Thanks Be Unto God

"Oh, precious Lord Jesus Christ, we do adore You with all our hearts. You are Lord of all. We bless You for becoming man so that You might be our next of kin. Being next of kin, we bless You for taking us into marriage union with Yourself and for redeeming us and our inheritance from the captivity into which we were sold. You have paid Your life for us You have ransomed Your people with Your heart's blood. Be, therefore, forever beloved and adored."(Prayer, Charles Spurgeon)

Help From On High....every breath for you

May every breath be for You. May every minute be spent for You. Help us to truly live while we live. And while we are busy in the world, as we must be for we are called to be diligent, may we sanctify the world for Your service. May we be lumps of salt in the midst of society. May our spirits and dispositions, as well as our conversations be heavenly. May there be an influence about us that will make the world better before we leave it. Lord, hear us in this thing. (Charles Sprurgeon, Prayer)

Sunday Scripture & Song

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7,8

More from..."Help from On High"

Lord Jesus, now take from us everything that would hinder the closest communion with God. Any wish or desire that might hamper us in prayer, please remove it, Lord. Any memory of sorrow or care that might hinder the fixing of our affection wholly on our God, take it away now. What do we have to do with idols any more? You have seen and observed us, You know where the difficulty lies. Help us against it, and may we now come boldly, not into the Holy Place only, but into the Holiest of All, where we would not dare come if our great Lord had not rent the veil, sprinkled the mercy seat with His blood and invited us to enter. (Charles Spurgeon, Prayer)

Help From On High...continued

Father, come and give rest to Your children. Take the helmet from our brow. Remove from us the weight of our heavy armor for a while. May we have perfect peace and be at rest. Oh, help us now, we pray. As You have already washed Your people in the fountain filled with blood and they are clean, now wash us from defilement in the water. With the basin and the pitcher, O Master, wash our feet again. Your cleansing will greatly refresh us. It will prepare us for innermost fellowship with You. For this reason, the priests washed themselves before they went into the Holy Place. (Charles Spurgeon, Prayer)

Help from on High

But now, O Lord, we desire to find You. Our longing is to feel Your presence, and it is heavenly that You are there. The sick bed is soft when You are there. The furnace of affliction grows cool when You are there. The house of prayer when You are present is none other than the house of God, the very gate of heaven. Come near, our Father, to Your children. Some of us are very weak in body and faint in heart. Soon, God, lay Your right hand on us and say, Fear not." Perhaps the world is attracting some of us. Come near to kill the influence of the world with Your superior power. Even to worship may not seem easy to some. The Dragon seems to pursue them, and the floods out of his mouth wash away their devotion. Give them great wings like those of an eagle, so that each may fly away into the place prepared for him and rest in the presence of God today. (Charles Spurgeon, Prayer)

Bringing it Back to Life...

Although in dire need of attention, 

suffering from neglect, 

this blog still stands. 

A reminder that all things

great or small when done

in the name of God...

will not die

but will rise....and soar once again..

In Memory of Arlene

Tomorrow is the third anniversary of our sweet sister Arlene's death. Every time I hear this song, it reminds me of Arlene's heart for reaching others for Jesus.  I think of her so often and miss her beautiful spirit and kind heart and the amazing love she graced my life with....May this be the desire of each of us....every day....to reach one more for Jesus...

My Savior My God

Praise His Name

Praise ye the Lord, Praise God is his sanctuary;
praise him in the firmament

of his power.

Praise him for his mighty acts:
praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Praise with the sound of the trumpet:
praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance:
praise him with stinged instruments and organs.

Praise him upon the loud cymbals:
praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 150

Prayer For All Who Are Abused

You chose, O loving God,
to enter this world
quietly, humbly, and as an outcast.
Hear our prayers
on behalf of all who are abused:

For children,
who suffer at the hands
of parents whom they trust and love;
for spouses,
beaten and destroyed
by the very one
who promised to love
and to cherish them forever;
for all people
ignored, hated and cheated.
by the very neighbor
who could be the closest one
to offer your love.

