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Cathey Cone's avatar

Wow, well, this one really hit home for me. A year before I quit my job I knew I needed to quit my job, but I let a lot of excuses hold me back. In a variety of ways, God tried to tell me it was time. Finally one day I was walking on a beach and the message from God could not have been more clear and it stopped me in my tracks. It was "What are you waiting for? Your timeline is not My timeline for you." I went home and wrote my letter of resignation. There was not a lifeline or another job or even a plan for what was next. I needed faith in God's plan and not my own. The paralytic had put his faith in the pool and Jesus showed him exactly where his faith needed to be. Once I stepped out in faith, God provided more than I could ever have hoped for. The question of "do you want to be healed?" requires letting go of the pool and putting faith in the real miracle worker. I can see how this passage made you think about taking the leap and hitting the road. God said, "What are you waiting for?" Good on you, Don, for having the faith to listen and go. My favorite prayer walk so far!

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Philip J Germani's avatar

I was at a similar place about a year ago. After years of dementia (omg what an ordeal, with Medicaid and nursing homes and what not!!!), my dad was admitted to hospice. I knew I needed to focus on him and his final days or months, and that would not be possible if I continued to work for this miserable corporation at this horrendous job. So... I quit my job and "retired" early. Well, dad has been gone over 6 months now and I have been trying to get back into the workforce and nothing has worked out. I feel like a canoe in a huge lake with no paddle and approaching storms. This message resonates with me because I keep getting the question, "Is that what you really want, Phil?" I think I do want to return to work in some capacity, and I can't imagine how I will survive financially on reduced social security. But at my age it's hard to get hired. It's a very uncomfortable place to be!

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Donny Mac's avatar

Thank you for sharing Philip, I am praying God will provide you direction and peace.

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Philip J Germani's avatar

Thank you so much, Donny. Your prayers are very much appreciated! I would also ask that you pray for my country, the USA, which is being torn apart by forces for "rights" to abortion, sodomy, and every other evil thing imaginable. If God does not deliver us, all of western civilization will fall. Thank you for responding to my comment and may God have mercy on us all.

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Donny Mac's avatar

I am praying

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Philip J Germani's avatar

If you ever get to northern Kentucky, there is the Ark Encounter. Fascinating!

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Donny Mac's avatar

very cool. I'll try to make it out there

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Philip J Germani's avatar

I know you are, and it is so very much appreciated! Prayers for you as well. May God bless us and strengthen us in this fight.

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Cathey Cone's avatar

I wish you all the best with navigating "retirement". My husband got out of his field five years ago and took a "retirement" job at a school. It's not a huge salary but the health insurance definitely makes it worth it and he loves being around the kids. Maybe you could find something outside of your usual lane that you would enjoy more. I know the toll a miserable job can take and I have no regrets about leaving mine. God has provided to make up for my income. I'll be praying God leads you to just the right spot for you. Keep an open mind - He has a way of surprising us. :)

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Philip J Germani's avatar

That is such great advice. Navigating "retirement" is much harder than I ever imagined. The idea of taking a lower pressure job that at least pays the bills is a good idea. I have to believe that God will lead me on the right path. Oh, there is so much being thrown at me and so many of us! It's a very difficult time and worse than I ever imagined! May the Lord have mercy.

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Cathey Cone's avatar

I read your comment below and the fact that right now you're "sitting and doing nothing". Sometimes we need to do that before we can change direction. You've been through a lot caring for your dad and working a job you hated. That takes a huge toll physically, mentally and emotionally. So while you are RESTING, pray for God to direct your path while you heal. I'll be praying He orchestrates your next steps. Yes, retirement ain't what it used to be! We have to get creative to make it work. Don't be too hard on yourself and just stay open!

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Philip J Germani's avatar

Thanks for the follow up. Very helpful!

