Dear Lord of All Creation,
Thank you for what I can already see you doing to build our GriefShare ministry at Cornerstone. I am so thankful to you for the interest in serving that I saw yesterday when people stopped by the table to learn about helping in the grief ministry at Cornerstone. I ask that you would give us wisdom to know how the people who are interested could best serve you in this ministry. Please also guide them to know if this is the ministry in which you would have them serve. Help us to be able to clearly explain what is involved in the GriefShare ministry and in what areas we could use help, so that they will be able to make an informed decision as to whether they wish to volunteer. And I ask that you would confirm to us and the potential volunteers whether or not they should help in the GriefShare ministry, and if so, in what role.
I also ask that you continue to work in the hearts of anyone else that you would have serve in this ministry. Soften their hearts and help them to feel your call. Help them to trust you to empower them to do what you are calling them to do.
I also thank you that you used our call for volunteers as an opportunity for more people to learn about the GriefShare ministry. I was pleased that people came up to me yesterday and asked to take some of the pamphlets to share with people they knew who could use the support of the GriefShare ministry. I feel your hand on what we are doing, and it is such a good feeling. Thank you so much for allowing us to work with you.
Please continue to work your will on earth, as it is in Heaven. I can't wait to see your plan continuing to unfold in this world.
Amen
Monday, July 27, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Faith, Hope, Thanksgiving
Thank you, Father, for giving us leaders in our church who care about what we are doing, who catch our vision for this ministry, and who provide so much help and support. Please help us to communicate well with each other so that each of us can know what the others are doing and so we will be able to work well as a team. Thank you for the help that the support staff at the church has given to us in the past and that which I expect they will do to help us in the future.
It inspires me when I see so many people who really care about serving others in your name and who care about spreading your message. Thank you for giving me that encouragement.
Please help even more people to become inspired to serve you in the GriefShare ministry: as facilitators, helping to "run" the GriefShare group, helping to facilitate discussion among those people who come to the group; as assistants, who will be there to support what the facilitator is doing, watching and learning, as well as being able to help out with situations that arise when an extra person is needed; people who will help with record keeping and organizing; people who will help with setting up the rooms and providing refreshments; people who will agree to pray for the needs of one person within the GriefShare group; people who will send notes and cards and make phone calls to check how the group members are doing and just to let them know that someone cares about them enough to do that; and people who will help to make sure that the community knows about GriefShare and any special events that this ministry offers.
In addition, I ask that you send people who will provide childcare so that the adults are able to attend the meetings without the organizational and financial strain of trying to obtain childcare on their own - or better yet, people who really have a heart for hurting kids, who would do "childcare" while being aware of the special grief-related needs of the kids, who might read them stories for grieving children, who could do art projects and journaling activities to let them express their feelings, who could encourage discussion, and who would let the kids know that they are available to talk to about their feelings.
My dream is that eventually we would have GriefShare for adults, and something comparable for kids and also something for teens, at the same time. If that vision is from you, then please call forth people who have a heart for children and teens who have some experience with grief or some knowledge of how to help others through grief.
Father, you said, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Heb. 11:1
I do not see how all of the things I am hoping for can happen - I see the size of our church and the number of church members already involved in ministry and I think where will we be able to find enough people to do the things I am hoping for. I see the budget constraints that would make it difficult to do certain things that I would hope for. I see the possible problems.
But I do HOPE for these things, even if I don't see how they can happen. I admit that my faith is small and weak. Please increase my faith. I am certain that you are able to provide whatever we need, and I know you can provide the necessary workers and the necessary funds. Help me to be sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see.
And help me to be thankful to you for all that you do provide. You bless us so richly. I was reminded of that today while talking with Liz, when I was sharing about how you brought me through Chuck's experience with cancer and his death, how you put me back together again when I felt so broken, how you created something beautiful in my family just when it felt like my family was going to break apart. You have done so much in my own life. I know that you will and do work in your church as well, and so I hope for great things in the future.
Amen
It inspires me when I see so many people who really care about serving others in your name and who care about spreading your message. Thank you for giving me that encouragement.
