February 2 2016

February 2 2016 Greetings My Friend When I sign on to Facebook today I see that I have a request to like someone’s page they set up. This page is a page for people to pray over requests the group will receive. It seems like along with other ministries God has given me praying as one also. From the first moments of my faith walk I have felt a need to pray. My first prayers were filled with each name I could possibly remember because I did not want anyone to not be prayed for. My main concern was salvation, it still is. Along the way I worried about some people right now. The first days turned into years and I would find people wanting me to pray for them. I tried to remember each request but to be honest I forgot. Making a journal was difficult since I would not always have my little note pad with me. My heart broke when I remembered I had forgotten. I started saying a quick popcorn prayer as I was being asked or as I walked away. I felt at least I prayed and I felt better about this. Retirement came and I felt lead to be online with social media. I found this area to be ripe with opportunities to pray. More often than not I see status’ explaining what was going on in people’s lives. I start praying when I see a need even if no one asked for prayer. I still do this today. After my fall and finding out I have Chiari I joined some help groups. My prayer life added these people. I felt a special bond with these people and the intensity of my prayer life grew. I was surprised about the intense physical pain my new found friends had. I find the same thing with the Ataxia people to, some have immense pain. These sites are teaching me things about my disorders, about invisible illness and how these people deal with others that don’t believe their struggle. Along with the pain and a deteriorating body and how others think they are making up all their problems I feel an immense sadness. I learned that people with invisible illness’ look “normal” enough so people disregard their struggles and choose to stay away. These sites help me to understand what is going on with my body and explain other things like my extreme tiredness. For some reason I also have bouts of insomnia too. At first each time I went through an energetic spell I thought I was going to walk from the deep exhaustion. Slowly I learn that energy days come and if I push myself I will crash and need to sleep and some days I could hardly move off the couch. Later I discovered I was not going to stay exhausted where I can’t move for more than a few days before I am up and moving slowly again. Today I know to roll with it and in short order I will be up and around again. My prayer life is teaching me that God is guiding me. I learned when to start using a cane later a walking stick. I learned to slow down so I would not fall as much. God led me to a doctor who “hears” me. I feel like I am her partner and together we figure out the next steps. When I received this latest group to pray for others I knew that I knew that I am part of God’s family. Prayer sustains me today. As I woke up from a nightmare I found I was talking to God. I feel like I truly in the family of God. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you Love Janet