Hear the cry of the oppressed.
Let the fire of your Spirit fill their hearts
with the power of vision, and hope.
Grant to them empowerment to act,
that they may not be passive victims
of violence and hatred.
Fulfill for them the promises you have made,
that their lives may be transformed
and their oppression ended.

Turn the hearts of the oppressor unto you
that their living may be changed
by your forgiving love;
and their abusive actions
and oppressive ways brought to an end.

Amen.

- Vienna Cobb Anderson

For Our Soldiers

Praying Always

Is any among you afflicted?
let him pray
Is any merry?
let him sing psalms

Is any sick among you?
let him call for the elders of
the church and let them pray over
him, anointing him with oil in
the name of the Lord.

And the prayer of faith shall save
the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;
and if he have committed sins,
they shall be forgiven

Confess your faults one to another,
and pray for one another,
that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man
availeth much.

James 5:13-16

Remembering Arlene

Miss you sweet sister.....

But he was wounded for our transgressions,

he was bruised for our iniquities:

the chastisement of our peace was upon him;

and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

February Prayers

"It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright;
nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray;
but we must patiently, believingly,
continue in prayer until we obtain an answer."

George Muller

Prayers For our Troops

Please say a prayer for all of our Brave Men & Women who are marching into harms way in Marjah, Afghanistan. To show them & their families that we are supporting them 100% - Let our Troops KNOW America is praying for them! I have never stopped praying for them.

Holy Is His Name

And Hannah prayed and said.......

How I rejoice in the Lord! How he has blessed me. Now I have an answer for my enemies, for the Lord has solved my problem. How I rejoice!! No one is as holy as the Lord! THERE IS NO OTHER GOD.

NOR ANY ROCK LIKE OUR GOD
1 Samuel 2:1,2 

 

Welcome 2010--- Prayers For January

They delight in doing everything the Lord wants;
day and night they think about his law. They are like
trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each
season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in
all they do, they prosper.
Psalm 1:2-3





Lord, by your Spirit, draw me to the river of your love. Cause my roots to go deep into your streams of water, and make all that I do prosper. Give me the desire to read your Word and to meditate in it day and night. Most of all, empower me to do what it says. And for the fruit that is borne in the year ahead, I will give you all the glory. acknowledgement:One year Book ofPraying through the BibleCheri Fuller

Prayers for December

O Holy Night

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Prayers for September

Confess your faults one to another,
and pray one for another,
that ye may be healed.
"The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16

In Remembrance of Arlene Wilburn

I pray you are blessed as you visit here and share in the videos and
words as we remember Arlene Wilburn, wife, mother, grandmother, friend,
sister, precious daughter of the King....

One year ago, February 20, 2008 the day of her glorious homecoming ...













From Sara:

I have known Arlene for so long, I don't remember the time before I knew her. She and Barry were a part of the "Old Mamre" church family that I grew up in. We shared the history of green pews, Jericho Marches and The Lion Of Judah led by Sister Rose. More than attending the same church, we have always been together at the heart. More than always knowing them, I have always known I was loved by Arlene and Barry Wilburn. Barry played piano at our wedding in 1986 and Arlene came over to our house the day our first son came home from the hospital in 1988. When I leaf through old boxes I find cards from showers and weddings and graduations signed, "love Arlene & Barry." I remember Amber in frilly little dresses and Arlene telling me how at 4 years old she answered the phone and took a message for a prayer request which she delivered perfectly to her mom.

I also remember the day that we got a call to pray for Arlene because she had gone to the Heritage Hospital emergency room because she was sick, and some doctor there told her she had colon cancer. And how ticked off we all were because it could not possibly be true but; it was true. Impossibly true. Arlene had surgery and so quickly, it seemed all was back to normal. The cancer was a blip on the radar of many years we have lived alongside one another and certainly it couldn't threaten the years to come. But it came back, still impossible to accept. I think Arlene made it impossible because her faith was so great, sickness was lost in the shadow of her Jesus. Her laugh was the same, her drive to serve the downtrodden and to go to the prisons was the same. Her voice and smile and red hair and the familiar, "love you guys" when we said good bye was real and alive and we couldn't believe that satan would dare try to touch her again.

