Prayer Requests
PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18th:
Karla Sessing is asking prayer for her brother, BJ, in the loss today of his stepdaughter, Chelsea, who was 28. Chelsea was on the liver transplant list and became very weak. At the ER, they discovered she was bleeding internally but could not stabilize her BP to do surgery. Please pray for BJ, wife Melissa who is Chelsea's mother, and all the family. Karla and John hope to drive to Florida for the funeral, holiday schedules permitting. Pray for safe travel for them. This comes just a couple months after the death of Karla's father. Pray for God's comfort for all the family during the Christmas season.
Karla Sessing is asking prayer for her brother, BJ, in the loss today of his stepdaughter, Chelsea, who was 28. Chelsea was on the liver transplant list and became very weak. At the ER, they discovered she was bleeding internally but could not stabilize her BP to do surgery. Please pray for BJ, wife Melissa who is Chelsea's mother, and all the family. Karla and John hope to drive to Florida for the funeral, holiday schedules permitting. Pray for safe travel for them. This comes just a couple months after the death of Karla's father. Pray for God's comfort for all the family during the Christmas season.
Sharon Maxwell needs our prayers over the next few days - please read the following Sharon wrote:
Dear Family and Friends, my Prayer Warriors,
Dear Family and Friends, my Prayer Warriors,
God is and has been so faithful during this C-Journey (cancer-surgery-chemo)! Many, many of you have faithfully and believingly prayed for me these past 6 months … and Steve and I have absolutely felt your prayers, and the strength and energy and encouragement from God through you!
I haven’t posted very often, or even recently, because chemo every Friday has just been a part of our lives since August 2, 2019. God has crossed our life-paths with other C-journeyers whom have been seated near me in the infusion lab, also receiving chemo. Every week we have had the privilege and opportunity to share our lives of faith in Jesus Christ with these special individuals, many of whom have become dear friends, even some we know to be Christ-followers that God has since called Home to Heaven with Him (yes, that’s emotionally hard). Our loving Heavenly Father has also brought into our lives several strong Believers in Jesus Christ to encourage us, and we are so thankful to Him for such a gift!
Steve and I again come to you, asking for prayer specifically tomorrow when I have a PETscan. We believe it will show that all cancer is gone and there is no evidence of disease (NED). God clearly spoke to me in my daily quiet time on July 2, 2019, saying that “this (ovarian cancer) is not unto death.” God only speaks truth, and we believe and live in His truth! So, whether all cancer is gone or not, God is still faithfully healing me in His way and His time. I have NO doubt.
Then, this Friday, December 20, is to be my last chemo treatment. THANK GOD! This has been a long and exhausting journey. But, YOU, dear family and friends, have regularly and often texted, called, emailed, brought food, mailed cards, and is so many ways encouraged and cared for Steve and me. We cannot begin to thank you enough; please know that our hearts are full-to-overflowing with love and gratitude!
Father-God has brought to my mind, or allowed me to read again in the Bible SO many verses … too many to include all of them here. But just a few I must share:
• “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
• “For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
• “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
• “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you...” Psalm 55:22
• “Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
• “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
• “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (This has been my life verse since I was a young teenager.)
• “And my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
• “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
• “Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!” Psalm 27:14
• “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43:1-2
• “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Psalm 56:3
• “I will praise You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised…”
Psalm 145: 1-3
• “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Psalm 103:1-5
• “For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17
Thank you for your continued prayers and friendship!
(Back to Megan: In addition to these requests, Sharon's husband Steve, lost his uncle this morning. His mother's youngest brother died as a result from complications of a UTI. Sharon and Steve will be traveling to Louisiana around 5:30 or 6:00 am on Saturday for the funeral and returning, hopefully by midnight, in order to be home for church on Sunday.)
Please lift up the Maxwells with all these huge things going on! These do not catch God by surprise. I can't wait to hear the good news concerning Sharon's health. Ready to give God the glory!!