Please help even more people to become inspired to serve you in the GriefShare ministry: as facilitators, helping to "run" the GriefShare group, helping to facilitate discussion among those people who come to the group; as assistants, who will be there to support what the facilitator is doing, watching and learning, as well as being able to help out with situations that arise when an extra person is needed; people who will help with record keeping and organizing; people who will help with setting up the rooms and providing refreshments; people who will agree to pray for the needs of one person within the GriefShare group; people who will send notes and cards and make phone calls to check how the group members are doing and just to let them know that someone cares about them enough to do that; and people who will help to make sure that the community knows about GriefShare and any special events that this ministry offers.
In addition, I ask that you send people who will provide childcare so that the adults are able to attend the meetings without the organizational and financial strain of trying to obtain childcare on their own - or better yet, people who really have a heart for hurting kids, who would do "childcare" while being aware of the special grief-related needs of the kids, who might read them stories for grieving children, who could do art projects and journaling activities to let them express their feelings, who could encourage discussion, and who would let the kids know that they are available to talk to about their feelings.
My dream is that eventually we would have GriefShare for adults, and something comparable for kids and also something for teens, at the same time. If that vision is from you, then please call forth people who have a heart for children and teens who have some experience with grief or some knowledge of how to help others through grief.
Father, you said, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Heb. 11:1
I do not see how all of the things I am hoping for can happen - I see the size of our church and the number of church members already involved in ministry and I think where will we be able to find enough people to do the things I am hoping for. I see the budget constraints that would make it difficult to do certain things that I would hope for. I see the possible problems.
But I do HOPE for these things, even if I don't see how they can happen. I admit that my faith is small and weak. Please increase my faith. I am certain that you are able to provide whatever we need, and I know you can provide the necessary workers and the necessary funds. Help me to be sure of what I hope for and certain of what I do not see.
And help me to be thankful to you for all that you do provide. You bless us so richly. I was reminded of that today while talking with Liz, when I was sharing about how you brought me through Chuck's experience with cancer and his death, how you put me back together again when I felt so broken, how you created something beautiful in my family just when it felt like my family was going to break apart. You have done so much in my own life. I know that you will and do work in your church as well, and so I hope for great things in the future.
Amen
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Pour forth your Spirit of compassion and healing
Please, Father, help me not to get stressed about all the details related to getting the next GriefShare session up and running. Help me to trust you with all of that, while still being willing to do whatever you ask of me to help in the process.
Right now, what is on my mind is getting the word out about GriefShare, so that those who are grieving the death of a loved one and who could use some support during this time will know that this service is available.
You know each grieving person in our community by name and you know the needs of each of those people. You know who could be helped by the GriefShare program at Cornerstone. I ask that you would please make sure that each person who you want us to reach out to would hear about our services, whether through a family member or friend telling them about GriefShare, or whether they see a brochure or a poster with information, or whether they are told about GriefShare by a professional in the community, or if they read about it in the paper. Just please help us to know what avenues you would have us try for getting the word out, and please help those in the community that we approach for help in this to be open to helping us.
Father, I also ask that you would help us as we try to build a team to help with the GriefShare ministry so we are able to be more effective. Give us wisdom and discernment about who to approach when we are looking for volunteers. Help us to be effective in letting people know about the ministry opportunities with GriefShare. Continue to be working in the hearts of the people you want to help with this ministry so that when the time comes that they hear about the need, they will feel you calling them.
Finally, Lord Jesus, I ask you to comfort those in our community who are grieving. Even before we start this next session of GriefShare, please provide comfort and support for those who have experienced or are experiencing the loss of a loved one. Help each of us who comes into contact with someone who is grieving be ready to listen and offer support. I know that the words of comfort don't always come easily, even to those of us who have already been through the experience of loss ourselves, but I also know that most of the time, the words we say are not nearly as important as the love and concern we show and the time we take to really listen. So help us to make listening to the hearts of the people around us and to love unconditionally.
Please pour forth your Spirit on me and each of those who are reading this and praying with me, so that your love might pour through us, so that your light will shine through us, and so that those around us will know that they are being ministered to by you, through us.