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Lucy Bernas's avatar

I trusted God all the way after I got sick and when my long term disability were approaching 7 year period last December 31,2021. I made a decision to step down the job I love as I approach the management that January 2022 I will be back PRN as I am still traveling for my health care. They mandated me and right that time I said I will write up my resignation and drop it off as I still have 90 days left . I walk away 21 years active with my job and thankfully I took a long term insurance that I am so grateful for. One door closes and another door open and I work for myself as the opportunity came to me and I took it. I am very satisfied with my job home visits with my clients and set my own schedule . Sometimes we just have to take leap of faith .

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Cathey Cone's avatar

Clearly God has provided! He is faithful as we are faithful. 💕

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Lucy Bernas's avatar

Amen! He is so Faithful for us all. At first when I was told I have to get the thing and I said no she said by end of December you no longer an employee. I cried meet few ladies for coffee that afternoon the opportunity was were handed to me and my husband added me to his health insurance and yes we have to pay for myself as his all covered but spouse you pay but still much cheaper for cobra.

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Anne Wooten's avatar

Philip, I will definitely add you to my prayer list for direction. I also agree we need to pray for our nation as well as Canada and other nations of this world! Hang in there and stay vulnerable to God, and in HIS timing he will guide you. That is what I try and do each and every day my friend! Take care and God bless!

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Philip J Germani's avatar

Thanks so much, Anne. Direction is exactly what I need! It's so hard to deal with a major transition while the world is in such chaos. All these things seem so overwhelming, but it really is in God's hands. There is only so much we can do except pray and allow Him to work. Have a blessed week!

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Donna Armstrong's avatar

I went back to work after my husband passed, more for the social aspect than the money. Although the money definitely helped. It was just a cafe, Panera Bread if your familiar with it. I absolutely loved the job. I was their Barista but did everything. Then Covid happened and completely changed everything. I wouldn't be to picky. I would just take a job somewhere. Good Luck!

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Donna Armstrong's avatar

Its my favorite as well. It maybe the push that I have needed.

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Cathey Cone's avatar

Donna, if you feel God is telling you to go, don't let all the "what ifs" hold you back. Going with God's plan a year ago was probably the best decision I've ever made. Trust Him! I'll be praying for you!

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Donna Armstrong's avatar

Thanks Cathey.

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Lucinda Jolly's avatar

Trusting God is a bit scary but He has never let me down when I have.

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Leigh Sims's avatar

I’m praying for you Donna as you continue to seek guidance.

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Tricia Thornton's avatar

Love that question, Cathey!

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Cathey Cone's avatar

It has become my very favorite question!

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Lucinda Jolly's avatar

I remember a story by my old pastor about a lady he would visit. He would go once a week to pray with her about her ailments. She would tell him that Jesus wanted her to be sick. Each week he would hear that story from her. He finally had enough. All of his prayers were not helping. He went to her medicine cabinet and saw all her medications. He asked her for a trash bag. She asked why? He said he was going to throw out all of her medicines. She got very upset and no! That was medicine she needed. He said to her, I thought you said Jesus wanted you to be sick. He was there to help with that. She realized she was making excuses and that Jesus wanted to heal her.

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Tricia Thornton's avatar

Love that story!!!

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Lucinda Jolly's avatar

I don’t how long you have been in Nashville but the story came from Pastor Billy Roy Moore. He was the Pastor in the early 70’s that started a worship revolution. He was an awesome preacher of God’s word. I miss him greatly.

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Tricia Thornton's avatar

Since 1990 so I missed him. But loved the story.

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Angela Oliveira's avatar

WOW!! How much wisdom of this Shepherd!

Thanks for sharing!