Billie Rosendahl had her gall bladder removed last Friday, December 13th. According to her husband's reports and Billie's comments on Facebook, all went well, and she is home resting according to doctor's orders. Pray for a smooth and complete recovery for Billie.
Continue to lift up Kenny Day, Alice's husband, as his recovery and rehabilitation following his second back surgery will be slow, with uncertainty as to how much progress he may be able to make. We know God has this one too!
PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3rd:
Please lift up Alice Day's husband, Kenny, as he has a second surgery on his back this Saturday, December 7th. He will be at Methodist Hospital in Addison. Kenny has been unable to walk following the first surgery, due to weakness in his left leg. Please pray for Kenny's complete healing, as well as for Alice as she cares for him and juggles her 500 or so kiddos at school.
PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26th:
Please pray for Michelle Mallory, the beautiful young wife of our anniversary sound engineer, David. As you may recall, Michelle has been experiencing serious, severe neurological issues since July. These had eased up a bit, but they took another serious turn with slurred speech, muscle tremors and weakness, and disorientation last night. Michelle was sent home from the hospital after initial tests did not reveal anything new. Her speech has returned to normal function. More tests will be scheduled in the near future, possibly with new doctors on-board. Please pray for God's total healing of Michelle. Pray for trust and peace for her, David, their four children, and extended family. David's mother, Connie, is now a member of the Houston SWOT chapter and plays piano for their group, with Candy Ross on organ. She cares for the children when these episodes occur. We need to continue to daily lift the Mallory family! Thanks for your support of them.
PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16th:
Monika Simmons' mother went to be with the Lord on Wednesday morning. She was living in Oklahoma, so Monika will be dealing with travel there.
Please lift Monika, her sister, and all other family members up in your prayers daily as they walk through this time of grief. We are so glad to know her suffering has ended and she is present with the Lord. We are also so grateful for the assurance we have of being reunited with our loved ones in His presence! Continue to pray for Monika through the days and weeks ahead.
PRAYER REQUESTS FROM SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10th at WEDGWOOD BAPTIST
Melody Freeman - Praise that Travis Ave. BC has a new pastor. One who knows the people and one they already love. Pray that this will encourage healing within the church.
Sharon Maxwell - Let's continue to lift her up in prayer as she is getting a shot almost every week to encourage the white blood cells so that chemo can be administered on Fridays.
Kelli Williams - Her cousin Christy McKibbon was diagnosed for the 2nd time with breast cancer. It has spread to the lymph nodes. She survived for 10 years after the first bout.
Beverly Bain - Stadium Dr. BC needs a pastor. The search committee has presented several candidates, but the church body will not offer a living wage salary. Pray for this situation that God's will be done for His glory.
Carolyn Sears - Please pray for her husband Glenn, who is serving villagers on a medical mission trip in North India.
Maggie Morrison - Praise for her 7 year-old friend Miller who is recovering from brain surgery and doing well. Also, for her sister, Edwina, who is experiencing good health for the first time in a year.
Oleta Jones - Her brother-in-law's sister passed away Sunday morning. Remember the Bob Schultz family.
Alice Day - Her husband, Kenny, is recovering from back surgery, but there is still lots of pain and weakness in the left leg that are much worse than before surgery.
Audrey Williams - CT scan of the abdomen on Tuesday
Debra Snyder - Her brother, Kevin Nobbs, had a massive heart attack with triple bypass surgery on Nov. 5. Pray for complete and swift recovery and healing through rehab.
Cammie Hatcher - Pray for health to return quickly.
Tara Hahn - Her uncle passed away Saturday at the age of 59. Pray for comfort for his mother. He was the youngest of her children. There is also some family discord that needs to be healed. Pray for peace and comfort for his daughter, Amber.
Deena Williams- Pray for healing of severe bronchitis.
Barbara White - Her back is better but still needs improvement. Pray as she continues to care for her mother on weekends. Also, there is an urgent unspoken request for Ben's son and his family.
Billis Rosendahl - Pray for health and stamina. She needs a job closer to home and is also dealing with some gastro-intestinal issues.