We lived the final months close to Arlene, she fed us more than we fed her despite our schedule of meals brought to their home. She laid on the couch and life radiated from her spirit. The "Old Mamre" days so long lost to all of us fell on us again in her living room as we gathered to pray over her in praise and tongues and we were reminded of our lives together, and God's goodness in the middle. I also remember looking at her in one of those last days thinking that she was more of heaven than of earth. But Jesus looked so beautiful on her face that I found myself envious.
A year later, the idea that she is no longer a few miles away is still unreal to me. I still have moments when I think I am going to e mail her something... I can still hear her voice and I think it is because I so often heard my name spoken by her in love. Arlene taught me to speak love out loud. It is my hope that some day those I love will remember their name spoken in love by me and if so, it will be credit due to Arlene.

I miss her terribly. I cry for her still. Not for her, for me. Not for anything left undone or unsaid. She, like Christ, could truly say "It is finished." She ran the race set before her. Ran with hands held out in worship and with her face lifted toward heaven. She ran smiling and singing and laughing into the arms of Jesus.
I cannot believe she is gone because she is so very alive. Just too far away for me to hear her right now. Arlene still speaks to me in moments when I wonder if my passion for the Lord is gone because no matter how distant I feel from God, I know that one day I will hear Arlene say again, 'Love you guys!" when the distance between us is finally closed and we stand together before the throne. For me, the life of Arlene Wilburn will forever ring the truth...Jesus is alive!











From Pat

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ARLENE~

I've been thinking about Arlene more then usual this week because we are about to come upon the one year anniversary of her passing. I have to admit, that even after one year, it's hard for me to grasp that she is no longer on this earth, but home with her heavenly Father.

I sit here amazed at how she pulled us all together with one common cause....the love of God. That was Arlene. My precious sister in the Lord left me with so many loving memories. She was my lunch buddy. We'd meet at Applebee's and have lunch, talk about our kids, share the wonders of God and leave feeling blessed. I knew Arlene since she was a teenager. I saw her fall in love and marry her "Bear". I remember when Amber was little girl and her Arlene dressed her up in more ruffles then I had ever seen! Years of beautiful memories.

The memory that stays in my mind? Arlene giving of herself. Her prison ministry that was SO important to her. Going on the streets and loving the homeless. Giving them water on a steamy hot summer day, and sharing Jesus with them, just months before her homegoing.

I was privileged to sit next to her on her couch, and hold her hand while a room full of believers prayed for her healing. We wanted to keep her here with us, and we believed that God would heal her. He was true to his word, He did heal her and gave her a brand new body!

"What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see. When I look upon His face, the one who saved my by His Grace". Arlene was healed - what a glorious homecoming she must have had!!!

I will see you again....and what a day that will be!!
Pat











From Trish

Tuesday evening @ 8:05 p.m.

As I write this, Arlene's 5th Grandchild is on his way. Yes, her daughter Amber is in the hospital about to deliver a son, "Greyson." Arlene and I met as teenagers in Youth Group at Mamre A/G and I have so many memories

that it would be nigh on impossible for this space to contain them all.

So, I will tell you of the joy she felt as each grandchild was born! And I am certain that she is in that room tonight. I see her smiling as she eagerly awaits Greyson's first cry...I miss you sweet friend.

Love,

Trish













From Terry

I can't begin to tell you fully what Arlene meant to me and my family.I thank the Lord for having her as a friend and a prayer warrior for Dad Golden.I am so thankful for the day when I first found her and that was at Miss Patty's. She has left a huge space in my life when she left this world and entered heaven.I am sure that she met there some of the prisoners that she visited and witnessed to here on this earth and she will eventually meet so many street people that she and Barry were so kind to and brought the gospel to. My words are so inadequate so I have put down here some of the pure gold that I have gleaned from her blog. This is Arlene and what she stood for! Thank you for setting this day apart for Arlene and letting us tell everybody how precious she was to us all...