Amen
Right now, what is on my mind is getting the word out about GriefShare, so that those who are grieving the death of a loved one and who could use some support during this time will know that this service is available.
You know each grieving person in our community by name and you know the needs of each of those people. You know who could be helped by the GriefShare program at Cornerstone. I ask that you would please make sure that each person who you want us to reach out to would hear about our services, whether through a family member or friend telling them about GriefShare, or whether they see a brochure or a poster with information, or whether they are told about GriefShare by a professional in the community, or if they read about it in the paper. Just please help us to know what avenues you would have us try for getting the word out, and please help those in the community that we approach for help in this to be open to helping us.
Father, I also ask that you would help us as we try to build a team to help with the GriefShare ministry so we are able to be more effective. Give us wisdom and discernment about who to approach when we are looking for volunteers. Help us to be effective in letting people know about the ministry opportunities with GriefShare. Continue to be working in the hearts of the people you want to help with this ministry so that when the time comes that they hear about the need, they will feel you calling them.
Finally, Lord Jesus, I ask you to comfort those in our community who are grieving. Even before we start this next session of GriefShare, please provide comfort and support for those who have experienced or are experiencing the loss of a loved one. Help each of us who comes into contact with someone who is grieving be ready to listen and offer support. I know that the words of comfort don't always come easily, even to those of us who have already been through the experience of loss ourselves, but I also know that most of the time, the words we say are not nearly as important as the love and concern we show and the time we take to really listen. So help us to make listening to the hearts of the people around us and to love unconditionally.
Please pour forth your Spirit on me and each of those who are reading this and praying with me, so that your love might pour through us, so that your light will shine through us, and so that those around us will know that they are being ministered to by you, through us.
Amen
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Help Wanted
Dear Father,
You have said that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, and that we should, therefore, ask you to send workers into the field for harvest. So that is what I am doing today. I ask that you would raise up more workers and send them to gather in the harvest you are preparing all over the world, but I am also specifically asking that you would send workers to your field here in the Cornerstone GriefShare ministry.
I believe that you have a harvest ready within the Madison, Ohio area, a harvest of people who are grieving a loved one's death. I know you want us to minister to the people around us, reaching out and meeting their needs. You have made it clear that if we are to follow you, we are to meet the needs of the people you place in our path. ("One who is gracious to a poor man, lends to the Lord..." Prov. 19:17; "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward" Matt. 10:42; "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matt. 25:40; ""The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Heb. 6:10)
I know from my own experience with grief and from talking to many people who have lost a loved one that there are many needs during that time: physical needs, such as help doing a chore that had previously been done by their loved one or a meal brought to them because they are not able to function well enough to remember to eat; emotional needs, such as the need to tell the story of their loss and feel like someone is really listening to them, or the need to know that they are not the only one to experience the feelings that they are going through; and spiritual needs, such as the need to hear about God's love and care for them, if they have not previously heard the Good News, or the need to talk to a supportive person who can listen to them as they try to make sense of a situation that doesn't appear to make any sense, as they may be struggling with why God did not seem to answer their prayers for healing.
I believe that GriefShare is a good vehicle for helping to meet the needs of the grieving within our community: those within our own church body (for should we not be taking care of the needs of our own body), even those within other nearby churches who may not have access to this type of ministry in their own church (for we are all one body in you), and to those people who have not come to know you yet, Lord, because they are in the worst position of all - they need YOU primarily, and they also have all the additional needs of grief. I believe that the time after the death of a loved one is a time when many people are more open to hearing about you, Father, and I ask that you would help us to reach out in your name during that time, so that many more would come to know you. I truly believe that is the very best thing we have to give.
So, Father, please bring workers to this field. I ask that you would be working in the hearts of those who you would have help in this ministry. Please lead them and help them to know if this is something you are calling them to. For those that you are calling to this ministry, please empower them to do the work of the ministry. Give them the courage to take that step in faith that you will help them to do what they may not feel capable of doing in their own strength.