As cold and flu season is officially upon us, pray in general for our members and families. Since we will not share a venue in December, pray that Thanksgiving and Christmas are meaningful and blessed times for our families to praise God for his goodness to us all.
PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8th:
Monika Simmons: : Please pray for Monika, her mother, and other family members, as Monika's mother has been in the hospital due to complications from dementia. This weekend she is being released into hospice care. Monika realizes her mother's time here may be nearing the end and has asked us to pray. We will miss Monika on Sunday and definitely want to continue to lift her up at this oh, so difficult time.
PRAYER REQUESTS FROM SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27th at MAYFIELD ROAD BAPTIST:
We have a PRAISE from Linda Langley: She and her daughter enjoyed a good mission trip to New York City. It was very emotionally and physically challenging, but well worth the time. They are thankful for our prayers.
PRAYER NEEDS:
Asako: Please pray that Milena can get an appointment with a rheumatologist soon. She's already been waiting for three weeks. She is in much pain.
Betty Moody: asks prayer for her husband, Allen, who is undergoing cancer treatments . And their granddaughter who is expecting her second baby before Thanksgiving fell and broke her tibula.
Billie Rosendahl: Continue to pray that she will find a job closer to home. Amen!
Brooklyn Brumfield: Physical and mental healing
Patrice: asks prayer for Lori Morrison whose husband, Jim, had a 360 surgery (back and stomach) two weeks ago. He is in pain and she is caring for him.
Maggie Morrison: asks prayer for the city of Greenville in the aftermath of the terrible tragedies there and also asks prayer for her family.
Kelly Bishop: prayer for her brother who is in Stage 4 Cancer all over from lungs. He is not doing well. Pray for wisdom and peace.
Pray for Ed Wills ( Sharon Schmidt's next door neighbor) who has recently started hospice care. He has a great outlook and good spirit in spite of prognosis of 4 weeks left to live. Pray for wife Linda and family as they brace for their pending loss.
Becca and Ian Ives (Friends of Steph Garrett's son, Hunter). Becca is a chief in the Navy. Ian is a Sgt. in the Army. He was hit by an IED in Afghanistan earlier this month. At Walter Reed in very critical condition. Pray for healing, but also for stamina for family and monetary provisions to offset Becca's expenses as she is staying in DC to be with Ian.
Vivian Roberts: Vivian's brother in law Steve's mother "graduated to glory" this past week and after a sudden 3-4 week illness. Please pray for him and her sister Stacy as they go through this difficult time of adjustment.
Pray for Karla Sessing as she grieves the loss of her father.
Connie Randall asks prayer for dear friends in Michigan, Wen and Meiling Chang and their son Ezra. Ezra has been their "surrogate grandson" since he was about 4 years old and he is now 24. His dad, Wen, was recently diagnosed with melanoma lung cancer. It is one of the worst kinds. Without treatment he will perhaps have about six more months left. With treatment, he may have a year. He is presently undergoing a new treatment and so far he still has energy to work. This family needs prayer as they wait on the Lord to sustain each of them.
PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20th:
Karla Sessing - Her father passed away today around noon in Florida. Karla and John had been there since last weekend and flew home day before yesterday. Karla's dad had gone downhill even more over the last couple weeks, and while she was there, they had him placed in hospice care. They had begun to give him morphine for the pain and subsequent difficulty breathing he was experiencing. Karla was able to spend some precious time with him, singing his favorite hymns to him. She got to tell him she loved him and have him reply as well. He went peacefully and quietly, holding her mom's hand, with her brother BJ also present.
Karla Sessing - Her father passed away today around noon in Florida. Karla and John had been there since last weekend and flew home day before yesterday. Karla's dad had gone downhill even more over the last couple weeks, and while she was there, they had him placed in hospice care. They had begun to give him morphine for the pain and subsequent difficulty breathing he was experiencing. Karla was able to spend some precious time with him, singing his favorite hymns to him. She got to tell him she loved him and have him reply as well. He went peacefully and quietly, holding her mom's hand, with her brother BJ also present.