Love Terry

ARLENE SAYS... It's time to thank the Lord for all He has done and is doing for me.

1.. It's time to thank you for praying for our family throughout this crisis time.

2.. It's time for us to know that God is really doing something so very special in our lives and get excited about it.

3.. It's time to connect with old friends.

4.. It's time for us to go gather the Harvest of Souls that are out there waiting for us.

5.. It's time for us to minister the healing of Jesus Christ to people that are suffering.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; surely he bore our sorrows and joys and by his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 -

and the words to the song. STOMP! STOMP! STOMP!

He is our Peace, that has broken down every wall.
He is our Peace.
He is our Peace.
He is our Peace, that has broken down every wall.
He is our Peace.
He is our Peace.
Cast all your cares on Him, for He careth for you.
He is our Peace. He is our Peace.

1. Knowing that I belong to the Lord Jesus Christ and that his angels surround me. What a wonderful Savior!

2. Having the best husband possible for me. Now don't get me wrong, he's not perfect for someone else, just me!

3. Bear being blessed with a wonderful job that pays well and has wonderful benefits. You just can't outgive God.

4. Having a family that loves me. Am and Chad. Thank God. Many families have no relationship at all.

5. Now comes the best...the grandkids. Kaitlynne (K) has always been special to me. She's our 1st and so that makes her special. She loves reading. She's pretty calm most of the time.

6. Then comes Tristin (T) what an absolute joy! He's a handful but a wonderful handful. I wouldn't change anything about him.

7. Bella - her smiles absolutely lite up my life. How could you not just love her. I love when she talks her gibberish to you. She will look you straight in the eyes and tell you something VERY important I am sure.

8. Then comes Hudsyn...hurry, hurry, hurry. Not really, but we can't wait. She's gonna be loved more than she can even imagine...if you imagine stuff like that in the womb.

9. Gracie - she is so pretty and such a little tomboy/princess. I don't see her near as often as I do the others but she is precious to me.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Oh, My Aching Bones! Today I had to go to the Cancer Center to get my blood checked. While I was there, a lady I would say was either Arabic or Indian came in. She was probably 65+ (just guessing). I heard her say to the nurse, oh, my aching bones...I ache all over...I hurt all over.....

I have not been able to get that lady off of my mind all day. I have prayed for her and ask that you do too! Don't know her name, don't know anything else about her, but she was hurting physically. I wanted to go over to her and hug her; tell her that everything would be all right. That was when I realized that if she is not a Christian it will never be all right. Wow! How many are dying and going to hell all around us and we are not praying while we could be. There are so many missed opportunities for us to pray for people.

Dear God, please never, ever let me lose compassion for my brothers and sisters or those that will be. Diligently I'm not very good with being diligent some days..how about you? I think if I were good at it, I would get more done and spend more time in reading the Word and prayer. At times I feel so inadequate, but then I realize that if I would spend more time doing what I am supposed to be doing that I would be adequate. We do what we can do and then God does the rest. It's up to Him as long as we are doing our part. There are so many scriptures regarding diligence that you would think I would "get it". Thank you God for your grace and mercy! Help me be more diligent in the Kingdom for you!Diligently Can you imagine if Jesus had never come to forgive us of our sins. Life can be hard at times now but we have that Blessed Hope. Without Jesus, we have no hope at all! We can now have hope, joy, peace and life everlasting! If you don't know Him you are more than welcome to ask Him into your heart. He will live there. I know...HE LIVES IN MINE!









From Deb:

I never met Arlene. Not in the physical sense of the word. But we were connected by our hearts. I am unable to count the times that I was encouraged by her words and was uplifted by her prayers. She was truly an inspiration to me, spurring me on in my faith. For her faith was unwavering - through all that she endured, her only goal was to be the best servant she could be for her Jesus. Our Jesus. One day, we'll meet face to face in Heaven and I will be able, finally, to give her a hug and hear her sweet voice and gaze into her sparkling eyes. Arlene, I miss you - especially today as I honor your memory. Borrowing from that old Andre Crouch song...."it won't be long, 'til we'll be leavin' here, it won't be long and we'll be goin' home." I'm trusting that you're saving me a seat!







