How You Can Pray For Us–Updated

People from all fifty states and many different countries read this blog. Almost everyone who reads is a committed Christian. I am thankful for you.

You probably know we are now in the center of the projected path of what is expected to become Hurricane Isaac. As you might expect, we are collectively concerned about what this will do to all of us along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

We certainly are not looking forward to the prospects of another storm, especially on the seventh anniversary of  Hurricane Katrina (August 29, 2005).

Please pray for us. Here are some specific requests we need.

First, pray for the mercy of God. I am heartened almost every morning by quoting the words of Jeremiah the prophet who praised God for His “compassions” (mercies) which are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). I am writing this very early Monday morning and I can assure you God is with me and His mercies are new and fresh again this morning.

Second, pray for the storm to weaken.

Third, pray for the preservation of life. We saw the effect Katrina had on the elderly. Please pray for children, the sick, and the elderly. Many people will be evacuating (which brings its own difficulties). Thank you for praying for our protection.

Fourth, pray that we would see this event as a time to turn from our pride and rebellion and to turn to God. God wants to use these times to call us back to Him (Amos 4). Please pray for lives to be transformed.

Finally, pray that God will get glory from this.

If I have time today, I hope to post quick notes during the day. Please come back often, and please continue to pray.

Waylon

Updated 4:30 CDT.

Thank you so much for praying for us. We are being sustained by the prayers of God’s people.

Yesterday (Sunday), you could feel the disappointment of the people here as we all contemplated another hurricane to hit our area. The good news is that people have recovered quickly and are making preparations for whatever we face.

The common phrase you here is “we’re preparing for the worst and hoping (or praying) for the best.” That is a good attitude. The people of this area are nothing if not resilient.

The weather is beautiful. As they say, this is the lull before the storm. It makes you realize how blessed we are to have satellites to prepare us for what is coming.

We have gas lines but plenty of gas, but I noticed that batteries are selling out, probably the staples such as milk and bread as well.

We are closing FBC, Covington for the next two days. The schools are closed as well. Everyone is in “battle mode” as I call it.

We received a phone call a few minutes ago to meet at the Emergency Operations Center to discuss ways to meet people’s needs after the storm passes through. That will be an important meeting.

I will use late tonight and early tomorrow to finish preparations at my house. One of the things you have to do is pick up anything that might become a “missile” due to the wind.

Thanks again for your prayers. You may have noticed that the storm has not increased in strength and that they are not projecting winds as high as earlier. God is the God of “dry air” and developing lows and all the other forces of nature that affect a storm.

May God bless you all–waylon

 

Share this post

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email

13 Responses

  1. Praying for y’all! We missed the bullet here in Tampa, but so sorry its headed your way.
    Blessings,
    Lynne Pierre

  2. Waylon – began praying for you last evening as the path began to change. Will continue to do so and will watch throughout the day.
    Blessings
    Rod Minor

  3. AMEN. Pray Romans 12: 4-6 magnifies God in each of us, as once again, each of the “My Problems” are realized as “Our Problems in His Grace.” Such events demonstrate a willingness to use what one has to help another that is not found in many of the other storms of life.

    Katrina left me drained financially, emotionally and physically from helping others. I allowed their “My Problems” to become mine. I didn’t even think about it. After all, wouldn’t I would be safe in God’s Church? I thought that in 1987 when I came back from Honduras too. I’m a slow learner. Or, perhaps it is not me who is slow. Not looking for sympathy, only to make the point of Romans 12: 4-6 is not something geared for paying a staff, buildings, utilities, fundraisers and special events. It is the responsibility of the Church to implement God’s Design for it 24X7X365.

    Still following Romans 12:6-14. ;-).

  4. I prayed in the name of Jesus for the protection of all Gulf Coast residents, that God would give you the strength to face what lies ahead, and that all would turn to God in prayer. Finally, I asked that God would forgive me for having to be reminded to pray for you – after all these years I still fail to make prayer my first response. I pray God’s blessings on you Brother Waylon.

  5. Praying in Michigan. Will be relieved when we get news after it is over. Trusting God to protect our friends and home.

  6. Praying for you all. I still have my son, living in N.O. He lost everything during Katrina and is just getting started over. love to all.

  7. We are praying for you here in England. I was there with you during Katrina and saw first hand the devastation and pray you do not have to go through that again; however I also saw God’s love as He brought people together in the days following, helping each other, with no boundaries but a common purpose and experience, and I have no doubt He will be there with you all again.

    1. Thanks to all of you. You are so faithful to pray. We are sustained by the prayers of God’s people. Have you seen that the forecast has changed somewhat? The projected storm strength is lower. Thank you for your prayers. May God bless you all. BTW, I will have an updated post by 5:00 PM CDT.

  8. Good up date. It is indeed the way we are intended to live life. “prepare for the worst, hope for the best,” and may I add: look for opportunities to see God in it all. ” It is the battle of life that reveals His.” Ed Matthew

Leave a Reply to Jerry Gettler Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *