Posted in Prayers

And sweet little Zemeira is sick.  Five year olds are not happy when they are sick. They are not happy when they miss play practice and they get to play the dead girl again this year! She is coughing, she has a sore throat, her head hurts. She needs Jesus to heal her!!!

Please pray that no one else gets sick in their house. Tirzah has been doing so well and she is suppose to start her series of Africa shots. A virus is not what she needs now!

The day is supposed to be filled with play practice and Girl Scout cookies, instead it is filled with prayers.

Lord please heal my grandchildren all of them.

SoCalVal has prayer on Sunday so please make sure you head over. There are many needs in Blogland and God loves hearing from His children.

 

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My daughter just informed me that a friend of my granddaughters, had brain surgery today to remove a brain tumor. Please Pray for Elaine, she is 12 years old. Pray for the doctors and nurses caring for her and her family as well.

Posted in Prayers

I just got off the phone with my daughter. A teen in their church, Mariah, has been in a horrible car accident. Some guy pulled out in front of her full on and didn't see her. She tried to swerve out of the way but her brakes locked and wrapped her around a tree . All the airbags in the car deployed. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance and there is great concern about her legs.

 

Mariah is in training as an Olympic Swimmer! She needs her legs! Please pray for God's mercy for this young woman and her family. I will update you as I get them. Pastor Sam is on his way to the Hospital so he will keep us informed. Thank you so much!

 

First Update: I just saw her car on the news. They are reporting it as a SINGLE car accident, I am assuming the other car did not stop. Please pray about this as well.

Pray for her dad, Craig's salvation as well.

 

Second update

so far no broken ribs. they were going to cut her out the car but being a lil bitty thing she got herself out. both her side and front airbag deployed. her left leg, mostly knee and below is really swollen and bruised. they dont think broken, b/c she can move her foot. waiting on xrays and mri now.

thanks for praying. keep it up.

 

THIRD UPDATE AND BEST ONE OF ALL!

hey its mariah

Im okay.....

i just have a brace thing on my leg.

its not broken

And she is Home!!!!!

 

just brusied and I cant walk on it

Posted in Prayers

But first a commercial break.

First I really am BAD at self promotion. My contract says I am suppose to be good at it, but I am Not! The best I can do is put a button on my blog (and we all know someone else did that for me ) Hurricane Andrew was the Most Amazing Hand of God Experience in my life. (well that and restoring our Marriage)From the Moment Mike, Heatherlee, Matthew and I held hands in our livingroom and prayed Psalm 91 through each verse God fulfilled of it God's Might and blessing were immeasurable. This Experience is an  E-Book available on our web page http://www.mthoward.com/mybooks.htm It is called Adventures Along The Way. So for those of you that have said "I think I could walk away" this will give you step by step blueprints of what it is like.

Now back to "Mike a Pastor or Not"

God's provison for our family really did take our breath away. From having our sweet daughter with us, because if she had arrived with Hurricane Andrew on Monday morning, she would have never known where we were to being given the LAST available temp. quarters at MacDill AFB, The Last one! Considering this happened between paydays which Military families will understand we had $36.27 with us ...period! The people at MacDill were so loving and kind as we waited to figure out what we had to do next. You see, Tuesday when we woke up, we heard the newscaster say from Coral Gables "Homestead no longer exists!" Not our home and Not our Base. It took another two days for the television to tell Military personnel to head for the closest Military base.

At the Base I was surprised at what they considered critical. The most critical was PUTTING the kids is school! Really! They had just lost everything and the solution is take them away from their parents and put them in school.