For those of you who are reading and praying with me, I ask that you would pray that God would show you if this is a ministry that he would want you to be involved in. Especially if you have experienced the death of a loved one, ask him if he wants to use that experience that you've been through to help others and to be able to share the comfort that you recieved from God during that time.
Also, Father, I pray that you would help me and Nathan who have been faciliating the GriefShare meetings and Liz (who is the new coordinator for Cornerstone's "Care Ministries," as well as any others who have been involved in helping with GriefShare, to find creative ways to let people know about GriefShare and that you would guide us as we ask others to be involved in this ministry. Please give us guidence about who you would want us to talk to or whether there are any other ways you would like us to get the word out that we could use more people on our team to work in the grief ministry.
Help me to have more faith, Lord, that you will bring the people that you want to work with this ministry and that you will help each of us to do whatever it is that you are calling us to do. I do believe you can provide whatever we need, but sometimes I let doubts creep in (in all areas of my life), not trusting you as fully as I should. I ask that you continue to increase my faith.
Thank you for all that you have been doing and for all you are planning to do through this grief ministry, and thank you for the privilige you have given me to serve you in this way.
Amen
Cornerstone Friends Church www.cfcmadison.org
GriefShare www.griefshare.org
You have said that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, and that we should, therefore, ask you to send workers into the field for harvest. So that is what I am doing today. I ask that you would raise up more workers and send them to gather in the harvest you are preparing all over the world, but I am also specifically asking that you would send workers to your field here in the Cornerstone GriefShare ministry.
I believe that you have a harvest ready within the Madison, Ohio area, a harvest of people who are grieving a loved one's death. I know you want us to minister to the people around us, reaching out and meeting their needs. You have made it clear that if we are to follow you, we are to meet the needs of the people you place in our path. ("One who is gracious to a poor man, lends to the Lord..." Prov. 19:17; "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward" Matt. 10:42; "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Matt. 25:40; ""The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Heb. 6:10)
I know from my own experience with grief and from talking to many people who have lost a loved one that there are many needs during that time: physical needs, such as help doing a chore that had previously been done by their loved one or a meal brought to them because they are not able to function well enough to remember to eat; emotional needs, such as the need to tell the story of their loss and feel like someone is really listening to them, or the need to know that they are not the only one to experience the feelings that they are going through; and spiritual needs, such as the need to hear about God's love and care for them, if they have not previously heard the Good News, or the need to talk to a supportive person who can listen to them as they try to make sense of a situation that doesn't appear to make any sense, as they may be struggling with why God did not seem to answer their prayers for healing.
I believe that GriefShare is a good vehicle for helping to meet the needs of the grieving within our community: those within our own church body (for should we not be taking care of the needs of our own body), even those within other nearby churches who may not have access to this type of ministry in their own church (for we are all one body in you), and to those people who have not come to know you yet, Lord, because they are in the worst position of all - they need YOU primarily, and they also have all the additional needs of grief. I believe that the time after the death of a loved one is a time when many people are more open to hearing about you, Father, and I ask that you would help us to reach out in your name during that time, so that many more would come to know you. I truly believe that is the very best thing we have to give.
So, Father, please bring workers to this field. I ask that you would be working in the hearts of those who you would have help in this ministry. Please lead them and help them to know if this is something you are calling them to. For those that you are calling to this ministry, please empower them to do the work of the ministry. Give them the courage to take that step in faith that you will help them to do what they may not feel capable of doing in their own strength.
For those of you who are reading and praying with me, I ask that you would pray that God would show you if this is a ministry that he would want you to be involved in. Especially if you have experienced the death of a loved one, ask him if he wants to use that experience that you've been through to help others and to be able to share the comfort that you recieved from God during that time.
Also, Father, I pray that you would help me and Nathan who have been faciliating the GriefShare meetings and Liz (who is the new coordinator for Cornerstone's "Care Ministries," as well as any others who have been involved in helping with GriefShare, to find creative ways to let people know about GriefShare and that you would guide us as we ask others to be involved in this ministry. Please give us guidence about who you would want us to talk to or whether there are any other ways you would like us to get the word out that we could use more people on our team to work in the grief ministry.
