Prayer Requests
February 1, 2012
"A prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian." Billy Graham, Peace With God
Too Busy Not To Pray
Dear Friends,
The Enneagram is an inventory of personality type that reveals possible resourceful characteristics as well as possible ones that are not resourceful. The types are referenced by numbers. There is one particular type, or number, whose major unresourceful characteristic is "fear". This number may be the most common personality type. As I learned about the Enneagraham and discovered its potential for helping people toward self-discovery and growth, it struck me that a life supported and guided by prayer would be a great help to people, especially people pestered by fear, toward realizing their full potential. The challenge lies in discovering how to help people learn this truth. The only immediate reward for prayer is the peace and sense of wellbeing that follows. Other rewards come slowly, over time. It's very much like eating a healthy diet. One does not immediately realize the difference a healthy diet makes in one's health. The rewards come over time. So it is when one develops a life woven with prayer. Please remember the following this week:
1.) Norma Murphy had a heart catheterization at Shady Side hospital on Friday, January 27th. The "cath" did not show any disease. Norma is very grateful for all the wonderful prayer support.
2.) Denise Todero had outpatient surgery to repair her broken collar bone on Monday, January 30th. (Denise has had two previous unsuccessful surgeries to repair the collar bone.) Please continue to keep her in prayer as she recovers at home.
3.) Bob, the facilities director at Pine Springs Camp, fell while playing basketball, and hit his head. He had a severe concussion with swelling and bleeding. He has been released from the hospital and is at home recuperating. Thank you for all of your prayers.
4.) Don Graff's daughter, Janine Steiger, is doing much better. They have diagnosed her illness as rheumatoid arthritis. Don has gone out to see her for a few days and will probably bring Doris back with him at the end of the week. We offer prayers of thanksgiving for these answers and for the help she is receiving. The family thanks you for your continued prayer support while Janine sought a diagnosis.
5.) Donna Hess has had a series of infections from which she seems to be recovering slowly. She thanks everyone for the prayers.
6.) John Michael, who has been a missionary in the Czech Republic, has been on unpaid sick leave with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He was also diagnosed with Lyme disease. John continues to improve slowly. The night pain is under control which has enabled John to get better rest at night. Pray for John to continue to improve, for him to be free of pain, able to sleep well and to be able to get out and about and for him to have support, faith, and trust as he waits.
7.) Bob Menchyk, Aleda's husband, is at home and doing better. He is on oxygen and has home nursing and physical therapy. Aleda has help from her family and a friend and is doing OK with the situation. Please pray that Bob will be pain free and continue to be able to get around. He and Aleda are still hoping that God will choose to heal the cancer. Pray for the best quality of life possible for both Bob and Aleda as they go through this time.
8.) Will Kearns, who was an interim with in our Presbytery, at 1st Murrysville and Westminster, has cancer which involves his ribs and the lumbar area. He had radiation and began traditional chemo. He is scheduled to have chemo every three weeks now. Will was able to have the last scheduled chemo treatment after a transfusion. The doctor adjusted the medication in the treatment so that, hopefully, Will can continue treatment without interruption. He expects to complete the treatments in March. Will has resigned from his interim ministry and will concentrate on getting well. Please continue to pray for his health to hold steady and for the cancer to be halted. Pray for strength and comfort for Maureen, his wife. Thank you for all your prayers.
9.) Please pray for the commission that is scheduled to leave for a visit to the Sudan on February 29th. They are concerned about weather conditions and safe travel as well as negotiating the government regulations and barriers once there.
10.) Please continue to pray for the Presbytery, its work and its finances. Pray that we may have God's vision for our work in the kingdom. If we could hear "an audible voice" from God, what would God say?
11.) Please be in prayer for the people of the Sudan and for our people who are traveling there.
May the Holy Spirit inspire courage through your prayers and may the joy and peace that follows energize you in your work.
Blessings,
Carole Isley Corey