Circle For Easton

Draw the circle for Easton.

Easton is still not doing well at all. Please continue to pray and pray for him. I noticed a Facebook page put up called Draw the Circle for Easton. It is a place for you to put a prayer or a Bible verse and draw a circle around it. Here is an explanation taken from the FB page.


About
God honors bold prayers, because bold prayers honor God. 

Join us as we boldly 'circle' God's promises for Baby Easton and believe for his full healing.
Description
“Drawing prayer circles around our prayers isn’t just a mechanism whereby we accomplish great things for God. It’s a mechanism whereby God accomplishes great things in us.” Do you ever sense that there’s far more to prayer, and to God’s vision for your life, than what you’re experiencing? It’s time you learned from the legend of Honi the Circle Maker—a man bold enough to draw a circle in the sand and not budge from inside it until God answered his prayers for his people.

If you attended or watched the prayer service for Easton you heard Pastor Sean talk about circling God's promises for Easton. We have already been getting emails from people who have drawn a circle at their home for Easton. Let's see how many circles we can draw across our entire community, and nation for Easton. 

Drawing the Circle is all about confessing God's promises in his word and refusing to stop circling until God answers. 

Will you Draw the Circle for Easton with us?

Here is the picture and verse I made for Easton.

Will you join in and support Easton? He is very weak and the doctors are doing all they can. Here is the latest update from cousin Amy.

♥ Morning update: Easton is still a bit swollen as you can see in the photo...but his oxygen is between 96-100 and his vent is down to 80...they are dropping it to 70 at 5 to see if he can tolerate it. This is all wonderful news and we pray he continues to improve - thank you ALL for the support and prayers ♥ ~ Cousin Amy

Praying and praying for you sweet Easton.
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Living in the Realm of the Spirit

Romans 8:5-8 NIV

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:9-11 NIV

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

I'm linking up with Barbie for The Weekend Brew. 

Please keep Easton in your prayers as he has a lot of fluid around his lungs that the doctors have been removing with a water pill. He is scheduled to have a tracheotomy on Monday, please keep him in your prayers. Thanks!!

Blessings,

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Update on Easton

Here is the latest update on Easton. Please keep on praying for him, it looks like he is just going to need lots and lots of prayer cover. Thanks!!

Update taken directly from Easton's Facebook page Support baby Easton Fridel.

♥ ok friends- got the OK from his parents to post an update ♥
Easton has had a fever since last night between 101-103. They have done another blood culture and nothing has grown at this point (so nothing indictating an infection) and he is getting Tylenol to keep his fever down. 
He had another bronchoscopy today which showed the positive air pressure of being intubated is allowing the bronchi in his lungs to stay open (thus allowing his CO2 to escape and keeping his level where they should be). 
We will be needing lots of prayers because he is scheduled for surgery on Monday for a tracheostomy and he will also be on a ventilator. After the surgery his mommy and daddy will go through lots of training and we will be in the hospital until that is complete and their nursing agency is able to find certified nurses for nursing care at home for Easton.
Thank you for your patience, they had lots of things to take into account and lots of decisions to make! Easton is one blessed boy to have those two looking after him and to have the support from all of you! I will keep you updated over the next several days! Thanks for your prayers ♥ ~ Cousin Amy

Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 

Praying for you Easton!!
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Revelation Song

Revelation Song, Kari Jobe

Revelation 5:9-14 NIV

 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

because you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased for God

persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign on the earth.”

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!”

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Resting in the assurance that our Lord Jesus Christ is worthy and He is coming again soon!

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She DIED!

Psalm 116:1-4 NIV

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came over me;

I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:

“Lord, save me!”

CHICAGO — A 6-month-old girl who was shot multiple times as her father changed her diaper Monday afternoon has died, according to a spokesman for the family.
The Rev. Corey Brooks, who is serving as a family spokesman, told reporters Tuesday morning that Jonylah Watkins died overnight.
The baby had been rushed to Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago Monday and was initially in serious-to-critical condition, police said.
Brooks said he received a call from Jonylah Watkins' family at 6:40 a.m. Tuesday telling him the girl had died. He said her father, who remains at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, has been notified of her death.

Read more here.