Please pray for Karla and John, her mom, brother, and many other family and friends who grieve the loss of this Godly man. A service will be held in Houston in the near future, with burial in Arkansas. Karla hopes to be with us next Sunday. Feel free to send her your support by email, call, text, or card. I hope we'll be able to share lots of hugs with her next Sunday!
PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16th:
Alice Day - (apologies to Alice that this request did not get saved properly to the website before now - still learning the logistics. But we certainly can pray forward for the need at this point!) Alice's husband Dave had major back surgery this morning for several issues. This involved surgical entry from the front and back. The surgery went well, with no surprises. Kenny was expected to be up walking this afternoon. Pray specifically for return of function in his legs, along with asking for general health and strength of his back.
Alice Day - (apologies to Alice that this request did not get saved properly to the website before now - still learning the logistics. But we certainly can pray forward for the need at this point!) Alice's husband Dave had major back surgery this morning for several issues. This involved surgical entry from the front and back. The surgery went well, with no surprises. Kenny was expected to be up walking this afternoon. Pray specifically for return of function in his legs, along with asking for general health and strength of his back.
PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13th:
Kelly Bishop - her brother has just been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. He will be having a biopsy to determine what kind of cancer it is and what the treatment will be. Please be in prayer for him and all the family.
Karla Sessing - her father is not doing well - not eating or drinking much at all. Her mother and brother are weary. Karla and John have returned to Pensacola to help make decisions about long term or hospice care for him. Karla will update us as she is able.
Bari Brumfield (Houston SWOT director) - daughter Brooklyn (now 22 yrs old) again experiencing serious physical issues - loss of mobility, weakness, pain. She likely will be checking into the hospital this week for further tests and physical therapy. Please pray for her and for Bari and her husband, Keith. (For those who are newer, the family dealt with similar physical problems for several years when Brooklyn was a younger teen. Brooklyn was paralyzed from the waist down for a long period before having an experimental stem cell treatment in 2015 that restored her to relatively good health until just the last few months.) Please pray for answers and solutions.
Carla Lowery (Abilene SWOT director) - has requested prayer after a tragic car accident in Abilene this week caused the death of the husband of a close church friend. Courtney Cochran lost her husband, Phil. They have three children, with the youngest celebrating her 5th birthday on the day her father died. Pray for Courtney and her children in their unimaginable loss.
Lisa Gentry (Permian SWOT director) - has requested prayer for Terri Ragland. Her husband was the middle school choral director at the local middle school in Andrews and was charged with child pornography, to which he has admitted guilt. Terri is devastated by all that has occurred and has stepped down from Singing Women. Pray for her as she faces untold difficulties ahead. Pray for Lisa and the Permian chapter as they continue to reach out and minister to Terri. Lisa has shared her address for anyone who feels led to send a note of encouragement. Terri Ragland 1100 NW 11th Street Andrews TX 79714
Bari Brumfield - update on David Mallory's (our sound engineer for the 25th anniversary) wife, Michelle. Michelle is still struggling with serious physical issues, which the doctors still have not been able to diagnose or manage fully. The extreme nausea/vomiting/fainting/seizures appear to have stopped. Michelle still cannot eat much at all. She is very weak and cannot walk up or down the stairs in their home. We are continuing to pray for clear-cut answers and return to health for this lovely young mom. Also needed are prayers for David as he helps take care of the four children, while running their business. Bari shared their address for anyone wanting to send them a note. Michelle and David Mallory 9889 Hyacinth Way Conroe TX 77385
PRAYER REQUEST UPDATE, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th:
We just received a prayer update from Karla Sessing concerning her father. He has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in addition to having suffered the stroke in the last week. He is having serious difficulty swallowing and is also dealing with extreme tremors in his hands. The two of these combined have apparently caused the serious residual swallowing issues. He is continuing to experience weight loss as a result of the problem. Karla's dad is a big, tall man, and he has lost a great deal of weight in the last few months. Currently, he is in rehab, and they are keeping him there unless something more serious occurs. Karla and John are here in Texas, after driving home this past Friday, but they will be flying to North Carolina on Wednesday to arrange for her parents' RV to be sent by transport on to Florida. They are basically staying on standby to go to Florida and help her brother with her parents' care in whatever way needed. For now, after squaring away the RV, the plan is for them to go again at Thanksgiving, unless needed sooner.
