Promise of Peace
John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
This is a verse that has a lot of meaning for me. Our Community Bible Study Leader’s Council had a Christmas tradition. We drew names and prayed for a verse for Christmas for that person. We wrote the verse, along with any insights God gave us as to why we were led to that verse, in a Christmas card. One year a very dear sister in Christ, Ronna drew my name. This is the verse God gave her for me. I clung to this verse throughout the year as I went through some difficult times with my business as a result of 9/11 and some personal strife. It was a dark time in my life, but looking back, it was also a time of great spiritual growth. I am now thankful for God did in my heart during those few years. I am forever changed (in a good way). Looking back I see that before God could use me as a Bible teacher, He had to break me so I would put myself aside (maybe we’ll talk about broken vessels soon).
So I share this promise today because I really believe it! I’ve experienced this peace in the midst of trouble, so I feel confident in telling you all that Jesus really does give us peace. But we must rest IN HIM! We cannot have peace apart from Jesus. When we focus our mind and hearts on HIM instead of ourselves, we are at peace.
The second promise in this verse is that we WILL have trouble. Not might. Not sorta could. Not maybe. He tells us we WILL have trouble. We are always surprised when bad things happen. But Jesus isn’t. We live in a fallen world. Our world is full of trouble. And when trouble finds us we realize just how badly this world needs redemption. It brings us to our knees crying, “come Lord Jesus! Please don’t tarry!”
The best part is He is prepared for our troubles! As we flounder in a sea of uncertainty, He says, “take heart! I have overcome the world.” Notice how our troubles are in the future and how He has already overcome the world. His work on the cross redeemed humanity AND the world.
Pray with me that, in the midst of trouble, Lisa and her family can cling to this promise—that in Jesus we will have peace—and, best of all, that Jesus has overcome the world. His victory over death means victory over the evil in our world and in the hearts of man.
“Jesus, just reading this verse brings back memories of trials and trouble. But it also reminds me of the peace you give us. That blessed assurance that, even when all seems lost and out of balance, that you have overcome all that is evil. We look forward to the day when you rule and reign over the earth. When all that is evil is cast into a pit. When we will live 10,000 years bright shining as the sun. Until then, we pray that we will cling to the promises of your word, that we would not be discouraged. That we would know that you are with us wherever we go until the end of the age. Amen.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
04-29 Devotional/Prayer for Mike By Gloria Barotta (Aunt Glo)
The Promises of God – Part One
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Part one???? What’s up with that? And what’s with the Bible verses that go on for a paragraph?
Clinging to the promises of God is the best way to find our way back to “normal” life. There’s an old hymn, maybe you know it. Standing On the Promises of God. At times like this, the promises of God are the only firm footing we have. So I’d like to take a couple of days and meditate on these promises beginning with an Old Testament prophesy of Jesus. God’s best promise was the promise of Jesus. Through Christ our Lord, God delivers the most precious promise—Salvation and a life with Him—not just in heaven, but here on earth where life pretty much stinks at least some of the time. Through the prophet Isaiah, God tells us that not only will Jesus ransom our souls from Hell’s fire, but He will also rescue us from the junk we live through in this fallen world. Do you believe that? Before you nod, think about it. Do you REALLY believe it, not just intellectually, but are you willing to place your trust in this promise?
Jesus is the good news. Binding broken hearts. Proclaiming freedom from being captive to the sin that entangles us. Being free from the prison of this dark world controlled by the father of lies and darkness. We are freed from an eternity of darkness, and free to live with the Lord’s favor.
“But,” you say, “there is still pain!” For a time (but not eternity!!!), because we experience the fallen nature of our world. And that brings physical death, pain, suffering.
But God.
God promises to comfort those who mourn and provide for those who grieve. In Biblical times, people covered their heads with ashes when they mourned. Check this out—God promises a crown to replace the ashes! People back then also tore their clothes when they mourned. God promises a garment of praise.
And even better than a crown, better than gladness, better than a garment of praise, we will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting to display HIS splendor!
Nothing is more solidly grounded than an oak tree. Do you believe God will bring Lisa and Gracie and this entire family through this stronger than ever? I hope so! He will for the best reason ever . . . . to display HIS splendor!
If we are in Christ. If we trust Him, we reflect the Glory of God—the weightiness of God (that’s what glory means—weighty—that’s why I’m weighty—it’s a name thing). The splendor of a King displayed through our lives! God takes our pain and heals our hearts. He comforts us so that we might reflect His goodness, His glory, His splendor.
Will you pray that, over time, God will replace ashes with a crown, torn robes with a garment of praise, and that everyone in this situation will stand firm like an oak tree?
“Lord, in the midst of suffering, we feel pain in our hearts. We cling to the promise that you will comfort us. We stand on the promise that You will deliver us from darkness and replace the ashes of grief with a crown of beauty, that our faces would glisten with the oil of your anointing, that we would be clothed in praises to your Name. We know this takes time. But we know, that if we cling to YOU, we will stand as a forest of oak trees and we will reflect the splendor of the King. In the meantime, as Lisa and Gracie and all our family and friends try to “move on,” help us to see this comfort and healing a bit each day. We thank you for the promise of eternity with you through our Lord and Savior, Jesus, to Him be the glory forever, amen.
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
Part one???? What’s up with that? And what’s with the Bible verses that go on for a paragraph?
Clinging to the promises of God is the best way to find our way back to “normal” life. There’s an old hymn, maybe you know it. Standing On the Promises of God. At times like this, the promises of God are the only firm footing we have. So I’d like to take a couple of days and meditate on these promises beginning with an Old Testament prophesy of Jesus. God’s best promise was the promise of Jesus. Through Christ our Lord, God delivers the most precious promise—Salvation and a life with Him—not just in heaven, but here on earth where life pretty much stinks at least some of the time. Through the prophet Isaiah, God tells us that not only will Jesus ransom our souls from Hell’s fire, but He will also rescue us from the junk we live through in this fallen world. Do you believe that? Before you nod, think about it. Do you REALLY believe it, not just intellectually, but are you willing to place your trust in this promise?
Jesus is the good news. Binding broken hearts. Proclaiming freedom from being captive to the sin that entangles us. Being free from the prison of this dark world controlled by the father of lies and darkness. We are freed from an eternity of darkness, and free to live with the Lord’s favor.
