Hey every body, I just wanted to ask for some help in prayer. I have a very close friend that has left for Irak in January. The thing is that being over there he has relied on God for strength, and I would love it if you would all keep him in your prayers also so that in the time being over there he doesnt let go of the Lords hand, and so that God keeps him safe. So that he can be a testimony for all the men and women that serve with him. Thank you all.

In Christ,
Ahida

i have a friend there too, i will add him to our prayer list. my friend has gotten closer to God being there, i'm sure your's will too.

Hey Ahida
I think we all have friends or family in Irak, My friend is over there and my cousin is leaving to go to Irak with the Airforce. Don't worry, just pray and the Lord is faithful and just to anser your prayers. The best thing we can do is pray and I think it is great that you ask others to join you in prayer. And may the Lord's will be carried out tha it may come in effect.

Ahida,
dont worry I will send a prayer request in my church for you and your friend. Your friend will be home in no time
In Christ,
dawna

I just want to thank all of you for your prayers,You and your love ones will also be in my prayers. thank you dawna for your request for us at your church. May God Bless all of you to the fullest.

In Christ,
Ahida

Ahida, is it ok if we make this a prayer request thread? I thought about making one for everyone to post their prayer requests on, but since yours is all ready on here, we might as well each add our prayer requests to it. It would be good, I think to do so, so that everyone's prayer request are in one particular thread for everyone to read and not scattered all throughout the board. What do you think? BTW, I'll be praying for your friend.

Hey ClaireBear,
I think that, That would be a great Idea. It would be perfect, since it's already here, just post your prayer requests here. Thanx for your prayers. I also have another prayer request, I have a friend how had been trying to straighten up his life, and with his record, the cops just decided to charge him with something that he didn't do, and right now he's in county, but they want to transfer him to the pen. so please pray.

In Christ,
Ahidaly

I'll be praying for each of your requests. Please pray for me. I've been very lonely, very depressed, and very unhappy lately. For no reason. I went to church yesterday, and although that managed to get my mind off of things for a while, I feel worse.

Thanks, everyone.

Hey there ClaireBear!
Hmm...that's not a very nice state of mind to be in. I pray that the love. joy and peace of Jesus will begin to fill your heart and mind, spirit and soul and lift you from the state that you're in and into His light! In Jesus Name I pray - AMEN!
Let me share with you how I cope with these feelings. I go through times like these too - very often in the past but not so much now cos I've learnt how to deal with it.
When I'm feeling like this, I turn to the Word of God. I dwell on His encouraging words, especially in Psalms..man it's and amazing book. You gotta let the Word of God sink into you. Cry out to God if you have to.
Sometimes I find a friend who's really close to me, who I'm accountable to and just pour my heart out to him or her. My friends sometimes cheer me up and I allow them to - I don't fight it.
Another way that really helps me is asking God to open my eyes to see other hurting people around me and use me to minister to them. I tell you, this is very often the fastest way to get out of the depression and loneliness that I'm in. This meathod takes my mind off how I feel.
I also find writing my feelings out on paper very helpful too. I write then I read what I've written and often time when I'm reading what I've written, God begins to speak to me and point out to me why I feel this way and how I should handle it. It comes so naturally now but I had to work on it before - real hard.
It's great that despite you feeling this way, you're still praying for others - that's great! Another thing I've learnt in coping with these feelings is that these are sometimes seasons that God brings us through to examine ourselves. I found a verse in the Bible that's just so amazing. Let me share it with you.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 (The Message Bible)On a good day enjoy yourself, on a bad day examine your conscience. God arranges for both kinds of days so that we won't take anything for granted
Eclesiastés 7:14 (La Biblia de las Américas)Alégrate en el día de la prosperidad,
y en el día de la adversidad considera:
Dios ha hecho tanto el uno como el otro
para que el hombre no descubra nada que suceda después de él.
,
Be encouraged ok! I hope this blessed you! God bless you with all His riches blessings and love!

God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!

Hey Clairebear, I know exactly how you feel or hopefully felt, last night, I felt the exact same way. I felt like I was going to blow up, like I had to tell someone exactly how I felt, but when I looked around, there was no one around, or so I thought. My sister was in the other room on the computer, and one of my little brothers was in my moms room across the hallway, but being that I am one to keep everything to myself, I felt really lonely. A while later I found myself talkin to "no body" but then I started feeling this peace inside of me then I realized that I was speaking my feeling to God, and that with me confessing how I felt, he was giving me a peace that I can't describe. if you dont have a friend that you can run to, remember that God is just a prayer away, and that He will alwayz give you the best advice and comfort.

