Good evening, Family!๐
This week, we praise God for:
๐ Evelyn thanks God that Brianna will have another Birthday this week. She prays God will continue to bless her on her special day and always!
๐ Angy thanks God for bringing Jordan through this very difficult year to his birthday. She asks that the church continues to pray for him and his health.
๐Vasthi praised God that He also gave Carole another year of life, as her birthday was also this past week. Vasthi is also grateful for the traveling mercies the Lord granted her and Sharon, as they are visiting Sharon's family in Florida. May God protect and bring them home safely.
๐ Marรญa is grateful to God for David's birthday on Wednesday. She thanks God and asks for continued prayer for his health. She also gave God praise for Jeannie, who is having a birthday at the end of the month.
๐ Alex is thankful to the church for praying for his mom's aunt, Anicia during her cancer battle. He also thanks the church for praying for his family always.
๐ Kristina praised God for Seth's restored health and for God's favor and blessing over him always. She also praised Him for the miracles He is working in their Baby Girl, who had a scan to assess her development and is said to be looking perfect by the doctors! ๐๐ฝ AND THE WHOLE CHURCH SAID...AMEN! ๐ฅฐ
Let's keep praying for her growth, development and health...her next scan is November 5th!
๐ Carole thanks God for her church family and for the way we always come together to help one another!
๐ Gilbert expressed his thankfulness for all that God has done throughout his journey thus far. He is grateful that everything went well with his surgery and recovery, and we all praised God that Gilbert is able to stand and walk on his own! He thanks all those who've prayed, who showed their support in coming to his home to pray and lift him up and keep praying for him and his family. ๐๐ฝ Gilbert is also grateful that God granted Everly another year of life and looks forward to holding her again.
We are also praying for:
๐ Marรญa is requesting a prayer for her brother, Emmanuel, who suffered a fall and needs double surgery on his knee and elbow. Pray for healing!
๐ Astrid's aunt, Anicia, who is battling lung cancer which has spread to her bones. She's in a lot of pain and Astrid is asking the Lord for mercy. Astrid also asked for prayer for her aunt's husband, who is paralyzed. Her aunt used to be able to take care of him, but now is unable. Astrid is asking that the Lord help them find a solution.
โ๏ธ Marรญa asked that we continue to pray for her dad, who is battling prostate cancer. May the Lord bless and touch him with healing as he undergoes treatment.
๐ Each and every silent prayer request lifted.
๐ ALL of the children connected by love to The Lighthouse as they attend school with the added worries and stress associated with Covid. May God grant them a year filled with PROTECTION, good health, learning, friendships, memories and new MERCIES, available to them each and every morning! ๐
๐ Alex Edmond. Amel requested that we pray for Alex as he not only started college, but also got a job and will be very busy. May God guide and protect him - especially from Covid, as he will be interacting with many people on a daily basis.
๐ Carole and her family, as they are in great need of prayer
๐ Catheryn, Connor and growing Baby Llibre. May the Lord watch over and protect them, their new home and their future plans as they continue to walk with Him.
๐ Protection and intervention on Elijah's behalf while he is in Florida. May God grant him and his family resolution on his custody case, that he might return to his family soon.
๐ Our Bible Study groups on Sabbath morning and our Prayer Ports during the week. May they lead to stronger and healthier relationships with Jesus.
โ๏ธ Angy's nephew, Jordan, as he deals with a health crisis. May God lead him to the right medical team, and may He then lead the team!
๐ Matthew, as he deals with the pressures of the academy. May God strengthen and protect him as he continues to pursue his dreams in law enforcement.
Tonight's Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Christmas Devotional inspires us to open our hearts this Christmas! ๐
"You never really know what you're going to get when you knock on someone's door," Deb, an Angel Tree coordinator, told me halfway to our first gift delivery. More church volunteers tailed behind us, their cars brimming with plentiful gifts and just enough umbrellas. Though the morning sky threatened rain, spirits were high.
It was mid-December, the time when many Angel Tree Christmas volunteers conduct the season's grand finale: home deliveries. This was my first time joining an Angel Tree delivery as a Prison Fellowshipยฎ staff member. Our delivery team had been in contact with most of the families on our list, so we knew who should be home and whose gifts we should deliver another day.
"That's just how it goes," one volunteer explained with a chuckle. "You roll with it and let God do the rest."
DENISE: 'PRAY FOR THEIR DADDY'
Denise* came to the door on our second knock, baby on hip and coffee in hand. We scooted in quickly before we let the warm air out. She thanked us in the dim foyer, explaining that her kids had been sick, so theyโd see the presents later. One boy, no older than 10, popped his head up from the living room sofa and grinned.
We took the cue not to stay long and asked if they had any prayer requests. Denise nodded. "Please pray for our health," she sighed. Her eyes were tired. "And pray for their daddy. We hope to go see him soon."
JANNYA AND JUAN: A TREASURED GIFT
At another home stop, we met Jannya and her 11-year-old son, Juan. Neither spoke much English, but Jannya knew why we were there. She whispered in Juan's ear, and the shy boy's face lit up. When we handed him the gift from his dad, he clutched it and spun around.
I knew enough Spanish to make a little conversation with Juan. He said he loves playing outside and enjoys school. In the small living room, under dainty string lights, he showed me their Charlie-Brown-sized Christmas tree and placed his gift beneath it proudly. I saw one other gift beside it.
We offered prayer before leaving, and the family welcomed it. Juan grabbed his mother's hand and clasped his gift against his chest.
ALYSSA AND ELLA: 'ALWAYS AT THE PERFECT TIME'
We had trouble finding the next apartment. Alyssa was grateful when we finally knocked on her door. She was a bit sheepishโ"Sorry for the mess!"โbut we waved off her apology. Her daughter, Ella, leapt out of a blanket fort by the TV. The 4-year-old cradled like a baby doll the gift we handed her.
"Are you excited for your present from Dadโ" Alyssa barely finished.
"Yes!" Ella replied.
"Angel Tree always comes at the perfect time," Alyssa told us. "I just want my baby to have a good holiday and feel loved. Angel Tree helps that happen."
The surprise under the giftwrap, we learned, was a princess doll. Merry Christmas to my little princess, her dad wrote.
LETTING GOD LEAD
We set out that day with lots of presents and no expectations. Our delivery list was long, with several knocks on doors left unanswered. But we silently promised that we would follow up with each family. We went home thankful that weโd left our warm fireplaces and, as the volunteer put it, let God lead. With each simple gift, we gave much moreโa reminder that each child is precious to their parent in prison and to God.
A volunteer recalled, "One year, we delivered to a little boy who ran to the door and said, 'I knew it! I knew my dad wouldn't forget me. I knew it.'"
We don't always know what's coming when we show up on a stranger's front porch. But I know Angel Tree delivers hopeโfor prisoners, for families, for all of us.
Delivering Hope.โค๏ธ What a business !