“But,” you say, “there is still pain!” For a time (but not eternity!!!), because we experience the fallen nature of our world. And that brings physical death, pain, suffering.
But God.
God promises to comfort those who mourn and provide for those who grieve. In Biblical times, people covered their heads with ashes when they mourned. Check this out—God promises a crown to replace the ashes! People back then also tore their clothes when they mourned. God promises a garment of praise.
And even better than a crown, better than gladness, better than a garment of praise, we will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting to display HIS splendor!
Nothing is more solidly grounded than an oak tree. Do you believe God will bring Lisa and Gracie and this entire family through this stronger than ever? I hope so! He will for the best reason ever . . . . to display HIS splendor!
If we are in Christ. If we trust Him, we reflect the Glory of God—the weightiness of God (that’s what glory means—weighty—that’s why I’m weighty—it’s a name thing). The splendor of a King displayed through our lives! God takes our pain and heals our hearts. He comforts us so that we might reflect His goodness, His glory, His splendor.
Will you pray that, over time, God will replace ashes with a crown, torn robes with a garment of praise, and that everyone in this situation will stand firm like an oak tree?
“Lord, in the midst of suffering, we feel pain in our hearts. We cling to the promise that you will comfort us. We stand on the promise that You will deliver us from darkness and replace the ashes of grief with a crown of beauty, that our faces would glisten with the oil of your anointing, that we would be clothed in praises to your Name. We know this takes time. But we know, that if we cling to YOU, we will stand as a forest of oak trees and we will reflect the splendor of the King. In the meantime, as Lisa and Gracie and all our family and friends try to “move on,” help us to see this comfort and healing a bit each day. We thank you for the promise of eternity with you through our Lord and Savior, Jesus, to Him be the glory forever, amen.
Monday, April 28, 2008
04-28 Devotional/Prayer for Mike By Gloria Barotta (Aunt Glo)
He Heals the Brokenhearted
Psalm 147:3-5
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
We tend to focus on the physical healing power of Jesus. Many of our prayer requests are for physical healing. It has always seemed strange to me that we concentrate so much on bodies that are destined to break down and so little time taking care of each other’s hearts and souls. Our hearts are eternal. Our bodies are not. Think about it. Scripture has a lot to say about our hearts—the wellspring of life.
Jesus tells us we can turn to him and he will heal our broken hearts. Lest you doubt His power to accomplish such a huge task, I have included evidence. Our Lord is so detail-oriented that he intentionally determines and names each of the stars in the heavens. We forget how many stars there are because we can rarely see them in cities. The heavenly skies look much different at my cousin’s ranch in Roswell. We all know my attention to detail is lacking. I cannot fathom taking time and effort to name every star. But our Lord does. I have no idea why. Maybe just to let us know every detail of the universe and our lives is important to Him.
Combine that attention to detail with POWER, and we begin to understand that Jesus really can do the impossible—even heal a broken heart.
But it takes more than power and might and attention to detail. To heal someone’s heart, my guess is you need to have some understanding of what they are feeling. Look at the last part of the passage—his understanding has no limit. Do you ever feel like no one understands what you are feeling? Maybe no human does. Maybe that is frustrating for you. My friends can testify that I’ve been frustrated by that many times! But there is ONE who understands. And He just happens to be the ONE who has the power and interest in healing you!!! We matter to God. (that sounds like a slogan for a building campaign)
Today will you pray for healing for Lisa and Gracie’s hearts?
“Father, we cannot understand with our pea brains the depth of your love for us. You try to show us your character, your power, your might, your attention to detail through the marvel of creation. But we miss it! Help us to know in our hearts how much we matter to you! Please use your power and compassion to heal Lisa and Gracie’s hearts. We know healing takes time. And we know Lisa knows that from her work as a nurse. Give them patience and perseverance to work through the pain in their hearts. Surround them with people who can meet their physical, emotional and mental needs. Thank you for Jesus who experienced the pain and joy of humanity and knows first hand how devastating the loss of a loved one can be. In His mighty name we pray, amen.”
Psalm 147:3-5
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
We tend to focus on the physical healing power of Jesus. Many of our prayer requests are for physical healing. It has always seemed strange to me that we concentrate so much on bodies that are destined to break down and so little time taking care of each other’s hearts and souls. Our hearts are eternal. Our bodies are not. Think about it. Scripture has a lot to say about our hearts—the wellspring of life.
Jesus tells us we can turn to him and he will heal our broken hearts. Lest you doubt His power to accomplish such a huge task, I have included evidence. Our Lord is so detail-oriented that he intentionally determines and names each of the stars in the heavens. We forget how many stars there are because we can rarely see them in cities. The heavenly skies look much different at my cousin’s ranch in Roswell. We all know my attention to detail is lacking. I cannot fathom taking time and effort to name every star. But our Lord does. I have no idea why. Maybe just to let us know every detail of the universe and our lives is important to Him.
Combine that attention to detail with POWER, and we begin to understand that Jesus really can do the impossible—even heal a broken heart.
But it takes more than power and might and attention to detail. To heal someone’s heart, my guess is you need to have some understanding of what they are feeling. Look at the last part of the passage—his understanding has no limit. Do you ever feel like no one understands what you are feeling? Maybe no human does. Maybe that is frustrating for you. My friends can testify that I’ve been frustrated by that many times! But there is ONE who understands. And He just happens to be the ONE who has the power and interest in healing you!!! We matter to God. (that sounds like a slogan for a building campaign)
Today will you pray for healing for Lisa and Gracie’s hearts?
“Father, we cannot understand with our pea brains the depth of your love for us. You try to show us your character, your power, your might, your attention to detail through the marvel of creation. But we miss it! Help us to know in our hearts how much we matter to you! Please use your power and compassion to heal Lisa and Gracie’s hearts. We know healing takes time. And we know Lisa knows that from her work as a nurse. Give them patience and perseverance to work through the pain in their hearts. Surround them with people who can meet their physical, emotional and mental needs. Thank you for Jesus who experienced the pain and joy of humanity and knows first hand how devastating the loss of a loved one can be. In His mighty name we pray, amen.”