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Lucy Bernas's avatar

I have to read this a few times as few years back the beginning of my beautification, I was feeling sorry for myself and within me I was very angry and questioned God why did you allow this to happened to me? My siblings reminded me to focus myself with my faith and asked God for guidance. The heart is a strange thing it seems like nothing can heal it and there are no words for the depth of it. God spoke to me that to get through hard times , I have to have faith. Faith is a connector that hooks and binds you and God together. It makes you and God concurrent in purpose and aim. Through faith , you and God are bought into each other’s presence. God transforms your mind and cleanses it of negative thoughts when you study his word. In your own power, you can do nothing to set yourself free, yet God can overcome whatever you are facing. In fact, God will work through your affliction to make you genuinely and help you fulfill your purpose in life. Whether it is pain or paralysis in your limbs or an illness that affects you internally, health problems can severely limit what you can accomplish. The same is true for emotional and spiritual difficulties, fears and regrets can torment you to the point that you feel trapped in your situation. Therefore I trust God to heal me to the depths of my soul, he turn my limitations into opportunities for surprising fruitfulness and teach me to live in his comfort and abundance.

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Angela Oliveira's avatar

Lucy, It was so good to read your text and this sentence deeply impacted me:

"I trust God to heal me to the bottom of my soul".

Amen!

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Lucy Bernas's avatar

For me too as my siblings reminded me to trust God .

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Elaine Hamilton's avatar

Funny you selected these readings and asked this question. I wonder myself why some of my prayers go unanswered. I must ask myself. Is what I am asking really what I want? I will have to reflect a bit on my current prayers.

Several times during my life I had asked the Lord for strength and courage to end several bad relationships. I just waited for the right time. It was so hard for me to make the decisions to end them but one day I couldn’t take any more emotional abuse. I got my divorce papers served and left a thriving business, and one day I wrote a letter of resignation without having another position to move onto. My prayers were answered all along I was asking. I just needed to listen and admit to myself THIS IS WHAT I WANT. Just Do It!!!!

I love the song by Donna Summers and Barbra Streisand “Enough is Enough”.

I played it over and over while asking for my strength and courage to make the above changes in my life. The decisions were successful!! God knew better.

I need to start playing “Enough is Enough” and Just Do It!!!!!

Thanks Donny.

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Anne Wooten's avatar

I shared in the 1st blog I'm writing I was hanging on to the past with a lot of self-manufactured regrets and resentments. I prayed and asked God to help me move forward, but prior to Nov. 2019, it was I who didn't seem to want to let go of the past and move forward. For me, it took finally letting go and forgiving myself and asking God's forgiveness. Gradually, my faith grew stronger over the next couple of years. This is all God's timing and not mine. I still remind myself of that from time to time. I am truly amazed how God works when you stand in faith and walk the path HE is leading you. He provides everything needed because you are vulnerable and totally surrendering to HIS will. He never fails. FAITH is totally surrendering, letting go, and trusting God will provide everything you need for whatever you are facing. Like Cathey, I too can see how this scripture may have had an affect as to why you decided to take this leap of faith to go to Nashville to finish the recordings. Totally surrendering to God and trusting he will provide. Thank you again for this wonderful Prayer Walk. Prayers and God Bless!

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Anne Wooten's avatar

This morning’s devotion was on this very scripture. The lie is we can never change. The truth is we can, but can and only should be through Jesus. We also have to have the desire to be free and want to change. Jesus is calling each one of us to action, but we’re the ones that must have the desire ti do so. I wanted to add and share this today, since God led me to this scripture again. For me, I think God’s reminding me to not stop but to keep moving forward even when it gets a little tough.

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Donna Armstrong's avatar

Wow! I think you really touched home with this one. Yesterday in answer to Graham's poem. I told Graham that it was time for me to move on. The Anniversary of my husbands's death is Monday and I no longer want to live in the past. However, I have wanted to move to the beach for a couple years. I have prayed over it for some time. Has God been just waiting for me to pack up and leave? I have no reason not to. This prayer walk certainly connected with me. Please pray for me on Monday. Each year on 6/27 at 1:03pm, its a tough time. Thank You

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Linda Lubitz's avatar

Donna, hugs to you, I will be praying for you on Monday. My husband passed 17 years ago this August, it’s still a hard day for me, there are sad moments but also I cherish the wonderful memories we made together. Trust your faith, God will lead you. It took a leap of faith for me to move 2 years ago, am glad I did.