Please pray for the family during this very dark time. Pray for the Holy Spirit to minister to their souls, comfort them and for them to seek God.

Jesus, have mercy LORD, have mercy.

Psalm 22:24 NIV

For he has not despised or scorned

the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

but has listened to his cry for help.

Psalm 56:8 NIV

Record my misery;

list my tears on your scrolld —

are they not in your record?

Praying!
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Prayer & Praise

Romans 8:26 NIV

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Prayer is needed for Easton and a 5 month old baby and father who were shot. Thanks!!

PRAYER

BABY AND FATHER SHOT! 

CHICAGO — A 5-month-old girl and her father were shot Monday afternoon as the man changed the baby's diaper in Woodlawn, authorities said.
The baby was rushed to Comer Children's Hospital at the University of Chicago, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. Relatives gathered there identified the baby as Johnylah Watkins. She's the daughter of 25-year-old Jonathan Watkins and Judy Watkins, 21, who herself was shot several months ago while pregnant with Johnylah.
The baby was in serious-to-critical condition, police said. A University of Chicago official said Johnylah remained in surgery as of 4:30 p.m.
Jonathan Watkins was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, police and family said, where he was in serious-to-critical condition. Police said he is a known member of the Gangster Disciples street gang.

Please click above link to read more, thanks!

Easton

Prayers please! Easton was rushed to the ER this evening when he passed out and lost consciousness twice, turned blue and seemed like he was hyperventilating. They are still waiting on blood cultures but right now he has rhinovirus&cronovirus. Xray was extremely cloudy so pneumonia is a definite. His blood gas level was 102+(intabation happens at 79+). Will keep you updated as I hear!!! Thanks for your prayers ♥ ~cousin Amy

PRAISE

Phoebe

Phoebe is on the upswing. Right after she received her platelets and blood transfusion yesterday, Nathan sent me a picture of her walking to the playroom! The difference in how she feels pre vs. post transfusions is really incredible. Blood is so important, and having the right amount of the right things in your blood makes you able to function properly. 

The best news is that her ANC (Advanced Neutraphil Count) is 30 today, which means that her immune system is revving up again and she could be headed home as early as tomorrow. It's wonderful to think this might be her last transfusion for a very long time, and that soon enough we can take her all around town and to church without worrying about her immune system! What a feeling that will be, to just be able to go places with our whole family intact. 

Eventually we will work towards weaning her off her ng tube, giving all of her meds orally, and teaching her that she has to drink despite her lack of thirst. We will also be setting up a set-caloric intake to help balance out her weight. There are still many challenges ahead, but having been through the last fourteen months, they seem minimal in comparison to chemotherapy and learning to swallow, breathe and walk again after sepsis. We can do it! She can do it! We have so much to be thankful for.

Here's to Phoebe coming home to stay!

~Amey

Thank you to all of you for intercessing for these sweet precious souls.

Blessings,
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Persistence in Prayer

Since that last post that I put up on George Mueller, I have been doing some reading and studying on prayer. I found, on Kindle, 6 free books by him and below is a small snippet from his Answers to Prayer book on how God provided for him and why God made him wait.

The funds are exhausted. The labourers, who had a little money, have given as long as they had any left. Now observe how the Lord helped us! A lady from the neighbourhood of London who brought a parcel with money from her daughter, arrived four or five days since in Bristol, and took lodgings next door to the Boys' Orphan-House. This afternoon she herself kindly brought me the money, amounting to £3 2s. 6d. We had been reduced so low as to be on the point of selling those things which could be spared; but this morning I had asked the Lord, if it might be, to prevent the necessity, of our doing so. That the money had been so near the Orphan-Houses for several days without being given, is a plain proof that it was from the beginning in the heart of God to help us; but because He delights in the prayers of His children, He had allowed us to pray so long; also to try our faith, and to make the answer so much the sweeter. It is indeed a precious deliverance. I burst out into loud praises and thanks the first moment I was alone, after I had received the money. I met with my fellow-labourers again this evening for prayer and praise; their hearts were not a little cheered. This money was this evening divided, and will comfortably provide for all that will be needed to-morrow."

Müller, George (2012-05-12). Answers to Prayer From George Müller's Narratives (pp. 32-33).  . Kindle Edition.