4-27 Prayer for Mike By Gloria Barotta (Aunt Glo)
The Sabbath Rest
Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all the work.
I can always tell when my spirit needs rest. Thoughts swirl around in my head, I stop thinking clearly, I lack perspective, I whine. My mind is open to the lies of the evil one. After years of allowing the evil one to gain a toehold during these vulnerable times, I’ve learned to take my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (see 2 Cor. 10:5) and to take time to rest. Yesterday I took a rest. Actually, that’s not entirely true. The truth is, God forced me to rest, refresh, recharge, regroup. When I sat down to write to you yesterday, I had nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zip. So I rested and reached out to others to minister to me. I stopped searching for answers, I stopped problem solving, I just entered a time of “be-ing” instead of “do-ing.” I’ve always been better at “be-ing” than “do-ing.” I’m a Mary. Over the years I’ve taken on more “Martha-like” qualities to balance my “Mary” side. Balance. That’s the key.
I need a lot of rest. For me, like Mary, rest means sitting at the feet of Jesus. So after a day of rest, I’m back. Today in our passage, we see the model for rest. God created the heavens, the earth and all things on the earth. Then He rested. Whether you believe in the literal interpretation of “a day is a 24 hr period of time,” or whether you have bought into the metaphorical interpretation of “some period of time,” I think we can agree that creating all that God created was a lot of work whether it spanned 6 days or 6 millennia! (I happen to believe in the literal interpretation. Otherwise, I am left with too many opportunities to treat the commands of Scripture as “gentle suggestions.”)
Look at what happens after God’s rest. Verse 7 tells us that God created Adam from dust and Eve from Adam. (yes, I also believe that God literally created Adam from dust.) And man was the crown of creation! After His rest, God came back to work and created His masterpiece! That balance of be-ing and do-ing was modeled by the One who created all things. And please do not miss what happened after a good rest! A masterpiece! I believe we are at our best when we are well rested!!
Right now our family needs rest. After almost two weeks of do-ing, it’s time to balance that with be-ing. Will you pray that Lisa and Gracie and our entire family will enter into a time of rest and refreshment? There’s still so much to do. But right now, I sense we need a time of rest.
“Father God, You created the heavens and the earth with your hands. And you hold us in the palm of this same hand. Today we ask for a Sabbath’s rest. Maybe it’s a day, or two or a week. Give each person the wisdom to know how much time they need, and how they need to recharge. For some it is time with You in the Word. For others it is a time of fasting and prayer. For some it is solitude, for others it’s being with people. Only You know. Thank you for the friends and family who have brought food and flowers to minister to the physical needs of these family members. Much healing and fellowship have taken place over plates of food. Thank you for your love and protection. Amen.”
Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all the work.
I can always tell when my spirit needs rest. Thoughts swirl around in my head, I stop thinking clearly, I lack perspective, I whine. My mind is open to the lies of the evil one. After years of allowing the evil one to gain a toehold during these vulnerable times, I’ve learned to take my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (see 2 Cor. 10:5) and to take time to rest. Yesterday I took a rest. Actually, that’s not entirely true. The truth is, God forced me to rest, refresh, recharge, regroup. When I sat down to write to you yesterday, I had nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zip. So I rested and reached out to others to minister to me. I stopped searching for answers, I stopped problem solving, I just entered a time of “be-ing” instead of “do-ing.” I’ve always been better at “be-ing” than “do-ing.” I’m a Mary. Over the years I’ve taken on more “Martha-like” qualities to balance my “Mary” side. Balance. That’s the key.
I need a lot of rest. For me, like Mary, rest means sitting at the feet of Jesus. So after a day of rest, I’m back. Today in our passage, we see the model for rest. God created the heavens, the earth and all things on the earth. Then He rested. Whether you believe in the literal interpretation of “a day is a 24 hr period of time,” or whether you have bought into the metaphorical interpretation of “some period of time,” I think we can agree that creating all that God created was a lot of work whether it spanned 6 days or 6 millennia! (I happen to believe in the literal interpretation. Otherwise, I am left with too many opportunities to treat the commands of Scripture as “gentle suggestions.”)
Look at what happens after God’s rest. Verse 7 tells us that God created Adam from dust and Eve from Adam. (yes, I also believe that God literally created Adam from dust.) And man was the crown of creation! After His rest, God came back to work and created His masterpiece! That balance of be-ing and do-ing was modeled by the One who created all things. And please do not miss what happened after a good rest! A masterpiece! I believe we are at our best when we are well rested!!
Right now our family needs rest. After almost two weeks of do-ing, it’s time to balance that with be-ing. Will you pray that Lisa and Gracie and our entire family will enter into a time of rest and refreshment? There’s still so much to do. But right now, I sense we need a time of rest.
“Father God, You created the heavens and the earth with your hands. And you hold us in the palm of this same hand. Today we ask for a Sabbath’s rest. Maybe it’s a day, or two or a week. Give each person the wisdom to know how much time they need, and how they need to recharge. For some it is time with You in the Word. For others it is a time of fasting and prayer. For some it is solitude, for others it’s being with people. Only You know. Thank you for the friends and family who have brought food and flowers to minister to the physical needs of these family members. Much healing and fellowship have taken place over plates of food. Thank you for your love and protection. Amen.”
Friday, April 25, 2008
Missing McKinney man found in Arizona
Missing McKinney man found in Arizona
07:54 PM CDT on Friday, April 25, 2008
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The body of a traveling nurse who was reported missing after leaving a California desert town nearly two weeks ago has been found in a remote area of northern Arizona, authorities said Friday.
The body of Michael Edwards was found near a Forest Service road north of the Grand Canyon on Thursday afternoon, said Lt. Rex Gilliland of the Coconino County Sheriff's Office.
Gilliland said Edwards, of McKinney, Texas, was found wearing only his underwear. His clothes were found scattered in the area, and his vehicle and camping spot were found about two miles away.
"We believe we have a natural death," Gilliland said. "He may have died from hypothermia. Obviously we'll know more after the autopsy and we still want to know why he was in northern Arizona."
Victims of hypothermia can become delusional and begin to think they are warm when they are in fact cold, Gilliland said. There was no sign of foul play.
