I get many emails each week asking for prayer in regards to certain things going on in someones life. Some of the emails are from people I know, others are from complete strangers who read or stumble upon my blog. Most times I feel inadequate and heartsick - unable to help these people or give them the answers they are longing for. Then God reminds me to just Pray! P-R-A-Y! Pray fierce. Be a prayer warrior! Prayer is all I can offer them but I've learned what a powerful tool prayer really is. Whether these people are familiar faces or not, I am more than happy to pray for anyone and everyone. I know first hand, thru my own life experiences, what the power of prayer can do for people.
As I was boarding the plane to leave Florida Monday night, I got an email thru my cell phone from my dear friend Susan here in Indy. Susan and I used to work at Conseco, Inc. together back in the day. (my pre-kid days) Ahhh...those were the days. She was always a great friend to me and I adored her sense of humor. She had a way of making all of us in our department crack up - all the time. Susan and I haven't seen one another in person since those working days together but we plan to change that soon now that I live up North where she also resides. In the meantime however, we managed to keep in touch via email which has been great over the years.
Susan sent me this email Monday and I couldn't read it all until I got home and popped it open the next morning. I've been waiting for enough time to jump on here and post this as a blog update. Now is that time. Here is a copy of the email that Susan sent to me. Breaks my heart - rips it out actually. There are no words...
Angie,I need a prayer...not for me but for someone very special to me. Let me tell you the story. On November 13, 2004 Sharon and Jeff Rice of Westfield, IN lost their daughter - 16 year old Kristin in an automobile accident at the hands of an intoxicated driver. The agony they have endured since has been unbearable at times for them. I didn't know them before the accident but that accident along with several other accidents during a few month period in 2004 claimed the lives of 9 teenagers in Hamilton County. It was with those senseless deaths that the Hamilton County Parent/Teen Forums were started by Sheriff Doug Carter. These forums are meant to educate our children on the dangers of driving and the responsibility that comes with a liscense to drive. Through this forum I have met Jeff and Sharon only a couple of times but we e-mail most frequently and I visit their daughters site;
kristinmarierice.com almost everyday. Through e-mails Sharon and I have become good friends and I have often been a shoulder to cry on for her in her darkest times. I made a promise that I would never forget her daughter and I have not...and never will. It does not matter that I did not know her personally, I know her in heart and that is all that matters. During the last 4 years I have watched this family go through a healing process that amazes me in the strength of God himself. He has really pulled this family through the darkest of times and they were all but trying to get on the path to healing when their oldest, and now only, child was diagnosed with Indolent Follicular Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He has numerous tumors throughout his body that have multiplied by dozens in the past few months, he has a very large tumor that is currently threatening the blood supply to his liver. He has tumors in his lungs, groin and abdomen and through his entire lymph system. She is battling loosing her only remaining child to cancer. I just want to give her strength and let her know that there are people that care. I am asking that you send out a prayer chain for the Rice family in Westfield, IN. This family has endured so much heartbreak and I just want, for if only one minute, for them to have a time where thousands of people know their story and pray for them that God will hold them close and guide them down this journey he has planned. I know your blog is read by thousands of people. Will you please spread the word for the Rice family and pray for them, pray for their son Jeremy who is only in his early twenties and pray for some peace within their hearts for the loss of their daughter Kristin only 4 short years ago? Angie, if you would do this for them I would very much appreciate it. I just don't know what else to do to try and help ease their pain so I thought that a prayer chain may comfort them and let them know that not only is God beside them through this journey but so are so many other people who care...Thank you so much Angie, I owe you one if you will do this for me. Susan
Susan and the Rice Family, consider those prayers going up starting right now. May God be with you all during such a trying and horrific time. I will once again go back to that old saying that always brings me thru tough times. Faithful AGD blog readers have heard it here before. They are words shared by a dear friend that changed my life forever during one of my darkest hours in life. The phrase itself has literally become my motto in life - every second of every day. It is:
"There will be years that ask and there will be years that answer. In the end, God never wastes pain!"