 

We walk into a room and sit down with an Airman that looks at my husband and says "where would you like to go? Tell me in 24 hours!" "Any where in the World?" "Yes Sir, Anywhere!" The four of us set around a world map that night and sang "Hawaii, Hawaii" as we were singing it, Hurricane Iniki hit Hawaii.... Where do you evacuate to in Hawaii???? Mike had always wanted to go to Space Command in Colorado. Every time he applied it was turned down. He had been trying since Washington DC since He had become a Christian. SO we asked for Space Command and we were on our way. When we got there we discovered why he had been turned down.. there was no position for him there and they planned to send us on. Until one guy Mike had been stationed with at Homestead in a different position informed them That He is a computer guru and they needed him BAD! So we stayed, Right in the center of America away from Hurricanes!

 

God really wanted Mike there all along. Daily we discovered this out. When it came time for Mike's promotion board for E-8 he had every block colored in, EVERY Block. He had even written programs that are still in use today for these guys. It was a no brainer, they will sign it, we will get new orders and Mike would re-enlist. But Mike prayed....he asked God if he wanted him to get out. He took his boards and laid it on the ground like Gideon's fleece. "God there is no way they can tell me no, but if it is Your will here I am! And God listened and the pomotion board said no!  The reason will be something like non-command supportive. What that meant was when they had a fund raiser a few months earlier which was put on by Mike's Commander to raise money to send one of his troops to Kansas to get a Late term Abortion,she was 7 and 1/2 months pregnant, Mike said NO! He would not support it, He would not contribute to it and he would not attend a bar-b-que for the ultimate murder of a child.  So because he did not support "command functions" they said No.

 

God was saying  Yes! Yes I want you to retire, Yes I have a plan for you, YES YES YES! Our pastor had been telling (YES TELLING) Mike he was called to Pastor. MIke being the most humble man I have ever met said God would not want to use him, not with his past, so he decided since God made him a computer nerd he would just work for a "Christiam Organization" after all we were in Colorado Springs! When the job offers came in, he had an offer from Chuck Swindol to come to Orange County, a part time Job at Focus on the Family and Kaman Sciences offered him the Biggest check we had ever seen!

 

Where did he go, to our church as the Administrative Assistant (because God would never want him as a Pastor) and the pay??? what ever was left after the Bills and Pastor were paid. Sometimes that meant nothing.... It would be a couple years and 52 people in our home for Home fellowship before He would say yes to the Call. Maybe God could use Him, maybe God actually wanted to use him. Maybe he really does have a Pastor's heart?

 

He was the Assoc Pastor in Colorado for five years and then God called us back to the East Coast and he Eldered at a young Church in Maryland for three years. God finally asked Him to walk away from that and come home to his family and help out his dad...so here we are. Did I mention I used to say "Anywhere God but there?" Since we have been here, our daughter and her family moved home and as you know Sam is the Messianic Pastor Here in town and Mike is on His board as an advisor. Mike's "Sabbatical" from pastoring has been sooooooo long and I am impatient. I love sitting at his feet and yet Mike knows aything He starts on his own will fail God has to direct His steps. God always has and I have always wanted to run ahead of them both, especailly to Greece and we all know that would have ended badly!

 

SInce the Lord told me I would be a Pastor's wife, God has daily walked with Mike to bring Him to that place He had told me about so long ago. And every step as iIwould question My Jesus about what this was for or why we were there and why did I have to experience that...was always the same, 2 Corithians 1:2-6  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.

Thanks for walking with us along the way. Please pray about the next step we take.

because of Jesus, Bobbie

Posted in Prayers

As soon as Mike asked Jesus to be in control of his Life, my household changed. No, it was not easy, but it was all I had asked God to do. What I forgot is that I would have to give up the Spiritual-headship of our home. I really wanted to do that, but it really was harder than I thought.  I should have prayed for me as well!