From Cathy

Arlene was such an encourager even when she was sick. Her words live on in some of the messages she left me regarding caring for my special needs son. I will never forget her zest for life ... and bringing people to the foot of the cross to meet Jesus. Heaven must be full of orange flowers because since Arlene arrived, it's always springtime.







From Donna

I came to know Arlene through her blog and loved her immediately; she showed me time and time again the precious love of Jesus....and how to live life with the blessed assurance of eternity with Him, safe in His love. The length of time I got to share with her was short, I never met her face to face, never heard her voice; but ohh how she touched my life with her heart, her words, her love and her sweet spirit....I re-visited her blog a lot this week as I was preparing this remembrance post. It is amazing the many lives she touched....and I stopped to thank God, thank you precious Lord, for blessing me with her....

Many times I like to picture her strolling the steets of gold...and I think to myself..."I can only imagine", which is why I chose this song....

Continue in Prayer - January 2009

It is interesting to remark how large a portion of Sacred Writ is occupied with the subject of prayer, either in furnishing examples, enforcing precepts, or pronouncing promises. We scarcely open the Bible before we read, "Then began men to call upon the name of the Lord;" and just as we are about to close the volume, the "Amen" of an earnest supplication meets our ear. Instances are plentiful. Here we find a wrestling Jacob-there a Daniel who prayed three times a day-and a David who with all his heart called upon his God. On the mountain we see Elias; in the dungeon Paul and Silas. We have multitudes of commands, and myriads of promises. What does this teach us, but the sacred importance and necessity of prayer? We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in his Word, he intended to be conspicuous in our lives. If he has said much about prayer, it is because he knows we have much need of it. So deep are our necessities, that until we are in heaven we must not cease to pray. Dost thou want nothing? Then, I fear thou dost not know thy poverty. Hast thou no mercy to ask of God? Then, may the Lord's mercy show thee thy misery! A prayerless soul is a Christless soul. Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honour of a Christian. If thou be a child of God, thou wilt seek thy Father's face, and live in thy Father's love. Pray that this year thou mayst be holy, humble, zealous, and patient; have closer communion with Christ, and enter oftener into the banqueting-house of his love. Pray that thou mayst be an example and a blessing unto others, and that thou mayst live more to the glory of thy Master.

The motto for this year must be, "Continue in prayer."



Charles Spurgeon
Morning Devotional
Heartlight- 01/02/09

Prayers For December

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night......

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid....

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people....



For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord....

America - Chris Tomlin

Praise You In This Storm -

Welcome to By His Stripes

Welcome to By His Stripes, a prayer blog dedicated in loving memory of Arlene Wilburn.

I never had the pleasure of meeting Arlene in person, face to face; but God gave me the awesome privilege to celebrate life with her, to pray for her, to love her, to call her friend and embrace her as a sweet sister in Christ; all through the simple act of blogging. She touched my heart in ways I believe God desires of all. By faithfully reaching out to others, through belief, trust and hope in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

My hope and prayer is this....whether you come here to ask for prayer for yourself or to offer a prayer for another....please come to His throne filled with thanksgiving and praise, guided by the power of the Holy Spirit, with a heart full of desire for intimate communion with our Father...believing...always believing
You are healed....
By His Stripes


HOW IT WORKS


To post a prayer request, all you need to do is go to the comment section and enter your prayer. When you hit submit, it will appear. Please...type as much as you like, you do not have to mention names if you do not wish and you can post anonymously... While this is a public blog, let us always be sensitivite to others. There are a number of prayer warriors who receive all comments, all requests for prayer automatically via email.

To offer prayer for an existing prayer, again, go to the comment section of the post. Once you submit it, it will post.

This blog is not intended for discussion, debate or opinion. It is a quiet refuge, an oasis of sorts to lift up the needs of others to the Lord. As administrator of the blog, I do monitor closely for inappropriate comments and/or spam.

God's blessings to all.