Edwards, 44, was working as a traveling registered nurse in Ridgecrest, Calif., and called his family in Texas on April 13 to tell them he was headed to Sacramento to get a nursing certificate.
His family reported him missing to the Kern County Sheriff's Department two days later.
Devotional/Prayer for Mike 4/25 By Gloria Barotta (Aunt Glo)
God Never Wastes Pain
2 Corinthians 1:3 – 5
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.
Last night we received the call. Mike’s body has been found. We have no details, no answers to our many questions. The pain in our hearts is crushing—almost overwhelming. Maybe you have experienced such pain. Maybe experiencing that pain has helped you become more compassionate toward others. Or maybe it has made you bitter (I hope not!).
Our passage today tells us that suffering is part of life. We live in a fallen world. But for those of us who walk with Christ, suffering refines us and shapes us like clay into the likeness of Christ. When we suffer, God comforts us. And we comfort others as Christ comforts us. In Matthew 5:4 Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Many of you who have walked with our family during this time have experienced great loss and have received compassion and comfort from God. And because you have received this comfort and compassion, you have freely given comfort and compassion to Mike’s family. That is a gift from God to us. God has used the pain you have felt in your life to minister to our family. Many of you have shared your stories of losing parents and close family members at a young age and how you reacted to that loss. Your pain wasn’t in vain.
It is hard for us to see it now, but the pain Lisa and Gracie and all of us are feeling now will not be in vain, either. As the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. And we will comfort others. God never wastes pain. He uses it for our good and His Glory. It never seems like it at the time, and we may never see the good that came from this pain this side of heaven. “And we know all things work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:38)
Before we pray, I want to thank you for standing with us. Life is messy. Our sinful selfish nature is to run from other people’s messy lives. But that’s not what God calls us to do. He calls us to get into the muck with the each other. Life is bound to get messier for our family. Will you continue to pray for Lisa and Gracie and all of us in the coming weeks as we try to put our lives back together?
“Father, I first want to praise and thank you for being a God of compassion and comfort. You weep when we weep, you mourn when we mourn. Help us to be people of compassion. Help us to comfort others. Guard our hearts from bitterness and resentment. Help us to see this situation through your eyes. Protect our hearts from the evil one. Give Lisa and Gracie the strength and courage they need to face the new reality of their lives. I thank you for your people who have stood with us in prayer. I pray your blessings on them. Father, in the coming weeks we will be so dependent on your grace. Pour out your Spirit on us, Lord. We thank you for Jesus. We pray that Mike’s trust was in Him and that Mike lives with Jesus in heaven. We look forward to the day when you will welcome us into your Kingdom and we will be united with our family and friends who have gone before us! And until then, give us the grace to live the abundant life you promise us in your Word through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen.”
2 Corinthians 1:3 – 5
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.
Last night we received the call. Mike’s body has been found. We have no details, no answers to our many questions. The pain in our hearts is crushing—almost overwhelming. Maybe you have experienced such pain. Maybe experiencing that pain has helped you become more compassionate toward others. Or maybe it has made you bitter (I hope not!).
Our passage today tells us that suffering is part of life. We live in a fallen world. But for those of us who walk with Christ, suffering refines us and shapes us like clay into the likeness of Christ. When we suffer, God comforts us. And we comfort others as Christ comforts us. In Matthew 5:4 Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Many of you who have walked with our family during this time have experienced great loss and have received compassion and comfort from God. And because you have received this comfort and compassion, you have freely given comfort and compassion to Mike’s family. That is a gift from God to us. God has used the pain you have felt in your life to minister to our family. Many of you have shared your stories of losing parents and close family members at a young age and how you reacted to that loss. Your pain wasn’t in vain.
It is hard for us to see it now, but the pain Lisa and Gracie and all of us are feeling now will not be in vain, either. As the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. And we will comfort others. God never wastes pain. He uses it for our good and His Glory. It never seems like it at the time, and we may never see the good that came from this pain this side of heaven. “And we know all things work for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:38)
Before we pray, I want to thank you for standing with us. Life is messy. Our sinful selfish nature is to run from other people’s messy lives. But that’s not what God calls us to do. He calls us to get into the muck with the each other. Life is bound to get messier for our family. Will you continue to pray for Lisa and Gracie and all of us in the coming weeks as we try to put our lives back together?
“Father, I first want to praise and thank you for being a God of compassion and comfort. You weep when we weep, you mourn when we mourn. Help us to be people of compassion. Help us to comfort others. Guard our hearts from bitterness and resentment. Help us to see this situation through your eyes. Protect our hearts from the evil one. Give Lisa and Gracie the strength and courage they need to face the new reality of their lives. I thank you for your people who have stood with us in prayer. I pray your blessings on them. Father, in the coming weeks we will be so dependent on your grace. Pour out your Spirit on us, Lord. We thank you for Jesus. We pray that Mike’s trust was in Him and that Mike lives with Jesus in heaven. We look forward to the day when you will welcome us into your Kingdom and we will be united with our family and friends who have gone before us! And until then, give us the grace to live the abundant life you promise us in your Word through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen.”
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Devotional/Prayer for Mike 4/24-by Gloria Barotta
The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength
Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
When our hearts are heavy, how can our hearts leap for joy and give thanks to God in song? Our passage tells us that the LORD is our strength and our shield. When we put our trust in the Lord Jesus, we tap into the same power and strength that raised Jesus from the dead. The same strength that resisted Satan’s tempting. The same strength and power that wiped Sodom and Gomorrah off the map. That’s some strength!
The psalm (song) also says the Lord is our shield when our hearts trust in him and He helps us. The imagery of a shield is not as vivid for us as for those in Biblical times. Think of it as a force field—like on Star Trek—“shields up, Scotty.” Are we shielded from pain, from bad circumstances, or even physical death? No. But our hearts are shielded when we place our trust in Jesus. Our hearts, our souls, the eternal part of our being is protected by the ONE who is sovereign and controls all things. That is unfathomable! And it gives us the same hope Job had in the midst of his circumstances. Job 13:15 says “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.”