 

I was really surprised (isn't that just like us, to ask God to do something and then be surprised when He does it!). It wasn't long before I heard "didn't you say the Bible says... ",only to have conviction follow. His faith amazed me and I stood in awe of the Holy Spirit often. The first thing he did was say, "Shouldn't we be teaching Heatherlee and Matthew about taking communion? I don't want them to take it without understanding what they are doing." I had always dreamed about how this should be done, So "I "thought "I" would Get 'My" Bible and find the scriptures FOR Mike. When Mike said "He could do it," my snappy retort was "You don't even know where it is!" and I stomped upstairs. I think my prayer was " God deal with that prideful idiot!" and yes I Know it was wrong!  So in my tears the Lord speaks to my heart and says "I am trying to (deal with that idiot) but you are not listening! Don't you think the Same Holy Spirit that lives in You lives in HIM and that I know where the Scriptures are????" Very humbly I went downstairs and Guess what, he had HIS Bible open and was sharing with the kids. Boy did I repent!!!  And what an amazing evening we had.

 

His next idea, also over my tears, was to teach the children Myself! . You need to remember at that time Homeschooling  was NOT a Household word , I had never heard of it, Matthew and Heatherlee's school experiences had us crying often and my husband says " If you are that upset, why don't you just do it Yourself?" I said "if I could I would!" and stomped upstairs and prayed. ( I am so glad God loves me inspite of my faithlessness, attitudes and tears!) The next day, the VERY next day my girlfriend asked if I would watch her daughter and a friend's daughter while they go check out the Lutheran Kindergarten. When they arrived I told her what Mike had said, and her friend , the Navy Chaplain's wife that I had NEVER met said , "I have been homeschooling for pre-school using ABEKA and my Mormon neighbor Teaches all of her children at home would you like to talk to her?" ONLY GOD! The next day my other friend Nancy says, My Bible Study teacher does that, but it is underground so she will call you but you can't know her name! I still do not know her name.

 

The Mormon woman said, I cannot help you with Christian Homeschooling, I am not a Christian but I can tell you what I do and she did, including milling her own wheat! I was in awe! The Christian told me about Christian Liberty Academy, I was on my way....

 

God would take us to the Capitol in Maryland to work at changing laws, next to the Capitol In New Hampshire to change laws and this connection would bless Mike with a dear friend who would leave our fellowship and go to Harvard with six kids. Such a Gifted friend! He became a Constitutional Lawyer for Homeschool Legal Defense Assoc. The Newsletter they had begun together, became my Book, Encouragement Along The Way. That too was Mike's idea! Almost 15 years later I walked into a Maryland Gorcery Store filled with Homeschooling Magazines. How far we had come. Do you know how amazing it is to have a husband that believes in you?

 

Only God could have given Mike this faith in His bride. There is a heart developed in a man that entrusts his wife with the future and education of thier Children, that only God could create. Only God can birth that idea and trust in a Man's Heart., especailly when this bride had quit High School and married him. I am the Poster Child for " If She can do it , Anyone can!"

 

All Along the Way, God was moving on Mike's heart. My girlfriends even before Mike was saved said He would be an Amazing Pastor. His troops that DID NOT know the Lord asked him if he ever considered being a Pastor. I never imagined God would do such a thing for me, after all, I was Married to a Lifer Military man that struggled just to have time off for Church because of his schedule.

 

God has a plan, He always has a plan so He CLOSED DOWN our Base where we had considered retiring  , cancelled my long dreamed about orders to Greece and sent us to Homestead AFB, Florida. On the drive down from New Hampshire to Florida, the first Gulf war began.

Posted in Prayers

I think posting today is going to wait until tomorrow. I am Too snappy today!

 

YES you can pray for me.

Because of Jesus, Bobbie

 

Thank you to those of you that cut me some slack today. I was asked this Morning "What are you gonna do today?" My reaction to that question told me it was best to not say a word to anyone. Thanks for getting that.

 

It doesn't  happen often but it sneaks up on me. Since I had my hysterectomy at 24 it isn't like I have any tell tale signals of what my body wants to do today! The best I can discribe this morning is to say I felt like I had taken a bottle of No doz. Every nerve ending was standing on end. I really think this is where we get the saying " You are on my last nerve!"