Reach and dig for the positives and with all of your might...stay faithful! God has a plan. Allow him to carry you there. You are in our thoughts and prayers incessantly. We are on our knees for each of you. Blog readers, get this family in your prayer journals. Stop what you are doing at this moment and pray for this family. If it were one of us, wouldn't we want the prayers too? Let's lift this family up and remind them that they are not alone.
In his grip now and always, Angie Jeremiah 29:11-13For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
She needs to run that ol Devil off in the name of Jesus Christ! We need to learn how much power We truly have through Jesus Christ. I am sick of Satan running ramped in this old world. I will be in agreement with the Rice family for Jeremy's healing. Thank You Angie for posting their story on the blog.
Hey Angie!! I will definantly put the Rice family in my prayer journal and on my prayer list at church on Sunday. God always has a plan for us even in our darkest hours. I hope you and your family are adjusting to cold weather again, far cry from 83 degrees. ~ Molly P
Angie, what an impact you have left on some many people! You are amazing! Please let the Rice family know we are praying for them. They are being lifted up in prayers!!! Please keep us posted on this family! Thanks for all you do!
We are praying for this family. Oh my goodness I cannot imagine. Please let them know we are praying and you have the BEST prayer warriors that read your blog! Absolutely the BEST! Thank you for posting this and letting us know!
In Prayer!!!! Brandon, Rhonda, Bailee, and Brooklyn
Angie thanks for sharing this prayer request and PLEASE let the " Rice Family " KNOW that they are being covered with prayer from many people in many states and areas around the world !!! "OUR GOD " has ALL POWER and in and through " HIM " mountains can be moved with the " Touch of the Masters Hand " and it is to that end that I pray for this young man and his family !!
In His Love and For His Glory , Debbie Kibby ( Bailee and Brooklyn Bryant's Mee Mee )
I am praying for this family, Angie. You might consider passing this on to our pal, Nate. He certainly has a following on his blog, too, of some serious prayer warriors. http://www.cfhusband.blogspot.com
Talk about miracles,by the way, not sure if you are checking on on that blog, but Tricia was given some pretty devastating news about post transplant lymphoma...that the treatments were not working...and then miraculously....they believe it may be in remission now!
TOMORROW IS BABY GWYNETH'S 1ST BIRTHDAY! ;-)
Take care, Angie, and I will keep this family in my prayers.
I will be praying for this family! I cannot imagine the heartache they must be experiencing. I too have a friend whose 5mos old son was diagnosed w/ leukemia just a week before Christmas. He is at Duke right now getting chemo. Everyday at 9am and 9pm (est)his little body recieves chemo in an effort to save his life. Since we are asking for prayer, I ask that you lift him up as well. No one ever expects to get a diagnosis like that...especially for their children! Thank you Lord for my health and for the health of my children!
My prayers are also with this family! Reminds me of a statement my pastor made at church a few months back that is OH SO TRUE. "God will always place Giants before you and in front of you - each one probably bigger than the previous. It is how you handle these Giants that brings you closer to God." He then told the story of David and Goliath. I pray this family can knock this giant called "cancer" right over.
I pray for complete and utter faith in God for this family. The power or prayers is amazing!
You know when I started to read this entry, I thought -- "Oh, sister, do we need prayer around here. Waiting to hear a decision about an interview Mike had. Trying to navigate the school system for assessments for our little guy, blah, blah, poor us, blah"
And then I read further and was humbled and embarrassed by my focus on my own needs. Absolutely we are praying for the Rice family and offering up our own "suffering" and trials for the sake of peace and healing to their family.
20 Comments:
I am praying! God Bless you and the Rice family. *Cindi*
I am praying for this family. May God Bless them in ways that he only knows how.
Christina (a preemie mom)
Our prayers are with everyone involved. Thank you for letting us know!