Sometimes God makes us wait on Him for the answers to our prayers only for the reasons that He delights in the prayers of His children and He is trying your faith.

Proverbs 15:8 NIV

The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,

but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

James 1:2-3 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

1 Peter 1:7 NIV

These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Brothers and sisters, just because Father hasn't answered your prayer right away that doesn't mean that He won't. There are reasons for this and one of the reasons may just be that He finds joy in hearing you pray and speaking to Him. Press in with prayer, make sure your heart is clean and your prayer is not selfish but according to His will.

I'm linking this post with Barbie at The Weekend Brew.

Blessings,

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Pray For Phoebe

Please be in prayer for Phoebe. She has finished her last set of chemo, had a blood transfusion yesterday and is now very sick with a fever. This does not look good folks, please pray. Below is taken from Phoebe's blog An Atypical Miracle.

Nathan and Phoebe are in the ER tonight waiting to be seen. Phoebe had not been feeling well this afternoon; lethargic and sleepy, and when she woke up after her nap around 4:30, she had a fever of 102.6.

Usually after Phoebe receives a blood transfusion she feels much better and things are uphill from there, so it’s a little scary for her to spike such a high fever with her counts bottomed out. Please keep both of them in your prayers tonight. Port access can be a little traumatic sometimes in the ER if she doesn’t get a nurse who is familiar with accessing. She still has a fever of 102.4 and is feeling really crummy.

We already know that she will be admitted because her counts are bottomed out and she has fever. I will update when we know more.

Thanks,  Amey

Revelation 3:20 NASB 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock;

if anyone hears My voice and opens the door,

I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Praying for you sweet girl

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George Mueller

Isaiah 64:24 NLT

I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

Most of this morning I knew in my heart that Father wanted me to put up post on spiritual warfare but for the life of me I just couldn't re-arrange the words floating around in my mind. So, I figured that I just needed to learn more so I just stared surfing the web and I found this gem on George Mueller. I have copied and pasted the text below from this site on spiritual warfare.

George Mueller had God as the Lord of his life and Father answered his prayers all of the time. When we are in the right alignment with God, He will answer us too.

One the greatest example of prayer in recent memory is George Mueller, this story comes to us from the captain of a ship who witnessed the power of prayer first hand. Who himself became a man of prayer after witnessing it from George Mueller. Mueller was a prayer warrior who established orphanages and was a man of prayer.  One day he was on a ship headed to Quebec Canada, for a particular meeting, a thick fog settled in on the water.[1]   

 the Mueller's set off for the United States in August 1877 aboard the Sardian…Off Newfoundland the weather turned cold and the ship's progress was seriously retarded by fog. The captain had been on the bridge for 24 hours when something happened which was to revolutionize his life. George Mueller appeared on the bridge.

"Captain, I have come to tell you I must be in Quebec by Saturday afternoon."

"It is impossible," said the captain. 

"Very well, " said Mueller, "if your ship cannot take me, God will find some other way--I have never broken an engagement for 52 years. Let us go down into the chart-room and pray." 
The Captain wondered which lunatic asylum Mueller had come from. 

"Mr. Mueller," he said, "do you know how dense this fog is?" 

"No, my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God, who controls every circumstance of my life." 

Mueller then knelt down and prayed simply. When he had finished the captain was about to pray, but Mueller put his hand on his shoulder, and told him not to. 
"First, you do not believe He will' and second, I believe He has, and there is no need whatever for you to pray about it."The captain looked at Mueller in amazement."Captain," he continued, I have known my Lord for 52 years, and there has never been a single day that I have failed to get an audience with the King. Get up, captain, and open the door, and you will find the fog is gone." 

The captain walked across to the door and opened it. The fog had lifted. It was the captain himself, who later told the story of this incident, and who was subsequently described by a well known evangelist as "one of the most devoted men I ever knew."
It was prayer that swept his soul free of doubt, distemper, and the after-effects of a trial by the incoming tide of peace. For this reason he could make such remarks as this entry on March 9, 1847, "The greater the difficulties, the easier for faith." And a later one, "The greater the trial, the sweeter the victory."
His victories came through prayer, trust in the Lord's unfailing promises and a faith that God's truth would not fail.