 

And just to clarify, because of course today I think I need to, I was not cursing God for making my body respond to life as a woman like this. Actually I love being a woman and the way God made me. I just wanted to make sure I didn't take anything the wrong way from my beloved friends  Sometimes isolation is good. The good news is I love you all to much to stay away. I missed you My prayer is God will bless you wih as understanding a husband as my Beloved! 

You guys are awesome!

 

Posted in Prayers

Poor Heatherlee has had her hands filled this week with sickness. It literally started Tuesday when Talia threw up into her hands! Two days Later Heatherlee was throwing up, Zemeira was throwing up as was Jaden and Her Husband Sam! That left Malachai 9yo and Kezziah 10 years old taking care of the 21 month old now well Talia and trying to help everyone else as well. What awesome Kiddos they are.

 

All that means Tirzah is still here with me. She has been here since Tuseday and will be here atleast through Sunday. She is healthy as areMy Beloved and Myself. But my baby girl is sick and her mommie can't cuddle her. Not to mention that she is really missing Tirzah. Remember they just came back from camp so Mama has not had Tirzah very long.

 

Please pray for all of them. They seem to be recovering and this time it is Heatherlee that is truly the sickest. We are trying to keep this upbeat, so the trip we ALL planned last week to go boating, will be Mike. Tirzah, Mike's Dad and I out on the boat for the day. 

 

And thank you so very much for all the sweet comments and praises about my new blog that Canadagirl did and the HSB Blogger of the week stamp. You are all so very kind and I am blessed by you all. It is so fun having so many new friends visit. I hope they will come around often.

Because of Jesus, Bobbie

Posted in Prayers

I have just come back from reading Training Hearts Blog. She had an ultrasound scheduled for today. It was the day they had hoped to have found out if the new baby is a boy or a girl. Instead they discovered what she had feared, the baby is still. No heart beat, so now they wait for her body to do what comes next. PLEASE pray for Tamara, her husband  and their sweet daughters. Grace is enough, Mercy is enough, Jesus is enough. Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.....

 

If you are a Secret Sister through Tamara's site, it will be post poned a bit. If you are MY Secret Sister I promise, I will spoil you soon.

Because of Jesus, Bobbie

Posted in Prayers

I am not sure even how to post this request. My Mother's Day was filled with so much laughter and song. Love over flowed my backyard. And then I woke up to an email from my best friend in all the world with news that broke my heart.

Dede's husband Philip is my husband's best friend. They share the same Pastor's heart . No one on earth walks in compassion like Philip does. So when he went to work this morning, You just know God ordained him to work there for a time such as this. Please pray for Philip as the Lord uses him to minister to his boss. Pray that his heart and words glorify the Lord and penetrate the tremendous devastation this family is feeling today. And pray for the Wheeler family. I know no kinder pastoral heart than his and he will need God's strength and words to touch this family. I do not know if any of them are believers. Thank you so very very much.

 

Only Jesus knows why......

 

This is the email I received from Dede.....

Posted in Prayers

To God be the Glory!

REALLY TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Amazing things are being written at Especially Heather

The best thing was Heather YES Heather writing "I am still Standing!"

For more details and how to continue praying for this sweet woman go to Especially Heather and have your socks blessed off!

Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, "Glory!" 10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever. 11 The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.

Posted in Prayers

This is the update Laura posted on Especially Heather's Blog. Please continue to pray for this family as they await on the results. Praise the Lordfor what has been accomplished so far.

 

Heather came out of surgery about 30 minutes ago. The tumor was the length of a dollar bill and pretty deep. There were no problems with bleeding, and she’s moving her arms and legs. She’s currently in recovery and not not off anesthesia yet. As soon as she is, they’ll put her in the ICU and then she’ll be there for about 24 hours. They’re not sure what her speech is like yet - Mark and her mom are waiting for her to wake up and then they’ll know more.

Thank you for your prayers, keep praying.
–Laura