Prayer: "A desperate prayer for my new cat...Ms. Bella"

Here's what's on the menu today:

• "A desperate prayer for my new cat...Ms. Bella"


• "Surprise Me God 30-Day Experiment"


• "Prayer Exercise"


• "Famous Quote"


• "Friendly Reminder"

"A desperate prayer for my cat...Ms. Bella"

This is kind of a funny but true story. It is a good demonstration about the power of prayer. Let me start off by saying I have had a very bad taste in my mouth regarding cats for as long as I can remember. They seemed sneaky, mischievous just too aloof for me. My family (= 3 kids & a husband) have tried to get me to get a cat for years. Year after year, round-n-round-n-round we went.

Them: "Please"

Me: "no".

Them: "Pretty please"

Me: "Absolutely not"

Me: "If you try and sneak a cat in this house while I am not here..... I will be moving out and sleeping on someones couch".

Them: " We are all going to pray to God he change your "heart" so we can have a cat"

Fast forward two or three years. It's was my father-in-law's 60th Birthday, Wednesday, December 11, 2007 around 9:30 AM to be exact. We are there sitting on the couch chit chatting, sharing and walking through the "Remember when Room" of his life.....when Ms. Bella there 2 year old mixed Persian cat walks in the room and gently plops down on the carpet right in front of me and just stares straight into my eyes. In that moment...I can't explain it.....but something inside my "heart changed"...I literally felt something flip inside me. We looked into each others eye's for what seemed like along time, but was really only a few moments. And I knew. I knew Ms. Bella would be coming home with us that day. Talk about eating your own words. There I was. In shock. How could this be? I told myself...cats are bad, remember? She will go pee pee and poo poo all over your carpet and it will stink. Then what???? Shortly after telling my husband I had a change of heart and Ms. Bella could come home with us my mother-in-law was up on her feet telling me all about Ms. Bella's likes and dislikes. How independent she is. How clean she is. Cat litter placed in my hand. Moist & dry cat food in the other. Then Ms. Bella was placed in her "Taxi" for safe transport to our house. Ms. Bella had only known this house. She had been declawed so for safety reasons had not even been allowed out into the 2-car garage. When asked if she was sure she wanted to part with her beautiful cat Ms. Bella she was quick to let us know she was getting old and could no longer care for 2 cats, a dog, bird, husband and work a full-time job everyday. She also stated she knew we would take good care of her. So it was settled. Ms. Bella was coming home with us.

It feels like I am getting too long winded here so let me cut to the chase. We did our very best to make her comfortable. She was pretty scared though. We had to leave her for about an hour or so to attend one of my daughters first Band recital. That evening when we came back Ms. Bella was no where to be found. We looked everywhere. Room to room we went. No Bella. Meow after meow went with no response. We put food out. No response. I even climbed on our kitchen counter thinking she might have jumped up there or something. Nothing. After over an hour we all huddled up in the living room. Out of shear desperation I cried out "Lord please let this cat come out. I know she did not get out the house. We have looked and looked. Please Lord...help us find Bella". Then each one of my kids said a prayer for Bella in their own words. After praying we sat down on our couch. One child decided to sit in the recliner instead.....seconds after plopping down into the seat......out popped Bella from the back of the recliner. (In case your wondering it's one of those with recliner's with removable Velcro backing along the back edges).

All that time she was right there under our noses. Our search efforts were futile until we prayed. Lesson #1 from the story........what touches you, touches God because he cares. He loves us a whole bunch. When we call out to him in prayer he hears. He not only hears but will answer quick, fast and in a hurry. Lesson #2...be careful what you pray for in desperate moments.....you just might get it.

"Surprise Me God 30 day experiment"

Ok I have heard much "blog chatter" about the "Surprise Me God 30-Day Experiment".....so I have decided to step up to the plate and try the Prayer experiment out for myself. Tomorrow will be day 1 for me. I will be keeping track of what happens here so stay tuned. For those of you who may not particularly care about that....don't fret. You will still find relevant prayer topics as well as be able to post your specific prayer needs or request.

"Prayer Exercise"

Say this simple prayer: Teach me your ways that I may know you better. Surprise and speak to me in a special way within 24 hours.

"Famous Quote"

"You must do the thing you think you cannot do" - Eleanor Roosevelt

"Friendly Reminder": Don't forget to post your day-to-day prayer needs or request in the comments section.

Pray: "Prepare your field for 2008"

Good Day to you,

Great things are coming your way. Many are preparing for the upcoming Holidays. Some have or are beginning to focus on their 2008 plans/goals. Planning is wonderful. The key is planning your work then working your plan through prayer. Many of us start off making lists of things to do. We go out and buy daily planners. Some even take the time to make "Dream Boards". We run pretty good for awhile. Then slowly fall off the band wagon for a lack of better expression.

May I suggest, this year we try dedicating our goals and plans for 2008 to the Lord in prayer. Take that extra time to consult the Lord regarding the right time to strategically implement your dreams, goals, passions and desires. Seek his leading regarding the actual "how-to" for more effectiveness. Timing is key. It has been said that when the student is ready....the teacher appears. In the movie Facing the Giants there is a scene where the Lord inspires a gentleman to go minister to the Head Football Coach. Let me cut to the chase without getting too long winded here. In a nutshell he encouraged the Coach to re-focus his goals and prepare his "field" to win games in the mist of three consecutive loosing seasons.