Ama el amigo en todo tiempo, y sera como un hermano en tiempo de adversidad proverbios 17:17

In Christ,
Ahida

Hey there Ahida!
Thanks for sharing your heart to us. Hmm...I guess we all go through seasons like that. Being the emotional beings that we are. But take to heart that even King David - the man after God's own heart - he too went through ups and downs in life. I read his writings and you'll see how candid he was before the King of kings - our Great God!
But it's good that we share how we feel with each other cos then we'll know that actually we aren't the only ones feeling this way - there are others who go through the same journey like we do. We can share our experiences and remedies on how to get over such times.
Actually just last night I found myself in a very solemn mood. I was lying on my bed looking at the ceiling and wondering about a lot of stuff. I felt such an emptiness in my heart but I knew that all I had to do was just cry out to God. So like Ahida, I began to talk to Him. It was great. I felt tears roll down my cheeks as I began to pour out my heart to Him.
I went back to His Word - back to some special chapters and verses that have been pillars of strength to me when my spirit is downcast. I began to read them and I knew that Holy Spirit began to breathe life into my spirit again because I felt the peace in my heart, just like Ahida said.
Man I just don't understand this relationship that we have with this awesome God that we believe in. But I know it's a beautiful thing to behold and a wonderful experience altogether!
I'm glad that we're able to encourage one another and build one another up in this message board!
To God be the glory for the great things He has done in us!

God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever! AMEN!

Hey People,

Thanx for all the feed back. I have another prayer request, my family is going through a very very hard time right now, and I would really appreciate it if you would all keep us in prayer.

In Christ,
Ahida

Hey Ahida,
Family problems eh? I've been through that and although we've come a long way as a family and have broken through in so many ways, we still face a mountain ever now and again along the way.
But you know what? With every mountain that we scale, as long as we include God in the picture...and better still, let Him take over and guide us through, the climb seems less of a struggle.
I pray that you and your family will look at this as a test that you'll come out well in! God's for you guys! AMEN!

God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!

Hey Gabrielle,
Thanx for ur prayers they are very appreciated believe me. I knew that it was going to be hard being part of the pastors family, but it seems like every trial we go through seems to get even harder, and I coume out of it even more exhausted, but u are right, every time we come out closer as a family, and with an even closer relationship with God. I want to thank all of you guys.

In Christ,
Ahidaly

Hey Ahidaly,
Wow...so you're a pastor's kid. I'm not a pastor's kid, but my pastor and his wife are like mum and dad to me. I'm not saying it just because they are my spiritual parents but they truely have been there for me, just like real mum and dad when my family was going through tough times many years ago so I truely appreciate them and treat them like blood family.
I work for my church and I know what you mean when you say you feel exhausted going through trials. I do too! But that's why having a close relationship with Jesus is so vital. Like oxygen to our physical bodies. Imagine what would happen if there was no oxygen. I know that Jesus is my lifeline and He's yours and all of ours too - those who are called by His name. Hang in there Ahidaly.
I know that God will never leave us nor forsake us - He'll always see us through no matter what happens. God is for us and never against us. As long as we keep walking in His ways, allowing Him to lead the way and teach us what and how to do what He tells us to - we'll see fruit in our lives no money can ever buy!
I've been reading the Purpose Driven Life book by Rick Warren and I just thank God for using this man to speak to the Body of Christ in such a strong way. One of the many things that really impacted me was this subtitle; "Life is a test". Man it was such a hard topic to take in but I knew in my heart of hearts that there was great truth in that. Every day we go through tests, big or small, noticable or unnoticable. But God notices everything! He also provides the GRACE for us to walk through the tests! What a great God He is!!
Ahidaly, I ask our Father God for strength to be given to you and your family. I pray that He give you guys knowledge and wisdom from above to handle the things that come your way. I pray too that He give you guys the JOY of Holy Spirit to strengthen you for the JOY of the Lord is our strength! AMEN!
I also pray that our Father in heaven will send you guys people who will encourage you along the way and lift you up and bless you in tremendous ways! Most of all, I pray that the Father's love always envelope you guys as a family and as individuals! In Jesus most precious name I pray - AMEN!!!

God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!
I pray that

Hey Gabrielle,
You have no idea how much I needed to hear or read the words u wrote. I totally get what ur saying and I am very thankful for your prayers, they are probably what has bee getting me through this week. This trial indeed has brough me in closer to my family. My dad has been having really bad back problems, and his job is really wearing him down, that really scares me, that would mean that soon my sister and I will have to take over the household. Being 21, that totally changes my plans to go off to school to get my bachelors, and it really freaks me out, but all I can do is trust in God, and smile and praise Him all the way through. Thank you again for all your prayers, and your words.

In Christ,
Ahida

Hey there Ahida,
I wish that instead of just encouraging you with these words, I could actually be there for you and your family in reality! But I know that we've got a Friend and Father and Comforter who will ALWAYS be there for us!
God will NEVER leave you guys in the lurch - NEVER. He's a great God. If you got Salvador's self-entitled CD the last song on the CD - listen to it and let it encourage you! I think it's called WITH GOD. If you've got it - listen to it and let it minister to your spirit! It has touched me greatly!
I'm sorry to hear that your plans might be changed due to the unforseen circumstances in your family. Keep your chin up and don't stop trusting Him - you're on the right track. Things may not go the way we planned it to be but in God's Word in Jeremiah 29:11 God says, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you a hope and a future!" Man you don't know how those words have kept me strong so many a time!
God's Word keeps us alive! You hang in there - you'll come out strong I know. Then you'll have a great testimony to encourage other people with! AMEN!