Help me to have more faith, Lord, that you will bring the people that you want to work with this ministry and that you will help each of us to do whatever it is that you are calling us to do. I do believe you can provide whatever we need, but sometimes I let doubts creep in (in all areas of my life), not trusting you as fully as I should. I ask that you continue to increase my faith.
Thank you for all that you have been doing and for all you are planning to do through this grief ministry, and thank you for the privilige you have given me to serve you in this way.
Amen
Cornerstone Friends Church www.cfcmadison.org
GriefShare www.griefshare.org
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Next Step
Dear Lord,
Today I am wondering, "What is the next step? What do you want me to be doing right now in regards to the grief ministry?"
My own mind tells me that I should begin planning a schedule - figure out when our next GriefShare session will start, plan out tasks to organize and prepare for the session and figure out how much ahead of the start of the session each task should be done, so that I can schedule them onto my calendar for this summer, and then I can begin trying to figure out what people would be able to help with different tasks, and I can ask them for help and let them know what needs the ministry has that they could help with.
I believe you have given us our minds and that you want us to use them, but I don't want to go running off on my own ahead of you and possibly miss something important that you are wanting me to do, just because I am so busy following my own thoughts.
Please give me wisdom in all areas of my life, but I especially ask for your wisdom in making decisions about this ministry to which you have called me. Help me to listen to you.
So often I want to be able to see the whole picture, but I know your word promises that it (your word) will be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). To me, that means that you may not always choose to show me the big picture, but you will show me the next step.
More than that, as I re-read that passage, I realize that the way you promise to guide my steps and be a light to my path is through your word, so I see that part of your answer to this prayer may be helping me to remember the importance of reading your word regularly. I know that I often do not spend as much time reading your word as I should. Please help me to make that more of a priority in my life. And thank you for calling that verse to my mind and showing me what one of my next steps needs to be.
You are one who listens everytime we talk to you and who always answers. I praise you for your faithfulness and the love you show by always listening!
Amen
Today I am wondering, "What is the next step? What do you want me to be doing right now in regards to the grief ministry?"
My own mind tells me that I should begin planning a schedule - figure out when our next GriefShare session will start, plan out tasks to organize and prepare for the session and figure out how much ahead of the start of the session each task should be done, so that I can schedule them onto my calendar for this summer, and then I can begin trying to figure out what people would be able to help with different tasks, and I can ask them for help and let them know what needs the ministry has that they could help with.
I believe you have given us our minds and that you want us to use them, but I don't want to go running off on my own ahead of you and possibly miss something important that you are wanting me to do, just because I am so busy following my own thoughts.
Please give me wisdom in all areas of my life, but I especially ask for your wisdom in making decisions about this ministry to which you have called me. Help me to listen to you.
So often I want to be able to see the whole picture, but I know your word promises that it (your word) will be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path (Psalm 119:105). To me, that means that you may not always choose to show me the big picture, but you will show me the next step.
More than that, as I re-read that passage, I realize that the way you promise to guide my steps and be a light to my path is through your word, so I see that part of your answer to this prayer may be helping me to remember the importance of reading your word regularly. I know that I often do not spend as much time reading your word as I should. Please help me to make that more of a priority in my life. And thank you for calling that verse to my mind and showing me what one of my next steps needs to be.
You are one who listens everytime we talk to you and who always answers. I praise you for your faithfulness and the love you show by always listening!
Amen
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Dreams
Dear Father,
I have so many dreams related to helping grieving people, so many dreams about the ways in which Cornerstone could help grieving people. Please help me to know if these dreams are from you or if they are my own desires.
I dream that Cornerstone could:
* Offer GriefShare sessions year-round with only a short break between sessions at the most
(possibly with a modified format during the summer months);
* Offer a grief support group for kids with facilitators who are trained about the special needs
of grieving kids;
* Offer special workshops or events related to grief at certain times of the year that could
trigger more intense grief. Examples:
-a yearly Surviving the Holidays seminar,
-events on Mother's Day and Father's Day aimed at mothers and fathers who have lost a
child or people whose mother or father has died or for the surviving parent of children
whose mother or father has died - whether a luncheon or tea with a presentation or just a
special acknowledgment of those populations during a Mother's Day or Father's Day
church service,
-a yearly Longest Night service in December for people who are hurting and having
trouble finding joy in the holidays.
