Greetings from Austin Street

TGIF Today God is First! All is well here at 811. Fervent prayers are being asked this night and in the days and nights to come for our friend Amber. She is very ill and in the hospital in Plano. She had a kidney biopsy and she and family are waiting on results. 

Dear God, you are always ready to come and make your presence known to us. Our friend Amber and her family need your calming voice in their troubled hearts.  Please help them. We are praising you because you will bring peace and strength to Amber, her husband Ben and family members. I pray for healing for Amber and a complete turnaround on the health issues she is having. Lord, your love is unfailing and your mercies are unending and new each day. I love you Lord, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Tonight I am writing with thoughts of our friends Rhonda and David, the mother and step dad to our friend Amber who is so very ill. I remember when Casey was diagnosed it was like an explosion and there was no time to really think or process what was going on in our lives and in the life and body of our son.  What I do remember doing was living a life in prayer. I would take a breath and pray all of the things about God that I could remember.  I remember praying for God to care for Casey and to guide the doctors and the medications he would take. I remembered that God had never let me down before.  One of the most important lessons I have learned is the power of prayer does not exist in the one who prays, but in the one who hears the prayer.  So my friends let us pray to the One who hears our prayer and ask Him to perform powerfully in Amber’s life.

The storms that happen in our lives do not always blow themselves out quickly, but while the storm is going on the presence of God through faith in Jesus “infuses” us with peace and empowers us with strength. The way God seems to work is not to stand before us, but to walk with us in the life and body of Jesus. Jesus would stand before large crowds and preach, but when people needed Jesus He walked beside them on a road, or worked with them as a fisherman or had supper with them. And even after Jesus was raised from the dead He appeared to the frightened folks who were gathered in the room in Jerusalem and without any powerful entrance simply appeared in the midst of them and blessed them with “Peace be with you.” Jesus never imposed Himself he just walked beside folks in love and care and let others know that He was with them always.  Jesus walks with us when we invite Him into the sacred space of our hearts making us aware of His presence in all aspects of our lives.

“So it was, while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.”

Luke 34: 15

“He made the storm stop and the sea be quiet.”

Psalm 107: 29

Take joy in the journey praying as you go saying an extra prayer for Amber. While you are on your knees please pray for Bruce and the men who will go into the prison tomorrow to have monthly prayer and share with the residents. Pray for their safe travels, the presence of God as they walk along side these men and for their safety. Wear comfortable shoes and get some sleep.  Love you all, Bruce and Gaylene