God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever! AMEN!

quote:

Originally posted by Gabrielle:
I'm sorry to hear that your plans might be changed due to the unforseen circumstances in your family....Things may not go the way we planned it to be but in God's Word in Jeremiah 29:11 God says, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you a hope and a future!"

Man, she's so right. Seriously though, keep trusting that the Lord will guide you down the path that is right for you, the path that HE has chosen. Trust me, you may not understand why you are doing the things you're doing right now, or working wherever it may be that you're working, but the Lord knows EXACTLY where He's going to take you. Let me tell you a story that will hopefully inspire or encourage you to keep your faith strong:


For the longest time, my fiance Edwin never understood why he was working in the industry that he was in. For the first three out of the last five years of his life, he was working in the transportation industry as a truck driver, driving semi's across the states. He hated himself for doing it, but did it to help his parents out. This cut into his education at UC Riverside and forced him to take a year off from school. After a year, he went back, and although he was behind, he finished. Well, about 6-7 months after he graduated he FINALLY got a job, but not in his field of study. He again found himself as a driver for a huge transportation company called McLane Distribution Services. About 5 months into that job, he was fired. Not even two days later did he get a job offer from Mercury Insurance as a claims adjuster. After working for Mercury for about 5-6 months, something just totally fell out from the Lord's hands and into his lap. Well, I'm happy to say that he left Mercury and is now working as a computer programmer/customer service rep/trainer for a small software company out in Brea, California. This is what he wanted, this is his field of study, and because he kept his faith in the Lord and honored his parents for so long and sacrificed so much for their well-being, the Lord blessed him with this job. And he loves it because he gets to travel, learn how to code programs and train customers with the software that his company has created for transportation businesses across the U.S.

Don't worry girl, keeping your faith strong and grounded in the Lord will only bless you a lifetime over! The Lord will give you the desires of your heart if you trust in Him and do as he wills for your life right now. Things WILL work out for you and your family, just be strong for their sake. You'll see....

quote:

Originally posted by Ahida:
....I have another prayer request, my family is going through a very very hard time right now, and I would really appreciate it if you would all keep us in prayer.

Hey Ahida!

I have something else to add to my previous post. I was just reading about prayer, and I've got an awesome prayer that I'm itching to share with you! It comes from Epehsians 3:14-21 (NLT):

"When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. May He be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen"

How awesome is He! The title of this passage reads Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Empowering. Now it can also be YOUR prayer for spiritual empowering. Okay, well I hope this prayer gives you the strength to deal with, and accept everything that God has done in your life and the life of your family. The part that is bolded is the part of the verse that I pray for you and your family, especially during these difficult times. Stay blessed!

Reading Vanessa's testimony about her fiance inspired me to share this too.
I knew that God had called me to serve Him all my life. By this I mean that I was to serve Him fulltime doing His work. So after I finished my secondary school education I was so anxious to start work at my church cos at that time to me, that was what I thought was God's plan for my life. But God was speaking to me through my parents and my pastor. They thought that I was too young and should either further my studies or get a job and work for a couple of years or so. Man that was NOT my intention at all!
But I obeyed and so I got a job as a kindergarten teacher. I love kids and I thought since I have to find a job I might as well do something I like. I had only planned to work for a year but God had me work for 3 instead.
In those 3 years I began to learn how to trust God more and more and be patient as He leads me. I also began to cherish the stuff that I was learning from my former boss and just from anyone around me really. I also met alot of people that I probably wouldn't have met if I had gone into work in my church so soon. Being a Christian since I was 4 - I had always been around Christian people and was quite oblivious about the things that was happening in the world around me.
So I believe that God had me in the kindergarten for 3 years also to let me see the hurts and pains in the world and that just inspired me even more to want to share His love.
I must say that in those 3 years (although it wasn't the time frame that I had in mind to stay in the secular world) I learned a whole lot and I grew a whole lot in the Lord. My walk with God began to deepen and He was working in my life loads.
Then after 3 years, my church sent me off to England to be trained under a worship leader. Once again, upon arrival, all that we had planned didn't work out fully. I was disappointed but then God told me to keep hoping in Him and I did. I almost cut my trip short and wanted to come home after a few months. But I knew that God was in control and that His plans and purposes were higher than mine. So I stuck on and boy am I glad that I did! Now I'm working for my church and I love it. It was what I've always wanted to do, but you know what? Once again, God's leading me on to another place that He's called me to. I don't know where it is or what He'll have me do yet. I'm praying that He prepare me for it. And in the mean time, I just wanna be faithful in my present place till He says, "Go!".
God is greater than we are and He knows our lives better than we do. The best thing to do is always to seek Him for the next step. He will never leave us in the lurch. I know that for sure!

"For I know the plans that I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. To give you a hope and a future!"

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Gabrielle,