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Jody Liebenow's avatar

Donna I will be praying for you on Monday . I know how tough it is . It will be 19 years in August my husband passed away.

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Maria Giovannoli's avatar

Donna I am praying for you and keeping you in my thoughts on Monday. My husband passed March 23rd tomorrow will be 12 weeks. I just sold my house and everyday I pray to god for guidance. God is with you as well guiding you through your next steps 🙏🏻

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Laura's avatar

I am sorry for your loss. I will pray for you. Bless you.

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Anne Wooten's avatar

Donna, I will be praying for you! Take care and God bless!

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Tricia Thornton's avatar

You’ll be covered in prayer!!

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Jun 22, 2022
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Donna Armstrong's avatar

Bless you Susan.

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Laura's avatar

Thank you for a great prayer walk. I pray that God will help me share the gifts he has given me and find what feeds my soul. I am in a new season of my life and feel like I need a little direction. Maybe I don't need direction I just need to have faith and let go and let God???

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Tricia Thornton's avatar

Hard to do but surrender it at His feet. He’s our warrior!

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Cindy Athanaseas's avatar

James 4:2-3 came to mind ... to paraphrase Jesus said, “you have not because you ask not.” That has been true for me at times but I also think sometimes I’m asking with the wrong intentions. I need to check my motives and be willing to accept in faith the way He decides is best for me to heal. Thanks for the powerful words!

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Tricia Thornton's avatar

Love that verse.

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Philip J Germani's avatar

This is my first prayer walk. Beautifully filmed and a wonderful and timely message.

The scenery reminds me of the many “rails to trails” that we have here in Ohio. I used to ride my bike through these parks for decades and really miss those times of peace and tranquility. Perhaps I will get back on the trails (maybe just walking this time), but right now I am sitting here doing absolutely nothing and that’s just fine with me. It’s where I’m at I suppose. Just listening and praying….

You have asked us to consider what little thing we can be faithful in this week. This is not easy to answer. I will start with this. As I said before, I am content right now to sit here and do nothing. Part of my problem is that I think too much and try to find my own solutions to my problems. I need to let go. Really, truly, LET GO. I need to believe that the Lord does want what is best for me and that He will guide me in the right direction. Actually, that is not such a little thing for me, but it’s what is in my heart right now. My mom used to tell me over and over again to pray, “Jesus, I trust in You.” This will be my prayer for the week.

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Tricia Thornton's avatar

That’s a short but very powerful prayer!

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Philip J Germani's avatar

Yes, it sure is. 🙏❤️

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Tricia Thornton's avatar

I am getting around to making a comment. This walk, Donny, was beautiful in so many ways! Your intentional questions really got me thinking and praying and crying out to the Lord. Do I want to be healed? Of course, I would say, YES! But, am I present and still enough to turn toward Him to follow His lead?! I would say that this is a daily battle. I have been doing a Bible Study the last couple of weeks that is tying all of this together for me. There were several verses today that stood out, but the one that is grabbing my attention the most is about His love for me (and all of us). Isaiah 54:10, ''Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed." He chose the paralytic to love with tender yet directional love. He gives us free will, so he chooses us, but we do have be in attunement with him and attentive to His direction and love. My prayer is daily that I would take up my cross and turn my eyes, heart, soul and mind toward His loving gaze that holds me so tight. I just ask now for prayer as I am walking through a season of moving forward but yet trying so hard to be present and still. Thank you to all of you! Blessings!!

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Myriam Descrozaille's avatar

I totally agree with you it's a daily struggle

There is only one thing left to do and that is to pray, be attentive and trust

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Cathey Cone's avatar

Praying for the right balance for you in being present but going forward!

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Teresa Montgomery's avatar

Hi Don thank you for this prayer walk. I really thought and prayed about this and it was Interesting that something God showed me was that I have allowed things from my past to hinder me from really moving on with Him. Then I read today's reading from the devotional I am using and it is from 2 Kings 23:3-7 and I realised that those things in my life have actually become idols even though I haven't consciously reflected on them. They are idols because I haven't taken Jesus at his word when he has said "the old is passed away" and that he has set me free. I know for me that is a huge thing. I am always praying to be free and to love God more and all that but I just have to believe. I just thought that it was interesting that that was my normal daily reading and it coincided with this prayer walk challenge.