And not only does He protect us, He HELPS us. We have evidence of this in our family as people have been calling, sending emails, praying, offering help, guidance, resources, even financial support. We are setting up a trust to accept donations because people are asking to give!!! The Lord is working in the hearts of people we don’t even know to pray for Mike, Lisa and Gracie. Do you see the Lord’s promise of help? I sure do!
Before we pray, I must ask a question. What do people do in situations like this who don’t know and trust Jesus? I can’t even imagine walking through something like this without the blessed assurance that the King of the Universe holds my family, my nephew and my sweet nieces in His hands! If you know people who don’t know Jesus, would you pray that you would be bold and tell them the story of who God is and what He has done? Finally, I ask you to not lose hope that God is shielding Mike from harm, even though it has been over a week. Stranger things have happened. Ravens fed Elijah.
“Lord, you are our portion, our shield, our strength. Our hope lies in you alone. Please strengthen and protect Lisa and Gracie and Mike. We hold onto your promise to meet all our needs. Please meet Mike’s needs as he is “out there” somewhere. Minister to him through your Spirit and your angels. Minister to Gracie as she goes about her daily routine. Thank you for her successful belt test last night and the joy in her spirit as she showed us her red belt. Minister to Lisa as she begins this new day. Meet our family’s need for wisdom, discernment. Make us of one mind with you. Guard and protect us from the evil one. In Jesus name, amen.
Thank you for your prayers and support. Please visit helpfindmike.blogspot.com for updates.
Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
When our hearts are heavy, how can our hearts leap for joy and give thanks to God in song? Our passage tells us that the LORD is our strength and our shield. When we put our trust in the Lord Jesus, we tap into the same power and strength that raised Jesus from the dead. The same strength that resisted Satan’s tempting. The same strength and power that wiped Sodom and Gomorrah off the map. That’s some strength!
The psalm (song) also says the Lord is our shield when our hearts trust in him and He helps us. The imagery of a shield is not as vivid for us as for those in Biblical times. Think of it as a force field—like on Star Trek—“shields up, Scotty.” Are we shielded from pain, from bad circumstances, or even physical death? No. But our hearts are shielded when we place our trust in Jesus. Our hearts, our souls, the eternal part of our being is protected by the ONE who is sovereign and controls all things. That is unfathomable! And it gives us the same hope Job had in the midst of his circumstances. Job 13:15 says “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.”
And not only does He protect us, He HELPS us. We have evidence of this in our family as people have been calling, sending emails, praying, offering help, guidance, resources, even financial support. We are setting up a trust to accept donations because people are asking to give!!! The Lord is working in the hearts of people we don’t even know to pray for Mike, Lisa and Gracie. Do you see the Lord’s promise of help? I sure do!
Before we pray, I must ask a question. What do people do in situations like this who don’t know and trust Jesus? I can’t even imagine walking through something like this without the blessed assurance that the King of the Universe holds my family, my nephew and my sweet nieces in His hands! If you know people who don’t know Jesus, would you pray that you would be bold and tell them the story of who God is and what He has done? Finally, I ask you to not lose hope that God is shielding Mike from harm, even though it has been over a week. Stranger things have happened. Ravens fed Elijah.
“Lord, you are our portion, our shield, our strength. Our hope lies in you alone. Please strengthen and protect Lisa and Gracie and Mike. We hold onto your promise to meet all our needs. Please meet Mike’s needs as he is “out there” somewhere. Minister to him through your Spirit and your angels. Minister to Gracie as she goes about her daily routine. Thank you for her successful belt test last night and the joy in her spirit as she showed us her red belt. Minister to Lisa as she begins this new day. Meet our family’s need for wisdom, discernment. Make us of one mind with you. Guard and protect us from the evil one. In Jesus name, amen.
Thank you for your prayers and support. Please visit helpfindmike.blogspot.com for updates.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Devotional/Prayer for Mike 4/23 By Gloria Barotta (Aunt Glo)
Come to Me
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
REST? Who has time for rest? We have lots of work to do! We have to find MIKE!!!!!!!
In this often-quoted passage, Jesus invites us to come to Him, learn from Him, and find rest in Him. He uses an illustration unfamiliar to us, the yoke of oxen. When young oxen were trained to pull the plow, they were paired with stronger, more mature oxen who would pretty much do the work while demonstrating to the young one how to walk the rows and pull the plow. When we become yoked with Jesus, when we walk with Him, he takes the burden and does the lions share of the “work.” He does the walking and the pulling. We’re kind of along for the walk. What a burden is lifted from our shoulders when we take on the yoke of Jesus!
Our hearts are weary. Especially this day as we regroup. We are burdened by the weight of knowing we’ve done what we can, yet Mike is still missing. We are burdened by the fact that we have no answers for Gracie and her cousin Lily, and parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins should have answers for children!!! We are weary of waking in the middle of the night feeling guilty we are sleeping while Mike is “out there,” yet exhausted to the point where our bodies and minds crave rest.
Yet Jesus invites us to a place of rest! Will you pray with me that today will be a day of rest for Lisa and our family?
“Father, our dear Mike is in the center of our thoughts and prayers. We want to find him. Today, we ask that you double, no triple, actually, will you send all available resources to search for him? Will you help us take Jesus’ yoke and find rest for our souls while you search the earth for our Mike? Will you give Lisa the rest her heart needs to regroup and recharge? We thank you that when we walk with you—yoked together with Jesus—that our burden is light and we have rest. Thank you, Jesus, for being our savior, protector, redeemer and friend. Amen.”
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
REST? Who has time for rest? We have lots of work to do! We have to find MIKE!!!!!!!
In this often-quoted passage, Jesus invites us to come to Him, learn from Him, and find rest in Him. He uses an illustration unfamiliar to us, the yoke of oxen. When young oxen were trained to pull the plow, they were paired with stronger, more mature oxen who would pretty much do the work while demonstrating to the young one how to walk the rows and pull the plow. When we become yoked with Jesus, when we walk with Him, he takes the burden and does the lions share of the “work.” He does the walking and the pulling. We’re kind of along for the walk. What a burden is lifted from our shoulders when we take on the yoke of Jesus!
Our hearts are weary. Especially this day as we regroup. We are burdened by the weight of knowing we’ve done what we can, yet Mike is still missing. We are burdened by the fact that we have no answers for Gracie and her cousin Lily, and parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins should have answers for children!!! We are weary of waking in the middle of the night feeling guilty we are sleeping while Mike is “out there,” yet exhausted to the point where our bodies and minds crave rest.
