Awareness...for Prayer

We began this month focusing on Awareness...awareness of Down syndrome...awareness of always trying to accept and include others because we are all so much more alike than different.  

We are still focused on this, but with events that have transpired over the last week, we are being guided to focus on an even bigger picture of awareness...awareness of not taking simple things for granted...awareness of times when putting others before ourselves is more important...awareness of what priorities are really most important...awareness of the incredible blessing of family and friends...awareness of the fragility of life...awareness that the power of prayer is truly amazing and that it (prayer), along with God’s profound love for us, is what gets us through the most difficult of times.

It’s been a week.  A tough one.  

This past Saturday night was supposed to be a fun night for many anticipating the Sugarland concert at the Indiana State Fair.  It had been a beautiful day in Indianapolis, until about 8:45 pm, when a nasty storm decided to make its way towards the city.  This storm reared its ugly head on the fairgrounds, providing a wind so powerful that it caused the main concert stage to completely collapse.  While we didn’t have personal family attending this concert, we had various friends in attendance and know numerous others whose family/friends were also there for the concert.

Deadly Collapse at State Fair (Yahoo article)

Tragedy at the fairgrounds (article from local news station)

Social media such as Facebook and Twitter allow horrific events such as this one to unfold in a way that is surreal.  We knew the instant the stage collapsed.  We saw first-hand photographs posted as the devastation unfolded.  

We realized just how many people we know were directly affected by this, as post after post confirmed the status of people - and their mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, friends, etc. - on our Friends list. We quickly learned of the heroic acts of so many who put their own safety at risk to help others.

  
Prayer is needed. 

We have a dear friend, Ann, who has taught us an unbelievable amount about prayer and about faith.  Ann is a member of our Bible Study group and is a life-long best friend of Julie’s (Julie’s Mom and Ann's Mom are also life-long close friends).  We can’t tell you how much we’ve learned from Ann in terms of being grounded in faith and leaning on God in both good times and difficult times.  She spends countless hours holding others in prayer. Now, it’s our turn to do this for her.

Ann's little girl is sick.  Very sick.  Four year old Sophie is in Riley Hospital for Children with a condition called HUS, which is a complication that can (but not often) occur from contracting E Coli.

Sophie was admitted to Riley last Tuesday and has since continued to take a couple turns for the worse...including kidney failure (she is now on 24-hour dialysis) and now pancreatitis.  While there have been small improvements on and off over the last week, the majority of news about her health has been the scary, devastating kind of news you *never* want to hear about your child...or any child for that matter. They are walking on a tightrope, trying to get to the other side of this illness with her.  

Prayer is needed.

If you could storm Heaven with some prayers for little Sophie, her family, and all of the doctors and nurses working diligently to help her, we'd so appreciate it!  If you are able to add Sophie to a prayer line or a group's prayer requests, that would be fantastic. 

The power of prayer is AMAZING...it is what is getting Sophie and her family and all of those affected by the stage collapse through unbearable times.  

As we continue with August Awareness, we are more convinced than ever that awareness is key to creating a world of acceptance, inclusion and love.  We have to be aware of the needs of those around us.   We need to be aware of events in our communities, countries and world. These things affect us...they teach us...they hurt us...they heal us...they inspire us...they scare us...they excite us...they move us.  

We hope and pray that by sharing (making you aware of) these two things that are going on in our little place on this Earth, you will be moved to prayer.  It’s easy to feel helpless in situations of tragedy.  We want to be able to just fix it and make things better...to turn back the clock so to speak. In times like these, we need to draw closer to the One who is holding His hand out to us. We need to take His hand and come to Him in prayer. There are times when getting down on your knees and lifting up those in need is the most significant thing you can do. There is power in that!

We have included a prayer that is being used right now for Sophie by her parents, family and friends. If we are all praying the same words over her, He will know the desires of our hearts. Thank you, in advance, for bringing our little place on Earth into your hearts and lifting us up to the One who can help!
 

Lord,
Because You have instructed us in Your Word that we are to pray for one another so that we many be healed, I pray for healing and wholeness for Sophie. I pray that sickness and infirmity will have no place or power in her life. I pray for protection against any disease coming into her body. Your Word says, “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalm 107:20). Wherever there is disease, illness, or infirmity in her body, I pray that You, Lord, would touch her with Your healing power and restore her to total health. Deliver her from any destruction or injury that could come upon her. Specifically I ask You to heal her kidneys and her pancreas. Restore them to complete health and function. Cleanse Sophie's body of all harmful toxins.  Deliver Sophie through this ordeal with complete health. If we are to see a doctor, I pray that You, Lord, would show us who that should be. Give that doctor wisdom and full knowledge of the best way to proceed. Thank You, Lord, that You suffered and died for us so that we might be healed. I lay claim to that heritage of healing which You have promised in Your Word and provided for those who believe. I look to You for a life of health, healing, and wholeness for Sophie.  

Prayer taken from The Power of a Praying Parent  by Stormie Omartian 

God bless Sophie, her parents, her brothers, her family and all the doctors and nurses caring for her.

God bless the victims of the tragedy at the State Fair and all of their families, friends, doctors and nurses.   

We are praying for you...