Eastside Lurker
Thanks for sharing; I said a prayer!
We are praying in Texas for Jeremy & The Rice Family. God Bless you all.
Crystal
I can't imagine. AT ALL! Tell her we are PRAYING!!!!!!!!!! Please keep us updated. Robin
She needs to run that ol Devil off in the name of Jesus Christ! We need to learn how much power We truly have through Jesus Christ. I am sick of Satan running ramped in this old world. I will be in agreement with the Rice family for Jeremy's healing. Thank You Angie for posting their story on the blog.
Hey Angie!! I will definantly put the Rice family in my prayer journal and on my prayer list at church on Sunday. God always has a plan for us even in our darkest hours. I hope you and your family are adjusting to cold weather again, far cry from 83 degrees.
~ Molly P
Angie, what an impact you have left on some many people! You are amazing! Please let the Rice family know we are praying for them. They are being lifted up in prayers!!!
Please keep us posted on this family!
Thanks for all you do!
Done.
Dear Angie,
We are praying for this family. Oh my goodness I cannot imagine. Please let them know we are praying and you have the BEST prayer warriors that read your blog! Absolutely the BEST!
Thank you for posting this and letting us know!
In Prayer!!!!
Brandon, Rhonda, Bailee, and Brooklyn
Consider it prayed. I'll continue to pray.. I'm passing this along on my blog.
I hope that is okay..
I will definitely keep this family in my prayers.
Kristin
Rachel, That is totally ok with me. I say keep the prayer chain going. Thanks girl!
Angie
Angie thanks for sharing this prayer request and PLEASE let the " Rice Family " KNOW that they are being covered with prayer from many people in many states and areas around the world !!! "OUR GOD " has ALL POWER and in and through " HIM " mountains can be moved with the " Touch of the Masters Hand " and it is to that end that I pray for this young man and his family !!
In His Love and For His Glory ,
Debbie Kibby ( Bailee and Brooklyn Bryant's Mee Mee )
I am praying for this family, Angie. You might consider passing this on to our pal, Nate. He certainly has a following on his blog, too, of some serious prayer warriors. http://www.cfhusband.blogspot.com
Talk about miracles,by the way, not sure if you are checking on on that blog, but Tricia was given some pretty devastating news about post transplant lymphoma...that the treatments were not working...and then miraculously....they believe it may be in remission now!
TOMORROW IS BABY GWYNETH'S 1ST BIRTHDAY! ;-)
Take care, Angie, and I will keep this family in my prayers.
Melissa
P.S. BABY GW
I will be praying for this family! I cannot imagine the heartache they must be experiencing. I too have a friend whose 5mos old son was diagnosed w/ leukemia just a week before Christmas. He is at Duke right now getting chemo. Everyday at 9am and 9pm (est)his little body recieves chemo in an effort to save his life. Since we are asking for prayer, I ask that you lift him up as well. No one ever expects to get a diagnosis like that...especially for their children! Thank you Lord for my health and for the health of my children!
My prayers are also with this family! Reminds me of a statement my pastor made at church a few months back that is OH SO TRUE. "God will always place Giants before you and in front of you - each one probably bigger than the previous. It is how you handle these Giants that brings you closer to God." He then told the story of David and Goliath. I pray this family can knock this giant called "cancer" right over.
I pray for complete and utter faith in God for this family. The power or prayers is amazing!
Hugs to this family!
Shannon
Oh my goodness, I can't imagine. You are right, Angie, we all need prayer!
You know when I started to read this entry, I thought -- "Oh, sister, do we need prayer around here. Waiting to hear a decision about an interview Mike had. Trying to navigate the school system for assessments for our little guy, blah, blah, poor us, blah"
And then I read further and was humbled and embarrassed by my focus on my own needs. Absolutely we are praying for the Rice family and offering up our own "suffering" and trials for the sake of peace and healing to their family.
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