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Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In my travels, I’ve heard plenty of people question if God really answers prayers. I assure you, He does.
The real question is, are we earnestly listening for His answer? Or are we waiting for the answer we want? God will respond one of three ways- yes, no, or wait. We don’t like to hear no, and we certainly don’t like waiting – We want what we want, and we want it now! I’ve heard people claim many times that God didn’t answer their prayer, when He actually did and the answer was no.
How often have we been reminded God is not a genie, or God is not a vending machine, where we pray and expect our desires to happen? We hear those comparisons, and agree with them, but maybe need an honest double-check of our heart and our attitude when we pray. Are we asking for our will to be done? Or His will be done?
Our 10-month old pup Barley got sick and ended up in ICU with double pneumonia and sepsis. We still can’t figure out how he got so sick so fast. He wasn’t doing well, and bills were racking up fast (thousands per day). We earnestly prayed for God’s intervention – Of course we wanted our sweet boy to get better, but we simply prayed for God to make it clear which way to go. And He did. Within hours of that prayer, we got a call saying things were going downhill fast, and if we want to say goodbye, come to the hospital now (it was 11:39pm).
Definitely not the outcome we wanted, but we asked for a clear sign and He gave it. With a sad heart, I had new understand of Job’s prayer – the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21). I think prayer is one of the ways we draw closer to our heavenly Father. He desires us to have a heart like His, that ultimately our will becomes aligned with His will. Then our prayers will look much different. And we’ll see for ourselves that He always answers.
I want to thank each of you for answering the call to pray for this ministry – chaplains, volunteers, inmates, staff – all in need of prayer every day. And I pray that God continues to draw each of you closer day by day, week by week, and together we may all someday align with His perfect will.
Grace and Peace,
Rick
PS. – Please join us at the Onesimus Benefit Breakfast coming up on Saturday, Feb 28, 9:00am at Waterway Church in Oxford. Breakfast is free, but reservations required. [click here] for registration and details.
Prayer Requests from last Thursday (12:00 Chapel Service):
- Rick– for Roland’s upcoming biopsy to show no cancer, yet ultimately God’s will to be done. Please prepare him and wife Deb for what comes next.
- Shaun– my brother, who’s done many rotten things to me. And for forgiveness.
- Munuz– my daughter, family, safety and health.
- Kelly– understanding and grace.
- Jerron– my fianc? Paige, understanding and patience for my case, speediness for my lawyer and getting information, and to get out soon.
- Manuel– my family, and to find out what is going on with my case. My daughter Sofia and my wife Adriana.
- Frank– my two daughters, Tabitha and Victoria.
- Carlos– family, get out soon.
- Terrence– for my ex-girlfriend (Rosanna), that we could restore communication and get through the fight together, may her faith be restored and give her a clear mind to not give up on relationship or her life goals, and to have faith in God.
- Andy– physical healing and salvation for my brother Jeff (clots) and sister Donna (cancer).
- Roland– for all inmates to walk with the Lord in how they live and what they say.
- Eugene– the homeless.
Prayer Requests from Medium Security (7:00pm Monday service):
- Ron– my brother, my stepson, and for everyone in here.
- Julius– I go to court on 24th, hope to get good deal and go home soon. Also thanking God for His goodness as my middle brother was incarcerated in mid-January and is already out. Also pray for my sister-in-law to have a healthy delivery- she’s 8 months pregnant.
- Jermain– my court date didn’t go well, moved to Wednesday, hoping to have charges dismissed. Also for my fianc? and my kids, that they would not be anxious or worried.
- Jonathan– my kids, my grandmom had eye surgery, and I thank God for being here.
- Jim M– my son Jacob.
- Vince– for my unborn baby to come healthy – due Feb 28. Also for the situation where my baby mom uses kids as pawns – not good.
- Troy– for my whole family that is praying for me, and for my daughter Lexis caught up in worldliness. For my wife who’s sick with a bad cold. Also for my brother Timothy, and a guy whose last name is Lock.
- Mike– my wife Robin, daughter Hannah, sons Michael and Gavin, and for forgiveness.
- Chuck– for my ex-wife to keep her sister away from my kids- she’s in a bad place and needs to wake up and see the light. And for my girlfriend who is on an emotional roller coaster because of my situation.
- Brandon– my Dad Earl and my little brother living in hotels, and my brother Clarence on F-block who is getting out next month.
- Jose G– my friend Matthew had 7 bypasses with open heart surgery- pray for his healing and recovery. Also pray for salvation of all in CCP.
- Phil T– for Joy and her husband, overwhelmed with the twins, and big praise that the second twin Josie is coming home tomorrow – Pray for everyone’s strength and endurance. Also pray good results at my wife’s follow up after breaking collar bone. And for my grandson Cubby who has sleep apnea and undergoing surgery Wed for tonsillectomy and adenoid removal – Mom very concerned.
- Erwin– for my sister with cancer.
- Ben– for anyone without faith to at least believe God exists.
- Woody– for the homeless out in this frigid cold, and for my uncle Glenn’s wife Jean with Alzheimer’s.
- Cory– for good temperament of my sister’s family – much anger there. My sister is taking care of everything with my situation plus an upcoming family vacation – no one else lifting a finger.
- Dan– for volunteer Andy out with a bad cold. And praise for my newly saved brother-in-law who didn’t hesitate to pray with my wife and I before dinner at a restaurant.
Prayer Requests from Minimum Security (8:30pm Monday service):
- Dustin– for God to touch her mind and heart to get sober.
- John– for friends and family. Hope to enter rehab soon and keep in touch with us.
- Dustin L– stay focused on the right path. Court date 2/23
- Nathan– family, girlfriend and son.
- Cephas– mom Deborah has stage four cancer. Also for wife and kids during this trying time.
- Cam– relief for wife’s depression
- John– son, mom, and baby’s mom.
- David– Get out and be free. To get his license back.
- Daniel– wife Grace court date coming up. Pray for his release 2/19 and be reunited with Grace soon.
- Tyrek– girlfriend for strength post-partum. Favorable outcome for court case Wednesday.
- Silas– keep mom safe. Help with case, it keeps dragging on.
- Johnny– mom stay healthy and son does good. Keep healing while in here.
- Jason– open his eyes and be humble. Spiritual guidance.
- Cooper– family and loved ones.
- Aaron– to find peace.
- All the men also expressed thankfulness for your prayers. They were also praying for each other as well. I ask that you pray that they continue to build each other up.
Prayer Requests from Onesimus Ministries
- Thankful for Waterway Church, hosting our 2nd Annual Benefit Breakfast on Feb 28th.
- Chaplain Rhonda, and all female inmates and staff within her mission field.
- Chaplain Heinrich, and all male inmates and staff within his mission field.
- Chaplain Jack Crans, as he leads chaplaincy program at Chester County Prison, and for prison leaders within his mission field. Also personal strength and healing from cancer.
- Volunteers ministering to the inmates at Chester County Prison.
- Families supporting each inmate, staff member, chaplain, and volunteer.
- Onesimus Ministries board of directors, and provision of some new members.
- Aftercare ministries and post-prison support organizations throughout Chester County.
If you’d like to find out more about mentoring and discipling a man or woman coming out of prison, drop us a note at outreach@onesimusministries.org.
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