summer of prayer, week seven

Wonderful news! We spoke with our friends the Zickafoose's and they were so glad to report that Joe has not been sick as they had anticipated from the chemo! Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray that Jayne stays healthy so she can stay with Joe while he's in the hospital the next few weeks.

Thank you also for your prayers for the release of the new resources and for my time speaking with the Chaplains. They were a very receptive group of sincere, substantial souls.

For the next week:

1. Tomorrow, Keona and I leave on a spiritual retreat together for 48 hours in Kansas City. We're going to a kids worship gathering, staying at a hotel, doing her nails together for the first time, and enjoying some special "mommy & me" mentoring time. She's so excited. In fact, it's almost 11pm and she's STILL awake!

2. We've had visits from 4 professionals this past week for little Louie. The doctors feel Louie is 9 months delayed. The First Steps teams feels he is only 4-6 months delayed. Now we begin wading through insurance and therapy options. We would appreciate your continued prayers for a team to grow around our dear baby boy.

3. I am writing 'like the wind' these days for the next book. Please pray for a very fruitful August :-) !

summer of prayer, week six

Thank you all so much for your prayers last week! The trip to Louisiana was FABULOUS. Today we met with the director of services for First Steps for Louie. And it appears that all is well with the insurance medical claim. Whew.

For this week, I would greatly appreciate your prayers for the following:

1. A dear friend, Joe Zickafoose, begins chemo Friday morning in preparation for a bone marrow transplant. The doctors told him that he would be very sick for weeks. Joe and Jayne are incredible people. Please pray for them during this difficult time. Joe was diagnosed with cancer earlier this summer.

2. Friday at 9am and then again at 1pm I will be speaking to a group of chaplains and spouses on the themes of Crossward and Anonymous. Please pray that these messages encourage their weary souls.

3. An hour ago, we sent an email announcing three new resources for Anonymous! Please pray for the bible study and DVD teachings in particular to get in the hands and hearts of those who will benefit from it's message.

new series, summer of prayer

Though I had intended to begin a mentoring series on, well, mentoring, I'd like to pause on that subject for a few months and instead take the next 8 weeks to invite you to partner in prayer with me over a few very specific issues.

Each week through mid-August, I'll update this blog with new requests. The summer is more full than usual for the Chole tribe and we REALLY could use your prayer support.

Specifically for this week, I would treasure your prayers for the following:

1. A dear woman ran a red Thursday and we "T-boned" her in the intersection. The kids are--thank God--fine. The car is toast. My back is somewhere in between. Bless her (I mean that sincerely), she confessed freely to the policeman so we don't have to wade through all the mess that sometimes accompanies accidents. Please ask God to encourage her and bless her 100-fold for telling the truth. Please pray for wisdom as we decide on a vehicle. Our car was 10 years old but ran great and was our primary vehicle.

2. THIS WEEK I need to finish writing the Anonymous: Jesus' hidden years and yours bible study. Pray that I think and write like the wind. Please pray for Kate as she designs like the wind as well.

3. On Friday Christie and I fly to Charlotte, NC to speak at a wonderful church on Anonymous. They are taping and are willing to give us permission to use the video to edit into a DVD accompaniment for Anonymous! Please pray for all the details from sound to taping to powerpoint. And please pray for me to be able to focus on the dear people and truly minister to them.

Thank you friends.