"It is not enough to begin to pray," he advises us, "nor to pray aright; nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray; but we must patiently, believingly continue in prayer, until we obtain an answer; and further, we have not only to continue in prayer unto the end, but we have also to believe that God does hear us and will answer our prayers. Most frequently we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing." 

George Mueller illustrates our need to depend on Prayer and the Holy Spirit to direct us in the Spiritual war. 

Blessings,
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Strength Found In Him

I'm linking up with Barbie for The Weekend Brew.

Blessings,

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So, Which One Is It?

Discrepancy 

Mark 1 :40-42 NIV '84
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Mark 1:40-42 NIV
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

While reading one of my daily reading plans I was stumbled over the word 'indignant'. Dictionary.com defines as: feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base: Origin: 1580–90;  < Latin indignant-  (stem of indignāns,  present participle of indignārī  to deem unworthy, take offense),

I started thinking Jesus probably took offense over the way He was approached by the man with leprosy. The man approached Jesus begging on his knees and Jesus was maybe insulted and I think He was displeased at the man for thinking he had to beg Him. You see, I found it odd that Jesus was indignant towards this Jewish man because when the gentile woman, Matthew 15:21-28, approached Jesus begging for her daughter to be healed, it doesn't say Jesus was indignant it just said, Jesus did not answer a word.

So, I decided to check out another version as found that the word 'indignant' was replaced with 'compassion'. Dictionary.com defines as  a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

These are two completely different meanings. One means sympathy or sorrow and the other means anger or insult. I started thinking how can a verse have such a different meaning in two different versions. The only thing I can figure is that Jesus had sympathy for the man but was angry because this man was a Jew and had the right to approach Him and ask yet this man was begging Him.

Ken, from Following Jesus, wrote a really good post on the Canaanite woman called "Why Such Harsh Words Jesus?" (Check it out, it is really good! ) I was thinking about this post as I was mulling over this word discrepancy and am leaning towards Jesus being displeased with this Jewish man for thinking he needed to beg Jesus for a healing.

We don't need to approach our Father in a begging format. He is willing to answer us if we are willing to ask and obey Him.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Please share. :)

Jeremiah 17:14 NIV

Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed;

    save me and I will be saved,

    for you are the one I praise.

Blessings,
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Rend Your Heart

Joel 2:12-17 NIV

Rend Your Heart

“Even now,” declares the Lord,

“return to me with all your heart,

with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Rend your heart

and not your garments.

Return to the Lord your God,

for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

and he relents from sending calamity.

Who knows? He may turn and relent

and leave behind a blessing—

grain offerings and drink offerings

for the Lord your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion,

declare a holy fast,

call a sacred assembly.

Gather the people,

consecrate the assembly;

bring together the elders,

gather the children,

those nursing at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his room

and the bride her chamber.

Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,

weep between the portico and the altar.

Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.

Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,

a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples,

‘Where is their God?’ ”

Every year as we near Resurrection Sunday, I feel called into fasting. I am not Catholic and do not follow Lent, but the 40 days of Lent come right before Good Friday and it is a perfect reminder to me that it is the time of year to really focus in on just what Jesus did for us on the cross. 

Actually, this is my favourite time of the year. I love everything there is about Jesus and His death and sacrifice on the cross totally humbles me and awakens in my a very deep love for Him. I love Him because He loves me. If it wasn't for His reaching out to me and showing me His love, I would never know Him. It is Jesus who has stirred my soul and my first desire is to honour Him and love Him the next desire is for me to share His love with you and all those I meet.

I am a believer of fasting and over the past few years, as I dive into fasting, I am being led to believe that fasting material goods is not Biblical. I cannot find any references in Scripture to this type of fast. I have found fasting of food, a fasting of marriage relations, there is the reference of when John the Baptist's father had lost his voice for a period of time, and then there is wearing sack cloth. Animals fast, children fast but from my searching I can find no reference to fasting of material goods. 

I am being led to believe that giving up something material is like removing an idol. Something that has taken the place of God and this is not a fast. This is good, please don't misunderstand me, this just isn't a fast. 

A fast is a time to mourn and seek our Father's heart. A time to feed our soul on His Word and to deny our physical body substance so self is weakened and His Spirit becomes stronger in us. I don't see how self can be weakened by giving up say your computer for a time. Your physical body is still very strong therefore holding onto self and not being filled with the Holy Spirit. 

