Prayer Request

[Christ_†_Alone]

I just got off the phone with my mom. The news is not good.



My step-dad Jasper, was diagnosed with bladder cancer a few months ago, and they thought they had caught it in time for chemo to take care of it. As of last Wednesday, they have learned that the cancer is growing, in spite of the chemo.



The doctor gave Jasper the options, to continue with treatment (which is making him VERY sick, he's 77 years old), or stop it now. The doctor said at the rate it's currently growing, he wouldn't even begin to feel the pain from it, for approximately 3-6 months from now. He has not yet given him a life expectancy time frame.



Jasper has decided to stop the treatment, live his life the best he can, and go on the pain control program, when that begins.



My mom (Estella) is (so far) handling this pretty well, saying to me on the phone this morning, that God is in charge of all of this anyway. Over the last few years, my mom has lost her dad (my gpa), to asbestosis, one son in law to a motorcycle accident(my step sister's husband), one to skin cancer (my first husband), and another to a sudden heart attack (my sister's first husband) and now she prepares her heart and head, for another loss. She seems to be taking comfort in the fact that He is in fact in control of these things.



To the best of my knowledge, my step-dad does not know the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour. I sincerely covet your prayers, that if it be the Lord's will, that He would reveal Himself to Jasper, and comfort both of them during this time of "waiting". I know this also might sound very selfish, but I also hope that the Lord will allow Jasper to remain with us AT LEAST until September. We're planning our vacation for then, and plan to go see them and stay with them for a week prior to our retreat in Tennessee. Jasper has never met our youngest daughter Ruth, and it's been 3 years since the kids have seen them.



Thank you for remembering my family in prayer, I'll update this request as it's warranted.

in His love,

Carla

[GraceAmbassador]

You can count on my prayers, Carla!

[Westminster]

Dear Carla,

Greetings—this may be helpful—when members of our immediate family are lost, it is natural that we be particularly concerned. It is our responsibility to lay hold of our loved ones in prayer until they come into the Kingdom. Great intercession begins when we call out the name of that loved one in prayer and praise God for his salvation.

For instance, as we intercede for our loved ones, we should praise and worship God for their salvation and deliverance, saying, Father God, I thank You that my step-father is saved. We should also bind the enemy from operating his strategies against them.

You see, according to Matthew 18.18, we have the authority to bind the enemy from those over whom we have spiritual authority-those of our own immediate family and household. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven

We can say, Satan, I bind you and your spirit of death from (loved one`s name). I bind you from stealing his (or her) life. I loose and release the ministering spirits to minister to and for (loved one`s name).

Then we might say, Father, I praise You for this authority that Jesus has given to me. I praise You and thank You for the ministry of angels who are standing guard against death right now, keeping my loved one safe until they are born again. Thank You, Lord, in Jesus` name.

As you begin to stand in the gap for your loved ones, exercising your authority in Christ, you can almost feel the brush of angels`wings as they are sent forth to find those for whom you are praying. Your faithful intercession has released the angels to fulfill their divine assignment-to stand guard over your loved ones, ministering to and for them.

So learn to honor God with praise and worship every time you come into His Presence to pray for your lost loved ones. To God, this is genuine fellowship. For you, itis the open door to empowered intercession and the deliverance of those for whom you are praying!

So extend yourself into My Spirit. Know that when I, the Holy Spirit, join Myself with your life in intercession, you shall be that object which stands between hell and those who desire to go there because they are deceived. You shall bind the god of this world off their minds so that the glorious Gospel and the face of Jesus Christ may shine through.

Then they will understand that the very thing they have resisted is that which they need, and the answer they were looking for was just a single knock away behind the door. For I said in My Word, Truly knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
—adapted from: Standing in the Gap, by Dave Roberson

Best, Meldrum

[steadfast]

Carla,

My prayers are with you and your family. I pray for Jasper's health and that you and your family will be granted God's grace and mercy through this time and that He will be glorified. I pray that you find comfort from God's word:

Your sister in Christ,
Steadfast/Freda


Romans 15:4
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

2 Corinthians 1
2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.


Ephesians 4:2
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

[Traveler]

Carla,

My wife and I will definitely be praying for your family.

Steve

[John 6-37]

Just prayed for you...God bless

[Christ_†_Alone]

UPDATE 12/16/04: Jasper was admitted to the hospital last week for some complications. The doctors were able to clear that up, and are sending him home tomorrow (hopefully) but the lab work he had done while he was there revealed the cancer is worse than they thought even at his last doctor visit. The bladder cancer has spread to his lymph nodes and now his liver is somehow involved. They have now given him a prognosis of 6 months. Please remember my mom & Jasper in prayer.