GOD ANSWERS PRAYER

Dearest Prayer Warriors:

I Praise God for all those who prayed for Debbie last night at our prayer meeting as well as all over the country - in homes - in your car - in your own Bible studies and at your churches.
This afternoon when I went to visit her again - she still didn't open her eyes or respond to me. I sat on her bed for quite awhile and just read scripture to her, then prayed for her, then turned up the praise music that others had brought.

Then I got in her face and I began talking to her. I kept saying my name to her and asking her if she could hear me. I asked her if she could say my name. Her eyes began to flutter like she was really trying to open them. So I encouraged her to open her eyes. I said to her, "Come on Debbie, come back 'to the land of the living' and open those eyes for me. Can you say my name? Can you say, Stephanie?"

Then she opened her eyes and whispered my name. I almost jumped off the bed. I asked her about another friend, Kate. I told her that Kate was there earlier in the morning along with her other good friends too. "Can you say Kate?" She whispered Kate's name. Then she began to cry and talk with me. We cried together and talked as she fought her way back into the land of the living. By the time her husband came in - she was fully awake again and she ate almost two full dinner meals that were left on the tray for her and her husband. We got her up and walked her a bit too. After more than 10 days of being in that catatonic coma - God brought her back - through YOUR prayers!

She has a really long road ahead. Please keep praying that she does not go back inside herself. Pray for her family in the decisions that they have to make tomorrow about her further care.

Her other friends, Dee and another Stephanie really pulled together to get the prayer ball rolling in the last few days. We need to bathe her in prayer from now on.

Many of you have left messages and e-Mails wondering how she is. Her father brought her two young daughters to the hospital before I left and the reunion was a special time.

It was amazing to see how God's people have pulled together for this family in prayer and support to help them. God kept showing several scriptures over and over.
It was these:

Psalm 139 the entire psalm but these verses in particular:
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 63:7-8
7 Because You are my help,
I sing in the shadow of Your wings.
8 My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Corinthians 4:16 [The Message]
16 So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.

Choosing Great JOY,

Stephanie
[JESUS - the One I Worship]

Prayer Meeting Tonight

****************************

Isaiah 56:6-7

6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD

to serve Him,

to love the Name of the LORD,

and to worship Him,

all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it

and who hold fast to My covenant-
7 these I will bring to My holy mountain

and give them joy in My house of prayer.

Their burnt offerings and sacrifices

will be accepted on My altar;

for My house will be called

a house of prayer for all nations."

**********************************

Please join us here on the Blog Site if you cannot attend our prayer meeting in person tonight at 7PM [EST] in New Jersey. We are lifting up a dear sister in Christ along with some others. If you would like to leave a prayer here - please do so on the comment section.

We are praying for:

Debbie - in the hospital here in NJ in a Catatonic Coma. She is a young Mom of two girls with a husband by her side.

She needs prayer intervention this day and the Healing Hand of Jehovah-Rafa.

*********************

Kenneth - in a Seattle Hospital - A young man who went into cardiac arrest and is in a coma. His parents are flying out there today from SC.

**********************

Ron - suffered a possible mini stroke after other heart issues came after a surgery he had. He and his wife need prayer - for God's sustaining Grace!

**********************

A Mom - in Germany - who is carrying a set of unborn twins and wishes to have them aborted. Pray for the sanctity of life and that this mom will know from God's Word how sacred these precious lives are to a holy God.

**********************

Father God --

We ask for your intervention in the lives of these people. We ask for Your Hand to touch those who are suffering with a miracle of Your Holy Spirit's power.

Without pain or suffering ... there is no miracle. So even in the tough circumstances of our lives and those we love - may we rejoice that You can bring GOOD out of them - all for Your honor and for Your glory - and for Your kingdom purposes!

May the sanctity of life be held in the sacred holy estate that it is to You, Father. And may You grant restored life - in the land of the living today!

Bless the families of those who suffer too. Bless those who are praying, taking time from their day to lift up these prayers before Your heavenly throne. We acknowledge our frailty to overcome - but recognize YOUR ability to renew, rebuild and restore life to the full!

We ask for that very thing today - in line with Your will and Your plans! Give us hearts to pray in reverence to You! We pray all these things ... in the Mighty and Matchless Name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord!

Hallelujah and Amen!

HOLD US UP, LORD

Ezekiel 17

[selected]

5 " 'He took some of the seed of your land and put it in fertile soil. He planted it like a willow by abundant water, 6 and it sprouted and became a low, spreading vine. Its branches turned toward him, but its roots remained under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and put out leafy boughs.
7 " 'But there was another great eagle with powerful wings and full plumage. The vine now sent out its roots toward him from the plot where it was planted and stretched out its branches to him for water. 8 It had been planted in good soil by abundant water so that it would produce branches, bear fruit and become a splendid vine.'