*Offer opportunities for grieving children and adults to express and share their grief through
journaling, various visual art activities, music, and drama;
*Provide a lending library of selected books on grief and mourning for adults, children, and
teens;
*Form a Steven Ministry and partner with the Steven Ministry to help those in grief;
*Pair each member of GriefShare with a church member who would commit to praying for
that person specifically, calling that person on occasion, and sending cards and notes of
support (especially on birthdays, anniversaries, etc.);
*Provide quality training to GriefShare faciliators and others who are helping in the grief
ministry;
*Provide a mentoring program in which each GriefShare member could be matched up with
someone a little farther along in the grief journey with whom they could talk about their grief
and related issues;
*Provide opportunities for those who have been through GriefShare before and who are
farther along in their grief journey to assist with GriefShare meetings and to possibly begin
training to be a GriefShare facilitator.
There are a couple of other dreams that have been on my heart recently as well that are not directly related to the grief ministry at Cornerstone, but which are indirectly related.
I would like to write a books for grieving children, for children with a serious illness, and for the siblings of a child with a serious illness. I would also like to create journals for children in each of those catagories, with prompts to help them process their feelings.
Dear Lord, help me to know if these dreams are coming from you or if they are the result of me relying on my own knowledge and my own strength to try to plan what I think would be good or what I think we should do. If these dreams are from you, then help me to know what I should do to try to reach them and what I should just be waiting on you for. If you want these things done, then please bring the people that you want to help with them forward, and help each of us to know what place you have for us in this vision.
Please give to me generously of your wisdom and help me to lean on your strength. I know I cannot do any of this without you - or if I were to do it without you and your help, then it would really be meaningless, as is anything without you at the center.
Thank you for giving us dreams and visions for the future and for using us in your plans.
Amen
I have so many dreams related to helping grieving people, so many dreams about the ways in which Cornerstone could help grieving people. Please help me to know if these dreams are from you or if they are my own desires.
I dream that Cornerstone could:
* Offer GriefShare sessions year-round with only a short break between sessions at the most
(possibly with a modified format during the summer months);
* Offer a grief support group for kids with facilitators who are trained about the special needs
of grieving kids;
* Offer special workshops or events related to grief at certain times of the year that could
trigger more intense grief. Examples:
-a yearly Surviving the Holidays seminar,
-events on Mother's Day and Father's Day aimed at mothers and fathers who have lost a
child or people whose mother or father has died or for the surviving parent of children
whose mother or father has died - whether a luncheon or tea with a presentation or just a
special acknowledgment of those populations during a Mother's Day or Father's Day
church service,
-a yearly Longest Night service in December for people who are hurting and having
trouble finding joy in the holidays.
*Offer opportunities for grieving children and adults to express and share their grief through
journaling, various visual art activities, music, and drama;
*Provide a lending library of selected books on grief and mourning for adults, children, and
teens;
*Form a Steven Ministry and partner with the Steven Ministry to help those in grief;
*Pair each member of GriefShare with a church member who would commit to praying for
that person specifically, calling that person on occasion, and sending cards and notes of
support (especially on birthdays, anniversaries, etc.);
*Provide quality training to GriefShare faciliators and others who are helping in the grief
ministry;
*Provide a mentoring program in which each GriefShare member could be matched up with
someone a little farther along in the grief journey with whom they could talk about their grief
and related issues;
*Provide opportunities for those who have been through GriefShare before and who are
farther along in their grief journey to assist with GriefShare meetings and to possibly begin
training to be a GriefShare facilitator.
There are a couple of other dreams that have been on my heart recently as well that are not directly related to the grief ministry at Cornerstone, but which are indirectly related.
I would like to write a books for grieving children, for children with a serious illness, and for the siblings of a child with a serious illness. I would also like to create journals for children in each of those catagories, with prompts to help them process their feelings.