Yet Jesus invites us to a place of rest! Will you pray with me that today will be a day of rest for Lisa and our family?
“Father, our dear Mike is in the center of our thoughts and prayers. We want to find him. Today, we ask that you double, no triple, actually, will you send all available resources to search for him? Will you help us take Jesus’ yoke and find rest for our souls while you search the earth for our Mike? Will you give Lisa the rest her heart needs to regroup and recharge? We thank you that when we walk with you—yoked together with Jesus—that our burden is light and we have rest. Thank you, Jesus, for being our savior, protector, redeemer and friend. Amen.”
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
04-22 Devotional/Prayer for Mike By Gloria Barotta (Aunt Glo)
Jesus Loves the Little Children
Mark 9:14b -16
“’Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”
I chose this verse today to remind us of two things. First, Jesus uses a child as an illustration of how we are to approach “heavenly” (or eternal) things—as little children—accepting and trusting. That is the part of the illustration for us. We are to have child-LIKE faith—simple, trusting, accepting—NOT child-ISH faith which is demanding, selfish and self-centered. See the difference?
The second part of the illustration demonstrates Jesus’ care and love for children. Children were (and are) drawn to Jesus. They run to him. (so should we!) The text tells us he took them in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. The God and Creator of the Universe, the Word who became flesh, the King of Kings and Commander of the Angel Armies stoops down and scoops children up into his arms.
Today our Cali team, Lisa, Julie, and Darrell return home with the blessed assurance that they have done what God called them to Cali to do, and that they can trust law enforcement in Cali to continue that work. Tonight Lisa will have one of the most difficult conversations any mother will ever have as she tells Gracie what is happening. Sunday night when I hugged and kissed her goodbye, I knew it was the last time I would see Gracie before this news rocked her world. I admit I was sad at the thought of innocence lost. BUT we cannot let our minds go there!!! We must trust, with child-like faith, that God has prepared Gracie’s heart for this news. We must trust that Jesus, who loves Gracie more than we can even imagine, will scoop her into his arms and bless her.
Will you pray with me today for safe travels for our team, that Jesus would give Lisa the right words to say, and for Gracie’s heart?
“Abba Father, this is a rough day for Lisa and Gracie. By your grace, they will be healed in time. We thank you that Gracie knows and trusts you. Give Lisa the words to say. Give them a double portion of your Spirit. Make your presence known in the darkness of the night when she is scared and sad. Guard her mind and body from the evil one who tries to make the most of every opportunity to derail the saints. Cover their home with protection and fill them with your grace. We pray for safe travels today for our team. We thank you for the way you have orchestrated circumstances over the past 2 years to prepare Lisa and Gracie for this tragedy. We ask that we continue to see your hand in this situation. We ask this in Jesus name, amen.”
Mark 9:14b -16
“’Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.”
I chose this verse today to remind us of two things. First, Jesus uses a child as an illustration of how we are to approach “heavenly” (or eternal) things—as little children—accepting and trusting. That is the part of the illustration for us. We are to have child-LIKE faith—simple, trusting, accepting—NOT child-ISH faith which is demanding, selfish and self-centered. See the difference?
The second part of the illustration demonstrates Jesus’ care and love for children. Children were (and are) drawn to Jesus. They run to him. (so should we!) The text tells us he took them in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. The God and Creator of the Universe, the Word who became flesh, the King of Kings and Commander of the Angel Armies stoops down and scoops children up into his arms.
Today our Cali team, Lisa, Julie, and Darrell return home with the blessed assurance that they have done what God called them to Cali to do, and that they can trust law enforcement in Cali to continue that work. Tonight Lisa will have one of the most difficult conversations any mother will ever have as she tells Gracie what is happening. Sunday night when I hugged and kissed her goodbye, I knew it was the last time I would see Gracie before this news rocked her world. I admit I was sad at the thought of innocence lost. BUT we cannot let our minds go there!!! We must trust, with child-like faith, that God has prepared Gracie’s heart for this news. We must trust that Jesus, who loves Gracie more than we can even imagine, will scoop her into his arms and bless her.
Will you pray with me today for safe travels for our team, that Jesus would give Lisa the right words to say, and for Gracie’s heart?
“Abba Father, this is a rough day for Lisa and Gracie. By your grace, they will be healed in time. We thank you that Gracie knows and trusts you. Give Lisa the words to say. Give them a double portion of your Spirit. Make your presence known in the darkness of the night when she is scared and sad. Guard her mind and body from the evil one who tries to make the most of every opportunity to derail the saints. Cover their home with protection and fill them with your grace. We pray for safe travels today for our team. We thank you for the way you have orchestrated circumstances over the past 2 years to prepare Lisa and Gracie for this tragedy. We ask that we continue to see your hand in this situation. We ask this in Jesus name, amen.”
Prayer/Devotional for Mike 4/21 By Gloria Barotta (Aunt Glo)
Prayer Turns Worry Into Peace
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Our Central Idea today—Prayer Turns Worry Into Peace—is not original. In my CBS Teaching Director days, my shepherd and national trainer, Kathy Seibert, used this text for the “mock” lecture she gave during our lecture preparation training. I put “mock” in quotes, because any time we study God’s word, it’s anything BUT mock! Prayer Turns Worry Into Hope was the central idea of her “mock” lecture, and, like a good central idea, it stuck! The phrase came to me yesterday at Lily’s birthday party. I asked Lana what she did yesterday, and she said, “Worried.”
We all are prone to worry. But can I humbly suggest that we take to heart what our passage today instructs? It tells us NOT to be anxious, but instead to submit/present our request to God with thanksgiving. How can we be thankful for anything right now? Because the King of the Universe cares about us and our needs. Do you realize how huge that is? It is bigger than having the back line number to George W. at the White House. Worry saps our strength and our energy. Prayer strengthens us so we can think clearly. We cannot hear God’s leading with all that “what if” going on in our heads!
