I want you to meet a sweet girl I met at camp last year! This is Ruby. As you can see by the pictures, her smile lit up the room. Since we were cooking, we didn't get to talk to her much, but we did get to see her and serve her food each day, and she never came through the line without that smile and a heartfelt "thank you" for the food. This sweet girl brightened our day each meal, and you could just see God's love flowing from her smile.
I'm writing about sweet Ruby today because just as she ministered to us each day at camp, it's now our turn to minister to her. Ruby is currently in the hospital fighting for her life. She needs our prayers! I'm asking that we come together and pray for Ruby, her family, and all the hospital staff. I don't have all the details, but I know that she is in the hospital with a brain bleed, many seizures and isn't moving, swallowing or speaking. They are unsure at this point if she will be able to speak again. Sweet Ruby is young and has a whole life ahead of her. We do not know the plan, but I can say that she will bloom right where God has her planted.
We never know what our future will bring, or that we may be standing in to pray for someone when they themselves can't pray. But isn't this what our family of believers is to do? Aren't we called to lift each other up, and help carry each others burdens? There are times when we push aside time to pray (myself included) because we know that God already knows. But can you imagine if we all never spoke when we thought it didn't matter because they already know. We would probably never greet people, because it would be an obvious that you would say hey when you met someone. God wants to hear from us. God wants to hear our hearts cries. He is delighted in hearing from us, and there is great power in speaking with Him and praying our deepest desires and concerns with Him. He wants our upsets, our doubts, our true feelings to be spoken with Him. There is a lot of freedom in actually speaking those doubts and concerns with Him. It's pretty hard to do sometimes, but sometimes when we hear our lack of faith, God uses that to free us from it and remind us that He is in control and that He's right there with us, walking with us. So just as much as this is a request for you to please pray for sweet Ruby and her family, it is a request that you and I both take all our concerns before Him. Find a friend you can confide in and share your concerns with them and pray together. Let's change the "I'll pray for you" into praying for and with them right then and there. So let's pray right now for Ruby!
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you Lord for creating us. Thank you for loving us before we were ever born. Thank you for walking with us knowing the sinful nature of the world would create such chaos and destruction. Lord, I come to you today, on behalf of this precious girl, Ruby, and her family. Lord, you know the details of what's going on with her. You know even more than the doctors what Ruby needs. Lord, I ask that you just touch Ruby's body and heal her. Lord, you are the giver of life, and I pray you breathe life in her lungs so that she can breathe on her own. I pray that you touch her vocal cords so she can speak life to those she meets in her lifetime. I pray you touch her legs and arms so she can go and spread the gospel with others just as her older brother and sisters have done multiple years at camp. I pray that you revive her again so she can be a light to others as she smiles, laughs, and enjoys life. I ask that you be especially close to her family as they have been by her side day-in and day-out. I cannot imagine the feelings they have as they have completely given over her life to you to. I pray that You honor their faith and courage as they trust You. I pray that through all of this, you fill their heart with an overwhelming about of hope and grace. Lord draw them ever-closer to You, and make your presence known even more to them as they wait patiently. I ask that you bless them with people to come alongside them each day, and to walk this path with them. Remind them of promises in your Word and scripture of hope. Protect their hearts and minds from any lies the enemy may throw their way. Allow them a chance to let Your light shine through them in even the darkest of days. We know that even in the dark times, You are still there, and it's in these times that the Light shines through. Lord, we love you for Who you are and not what you do; but we ask that You heal Ruby. Lord, as hard as it is to pray knowing that we live in a world that isn't permanent for us, I ask that You prepare Ruby's family for whatever happens with her. I pray that you give them a peace that surpasses all understanding and that through the storm, they are able to be reminded "and if not, You are still good". You always have been and always will be good. I pray that they are reminded that you did not cause this to happen to Ruby, and take away any hints of doubt they may have in Your love. Lord, please just wrap your arms around them and hold them close. Give them comfort that they know can only come from You! Lord, we ask all of this in your wonderful, powerful, and healing Name! Amen
Thank you Lord for creating us. Thank you for loving us before we were ever born. Thank you for walking with us knowing the sinful nature of the world would create such chaos and destruction. Lord, I come to you today, on behalf of this precious girl, Ruby, and her family. Lord, you know the details of what's going on with her. You know even more than the doctors what Ruby needs. Lord, I ask that you just touch Ruby's body and heal her. Lord, you are the giver of life, and I pray you breathe life in her lungs so that she can breathe on her own. I pray that you touch her vocal cords so she can speak life to those she meets in her lifetime. I pray you touch her legs and arms so she can go and spread the gospel with others just as her older brother and sisters have done multiple years at camp. I pray that you revive her again so she can be a light to others as she smiles, laughs, and enjoys life. I ask that you be especially close to her family as they have been by her side day-in and day-out. I cannot imagine the feelings they have as they have completely given over her life to you to. I pray that You honor their faith and courage as they trust You. I pray that through all of this, you fill their heart with an overwhelming about of hope and grace. Lord draw them ever-closer to You, and make your presence known even more to them as they wait patiently. I ask that you bless them with people to come alongside them each day, and to walk this path with them. Remind them of promises in your Word and scripture of hope. Protect their hearts and minds from any lies the enemy may throw their way. Allow them a chance to let Your light shine through them in even the darkest of days. We know that even in the dark times, You are still there, and it's in these times that the Light shines through. Lord, we love you for Who you are and not what you do; but we ask that You heal Ruby. Lord, as hard as it is to pray knowing that we live in a world that isn't permanent for us, I ask that You prepare Ruby's family for whatever happens with her. I pray that you give them a peace that surpasses all understanding and that through the storm, they are able to be reminded "and if not, You are still good". You always have been and always will be good. I pray that they are reminded that you did not cause this to happen to Ruby, and take away any hints of doubt they may have in Your love. Lord, please just wrap your arms around them and hold them close. Give them comfort that they know can only come from You! Lord, we ask all of this in your wonderful, powerful, and healing Name! Amen