[emphasis added]
*******************************

There is a large Wisteria Vine here a Sweetbriar. It is holding up a dead oak tree. Its Vine is wrapped tightly around the tree and each year it gets higher and higher and blooms more and more. This season, the Vine is at full bloom and the sweet fragrance that the flowers give off are enough to renew the senses.

Do you ever feel like a dead oak tree? Worn out... by illness, physical pain, circumstances around you, family pressures, sick loved ones, wayward children, aging parents, job pressures, ministry expectations, broken relationships, perhaps just overwhelmed at times?

Jesus is the Vine that wraps His loving arms around us when we feel 'dead'. He causes us to bear fruit even in the tough times. He makes everything beautiful in its time! Cling to Him! Stay close to Him! Know and feel His Presence!

*****************************************

Isaiah 27:2-5

(The Message)
"At that same time, a fine vineyard will appear.

There's something to sing about! I, God, tend it.

I keep it well-watered. I keep careful watch over it

so that no one can damage it. I'm not angry. I care.

Even if it gives Me thistles and thornbushes, I'll just pull them out

and burn them up. Let that vine cling to Me for safety,

let it find a good and whole life with Me,

let it hold on for a good and whole life."

*************************************

****** PRAYER ******

Jesus,

Apart from You we can do nothing.

Thank You for clinging to us even when we have weak arms to hold on to You.

Thank You that You cause us to bear fruit and

give off the fragrance of the knowledge of You.

SPRING IS STILL ATTEMPTING TO ARRIVE

A New Flag on the Treehouse depicts how SHEPHERD'S WALK came about ===== like Noah ===== building the Ark. God is calling His children... men, women, and entire families

- to a new level of PRAYER.

--------------------------------------

The original 'SWEETBRIAR' sign on the SHEEP PEN / GOAT YARD FENCE.

---------------------------------------

The green of Spring is just beginning to appear. This is looking back toward the entrance to SW - by the Treehouse.
----------------------------------------------------

2 Chronicles 7:14

IF My people, who are called by My Name,

will humble themselves and pray

and seek My face

and turn from their wicked ways,

THEN will I hear from heaven

and will forgive their sin

and will heal their land.

THE NAME Above All Names

Father In Heaven~

You are as close as the breath that we breathe!

Flood our thirsty hearts again.

Renew, rebuild and restore every fragmented relationship in and around us.

May Your healing power break the chains that bind us.

May You open our eyes to Your TRUTH today

and may we respond in full and complete obedience to it.

Tear the veil that holds us from open access to Your Heart!

Then- and only then -

let us walk by FAITH with JOY to the fullest!

We Praise Your HOLY NAME -

THE NAME ABOVE ALL NAMES -

JESUS CHRIST!

Amen!

Whispering Prayers

Father God~
Today I whisper, "He is Risen", as a reminder of your love to those who believe. May we believe Your Words from
Psalm 143: 8
Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You.

Today, Lord, I pray healing over those who read this who are afflicted. Those who suffer with physical pain from illnesses that have overtaken their bodies. I pray for Your Holy Spirit to invade the very fiber of their bodies and touch them with healing in Your wings.

I pray for those who suffer from mental illnesses - that their minds would be renewed and restored as they put their trust in You.

I pray for those who suffer from emotional traumas, perhaps things that others have brought upon them. I pray that their hearts would be healed from the promises in Your Word. I pray that PRAISE would overtake their despair [Isaiah 61:3].

I pray for those under the oppression of the 'enemy' - those who are persecuted for their faith and belief in You, our Holy God, In Jesus, our Living God.

May our prayers reach Your ears today as we trust You for the answers in this Psalm as we give You PRAISE and THANKSGIVING for Who You are!

Psalm 57
For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,
for in You my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until the disaster has passed.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who fulfills {His purpose} for me.
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,
rebuking those who hotly pursue me;
Selah
God sends His love and His faithfulness.
4 I am in the midst of lions;
I lie among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let Your glory be over all the earth.
6 They spread a net for my feet—
I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.
Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of You among the peoples.
10 For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let Your glory be over all the earth.

SIGNS THAT SPRING IS COMING

Spring is attempting to unfold here at SHEPHERD'S WALK!

April Showers will bring May flowers!

**********************

The squirrels ate almost every single bud off my STAR Magnolia this year!

******************************

These bulbs were castaways in the woods -

yet they took root and found a way to bloom.

********************************************************************************

Drink deeply of the Living Water - Jesus!

**************************

This day began with a loud rumbling of thunder that continued and got louder throughout the day. I love thunder and lightening. Most people fear it and run from it but when I hear the power of the booms or the flashes across the sky - I am reminded of God's mighty power and His strength. I stand in awe and reverence of that power - because HE IS GOD!

*****************************************

Jeremiah 10:12-13

But God made the earth by His power;

He founded the world by His wisdom

and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.
When He thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;

He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.

He sends lightning with the rain

and brings out the wind from His storehouses.

**********************************

One of my favorite quotes is:

DARK CLOUDS BRING SHOWERS OF BLESSING.