The Daily Detour

TDD Prayer Corner: The battle against cancer rages...

Again, another busy week. Better late than never with the weekly prayer list. For those of you just joining us from Facebook and beyond, I recently introduced a new effort by the TDD community to post and pray for various concerns that you may have. Our list is gradually growing, and we'd love to add your concerns to it.

The current list of prayer needs is as follows:

1. A number of people are battling cancer (or are currently exploring for cancer) - Once again, my friend Tootie continues her battle. In addition, we need to be praying for the friends of one of our TDD readers whose 7-year old daughter, "Muffin", was brought in earlier this week for emergency surgery to explore for cancer. (In most recent updates, little "Muffin" is progressing well, though they still need our prayers.) Finally, some of you may know Brian Ellis. His mom, Joanne, has been battling cancer for over 15 years. In her most recent recurrence, she is going through the next rounds of treatment and could use our prayers for perseverance and peace during these uncertain times.

2. We need to continue to pray for the direction and future of our country.

3. President Barack Obama and our governmental leaders - Public service is never easy and is hardly an enviable job. Partisan politics aside, our elected leaders need wisdom to deal with the growing threats facing us both at home and abroad

4. Our military service men and women and their families - We continue to pray for their safety and security while serving in harm's way, as well as, peace for their families who keep the home fires burning. Also, be sure to check out KLOVE's "Wall of Prayer" effort for our troops.

5. Abby from Washington state continues to need our prayer in her family's ongoing efforts to adopt little Alex from Haiti. Patience and perseverance is needed in this season of waiting. Also, be praying that this situation might be resolved as quickly as possible.

6. My ongoing long-term job situation. There are some positive developments (which I hope will be secured sometime soon). But nothing concrete yet, so we press on....

7. Two of our TDD readers, Jim and Mandy, requested prayer for the sale of their home. There are a number of other people who are also trying to sell their homes, which is proving to be a challenge in these tough economic times.

8. And finally, we continue to pray for those seekers of the Truth--that God will help them ultimately find Truth and the hope that we all are looking for, no matter what path our journey may take.

Well, that's it for this week (so far). I'll keep adding to, and subtracting from, the list as needed. So if you have any other needs or concerns that we can be praying about, be sure to let us know. We want to pray for you. (And let us know if/how God is answering your prayers as well.) Those of you who are inclined to prayer, do lift up these needs. I know that those affected would really covet your prayers. Have a good weekend!

TDD Prayer Corner: Jobs in transition

With all of the Easter festivities it's taken a couple of extra days to check in with you all regarding prayer concerns. As you may recall, a week ago last Sunday I introduced a new effort by the TDD community to post and pray for various concerns that you may have.

The growing list of prayer needs is as follows:

1. Our country - Wednesday's "Tea Party" movement seems to indicate a growing restlessness among the masses. My hope and prayer is that these events will be peaceful and productive. But more importantly, that our country will continue to right itself after these many months in choppy waters.

2. President Barack Obama and our governmental leaders - Public service is never easy and is hardly an enviable job. Partisan politics aside, our elected leaders need wisdom to deal with the growing threats facing us both at home and abroad

3. Our military service men and women and their families - With Easter just past us, it's easy for those of us who do not currently have a family member in the military to forgot just how difficult the days of separation and anxiety can be, especially during the holidays. Pray for peace and safety.

4. Abby from Washington state wrote in last week to share a concern about the ongoing efforts to adopt little Alex from Haiti. Continue to pray for her family, that God will grant them patience and perseverance in this season of waiting. Also, be praying that this situation might be resolved as quickly as possible.

5. Last week I mentioned my ongoing job situation. It has take a turn, as I found it this week that I will be essentially laid off again, this time from my paper route at The Indianapolis Star. More specifically, my current boss and his wife found out that their contract with The Star will be terminated on May 10th, which his how I am affected. I, and the other carriers, will effectively have our employment terminated then as well. These are difficult days, but as I keep sharing with people, it is an opportunity for God to show up and reveal His faithfulness in ways that we might have overlooked otherwise.

6. Please continue to keep my friend, Tootie, and her family in your prayers as she battles cancer.

7. And finally, we continue to pray for those seekers of the Truth--that God will help them ultimately find Truth and the hope that we all are looking for, no matter what path our journey may take.

Well, that's it for this week (so far). I'll keep adding to, and subtracting from, the list as needed. So if you have any other needs or concerns that we can be praying about, be sure to let us know. We want to pray for you. (And let us know if/how God is answering your prayers as well.) Those of you who are inclined to prayer, do lift up these needs. I know that those affected would really covet your prayers. Blessings to you all!

How can the TDD community pray for you?

As we read the news headlines each day the difficulties seem to be increasing. And not only is this happening on a larger national, even a global, scale, but more significantly, we are facing a variety of challenges in our personal lives as well. Thus, I wanted to introduce a new idea to those of you who visit The Daily Detour regularly. As you may remember, I suggested back in January that my original intent was to use this blogging platform to generate commentary which (hopefully) results in thought-provoking conversations with one another. But more than that, I've come to the point where I also want use this blog to try to make a more tangible and positive difference in people's lives. Hopefully, we can be more intentional about reaching out to those in need.

And one way to do this is to provide a means of prayerful support for one another. (In fact, I was recently made aware of my good friend Tootie's ongoing battle with cancer, which has furthered my thinking and efforts toward that end.) Who among us can't use more prayer? I know I can. :)

So, here's the idea: Each week I'll be bringing a variety of prayer requests to you all with the intention that those of us who are inclined to do so, can begin to pray for them. More than that, you're encouraged to add your own prayer requests to the weekly comment board. They can be big issues, small concerns, or anything in between. And the level of vulnerability is up to you. You can be a generic as you want to be, or as appropriately specific as this medium allows.

And then I would ask those of you who recognize, and believe in, the power of prayer to join me in praying for the needs presented here. Regardless of who of you may want to join me in this, know that I will certainly be praying for you and your needs (as I'm made aware of them). After all, those early morning hours delivery papers provide a lot of time to be bringing all of our needs before God.

Each week we will be adding more needs to the weekly prayer list. And we will keep praying for them until God answers one way or the other (Remember, God's answers don't always follow our assumptions--He is inclined to answer with either a "Yes," "No," or "Wait". We must be willing to submit to whatever He decides. But He wants us to ask, and so we will.) And when God does answer, I would encourage you to let all of us know just how God worked in your particular situation so that we can all join you in celebrating the answer.

Some of the requests will be regular and ongoing, while many of the other requests will change as your needs change (and as God answers our prayers). So, I want to start off with prayer for the following: Our country, President Barack Obama and our governmental leaders, our military service men and women and their families, and those seekers of the Truth--that God will help them ultimately find Truth and the hope that we all are looking for, no matter what path our journey may take.

On a more personal note, I would ask prayer for my own ongoing job situation. Though I have been blessed with a short-term job to help us make ends meet, I am still in the process of securing long-term employment. This has proven to be a longer-than-expected process, so prayers for perseverance and eventual employment are appreciated. (And please offer continued prayers for Tootie and her family--her husband and their three small children. Though she and I are the same age, her situation should remind us all to savor each day we have together and be sure to focuse on those things--especially people--which matter most.)

Well, that's all from me. How can we be praying for you?