Please pray for safe travel for Karla and John, and for ease of dealing with the RV move. And more importantly, pray for her father's health, for the doctors who are caring for him, for her mother and brother as they minister to and support him, and for Karla and John as they are here in Texas with her family across the country.
Many of us have lived through similar family situations - or are in them now! It's so hard to let go of your beloved parents. Thank the Lord, Karla and her family know Him deeply and are resting in His care. They know that when the Lord calls her dad home, he will indeed be present with the Lord!
Karla thanks you for your prayers and love at this tough time!
PRAYER REQUESTS, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st:
Deirdre--Was hospitalized on Tuesday for a planned cardio echogram and will be wearing a monitor for several days. Please pray that the problem will be clearly seen.
Anonymous request: This member's mother has a breast mass and had additional tests this past Monday. Pray that it is not cancer!
Lori Morrison--Her husband, Jim, is having back surgery on Oct. 14.
David Mallory (the sound engineer for our 25th Anniversary recording)--and wife, Michelle. She is ill with seizures and is in the hospital; pray for the children at this time, as well.
(Update: Michelle is home now and has had a couple of days of being able to keep some food down, after losing a significant amount of weight in the past weeks due to this unexplained illness. She is very slender and has no spare weight to lose! Pray she continues to gain strength and returns to full health.)
Connie Randall--Pray for husband Dave's complete recovery with no more clogging of his stents; for Connie's stamina, as she cares for a three-month old great-grandchild of a relative during the day.
Vickie Brown--Praise God for her church's assistant pastor becoming the new main pastor!
Cammie Hatcher--Pray for her, as she had a tough start to her school year at the place where she is now teaching; pray for great encouragement for her, since the counselor continues to remove children from her classes. She has spoken to multiple administrators to no avail.
Sharon Rainwater (South Texas Chapter SWOT director) and daughter Becky--Praise that Becky's health is improving; pray for continued comfort for the family due to the loss of the baby Becky was carrying; praise for the good support for Becky from her family and dear friends; wisdom for the docs regarding Sharon's painful kidney issues and that she would not lose her kidney.
Linda Langley--pray for Linda and her daughter, Michelle, along with Michelle's church group, as they minister on a mission trip to NYC, October 5-12. Pray for stamina in climbing flights of stairs repeatedly to arrive in their rooms. Praise that her daughter's house repairs were finally approved by insurance and work has begun (fire was caused by lightning on Dec 26).
Deena Williams--Pray for a smooth moving process for her daughter and son-in-law; praise that her mom and dad are doing well. Dad is gaining strength after non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma treatment and even played golf recently; praise that her mother's pain from spinal compression fractures has lessened; praise that Deena’s husband, Greg's stress test and heart cath went great! No blockages! Pray for Greg as awaits FAA approval to go back to work, hopefully by December.
Beth Gutierrez--pray for her husband, Ray, who is in the hospital with a 103 degree range of fever; docs would find the cause soon, since antibiotics have not helped. Beth misses us terribly! (Update: Ray was able to come home on Sunday. Prayers for return to full health.)
Sharon Maxwell--pray for her as she continues chemotherapy. Her blood count is low and she has extreme fatigue. She is experiencing neuropathy in her hands and feet, even with the frozen mittens and booties! (Update: Sharon had a round of chemo this Friday, the 27th. All went well. Continue to pray for minimal side effects and healing.)
Pray for the Houston chapter SWOT ladies affected by the flooding. (Update: Houston SWOT retreat, also last weekend as we met, went beautifully. They had wonderful fellowship and a great start on their music. They did have several members unable to attend due to the flooding. Pray for those who suffered losses. In addition,the coordinator for Houston, Gwili Sheffield, learned on Tuesday that her sister's home burned to the ground. Please pray for the needs of this family.)