And that’s the promise associated with praying instead of worrying. Do you see it? The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. I think we can all admit that when we worry our mind runs away from us. We become paralyzed by our thoughts. We cease to think clearly, we become distraught and our thoughts become captive to “what might have happened” instead of what “is.” Paul tells us that when we pray, God gives us peace. And that peace transcends all understanding and “protects” our hearts and minds from running away with worry! We don’t need to know everything to have peace, all we need to do is submit our petitions to Jesus.
Please join me in prayer. “Father, we thank you that we can come to you with prayers and petitions through your Son, Jesus. We ask that you calm our minds and hearts and give us this peace you promise. Direct the path of our Cali team as they prepare for the last full day on the ground. Give them peace and guidance to be productive. Clear their minds so they can focus on what is in front of them. Open their eyes to see clearly. Push the worry out of all of our mind and replace it with peace. Amen”
Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Our Central Idea today—Prayer Turns Worry Into Peace—is not original. In my CBS Teaching Director days, my shepherd and national trainer, Kathy Seibert, used this text for the “mock” lecture she gave during our lecture preparation training. I put “mock” in quotes, because any time we study God’s word, it’s anything BUT mock! Prayer Turns Worry Into Hope was the central idea of her “mock” lecture, and, like a good central idea, it stuck! The phrase came to me yesterday at Lily’s birthday party. I asked Lana what she did yesterday, and she said, “Worried.”
We all are prone to worry. But can I humbly suggest that we take to heart what our passage today instructs? It tells us NOT to be anxious, but instead to submit/present our request to God with thanksgiving. How can we be thankful for anything right now? Because the King of the Universe cares about us and our needs. Do you realize how huge that is? It is bigger than having the back line number to George W. at the White House. Worry saps our strength and our energy. Prayer strengthens us so we can think clearly. We cannot hear God’s leading with all that “what if” going on in our heads!
And that’s the promise associated with praying instead of worrying. Do you see it? The peace of God will guard our hearts and minds. I think we can all admit that when we worry our mind runs away from us. We become paralyzed by our thoughts. We cease to think clearly, we become distraught and our thoughts become captive to “what might have happened” instead of what “is.” Paul tells us that when we pray, God gives us peace. And that peace transcends all understanding and “protects” our hearts and minds from running away with worry! We don’t need to know everything to have peace, all we need to do is submit our petitions to Jesus.
Please join me in prayer. “Father, we thank you that we can come to you with prayers and petitions through your Son, Jesus. We ask that you calm our minds and hearts and give us this peace you promise. Direct the path of our Cali team as they prepare for the last full day on the ground. Give them peace and guidance to be productive. Clear their minds so they can focus on what is in front of them. Open their eyes to see clearly. Push the worry out of all of our mind and replace it with peace. Amen”
Sunday, April 20, 2008
04-20 Devotional for Mike By Gloria Barotta (Aunt Glo)
The Omnipresence of God
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Watching Lisa on the Bakersfield news the other night flooded me with a wave of conflicting emotions. One was hope. Mike is finally on the "radar" with the folks in Cali. Ordinary people will now join law enforcement in the search and rescue, hopefully multiplying our chances of finding Mike soon and rescuing him.
But the ONE who can ultimately rescue Mike forever and for eternity is already there. When I close my eyes to pray, I picture Jesus sitting in the passenger seat or next to Mike with His right hand “holding him fast,” protecting him. I picture Mike and Jesus engaged in some good conversation. Jesus giving Mike rest as he waits for us to find him. What a comfort to know that the ONE who created Mike, who formed him in his mother's womb, who numbered the hairs on his head, is there with him. Mike is missing, but not alone!
And that same God is with our team on the ground in Cali as they drive the route over and over, hoping to find Mike or someone who saw him. And that same God is with all of us at home. He went to the Art Museum with Lily, Gracie, Lauren and I, He went swimming with us. He watched Alvin and the Chipmunks with us.
Sometimes we gloss over the truth that Jesus is always with us (MT. 28:20). "Yeah, yeah, I know, Jesus lives in my heart, yada yada. . .what's your point?" That IS the point. The God of the Universe, The ONE. The Great I AM who created every canyon and crevice on the highways in Cali is with each of us, guiding and protecting us.
Will you pray with me today that God makes His presence known to everyone in this situation? And that Jesus will reveal Himself to Mike today?
“Lord Jesus, we praise and thank you for being with us and in us. And we take comfort in the fact that wherever we go, YOU are there! Go with the team on the ground. Supernaturally guide them. Show them where to stop and get out. Help clear their minds so they can hear YOU. Protect them as they drive those dangerous roads. Go with the search parties, go with all who might volunteer to help. Give them eyes to see and ears to hear. Comfort Lisa. Protect Gracie’s heart. Amen”
Gloria Barotta
Psalm 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Watching Lisa on the Bakersfield news the other night flooded me with a wave of conflicting emotions. One was hope. Mike is finally on the "radar" with the folks in Cali. Ordinary people will now join law enforcement in the search and rescue, hopefully multiplying our chances of finding Mike soon and rescuing him.
But the ONE who can ultimately rescue Mike forever and for eternity is already there. When I close my eyes to pray, I picture Jesus sitting in the passenger seat or next to Mike with His right hand “holding him fast,” protecting him. I picture Mike and Jesus engaged in some good conversation. Jesus giving Mike rest as he waits for us to find him. What a comfort to know that the ONE who created Mike, who formed him in his mother's womb, who numbered the hairs on his head, is there with him. Mike is missing, but not alone!
And that same God is with our team on the ground in Cali as they drive the route over and over, hoping to find Mike or someone who saw him. And that same God is with all of us at home. He went to the Art Museum with Lily, Gracie, Lauren and I, He went swimming with us. He watched Alvin and the Chipmunks with us.
Sometimes we gloss over the truth that Jesus is always with us (MT. 28:20). "Yeah, yeah, I know, Jesus lives in my heart, yada yada. . .what's your point?" That IS the point. The God of the Universe, The ONE. The Great I AM who created every canyon and crevice on the highways in Cali is with each of us, guiding and protecting us.
Will you pray with me today that God makes His presence known to everyone in this situation? And that Jesus will reveal Himself to Mike today?
