Prayer Needed

Would you say a prayer for my son, Ryan. He's in a very dark place right now.The battle for his soul is growing stronger.
Thank you for your prayers.

Are you hungry...yet?

Luke 15:16-17 (NLT)
The young man became so
hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one
gave him anything. 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to
himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I
am dying of hunger!

A couple of weeks ago my son and I met for coffee. I always have the hope that one day, when we visit one another I will hear him say “Mom, I’m sick of this life, I’m ready to let Jesus take over.” But as I sat across from him with the scent of fresh brewed coffee in the air, our conversation was the same…life is unfair.

By the time I left I was heartbroken, once again. I must admit since my last post about this situation, my whining seem to be getting louder. My heart is always questioning God’s timing with…“How much longer before he will see his need for You?” After a few days, God lead me to read about the prodigal son, now I’ve read this many times before but this time I saw the word *senses*. Then this morning He showed me six other words *but no one gave him anything.*
I thought,could there have been people watching as this young man was eyeing the food that was given to the pigs. They must have known he was hungry,yet no one gave him anything. It was only then he remembered...home.

Now as far as being the mom who is always bailing her son out, that I’m not but I use to be. Still its very hard when you see your child struggle, no matter what the age, you just want to do whatever you can to make the pain go away. There are times I feel so guilty and unloving when I hear of his troubles and he knows I can help. But God has showed me, that right now I need to give him nothing that will please the flesh in order for him to come to his senses.

Sounds cruel, doesn’t it?
I've come to the understanding that Ryan needs to be like the prodigal son,who must become so full of himself that in time he will feel completely empty. Until then, Ryan’s senses, which were made to hear, see, taste and touch God’s presence, will be dead. I know its not going to be easy, but nothing is when God has asked you to step out of the way and let Him take over. I believe when the prodigal son left his father's home,the father's heart was broken and there was nothing the father could do but pray.

My heart is broken and I will continue to pray for my son. If this is something your dealing with, I would love to join with you in pray every week for your prodigal child (ren). There is nothing more powerful then a praying parent to bring down the strongholds of the enemy!

Father God,
I pray that You will continue to
protect Ryan until the day he surrenders to You.
May his ears listen for the
whisper of Your voice calling his name.
May his eyes get a glimpse of Your
glory.
May his mouth taste Your sweet promises of a life, that he once tasted
as a child.
May he reach out and touch the tip of You garment for his complete
healing.
And help me to patiently wait for the day of his homecoming.
Amen!

Remember...

Two weeks ago, God whispered these words to me “Pray with your heart not just your lips.” I must admit, my prayers for my son have been prayers of doubt. As I praying with my lips, my heart has been holding on to only what my eyes can see.

God is so good! As I was reading this week in (Mark 8:18-19) I came to this verse... You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear? Don’t you remember anything at all? When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?” “Twelve,” they said.

Jesus was speaking to his disciples, who walked beside Him. Listened to His voice daily and saw miracle after miracle, yet they had trouble seeing, hearing and remembering what Christ had done during times of need and suffering.

Just like the disciples, we too, seem to forget that God can take care of our needs and even provide us with extra. We even at times forget that day He made the impossible, possible.

I must admit when the impossible stands before me; I can not see, for the cloud of darkness continues to get heavier. When the voice on the other end of the telephone is crying out “Mom, how much more garbage is going to be piled on me?” and “Why is God not helping me?” I have the answer but he’s not listening. As my son continues on, my ears become drawn to the loud sounds of laughter as words of doubt are being spoken to me and I, too, stop listening to the voice of God.

This verse gives me hope with that same question that was set before the disciples...“Don’t you remember anything at all?” I must remember. We must remember. Remembering the day that God called out our names and the chains of bondage were broken. We must remember He was the one who put up the road blocks so that our causal drive to OUR destination of destruction was interrupted.

I know that I’m not alone in this journey; many of you have shared your own heartaches for the return of child who has wandered away from home. For me, time seems to be standing still just the way I believe it stood still for my mother. Yet, the day came when I gave her the good news... “Mom, Jesus has found me, I’m home.

So, now when I pray it’s a prayer of seeing the things that are to come and hearing the voices of many angels rejoicing the day my son (our children) says …. “Mom, Jesus has found me, I’m home.

Oh, let us not forget the extra that comes along with the touch from Jesus.

Don't Cry!

Luke 7: 11-15

Soon afterward Jesus went with his disciples to the village of Nain, and a large crowd followed him. A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said. Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

In my last post, I asked for pray for my son, Ryan. Things have become a little less dark as I have been holding on to God’s promises through His Word and your prayers…Thank you.

My son’s life wasn’t surrounded by a white picket fence with a dad and mom who were happily married and God being in the center of their lives. We divorce when he was 4 years old and I remarried 2 months after my divorce was final, what a shock that must have been for a little boy. I won’t share all the details at this time, but I will say he’s had stuff piled on him from day one by my choices, his dad’s choices and his own choices.

Yesterday as I was spending time with God, he reminded me of Luke 7 and the mother from Nain, who was weeping the death of her son. After reading this section of scripture my eyes were drawn to these words…When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said.
Don’t cry? How could He make such a statement? Here was a mother who was looking at death, overcome by hopelessness. Then I came to this understanding,Jesus knew what was about to happen…a miracle was about to take place.

I’m sure we have all heard those same words in our times of hopelessness. We may not have gone through a physical death, like this mother, but the death we might be experiencing could be; the sporadic phone calls or friends who take the place of our presence. Maybe it’s the drugs that have taken over or possibly someone who has offered to fill the emptiness with their so called love. Yet, Jesus is saying “don’t cry.” A miracle is about to take place.

As my visit with Ryan ended that evening, he kissed me on the cheek, stepped out of the car and closed the door behind him. It was then I heard these words from the enemy “he’s mine.” I could see the darkness closing in on him, ready at any moment to devour him. I could see the bondage that Satan has wrapped around him, the spiritual death that is slowly claiming his soul.

After dropping him off, I drove to our Wednesday night church service and as I stood in front of God praising and desperately pleading words of mercy for Ryan, I knew my tears were not hidden from Him and I heard “don’t cry.”

In Luke 7, there are two other important things that took place once Jesus arrived. First,he walked over to the coffin, where death had claimed its victim and he touched it. Second, “Young man" he said. "I tell you, get up.” After reading these words my heart became overwhelmed with the presence of God. I realize now, all that needs to take place for Ryan’s spiritual death to be awakened is the touch of Jesus and the sound of His commanding voice speaking these words “I tell you, get up” and the miracle will take place.

Prodigal Son

My son, Ryan, came over last night for a visit and had supper with us.

During our conversation, he started to talked about his struggles and how life has been unfair. As I sat there listening, I saw the pain in his eyes and the anger that's invaded his heart.

He was raised knowing God and received Christ into his life at the age of 19 but has since, chosen to live his way. He is broken. I fear his heart is slowly turning to stone.

My son needs...God. I know we all have busy lives but if God places his name on your heart...would you send up a prayer?