Dear Lord, help me to know if these dreams are coming from you or if they are the result of me relying on my own knowledge and my own strength to try to plan what I think would be good or what I think we should do. If these dreams are from you, then help me to know what I should do to try to reach them and what I should just be waiting on you for. If you want these things done, then please bring the people that you want to help with them forward, and help each of us to know what place you have for us in this vision.
Please give to me generously of your wisdom and help me to lean on your strength. I know I cannot do any of this without you - or if I were to do it without you and your help, then it would really be meaningless, as is anything without you at the center.
Thank you for giving us dreams and visions for the future and for using us in your plans.
Amen
Friday, July 3, 2009
Prayer Warriors
Father God,
I have been so blessed to be able to have experienced your comfort during my own grief and to have been able to share your comfort with others, through GriefShare and my church, as well as in other parts of my life. You have placed such a burden on my heart for the grief of others and for the grief ministry of my church, but I know that I have, at times, relied on my own strength more than I should, and I have not brought my thoughts about the grief ministry to you in prayer as much as I should.
I ask that you would help me to be more consistent in prayer. Please remind me often that you are here and available for me to call on for help and guidance and strength. You have recently been impressing on me that it is important to regularly come to you in prayer about this ministry, and I have a feeling that this is going to be another blessing in my life - to know you better through time spent with you.
I sense that you also want me to call on others to join with me in prayer for Cornerstone's grief ministry - that before focusing on asking for people to help work within Cornerstone's grief ministry, you want me to focus on asking for people to commit to praying for that ministry. So I have asked others to join with me, and I am asking you that you would raise up prayer warriors who would faithfully bring the needs of the GriefShare program and other areas of grief ministry to you in prayer. Please touch the hearts of those you want to be praying for this ministry - whether in the quiet of their own prayer times alone with you or together with others who also care about this ministry (either in this online prayer group or meeting together in person).
Father, I thank you that you care so much about your hurting children. Thank you for allowing me to work with you to bring comfort to the grieving. And thank you that you have touched the hearts of many to care about these needs.
Amen
Cornerstone Friends Church www.cfcmadison.org
GriefShare www.griefshare.org
I have been so blessed to be able to have experienced your comfort during my own grief and to have been able to share your comfort with others, through GriefShare and my church, as well as in other parts of my life. You have placed such a burden on my heart for the grief of others and for the grief ministry of my church, but I know that I have, at times, relied on my own strength more than I should, and I have not brought my thoughts about the grief ministry to you in prayer as much as I should.
I ask that you would help me to be more consistent in prayer. Please remind me often that you are here and available for me to call on for help and guidance and strength. You have recently been impressing on me that it is important to regularly come to you in prayer about this ministry, and I have a feeling that this is going to be another blessing in my life - to know you better through time spent with you.
I sense that you also want me to call on others to join with me in prayer for Cornerstone's grief ministry - that before focusing on asking for people to help work within Cornerstone's grief ministry, you want me to focus on asking for people to commit to praying for that ministry. So I have asked others to join with me, and I am asking you that you would raise up prayer warriors who would faithfully bring the needs of the GriefShare program and other areas of grief ministry to you in prayer. Please touch the hearts of those you want to be praying for this ministry - whether in the quiet of their own prayer times alone with you or together with others who also care about this ministry (either in this online prayer group or meeting together in person).
Father, I thank you that you care so much about your hurting children. Thank you for allowing me to work with you to bring comfort to the grieving. And thank you that you have touched the hearts of many to care about these needs.
Amen
Cornerstone Friends Church www.cfcmadison.org
GriefShare www.griefshare.org
Thursday, July 2, 2009
In the Beginning: the introduction
Hi Friends,
Prayer is often something private, a conversation shared only between oneself and God. But other times, prayer is something to be shared, when we are blessed to come together with others in the name of Jesus, where we can agree together about various subjects that we want to talk about with our loving heavenly Father. I am creating this blog for that type of prayer about a specific subject which has been on my heart for some time - the ministry to the grieving with which I have been involved here at Cornerstone Friends Church, my church home.