“Lord Jesus, we praise and thank you for being with us and in us. And we take comfort in the fact that wherever we go, YOU are there! Go with the team on the ground. Supernaturally guide them. Show them where to stop and get out. Help clear their minds so they can hear YOU. Protect them as they drive those dangerous roads. Go with the search parties, go with all who might volunteer to help. Give them eyes to see and ears to hear. Comfort Lisa. Protect Gracie’s heart. Amen”
Gloria Barotta
4-19 Prayer/Devotional for Mike By Gloria Barotta (Aunt Glo)
Zechariah 6:1-8 (The Message)
Once again I looked up—another strange sight! Four chariots charging out from between two mountains. The mountains were bronze. The first chariot was drawn by red horses, the second chariot by black horses, the third chariot by white horses, and the fourth chariot by dappled horses. All the horses were powerful.
I asked the Messenger-Angel, "Sir, what's the meaning here?"
The angel answered, "These are the four winds of heaven, which originate with the Master of the whole earth. The black horses are headed north with the white ones right after them. The dappled horses are headed south." The powerful horses galloped out, bursting with energy, eager to patrol through the earth. The Messenger-Angel commanded: "On your way! Survey the earth!" and they were off in every direction.
Then he called to me and said, "Look at them go! The ones going north are conveying a sense of my Spirit, serene and secure. No more trouble from that direction."
Ok, you ask, what does an old testament vision have to do with finding Mike?
A lot. In our search for Mike, we have "Command Central" (also known as the Pesano Home). From there, Steph sends out news releases, keeps in touch with law enforcement, the media, manages the blog (Please visit our blog for updates http://helpfindmike.blogspot.com/), and provides a place for us to congregate.
Out in Cali, the sherriff's department sends out planes and helicopters to search the earth.
In our passage, the Lord of Hosts (a long forgotten name for God, best translated into contemporary language as "God of the Angel Armies") sends out chariots and angels on horseback to patrol the four corners of the earth. This same God sits in heaven today on His throne commanding this same Angel Army to patrol the earth.
Will you join me in prayer today that the God of the Angel Armies will command His angels to join this search?
"Lord of Hosts, You command the angels. You have sovereign control of all things. We ask that you send angels to patrol northern California. We ask that guide those searching. That your give them eyes to see clues. We ask that you mobilize believers in Bakersfield who saw the newscast to pray, to join in footsearches, car searches, and we ask that you guide their steps. As "Commander in Chief," please guide all of our rescue efforts so we don't waste time or energy. We pray in the name of Jesus, amen"
Once again I looked up—another strange sight! Four chariots charging out from between two mountains. The mountains were bronze. The first chariot was drawn by red horses, the second chariot by black horses, the third chariot by white horses, and the fourth chariot by dappled horses. All the horses were powerful.
I asked the Messenger-Angel, "Sir, what's the meaning here?"
The angel answered, "These are the four winds of heaven, which originate with the Master of the whole earth. The black horses are headed north with the white ones right after them. The dappled horses are headed south." The powerful horses galloped out, bursting with energy, eager to patrol through the earth. The Messenger-Angel commanded: "On your way! Survey the earth!" and they were off in every direction.
Then he called to me and said, "Look at them go! The ones going north are conveying a sense of my Spirit, serene and secure. No more trouble from that direction."
Ok, you ask, what does an old testament vision have to do with finding Mike?
A lot. In our search for Mike, we have "Command Central" (also known as the Pesano Home). From there, Steph sends out news releases, keeps in touch with law enforcement, the media, manages the blog (Please visit our blog for updates http://helpfindmike.blogspot.com/), and provides a place for us to congregate.
Out in Cali, the sherriff's department sends out planes and helicopters to search the earth.
In our passage, the Lord of Hosts (a long forgotten name for God, best translated into contemporary language as "God of the Angel Armies") sends out chariots and angels on horseback to patrol the four corners of the earth. This same God sits in heaven today on His throne commanding this same Angel Army to patrol the earth.
Will you join me in prayer today that the God of the Angel Armies will command His angels to join this search?
"Lord of Hosts, You command the angels. You have sovereign control of all things. We ask that you send angels to patrol northern California. We ask that guide those searching. That your give them eyes to see clues. We ask that you mobilize believers in Bakersfield who saw the newscast to pray, to join in footsearches, car searches, and we ask that you guide their steps. As "Commander in Chief," please guide all of our rescue efforts so we don't waste time or energy. We pray in the name of Jesus, amen"
4-18 Prayer for Mike By Gloria Barotta (Aunt Glo)
As I thought about what I could "DO" during this time of searching, the only thing I could think of was to provide as much encouragement to those "on the ground" in Cali and those of us at home. When I look for encouragement, I go to scripture. So every day, I'll send a verse and a bit of commentary and a prayer. I'll keep it short and scanable for us blackberry users.
The omnipresence of God
The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Pv 15:3
As search helicopters and airplanes took off yesterday afternoon to search for Mike, I was reminded that our God sees all things. He misses nothing. Not only that, He knows all things. And even more comforting, He is in all places. While each of us can only be in one place at a time, God is present everywhere, seeing all, knowing all. And most importantly, BEING in all places. That means God is with Mike. And God is with Lisa and the team in Cali. And God is with those all over the country who are working to bring Mike home.
Nothing escapes God's gaze.
Lord, you see all things. You are all knowing, all powerful. Please show us where Mike is. Please lead those searching for Mike, through the power of your spirit, to where he is. Give them eyes to see, wisdom, and discernment. Jesus watch over Mike. Keep our ground team safe. Amen
The omnipresence of God
The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Pv 15:3
As search helicopters and airplanes took off yesterday afternoon to search for Mike, I was reminded that our God sees all things. He misses nothing. Not only that, He knows all things. And even more comforting, He is in all places. While each of us can only be in one place at a time, God is present everywhere, seeing all, knowing all. And most importantly, BEING in all places. That means God is with Mike. And God is with Lisa and the team in Cali. And God is with those all over the country who are working to bring Mike home.
Nothing escapes God's gaze.
Lord, you see all things. You are all knowing, all powerful. Please show us where Mike is. Please lead those searching for Mike, through the power of your spirit, to where he is. Give them eyes to see, wisdom, and discernment. Jesus watch over Mike. Keep our ground team safe. Amen
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