Donna Lynch--Praise that the CT scan indicated no need for carotid artery surgery; she missed being with us!
Maggie Morrison--pray for her seven-year old friend, Miller Heine, to recover well from brain surgery; for her sister, Edwina, who has broken ribs, arm, and shoulder--pray for surgeon's skill and wisdom.
Cynthia Atherton--pray for a family friend who had a stroke; praise that Cynthia's husband secured a job.
Glenda Oglesby--pray for her, since she has developed shingles--pray for healing.
Billie Rosendahl--pray for a new job that will be closer to home for her.
Kelly Bishop - prayer for stomach bug that hit her on early Saturday morning and prevented her from joining us for SWOT. Pray she has recovered fully!
Pat Talley--pray for the last of her uncles who had had a stroke last week--was doing well but aspirated and was oxygen-deprived for an unknown period of time--pray for great grace in this situation.
Karla and John Sessing--pray for journey mercies as they have been and will be on the road back and forth to take care of moving her parents; praise that her Dad's heart cath came back totally clean!; pray for their adjustment to new living situation, new docs, etc.; pray for John's important doc visit this Thursday; they drove home on Wednesday.
(MAJOR UPDATE - On Tuesday, Sept 24th, Karla let me know her father was experiencing new physical difficulties. At that point, they believed he had likely suffered a mild stroke and were going to be following up. Due to these circumstances, Karla and John extended their stay to help her brother with the care of her parents. Please pray for this ongoing situation. We will post updates as we learn new info.)
Megan Smallwood--Pray for comfort for the family of Loma Lykins, a charter member of SWOT, since she went home to be with the Lord last Sunday. Pray for comfort for all of her dear friends and family, who miss her.
Pat Watts--Praise that her husband Dave's eye surgery was successful! Pray for quick healing and restoration of vision.
Barbara White--pray for relief from extreme hip pain and for correct treatment.
Brenda Belyeu - continue to pray for her treatment for Crohn's Disease. She is in a great deal of pain, and the meds are so difficult to regulate and find a regimen that works effectively.
Highland Terrace BC, Greenville--pray for them, as they lost their building in the June storm.
PRAYER UPDATE, WEDNESDAY, SEPT 18th:
- Beth Gutierrez - please pray for her husband, Ray. He is in the hospital with fever that is not responding to the two antibiotics he is being given. Doctors do not yet know exactly what is happening. Pray for answers and healing. We are hoping Beth will be able to join us Saturday after missing the retreat in August.
PRAYER UPDATES AS OF TUESDAY, SEPT 17th:
- Karla Sessing, our prayer ministry co-chair, shared the following information about her father in an email, with the content below. Please pray for her father's health and for his doctors, as well as for the whole family as they make these major life changes for her parents. Also pray for safe travel to Florida from North Carolina and for Karla and John as they drive from here.
Since I was in NC to see my parents the last of August, they endured hurricane Dorian staying with my uncle and aunt. The day they moved back to their RV home dad had a mild heart attack and was again in the hospital. My brother flew up to be with them from Pensacola, FL. Dad had a heart cath and came through with flying colors. They are now treating a low hemoglobin issue and tweaking medications.
He is doing well and the plan is that My brother will drive both of them to Pensacola as soon as dad is released and deemed good to travel. They will stay with my brother as long as necessary. When John and I go to NC Oct.2-9 we will oversee the transport of their RV home to Pensacola and that, hopefully, can be where they are permanently.
Thank you so much for your prayers. It is such a wonderful thing to know that God hears our prayers and works as we trust Him.
John and I will most likely be in Florida over next weekend and I will miss the Union Gospel day. I will be praying that God will use the time and the day for His glory.
In Christ,
Karla
- Connie Randall, our other prayer ministry co-chair, also sent a new request. Please lift up Connie and family with the major challenges they are facing, as well as for her husband, Dave. Below is what she shared:
Please pray for my husband Dave who will have a heart cath on Wednesday, Sept. 18.