I don't always completely understand the purpose of prayer, especially when it is in regards to asking God to intervene in our lives and in specific situations - after all, he already knows our needs and he knows what is best in all circumstances. Why does he need us to tell him about something when he already knows more about it than we do?
I think one reason is that when we are asking for God's help in a situation, it is a reminder to us that he is the one sustaining us and that he is in control.
Prayer also allows us to draw into God's presence and spend time with him. He is always with us, but when we are praying, we are in his presence in a special way - because we are more fully aware of his presence with us. Prayer is talking to our heavenly Father, and as we talk with him, we begin to know him better. When we bring a need to him or pray to him about a situation, it helps us to see that situation or need through his eyes.
One situation that has been on my heart for some time is the hurt and the needs of grieving people. I have learned first-hand, through the death of my first husband, how deeply painful grief is and how it can affect a person physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I also know that God calls us to "comfort others in all their suffering, as we ourselves are being comforted by God." (2 Cor. 1:4) I have felt God leading me to help with a ministry to grieving people at my home church, Cornerstone Friends Church. My husband, Nathan, has felt led to that ministry as well, and both of us have since been serving at our church by facilitating a GriefShare ministry.
Most recently, I have been feeling called to pray (more) about this ministry and to invite others to pray with me. I have some specific things that I want to pray about and which I hope others will join with me to pray about, but for now, I just wanted to you, my friends, know what I am doing and to ask you to join with me in regular prayer for this ministry to the grieving.
Dear Father,
I ask that you bless the GriefShare ministry at Cornerstone Friends Church and that you would us this "prayer blog" in my life and the lives of those who join with me, that we would please you with this endeavor, and that you would use this to accomplish your will in the world.
Amen
Cornerstone Friends Church www.cfcmadison.org
GriefShare www.griefshare.org
Prayer is often something private, a conversation shared only between oneself and God. But other times, prayer is something to be shared, when we are blessed to come together with others in the name of Jesus, where we can agree together about various subjects that we want to talk about with our loving heavenly Father. I am creating this blog for that type of prayer about a specific subject which has been on my heart for some time - the ministry to the grieving with which I have been involved here at Cornerstone Friends Church, my church home.
I don't always completely understand the purpose of prayer, especially when it is in regards to asking God to intervene in our lives and in specific situations - after all, he already knows our needs and he knows what is best in all circumstances. Why does he need us to tell him about something when he already knows more about it than we do?
I think one reason is that when we are asking for God's help in a situation, it is a reminder to us that he is the one sustaining us and that he is in control.
Prayer also allows us to draw into God's presence and spend time with him. He is always with us, but when we are praying, we are in his presence in a special way - because we are more fully aware of his presence with us. Prayer is talking to our heavenly Father, and as we talk with him, we begin to know him better. When we bring a need to him or pray to him about a situation, it helps us to see that situation or need through his eyes.
One situation that has been on my heart for some time is the hurt and the needs of grieving people. I have learned first-hand, through the death of my first husband, how deeply painful grief is and how it can affect a person physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I also know that God calls us to "comfort others in all their suffering, as we ourselves are being comforted by God." (2 Cor. 1:4) I have felt God leading me to help with a ministry to grieving people at my home church, Cornerstone Friends Church. My husband, Nathan, has felt led to that ministry as well, and both of us have since been serving at our church by facilitating a GriefShare ministry.
Most recently, I have been feeling called to pray (more) about this ministry and to invite others to pray with me. I have some specific things that I want to pray about and which I hope others will join with me to pray about, but for now, I just wanted to you, my friends, know what I am doing and to ask you to join with me in regular prayer for this ministry to the grieving.
Dear Father,
I ask that you bless the GriefShare ministry at Cornerstone Friends Church and that you would us this "prayer blog" in my life and the lives of those who join with me, that we would please you with this endeavor, and that you would use this to accomplish your will in the world.
Amen
Cornerstone Friends Church www.cfcmadison.org
GriefShare www.griefshare.org
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)