Yesterday I watched with amazement as a 70 year old woman was pulled from the broken and shattered slabs of concrete, rubble, litter and waste of a collapsed building in Haiti. The woman had been trapped in the debris for seven (7) days with out food, water or any companionship. The conventional wisdom, according to search and rescue experts, is that individuals trapped in homes or buildings that have been demolished due to an earthquake or a natural disaster can survive about 72 hours without water if they are in reasonably good health and maybe 5-7 days without food. In all cases, they say, the immediate enemy of survival is dehydration and not hunger, because the human body needs water more than food to maintain the fluidity and operations of its metabolism and internal organs. Yet when this woman was pulled from the rubble, she was not comatose, lethargic or dispirited; instead she came out with joy in her heart, singing a song of praise and giving thanks to God for his everlasting love.

I’ve noticed a pattern that as the Haitian people are pulled from these collapsed and demolished buildings, they come out rejoicing and proclaiming that God is good and has answered their prayers. As I watched this scene over and over again, it has become apparent to me that their praise towards God is a testament of their faith and the power of prayer. How else can you explain being trapped in this dark empty pit, with no one around to encourage you or keep your spirits lifted, nothing to eat or drink, the stench of death all around you, the relentless whispers and chants of Satan repeating over and over again that no one is coming to save you and that you’re going to be buried alive, the uncertainty of not knowing whether people think you’re alive, dead or a rotting corpse in this concrete graveyard; and through all of their fears, despairs, doubts and hopelessness, they come out of this lifeless abyss with a song on their lips and words of praise for God’s love and mercy.

I listen to ignorant and cynical people such as Dr. Pat Robertson who publicly and prophetically proclaimed the earthquake as God’s punishment towards the Haitian people for making a deal with the devil, and I’ve heard some of the religious and righteous pundits stereotype many of the Haitian people as being voodoo worshippers; and yet none of the survivors that came out of these hell-holes and into the marvelous light praised Satan or some voodoo god or some amulet around their neck for saving them. All of them came out with joy in their hearts and the knowledge and conviction that it was their prayers and faith in God that pulled them through. Just before Jesus healed the demonic boy (Mark 9:17-29), he told the boy’s father that all things are possible if you just believe. The Haitian survivor’s have shown us that all things are possible when you pray and believe.

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For the past two months I’ve been reading and watching the reports about Nadya Suleman and the octuplets.  I have an opinion about the multiple births, the process by which Nadya conceived, the integrity of the doctor who performed the procedure and the family’s lack of finances. I’ve voiced those opinions to family and friends.  But when all is said and done the family needs help and prayer.

Christians have a reputation in the secular world of being opinionated and condemning hypocrites.  The church is supposed to be where the lost find Jesus and the hurt find comfort.  Jesus admonishes Christians to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, not berate their mother for her foolishness.

We cannot change what has happened.  Those children are innocent and have no control over their mother’s actions and decisions.  The children should not be penalized.  Initially an organization called Angels In Waiting will help take care of the children.

This family needs a lot.  The least we can do is pray for them, not prey on them.  Let’s pray for Nadya, the children and the grandparents.  Pray for their health and well being.  Also pray for their new neighbors.  Whether Nadya realizes it or not, they are moving into a hostile environment; their new neighbors do not want the paparazzi and the media attention that comes along with the Suleman family.

Remember, it’s about the children!

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Prayer Concerns for this week:

• Catherine and Stuart who are suffering the anguish of a miscarriage
• Prayer and comfort for William in Canada who has bone and lung cancer
• Kelly who has been a caregiver for her husband who has multiple physical challenges
• Myrtis’ mother who broke her hip

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Prayer Concerns for this week:

Elaine who is facing difficulties in her middle east military deployment

Rai who had child birth related complications

Gladys’ severe arthritis

Our soldiers deployed throughout the middle east

Families affected by fires in Australia

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That’s why I do not hesitate today in calling on godly Americans to pray that Barack Hussein Obama fail in his efforts to change our country from one anchored on self-governance and constitutional republicanism to one based on the raw and unlimited power of the central state.

It would be folly to pray for his success in such an evil campaign.

When I started this blog my only purpose was to offer ministry tips and solutions.  There were three things I had no desire to address:  1) denominational issues, 2) doctrinal issues and 3) political issues.  This is very difficult for me to write because I absolutely abhor politics and I have a strong dislike for mean spirited people.

I realize that Christianity covers a wide range of denominational beliefs, doctrinal issues and political affiliations.  However, if we are Christians who believe the scriptures, then we must give some credence to 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

There is no love in Mr. Farah’s commentary.  I find it to be mean spirited and a manipulative use of prayer.  If you are interested, you can find most of his commentary at Because People Matter.  I will not post Mr. Farah’s web address because I don’t want to give him the traffic.

If you are a regular visitor to this site, then you know that I believe in the power of prayer.  Every Monday, Your Ministry Helper posts Monday Morning Prayer.  I believe in praying for whoever sits in the Office of The President and all of our elected officials regardless of their political affiliations.  My prayer is for Godly wisdom in their decisions.

Let’s take our cue from 1 Corinthians and “trust, hope and persevere” in prayer for Godly wisdom and decisions for our President and our elected officials.

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