Difficulties in Prayer? Pray…anyhow!


Sharing life and prayers at House of Prayer Experience

March 3, 2010

Maria is a grandmother who wants to celebrate her birthday at House of Prayer! What could be better than doing so here? She has many things for which she is so grateful: she waves a picture of herself from a couple of years ago when she was sixty pound overweight, unhappy and hooked on marijuana. She says she was able to shed the weight and the drugs because of Jesus.

She is excited about her newfound Faith and this is why she steps forward this evening to tell the whole world that choosing God has changed her life. Her elementary school aged grandchildren hold on to her as she shares how much the prayer meeting means to her. She exhorts the growing H.o.P.E congregation to hold on to the faith and God’s love-not matter what.

Leon knows about the difficulties of life, too. He is still looking for work and his living situation is uncertain, but he celebrates another milestone in his sobriety and holds on to his faith in God and remains hopeful.

Hope is what caused people to get up and write the names of their loved-ones on a “prayer table”, and take hold of the promise of Hebrews:

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (AKJV)

People such as Wilson and Clelia as well as another married couple, Maria and Dave have come forward on behalf of individuals who are facing hardship and health crisis. They have committed their families to praying and blessing others through a word of encouragement and a symbolic prayer quilt.

The founder and director of the Prayer and Squares, JoAnn, is facing a challenge of her own as her husband Ken recovers from surgery. Prayers ascend on their behalf in the light of Jeremiah 17:14’s words:

Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed;
Save me and I will be saved,
For You are my praise (NASB)

In the midst of unspeakable pain, there is supernatural peace available and possible. Here are some highlights of the evening. We celebrate the return of Dick Davis with his wife June. The couple had been absent due to June’s recovery from a surgery. Dick is back with his camera, busily capturing memories for everyone…

Maria and Dave will bring a prayer quilt to their friend Rhoda. Rhoda was watching the prayer meeting online and was able to witness people who despite not knowing her personally came forward to pray for her because they themselves had personal experiences with cancer.

The prayers didn’t stop after the webstreaming (prayer meeting can be watched online once per month) ended. A group of friends, along with Pastors Derek Morris and Sabine Vatel gathered around Rodson who will be traveling out of town for a medical procedure. People have committed to continue praying for him until he returns home.

Rodson is “covered” by the prayers of H.o.P.E. He will take his prayer quilt with him on his trip. 🙂

Praying with the Trinity (40days of Prayer, Week II)

December 9, 2009

We reviewed this past week how we may pray to the Father, through the Son and by the Holy Spirit: The involvement of the trinity in transforming us into His arms and feet… is an amazing thing to ponder. Even more so, is the idea that we are teamed up with such Power to get God’s work done on earth through prayer!

Those prayers of compassion were symbolized by the blankets for the homeless that covered the stage and served as a backdrop to the prayer meeting tonight. We are part of giving out the Quilting Ministry’s prayer quilts to church members and guests facing crisis. We may not be able to blanket the whole city, but we may try through our prayers and acts of kindness. So happen that this weekend will be one of the coldest in town. Men, women and children without a home will have a chance to get warm thanks to the people of H.o.P.E’s generosity.

Linda came forward for anointing as she voiced her dependence on God to restore her weakened vision following an illness that affected her nerve’s health. This young woman inspired a young man who will join H.o.P.E next week with the wish to be anointed and set free from emotional and spiritual brokenness.

In fact, if you are in town, please come support him. You never know who might need your prayers and encouragement!

Others like Joe came tonight on behalf of his brother Paul who is suffering from metastatic lung cancer. He said that his own faith in God was strong, even though he might not make it on time in his travel up North to see Paul alive. His only prayer was for God’s will to be done and for his sibling to know God cares and that the people of H.o.P.E care. Young adults and then people of all ages rose to their feet to surround this first-time guest.

H.o.P.E is a house of prayer for All people. God is at work, and we have the privilege to join Him when we pray for one another. Wow.

-Pastor Sabine

Thank You, House Of Prayer people:)

more blankets
(the picture merely represents House of Prayer Experience’s Blanket Drive. A larger pile of clean and warm blankets covered the platform and were delivered to the homeless shelter the next day thanks to Ransom Smith and other willing volunteers)