Would You Pray With Me?

I've mentioned my friend Amanda before here and here.  We met through our blogs a little over a year ago and then realized that we lived a mere 15 minutes away from each other...  Small world, isn't it?

For weeks, we have been trying to get together and map out our joint summer learning adventures. 
Today was to be that day.  And I DID get to see her, but not at my home with our children running crazy circles around us.  Today, I went to visit her in the hospital. 

My beautiful friend had a stroke on Sunday evening.  I didn't even know someone that young could have one... Half of her body was paralyzed. Life for the next few months is going to look a lot different for their family. 

I am sobered at how fragile life is and how quickly things can change.  I am also in awe at how God is at work here. Her mother wrote that she started playing worship music on Monday afternoon and as her back was turned she heard Amanda start to cry.  She turned to find Amanda with her one good arm raised in the air and tears streaming down her face - worshiping God. 

She is passionate - about God, her marriage, her children...  It is so clear that God's strength has invaded every part of her being and He is at work.

But I'm not going to lie to you.  Visiting her today was hard.  It reminded me to keep petitioning the Great Healer to touch her body, heal her and protect that little baby growing inside of her.

Would you join me in interceding for this precious family? 

For Amanda

• Relief from the intense headaches and nausea.
• That she would be able to keep food down and able to swallow again so they can remove the feeding tube. 
• That she would continue to regain movement of her limbs.
• Rest, sweet rest.
• Repair to any neural damage she may have sustained.
• Comfort and peace as only GOD can provide.

For Ben, her husband and Nancy, her mother

• Rest.  They've been going back and forth between the hospital and the kids.
• Strength for both.  Amanda has always spoken of Ben's strength.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would strengthen him as he takes care of his wife and kids.  Pray for strength for Nancy.  I was exhausted spending just a few days in the hospital when Xander had pneumonia last year.  I can't imagine a situation like this.
• Faith renewed, moment by moment.
• Supernatural wisdom as they make any decision they need to make.
• Comfort and peace

For her unborn baby.  She is 14 weeks along.  Baby is doing very well at this point which is a huge praise!

For her precious children as they deal with the absence of their mother and all of the changes right now.

For those she and her family comes in contact with.  While praying for God's healing work in her body, let's also pray for the eternal healing work in the hearts of those that she and her family meet during this trial. 

As I've been praying for her, the Holy Spirit laid Acts 3 on my heart where Peter and John heal the paralyzed man at the temple gate.  I love the kids song that recounts this passage of scripture.  The kids and I have been singing it constantly for the last two days.  God gave me this picture of Amanda walking, leaping and praising God - pregnant and all!  I can't wait to see this become a reality!

ETA: Amanda was moved to Rehab last night (5/24) which is a huge step in the right direction.  God is at work and it is a beautiful thing to behold.