Saturday, March 29, 2008

Non-Update...but A Call for Prayer

Ok...I haven't heard again from Steffany, but I wanted to come on to rally all of their prayer warriors to be praying tomorrow--Sunday. We saw the Lord manifest His Faithfulness in getting them released from Africa, now we have to pray them home!! Our work is not done!! They leave midafternoon our time, and the flight is around 16 hours long.

We know how weak and ill the children are. We know how exhausted Steffany and Adam are. We know the danger that the long flight poses to the children getting dehydrated. And I want to also ask you to pray for the friend they are bringing with them. She is ill and they are bringing her over to receive medical care. I can't wait for Steffany to share the story. She couldn't really tell me much over the phone, but I do know the friend is weak and ill. I can not tell you how moving it is to know that this family is willing to take her under their wings and provide her a chance at life. They did not turn and look the other way, but they are obeying the Lord! My heart has been heavy knowing that this woman will be leaving behind her family, her country, everything that is safe and familiar to her and boarding a plane for America. Please join me in praying for her as well. I do not know her name, but God does!

I have felt lead to fast and pray tomorrow for the lives of Diezel, Daizey,Steffany, Adam and their new friend. I will be fasting breakfast and lunch if you would like to join me, please do! We have seen the power in being a unified force for this family!

I feel we are a privileged group here...we are waiting and watching the Lord display Himself. He has lead each of us to this blog to follow their journey. He is asking us to be intercessors for them and to be ministered to in doing so. These are some moments in life that aren't forgotten! To God be the Glory for the great things He is doing! Amazingly below is the question of the week from gotquestions.org

"What is the power of prayer?" Answer: The power of prayer is the power of God, who answers prayer. Consider, 1) the Lord God Almighty can do all things; there is nothing impossible for Him (Luke 1:37). 2) The Lord God Almighty invites His people to pray to Him. Prayer to God should be made persistently (Luke 18:1), with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6), in faith (James 1:5), within the will of God (Matthew 6:10), for the glory of God (John 14:13-14), and from a heart right with God (James 5:16). 3) The Lord God Almighty hears the prayers of His children. He commands us to pray, and He promises to listen when we do. “In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears” (Psalm 18:6).4) The Lord God Almighty answers prayer. “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me” (Psalm 17:6). “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17). Sometimes the Lord answers our prayers in spite of our own lack of faith. In Acts 12, the church prays for Peter’s release from prison (v5), and God answers their prayer (v7-11). Peter goes to the door of the prayer meeting and knocks, but those who are praying refuse at first to believe that it is really Peter. They prayed, but they failed to expect an answer to their prayer. The power of prayer does not flow from us—it is not special words we say or the special way we say them or even how often we say them. The power of prayer is not based on a certain direction we face or a certain position of our bodies. The power of prayer does not come from the use of artifacts or icons or candles or beads. The power of prayer is based on Who hears our prayer and answers it. Prayer places us in contact with the Almighty God, and we should expect almighty results. As Oswald Chambers put it, “What happens when saints pray is that the power of the almighty is brought to bear upon the one for whom they are praying." Amen

May tomorrow be a powerful day in your life with the Lord as you hold Daizey, Diezel, Steffany, Adam, and their precious friend up to Him! And may His Power be upon these precious people as we pray for them!

16 comments:

crispy said...

God has really lead me to pray. I have a desire to obey in what He calls me to do. I am up in the night with your family on my heart. I know you are preparing to leave and I am praying for strength and energy. Praying for God's grace. Praying for the flight to go quickly and for the babies to sustain strength on the way home. Only God can do the great things. I know He can and I know He will receive the glory in all of this.

How great to be part of something that leads all of these people to look to Jesus.

Stay encouraged.

((hugs))

-Cris

Sean and Lisa said...

I, too, have felt God so close and just waiting to fulfill His promises to each of you. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

Thank you for your willingness to obey His call and in turn allow each of us to partner in prayer with you on this amazing journey!

God has shown Himself over and over as we watch what He is doing in your lives and we have been blessed, encouraged, fortified, and humbled.

We are united in prayer with you and the other prayer warriors as you begin your flight home and this new chapter of your lives.

I get a visual of Aaron and Joshua holding up Moses' arms when he couldn't home them up any longer. That's us, your prayer warriors, holding you up in prayer when you don't have the strength or energy to pray.

Godspeed friends and can't wait to hear the amazing testimony of God's fervent love you felt in Ethiopia. To God be all the glory forever and ever!!!!

Bergmama said...

Praising the Lord for the answered prayers and continuing to pray for safe travel and the health of everyone.

Love,
Jill

Brandi said...

Amen, Amen, Amen. . praying, praying and waiting to hear. Lord Jesus, hold them right now. Send your angels to sit beside him, both angels that they can't see and possibly ones that can. Protect their bodies, souls and minds. Jesus, please bring them home!

Brandi

Incognito said...

I just got that in an email and wanted to post the same thing! We will be praying all day for them to get home and start their new lives together! We lift them up...hold them tight Lord and bring them home. Let them have a safe journey home and let them all be hydrated and able to get some rest on the flights.

Thanks Laura for your posting on Steffany's behalf! What a blessing to have you in their lives as well as ours!

Mrs. Hammer Time said...

Proud to be part of this rally of prayer... It is amazing, what God has done, and is DOING!

Natalie said...

I will be praying!

Laura said...

Thanks be to God and all the glory to Him, the orchestrator of this entire experience. He has this all under control. He hears our prayers and petitions. He answers our prayers and nothing is too big or too small for our God! I pray for Daizey and Diezel to remain hydrated, nourished and nutured on this flight. I absolutely, in the power of Jesus Christ, banish all fear from the children, Adam and Steff and from their companion. I call on God to provide them with a crew on the plane that is filled with compassion and mercy. I pray for rest, for peace and for the Holy Spirit to stay with them through this journey now and forever. Amen

Unknown said...

ahh! so overwhelming! this is the first time i've been able to check your blog all week so I am just now getting caught up on everything. God is so good! Be strong because He is faithful! been praying for yall all week and my heart has just been really heavy for ya. So glad you made it in time.. praying for safe travels and health/strength for ALL of you. you have so many people lifting you up, as you can see. its amazing. praying for kids at home and praying for you too Leah! you're doing great! stay strong :) LOVE YOU Bosters!

Danielle said...

Still praying...
And praising God for all of the prayers answered thus far.

Danielle

Salzwedel Family said...

Praying you are all safe on your journey home. May the Lord hold you close during this time & give you strength. I'm looking forward to hearing the good news of your arrival home.

Heather said...

I too am praying right now, as you are in the plane on your way home. That the Lord would keep their little bodies hydrated through this long flight, that you all would receive much needed rest.

TJ said...

I just wanted to share the story of how God led me to pray for you. I was looking for variants of my daughter's middle name Abeni - and found that your blog had the name Aubeny posted on it.
I was even more interested when I saw that you were adopting from Ethiopia! Our daughter Makeda Abeni (West African name meaning "we prayed for her and she is ours") Arleyne came home Aug 2007 (at 7 months).
So after I read your posts, I held my precious sweetheart from Africa and prayed earnestly for yours.I know God treasures these children and is with you as you care for their every need.

Tara

Debi said...

I have been praying! :)

Debi

Brandi said...

Any news?

Still praying. . I can't WAIT to talk to you, Steff!

Bran

Laura Lu said...

We are all waiting on pins and needles to hear they are safely home and together as a whole family! :) I can't wait to see pics of the kids meeting their new siblings! :)

Lisa--I have had that same visual of us holding up their arms! I love what God is doing!!!!!