Words from Wendy

“First of all, then, I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercessions (prayers for others) and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people.” – 1 Timothy 2:1 AMP

I'm often asked why our prayer list is so long. Why do we pray for people we do not know? Why is prayer so important? My response has been and will continue to be this: Prayer is the only power we have. It is our personal belief that prayer can change the universe and heal the sick that politics and power cannot. Prayer means power. It always was, always is, and will always be.

Last week, while working at our shop, someone stopped in to purchase something and told their story of illness and recovery. He said he wasn't much of a believer before, but now he says, “It has been the prayers of that little Cloverdale church and many others that I am allowed another day to live; I am not afraid to talk about the power of prayer any longer.”

I was waiting outside for my lunch the other day at Bear Creek when someone approached me saying, “I have finished my treatments, and things look good, but I will know next week when I have my PET scan.”

I said, " Well, that is great news (to be honest, the person looked 100% better than the last time I saw them) and said to be sure to keep us posted, as we will continue to pray for you. They then grabbed my arm and asked If all things are good, does that mean I come off the prayer list? Before I could answer…They stated with tears in their eyes, “I do not want to be taken off as I know it is the prayers that have made all this possible. I am a true believer in God and prayer, thanks to the prayers from the church.”

There is power in prayer!

When you pray, God listens. When you pray, storms get stilled. When you pray, doors open. When you pray, relationships get restored. When you pray, sickness gets healed. When you pray, hope gets rekindled (it may not be your hope, but others'). When you pray, strength is renewed. When you pray, answers come. So don’t lose faith in what we're praying for today or how many we are praying for, because God is faithful. His answer will come at just the right time.

In Christ’s love, SAM Wendy