brent(inWorship)

Last week, I asked you guys to lift up some blog friends in prayer. As I did this, I knew that people would respond, but was blown away with the response we got. I also knew that I would pray, but I was resigned to whatever was to happen. Tonight my lack of faith was challenged.

You guys took a moment to pray for CJ, Andrea, their daughter Jadyn and their premature son Asher. There was not a lot of info at the time to give, but CJ and Andrea knew there little son was in the midst of a battle. He has struggled to become strong enough to come home, but last week they got news that he could. The day he was scheduled to come home they had a major set back. There was something wrong with Asher’s CT scans. It showed problems in his brain and directed the doctors to believe that there was damage. Not only was Asher not coming home, but now this news was surely too hard to bear.

Without knowing that info, you committed to praying for little Asher. I have admit that more of my prayer was probably directed toward CJ and Andrea knowing how to deal with the rest of Asher’s life, than for Asher’s healing. I was of little faith, but I was of big heart.

I am so happy to say that something took place in Asher over the last couple of days that, in CJ’s words, cannot be explained by the doctor. Yesterday Asher had an MRI done to determine the extent of the damage. But, as the doctors examined the results, they were completely surprised to find no sign of the issues that were there in the CT scan last week. And guess what, Asher came home today!!!

I can’t begin to explain to you how that looks in my head. To know that their is power in community and prayer and agreement. I am blown away. My faith has been challenged. I am now more hopeful because of it.

Thank you for praying for CJ as well as Alex and James. Alex and James are seeing God work through their lives as well and I know you’ve had a part in that. Live in faith and live in hope.

Take a second and read CJ’s post on bringing his little guy home.

I have a few blog friends that I wanted to bring to your attention. Each of these is going through “life” right now. I would hope if you are willing and able that you’d take a moment and pray for them.

CJ(visualtrademark.com), is  a new blog friend, but became a part of the community quickly. CJ is a graphics designer that works with local ministries in his area. CJ and his wife Andrea have a beautiful little boy named Asher. Asher was born 2 months premature. He is now 1 month old and fighting to make it home. CJ has documented this journey on his blog and you are welcome to go read it. CJ explained to me that Asher’s name means “blessed”. Cj feels that that is being proved everyday. In the last couple of days, they’ve had some major set backs with Asher that could affect the rest of his life. Please pray for them as they hold out hope that Asher will come home from the hospital soon and join the family, including a bigger sister Jadyn.

Alex(betterthanblank.com) has been a blog friend for a while now. Alex is a creative Pastor in Southern California. Alex has had quite the month. Although, even as I planned to write this, Alex has gotten some good news. Alex’s little daughter Macy has been fighting a leg injury. She originally fractured the leg and after the healing process, reinjured it. Something seemed wrong, because doctors could not figure out what was going wrong. As of yesterday though, they have determined that she refractured it and she is on her way to healing. Alex’s wife was also in a car accident recently, that left their car a mess, but she is safe. Finally, they just received notice that the house they are renting is going into foreclosure and they are going to have to find a new home. When I asked Alex if we could pray for anything specific he said, “We’re feeling that God is calling us as a family, and a church to come closer to him and depend on him more. As far as specific prayer, just that our family would be faithful to the call to ministry and stay close to God.”

James(immersionworship.com), is the coolest english guy I know. We’ve been blogging friends for a bit now as well. He and I have been taking on the “weight loss” challenge. James is a worship leader in Southern California. I think I am connecting with a lot of these guys in Southern Cal, cause I lived there and I truly miss it. My heart has torn for James recently. A couple of months ago he had an amazing opportunity to travel to Europe to visit his mother and family. He knew that this may be the last time this would happen as his Mom’s health was fading. Soon after he returned his Mom did pass away. He traveled back to Europe and spent more time with the family. Pray for all his family members as they deal with this loss. Now that he is back home and getting back to life, he let us know that his Dad just had a stroke. Also,  James wife just had a recent car accident that may lead to the need for hand surgery. In his words, “when it rains it pours”.  When I asked what we could pray for in specifics, here is what he said, “1. Complete healing for my dad 2. My dad to see this for what it is and finally turn to God and be saved 3. Complete healing for Rhonda (my wife) after another car accident this week. 4. Complete financial provision to cover the insurance and medical costs from the accident (car has been totaled and we owe more than it’s worth)”

I would hope, if you are willing and able to take a minute, that you would lift these 3 friends up in prayer. In the Bible it says when one part of the body grieves, the entire body grieves. Let’s pray for them.