Also pray for our family ( my 65 yr old sister and her 66 yr old husband and Dave and me) as we adjust to our suddenly new schedule and life style of caring for a 3 month old baby girl, little Hayden Lea. She is actually my brother in law's great grand daughter who was placed in his and my sister's custody by Child Protection Services this past Monday. On Sunday we realized that a change would be necessary for her safety and then on Monday CPS ruled that she must be removed from her parents immediately. Dave and I help with her care while her "new parents" are at work. This is a great change for all of us! My sister is due to retire by the end of October, so my "new routine" may only be temporary. I'm exhausted! LOL.
- Sharon Maxwell, after having two injections to boost white blood cell count, was able to have two chemo treatments this past Friday. In addition to that encouraging news is the even more exciting news that her cancer markers continue to fall weekly. (Some of you med folks will understand the significance of a marker at 11!) Continue to pray for Sharon and Steve as they deal with her ongoing treatment and its physical difficulties, as well as a myriad of other issues brought on as collateral of her illness. We are trusting for God's provision for each and every one!
- PRAY FOR SATURDAY AT UNION GOSPEL MISSION! Pray specifically for the folks for whom we will sing, that God will speak to each of them in a very personal way through Scripture and our music. See you there!
PRAYER REQUEST UPDATES AS OF WEDNESDAY, SEPT 11th:
- Sharon Rainwater sent word this evening around 6:30 pm that her daughter Becky, for whom we have been praying, has lost her baby. During an ultrasound, they determined the baby had died in the womb. We do not yet know any other details. We will update here when we learn more. Please pray for comfort for Becky, Sharon, and Sharon's husband, Jim, as well as for Becky's physical strength and continued management of her seizure disorder.
- Sharon Maxwell had a shot last Friday to boost white blood cell production. We are praying this will allow her to have chemo this Friday. The praise report is that once again her cancer markers have fallen! God is in the process of healing our dear Sharon!
- Karla Sessing's father is in the hospital in North Carolina. Following his previous stay with the finding of gall stones and a hernia, he has continued to be very weak, with no appetite. He has lost a good deal of weight and is dealing with pain. Tests are being run at the hospital to determine what is going on. When he is released, Karla's parents will travel with her brother to his home in Pensacola, Florida. Karla's parents have their own RV in which they will be living. Karla and John plan to travel to Florida at that time to help and to spend time with her family. Please pray for answers and relief for Karla's dad and for safe travel for everyone as they head to Florida.
PRAYER REQUESTS AS OF TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd:
- Brenda Belyeu - recently diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Working with medications. Pray for strength and God's intervention.
- Vickie Brown - prayer for her church, Country Road Fellowship in Graham, as they deal with the passing of their pastor and search for God's replacement.
- Barbara Granger - missed our retreat due to the death of her cousin, sang at the funeral on that Saturday. Daughter Kristen struggling with illness and medication changes and side effects.
- Melody Freeman - prayer for Travis Avenue Baptist as they search for a new pastor as theirs retires.
- Vivian Roberts - her mother, Geane King, has moved to a new assisted living facility. There have been some difficulties with staff meeting her needs. Pray for the situation to be corrected and for her and the family as they adjust to this new situation.
- Deena Williams - her husband, Greg, will have a heart cath procedure on Sept. 19th. Pray that the results are good and will allow him to return to work as an airline pilot. We praise God with Deena that her father, Harold, is cancer free and doing well, and that her mother's compression fractures are also healing!
- Cammie Hatcher - prayer as she begins a new school year and as 4-year-old son Toby begins a new preschool.
- Judy Taylor - remember Judy and her family as they mourn the loss of her nephew. Also pray for her 5-year-old grandson, Jordan, who has special needs, as he begins kindergarten.
- Sandra Von Stowver - prayer for daughter Dorene Whatley, who is recovering from surgery (Dorene sang with us last season.) Also pray for her husband, Robert, recovering from surgery as well.
