Good news: Prayer is for the Helpless

February 17, 2010

Laura and her husband,Arnaldo came back to House of Prayer Experience with a story to tell.

The couple seem to be positively glowing as Arnaldo shared news upon his return from visiting his mother out of country. The group had prayed for her and over a symbolic prayer quilt for her last week. His mom had held on to it as a reminder of the prayers said on her behalf. Her surgical procedure went better than expected. It also offered an opened door for her son to share with her principles of health that he himself had recently benefitted from during the Coronary Health Improvement Project seminars at Forest Lake Church.

The celebration of good news of healing was a source of hope, but there were some sad news about illnesses, and losses of every kind among the online and the local community. Yet, the people of H.o.P.E were able to celebrate in the fact that God’s promises for strength were true. Apart from Him, we cannot do anything (See John 13:5), and we decided to depend on His Word more than ever before in this new year.

We spoke of an important reality: “Prayer is for the helpless”.

O. Hallesby’s classic book, “Prayer” offered helpful and deep spiritual insights on how prayer works best when we recognize our powerlessness and make room for God to work His will in us.

David was there at prayer meeting, and his testimony reminded us of what it means to be humbled before the Lord before truly reaching out to HIm. (click on “testimony” for Pastors Derek’s or Dany’s sermon and to hear more of David’s story of faith.)

Barbara, a young professional adult, admitted her helplessness before God and asked for people’s prayer that night as she faced a humanly impossible and potentially life-threatehning situation. Clelia with an opened Bible on hand spoke the words of Psalm 91 while applying the passage to the young woman life.

See you next Wednesday as we delve into the experience of faith and doubt in one’s prayer life.

Praying for our joy…and hope! for the journey:)

Pastor Sabine

Arnaldo (right) with his mother and twin brother the day after surgery. On her lap, a prayer quilt. She’s not a member of her son’s church, but then again…she is because God’s House of Prayer is for ALL people. Please keep this family in your prayers as you look on this picture!

Answered Prayer…20 years later.

February 10, 2010

Stacy has prayed for her father,Vincent for twenty years.

Her tears spoke volume when they flowed from her eyes, and rare were the dry eyes that night as people watched and listened to their story. Vincent looked on, beaming from sharing his baptism experience of this last year. His joy mirrored that of his wife,Pat a couple of months ago!

A previous post from this blog recounts a little of her testimony in regards to prevailing prayers. She couldn’t be there at House of Prayer Experience since she was on teaching assignment in Jamaica.

During the week, she had sent a note to Pastors Derek and Sabine regarding her husband’s desire for special prayer and anointing as he ventures into setting up a health store business that would serve to glorify God and educate people regarding health principles.

Ruthie Jacobsen, the Prayer Coordinator for the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church along with her pastor husband, Don Jacobson (pictured above with Stacy, her dad and Pastor Derek) joined in praying a prayer of blessing for Vincent and his young adult daughter.

What do we learn from their story?

Never give up praying for someone you love-even if it means surrendering them safely into God’s heart. Trust God’s love for them and for you.

See you at H.o.P.E next week! 🙂
Sabine Vatel