I do believe giving up material goods is beneficial to removing idols in your life and replacing God back into His proper place of being number one. I think this is healthy and valuable to our walk with Father. 

Yesterday on Twitter I took part of a chat that was focused on Lent and fasting. It was then that Father really spoke to my heart and made me to say that a material fast is not an acceptable fast in Father's eyes. My sharing of this brought in some opposition but it seems that more people agreed with me than those who did not. 

What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear them and if you have some Biblical reference to a material fast please share!!

Blessings and Happy Valentine's Day!

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I'm linking this post up with Barbie for the The Weekend Brew. 

A Moment in the Life of Easton

The cruel reality of Epidermolysis Bullosa, EB.

A moment in the life with Easton. Please take a moment and watch this short clip on how Easton is cared for. EB must be the nastiest disease around. 

Please be in prayer for Easton and his family. Pray for a cure for this disease. 

Easton has had a new development as well. Here is what was written on his Facebook page by his cousin:

Easton has atrophy in the front part of his brain... it has stopped growing and isn't developing normally...they think it most likely occurred when he was septic. He also has a bulging fontanelle but they don't believe the two are related. He will be staying another night so they can watch him and are having the neurologist look at him to see if they would like to run additional testing. They can not tell us why the front part of his brain is not growing at the same rate as the rest of his brain. They will be monitoring the growth of his head very closely. Please pray for Easton and for the doctors to find some answers. Thank you so much for your support...it means the world to our family ♥ ~ Cousin Amy

Philippians 4:6-7 NASB 

Be anxious for nothing,

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

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MRI Results for Phoebe

MRI Results...

Praise God, Phoebe's MRI came back with no evidence of disease today! Her hemoglobin was low and we had to stay all afternoon to get a blood transfusion and she is feeling puny. But on the whole, she is doing great! 

Thanks to all of you who have reached out to us in so many ways over the last few months. 

One more round to go!!!!

-Nathan

Please continue to pray for Phoebe's pituitary gland to start working again. Thanks!!

Source

John 15:7 NASB

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

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The Battle

Through Jesus Christ Satan has been defeated and we have the power, in prayer, to win all of our battles. 

Pray and never give up!

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Pituitary Gland Issues

I'm sure you all know what it is like to go without sleep, it is exhausting. Can you imagine how you would feel after a year of a broken sleep pattern is like and never getting a restorative sleep with no end in sight? Or how about being constantly hungry? Having a hunger that is never satisfied no matter how much you eat that wakes you up many times a night and makes you eat and eat. It would be horrible, a terrible existence.

Some of you here know Phoebe and have been praying for her. This is her life. She is 3 years old, battling for her life and has to deal with constant, unsatisfied hunger. Her mom and dad can not sleep because they are constantly being waken up during the night to care for her. Now, if she was an only child this would be doable but Phoebe is the youngest of 4 and Amey deeply desires to continue homeschooling her 3 boys. You can read about Amey's frustration here.

A miracle is needed here. :) Will you join your heart with mine and ask Father to work a miracle for Phoebe? I know our God can restore this part of her brain that is just not working or that He can cause her to sleep peacefully through the night. If Father can grow heart values in Joy then He can also grow a working pituitary gland in Phoebe.


Father, my God the maker of heaven and earth You are holy and worthy of praise and worship. I esteem You and hold Your name on high. I praise You for creating Phoebe and I thank You for bringing her through brain surgery and her first year of chemo therapy. Your so good Lord. Now Lord, I don't need to tell You what is wrong with Your daughter, You know, so I lift Phoebe up to You and ask for Your healing hand upon her and for You to restore her body to function in the way it was designed to. Lord Jesus, Healer remove this constant hunger from Phoebe and give peace and rest to her and her family. Jesus grow, in Phoebe, a new pituitary gland that functions perfectly. Under Your wings they will find shelter and comfort. Cover them Lord. Thank You. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.

Psalm 4:8 NASB 

In peace I will both lie down and sleep,

For You alone, O LORD,

make me to dwell in safety.

I'm linking with Barbie for the Weekend Brew.

Thanks!!