- Glenda Price - awesome praise to the Lord for the salvations and baptisms of two of her grandsons!
- Oleta Jones - prayer for their 17-year-old grandson who has left home to live on his own.
- Pat Watts - prayer for her husband, Dave, who had eye surgery on Tuesday, August 20th.
- Linda Langley - prayer for her daughter's home, which burned down last Dec. 26th, and they are still working with the insurance company.
- Cindy Hall - prayer for FBC Bonham as they enter the Intentional Interim program with BGCT.
- Cynthia Atherton - prayer for her husband, Russell, as he searches for a new job. Pray for God's direction, favor with prospects, timing, provision, and peace throughout the process.
- Sharon Schmidt - praising the Lord with Sharon that her mother's biopsy was benign!
- Beverly Bain - prayer for their son, Derek, who has started IT school after a six-month delay. Also pray for her husband, Reece, as he begins a new promotion at work that has the potential of more stress.
- Marianna Wheller - prayer as she balances teaching, family, and grad school, with a practicum soon approaching.
- Donna Lynch - prayer for Donna as she saw her doctor on August 30th for further evaluation of the carotid arteries.
- Sharon Rainwater - Director of the SWOT South Chapter (San Antonio) - Below please find a message from Sharon to all our SWOT chapters with details of what we shared at our retreat:
Ladies of SWOT,
I am asking your directors to forward this prayer request to you. It is of a sensitive nature and I don’t feel it should be placed on social media.
First, thank you for your prayers for my daughter, Becky, and for myself. I hated to miss out on participating in the 25th anniversary celebration. I heard nothing but praise for how wonderful everything was and how glorious the choir sounded. I had a biopsy the first part of that week on a mass located on my kidney. Praise God that the biopsy showed the mass to be benign; however, the biopsy dislodged a kidney stone that was giving me significant pain during the anniversary celebration. All is good now.
Becky’s lack of long-term effects from the July 4th seizure is answered prayer. Other than a slight hand tremor, we can see no evidence of brain damage which is normally expected when a seizure lasts longer than 10 minutes. Becky’s seizure lasted over an hour! Yep, God is good!
But now I have a very special prayer request for my daughter and our singing sister, Becky.
Becky has gone through a major trauma that no young woman should endure. She was raped and impregnated by someone she had considered a very close and trustworthy friend. The betrayal was the most painful part of the ordeal.
Becky has chosen to keep the baby, even though the seizure medications she has been taking greatly increase the odds of a miscarriage. They also increase the likelihood of birth defects. Because of this, she is having a sonogram about every two weeks to check on the progression of the pregnancy and the baby’s health.
Becky has been taken off a couple of medications due to their high risk to the baby. Please pray this doesn’t increase the frequency or severity of her seizures, which also wouldn’t be good for the baby.
Pray for Becky, my husband, Jim, and myself as we adjust to all the life changes we will be facing. This child may not have been conceived in love, but he/she will grow up surrounded by love.
Thank you and may God bless,
Sharon Rainwater, director
Singing Women of South Texas
- Sharon Maxwell - prayer for healing from her ovarian cancer. Sharon has missed the last three chemo treatments as her blood count has been too low. The GREAT news, however, is that her cancer markers are continuing to fall, so there is no need for a shot to boost white cell production. AND, she is not at risk of infection, so her doctor has told her she may go back to church! Continue to pray for total healing for Sharon. We hope to have her back with us very soon!
In case you did not attend the retreat, Asako Fertitta came up with a beautiful gift for Sharon. She crocheted a beautiful shawl for Sharon to wear when feeling cold from the effects of chemo. She attached lovely pastel ribbons to the edge and provided a Sharpie for everyone to sign a ribbon and leave Sharon with a favorite scripture of encouragement. Below are some pictures of Sharon receiving the gift when Pam Westfall delivered it to her, as well as a final picture with Asako when Asako visited sometime later. What a special gift - thank you, Asako, for allowing all of us to encourage Sharon in this very personal way.
