubt, worry, and panic! (I just had to correct a typo: trying to type my human-ness, I typed instead my human-mess! That word may be just as true!)
Thanks to all for your prayers.
Ouch. I’m like you Beth. It hurts to read these. My prayers go up for all of these sweet sisters and the many others who haven’t even written. Praise God for HIS Inheritance study…that’s no accident.
Jackie
Lake Charles
What an honor to have you pray for us Beth. With the trouble in the housing market – the adjustable rate is set to increase in April and totally cannot afford it when it does. My parents are with me and a single mom – I am praying we can get to stay in our home but truly I am leaving in God’s hand to provide us with shelter. He always does. Thank you for bringing our concerns before the throne.
Love you Beth.
We have been praying for our small business to sell for about two years. After losing a chunk of our savings the last couple of months we feel like the Lord is telling us to close our doors. After we announced the closing, we have had more interest in people wanting to buy the business. We are praying for God’s wisdom and direction. We have so much peace that God has his hand on us. We just want to please Him in our final decisions. Thank you for how you feed into so many lives you will never meet. What a gift!
Love, Becky
Thanks for the specific prayers about finances………I too need a financial breakthrough!!!
I also started my own business and left a full time job feeling that this was the Lord’s leading and it has been such a struggle.
I do praise HIM for His blessings!!!!
God Bless You,
Teresa
We are feeling the financial crunch and would so appreciate your prayers. I lost my job in November ’07 when the law firm I worked at for over 10 years decided to close that particular office. That was just weeks before I was scheduled to undergo brain surgery for a seizure disorder. I went ahead with the surgery in a step (leap) of faith that God was providing me the “time off” to have this taken care of. I am in the final stages of recovery and will need to find a job soon. Economy where I live has been hit hard and there really aren’t any jobs to speak of in my field. Also, my husband’s job is very shaky right now (construction) and his company has already had to lay off several employees. Thank you so much for upholding our needs before our Loving Heavenly Father. By the way, my surgery was a complete success – praise God! No more seizures and I’m able to start coming off those awful anti-seizure medications. Praise God!
Debbie
Connecticut
My husband and I own a small answering service. He runs it and I teach school so we have one small steady income. God is always faithful to provide, but we are in the midst of a crossroads- continue barely making anything from it OR to acquring another answering service to triple income but incur more debt. Please pray for wisdom and that my husband will not feel like he is failing when times are tough.
Thanks
Amy-oklahoma
I wrote you earlier about my husband being without a church. I have a praise–God allowed my Husabnd’s former secular employer to have an opening and he has offered the job to my hubby. He is back there today!
This is certainly a praise as it will provide financially for our family.
I would like to ask you still pray for God to open a ministry door. The financials have been hard, but seeing my dear husband’s heart broken and seeing his discouragement have been the hardest. It does something to a man’s “man-ness” to not be able to provide. Then on top of that to not have a ministry after so many years of having one just adds to the hurt.
Thank you for praying!
While my job in secure and I have no fears of loosing it I am suffering in other areas.
My basic expenses are going up more than my raises and it’s all I can do to hang on. I did have a partime job which I was able towork at my schedule but it appears it has been hit by the economy.
Please pray that I will be able to meet the day to day needs and not have to continually dip into my savings. Please pray that God will provide the means for my parttime job to continue as well.
At this point I am not able to save anything! And I pray that I will be able to meet my basic needs.
These are very frightening times in our nation’s history. Thank you for keeping us focused through prayer.
I have two daughters and two wonderful son-in-laws. They both have families. I pray that they are able to stay employed during this crucial economic crunch. I pray for my husband and myself, both retired, and for our “nest egg” as we watch it lowering and lowering almost daily. Most importantly we pray for good health to see us through these next few years.
Prayerfully,
Nancy – Stockbridge, GA
The Lord definately put this on your heart for a reason Beth. When I read this yesterday I started praying for these women on here and then last night my mom called me to tell me that she got laid off. Pray that she will find a job, my parents have to have 2 incomes to get by. Thank you!
Thank you for praying for me, your prayers are so welcome. I know I am not the only one struggling. I am a single mom, my husband left me for someone else 8 years ago. I am broken in more than one area, but I am so weary of being alone, paying for everything alone, worrying alone, trying to make it alone, going to church alone, making decisions alone, eating meals alone, crying alone. Guess I could go on. Yes, I know I am not “alone” for He is with me, but physically I am alone. My car needs a $400 part and I have to charge it. I wish it wasn’t this way, but through all my trials, I do hear God telling me He will restore my life. I praise Him for His faithfulness.
I too am a pastor’s wife and a stay at home mom whose husband and church are struggling. I am encouraged just reading a few of the comments from other pastors’ wives who are going through the same thing. Last year our church went through a very rough time with our pastor leaving and many people following him. My husband has now taken the role of preaching pastor and many other various responsibilities. However, with people leaving and others not giving as much our church may have to make some staffing cuts too. Please pray for the leadership as they make these decisions and for our people not to become too discouraged. God is still working and still has many exciting things in store for us! Sadly, because of the financial crunch, I will not be able to attend the pastor’s wife conference. Hopefully you will do it again another year! Thanks for your prayers!
Jennifer-freezing cold Ohio
Okay, off topic, but I didn’t want to post on the Siesta Memory Verse. Do you think we could get a “button” designed to put on our blogs with Siesta memory verses to link back here to the thousands who are participating with this? I think it might be a powerful testimony or inspire another to participate. You know we love us some bling. Love, Annette
Beth, Thank you so much for your offer of prayer. My situation is different than most of the responses I read. It’s difficult to write about. My husband of 12 years left me the week before Christmas. He had quit his job the month before, been hospitalized for depression and felt like he had to “run”. The past 10 months have been the worst of my life in one way and the best in that my relationship with the Lord is closer than it has ever been. I am looking for work and am trying to pull myself together. The Lord gave me Eph 4:32 as soon as this “mess” started and I cling to it. My husband knows he is being disobedient and rebellious and his walk with the Lord is virtually non-existant. So having said all of that we are struggling financially. He has no plan to come home even if leaving was a mistake (his words). I am working (praying) very hard to not become bitter, to feel God’s love for me, to depend on Him, to believe and trust Him. Thank you so much!
Dear Beth,
I was sick yesterday and didn’t check in, but I’d like to leave a prayer request. My husband was let go from his job (he was a loan-officer at our local bank) in Oct. It was completely unexpected, he had already been given responsibilities to step into the bank’s president postition when the current one retires early this year. We do have a family farm that we are able to temporarily fall back on (but the farming crisis is terrible also.) I deal with chronic depression and kidney stones and am not able to work. Plus since I must have insurance, we were forced to COBRA the insurance plan due to my preexisting condition ($800/month). We know God is in control and will meet our needs, the waiting and wondering how is the difficult part.
Also, my health is a great prayer need right now. I have struggled with depression, anxiety and panic attacks for 23 years. I have had kidney stones for 16 years (on a constant basis). I am claiming this year as the year of my healing. If it were not for my faith in a faithful Father I would have given up many times. Satan is detemined about me living a defeated life, but I know he is a defeated foe and he will not prevail. Pray for me, even though my faith is strong, my body is weary.
Beth, you will never know what you mean to me. I praise God for your obedience to Him and the example that you are of the wonderful deliverance God can bring. I wish (as I know so many readers do) that I could meet you personally. I so need a spiritual mentor and encourager in my life. I’m thankful for this blog, it let’s us all feel like we have somewhat of a personal relationship with you, Amanda, and Melissa.
God Bless!