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Donny Mac's avatar

beautiful. Thank you for sharing

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Jody Liebenow's avatar

Thank you for the amazing prayer walk. I thank God everyday for all the gifts I have received .

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Terri's avatar

Tracy, my son's girlfriend is having a really hard time right now. She tells me the devil stressing her right now. Please pray for her in this trying time. Thank you so much.

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Donny Mac's avatar

praying now

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Terri's avatar

Thank you so much. Praying has helped Tracy.

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Cathey Cone's avatar

Prayers up!

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Terri's avatar

Thank you so much.

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Linda Lubitz's avatar

Donny, another inspiring prayer walk, beautiful scenery, loved hearing the birds along the way. Your walks have been a great help to me these past few weeks, am still dealing with back/leg issues so can’t take walks yet. The prayer you said at the beginning of the walk touched my heart, especially when you prayed for healing. My faith is carrying me at this time, am trusting the healing will happen, I just need to be patient.

There have been times in my life when going through trials or wondering what is next for me, i would ask for God for guidance, it took me awhile to learn that the answer didn’t always come as soon as I thought, or it was right in front of me the whole time, I just had to open my heart to see it.

Thanks for sharing your walks and for your prayers.

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Angela Oliveira's avatar

Please pray for my sister - her name is Cintia - lives in Mexico and had emergency surgery today (kidney stone), she is recovering well but we are concerned because her husband is on a business trip and as a family we wanted to be with her, mainly me because she is my little sister and my best friend. 😢😢 I am with a heavy heart (pray for me too)🙌🙏

Thanks Donny for the walk and message (again it touched my heart)🙏🙏

God bless them!!

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Donny Mac's avatar

I am praying for your sisters healing in the name and power of Jesus and for you too have the peace of God.

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Angela Oliveira's avatar

🙏🙌🙏🙌

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Myriam Descrozaille's avatar

Angela je pense très fort à vous et votre soeur, mes prières vous accompagnent

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Angela Oliveira's avatar

Myriam

Merci pour votre prière !

C'est bien d'avoir quelqu'un qui parle une autre langue - Différent l'anglais - donc je ne me sens pas seul - lol

(désolé si le français est incorrect, j'ai utilisé le traducteur)

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Myriam Descrozaille's avatar

C'est parfait, cette traduction est très correcte. J'espère que la santé de votre soeur s'améliore.

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Angela Oliveira's avatar

Oui, ma soeur va mieux et est soignée et choyée par son mari et ses amis. Merci pour vos prières!

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Anne Wooten's avatar

Angela, I will be lifting her and you up in prayer. Keep us updated! 🙏❤️

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Angela Oliveira's avatar

Hi Anne, thanks for the prayers!

I just talked to her, still in the hospital, she had a little pain at night, but it's ok, they removed the probe but she keeps the catheter for 10 days, she's expected to go home later today.

My brother-in-law comes back from his trip today, this will put us at ease. Keep praying!

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Myriam Descrozaille's avatar

It takes me a long time to put into words what I want to write, it is complicated for me to express myself because I have repressed many things. I don't have the life I would have liked and for years I simply asked God: Lord give me the strength to accept and to bear what I have to live and then after a while I got tired of it and I said : stop Lord I can't do it anymore, so I was much more precise in my requests but rarely satisfied by the answers, maybe I don't see them, maybe I don't hear them. We all want to be healed, but do I hear, do I see, do I accept the answers he gives me? today I trust Him and I try to accept because only He knows what is good for me. Thank you Don for these prayer walks that allow me to reflect, meditate and think about the importance of God in my life; that also give me the opportunity to go deep within myself to find answers that I may not want to see or hear. Questions - excuses!!!

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