Follow me for just a minute as we take a closer look at one particular scripture in the Bible. Let's check out Proverbs 16: 3, 9 (Amplified Bible) because it outlines a simple plan for success. The first verse speaks about rolling your works on the Lord. Rolling anything requires movements which lead to action. Now is the time to take charge of your destiny through prayerful actions. Next, we see words like commit and trust. This is were some folks regress. Completely committing/trusting your goals to him prompts a steady relationship with him also. Church on Sunday morning is good. Sound Godly counsel breeds safety. Relationship with Jesus yields lasting success. Sometimes we allow past hurts and the let downs of man mix in with who He is. He is a God that never fails. As you begin to trust him more and more by faith, he will begin to order your steps while aligning your thoughts to his will. Before you realize it your plans will become established meaning success is imminent. Let's review:

Step 1) Roll your works on the Lord
Step 2) Commit and trust them wholly to the Lord
Step 3) He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to his will
Step 4) He will establish your steps and cause you to succeed

Now the ball is in your court. Continue to strongly embrace the fact that you were made by God and God never makes mistakes. Yesterday is gone. Seize the moment. Begin to launch forward in prayer regarding 2008 and beyond. Everything attached to you is depending on it.

Prayer Exercise: Pray this simple prayer: Lord, help me to plan my work and work my plan for Divine purpose in my life. Show me how to prepare the field of my life to receive success. I want to please you in all I do or say. Amen

Quote: "Successful people do what unsuccessful people won't". - Author unknown

Friendly reminder: Don't forget to leave your prayer needs and or request in the comments section. We are here and willing to pray until Heaven releases an answer to your specific prayer need.

Kingdom Blessings to all. Until next time......

Prayer: How does it avail much?????

Happy Holidays to all. Most are gearing up for Christmas. It is another day to sow and receive love. That's right, the law of sowing and reaping has no boundaries. There are some people who think this only applies to finances. It applies to all facets of our day to day lives. Remember that old saying...what goes around...comes around. Same principle.

Now on to our topic: Prayer...how does it avail much? You may have heard that quoted. You may have even read it. Maybe pondered on it previously. Today, we dig deeper attempting to better understand the whole idea regarding prayers that avail much. To do so let's examine the word "prayer" for a minute. It does not matter where you may be in your life at this present moment. Rich or poor. Across cultures. Lonely. Happy. Angry. Hurt. Rejected. Over weight. Skinny. In church. Out of church. Never attended church. Buddhist. Baptist. Christian. Mormon. Catholic. Or some other denomination. Perhaps no denomination at all. Prayer is the vehicle used to talk with God.

There are different forms of prayer. Whether we get some sort of bad news or see our lives flash before our eyes as a another car runs a red light and is heading straight towards you with no rescue in sight or perhaps you get overly frustrated. All these things may cause us to cry out in desperation "Oh, my God"......"Jesus help me" or here is another very popular one...."Lord if you ever get me out of (fill in the blank) I'll do (fill in the blank). Sometimes we don't have time to speak it out or may not know the exact words to say in order to verbalize our need or request. In some form we all have done it. Some more than others. Within us all is a inner cry and or longing that comes from deep within which prompts human beings everywhere to pray.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines avail as: To be of use, value, or advantage; serve. Prayer is useful. It has and adds value. To use it daily is to our advantage. Prayer can be looked at as a form of service. Here is were the sticking point for some comes in. Waiting for the answer....right? Some have asked. How long do I pray? What do I say? It does not seem to be working for me? Or, nothing seems to be happening? This is were the element of faith steps in. The same faith we demonstrate every time we breath. Look around you right now. Can your naked eye see the air your lungs are taking in as your reading this article? Maybe you have a window open so you can feel a cool breeze. Or perhaps there is a strong wind passing by where you are so you can hear it. But normally you can't hear or see air. Yet, we don't stop and tell our lungs....now hold on, don't expand in and out again until I can see or feel some air around me. Nope. I think it's safe to say we dont tell our lungs that before breathing. Why? Because it's natural to breathe in and out. The same truth applies to availing prayer. We may not "see" how it's working, but prayer is working. Folks may not "feel" the answer just yet. But it's coming. I am reminded of a passage of scripture in Dan 10:12 - Amplified Bible. It was a time in Daniel's life were it seemed his prayers were going no where fast. However, he kept the faith and within 21 days a Divine Angel came to him and tells him "I have come as a consequence of [and in response to] your words". Talk about availing much. The words you speak out in prayer linger in the atmosphere minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and yes sometimes years waiting for divine purpose to manifest. Heaven is watching.....even listening. Divine Angles are at work on your behalf. Working to ensure your prayers avail through obstacles, circumstances, events, mountains of opposition, walls, and barriers.

Faith is the key that must be exercised before, during and after prayer. It's like gas in your car. Electricity in a light switch. Little to nothing happens without it. All things are possible with just a little faith in God.

Prayer Exercise: Seize the moment. Make a decision to stand right now by faith in prayer until heaven releases your answer. Let your petition be made known to God. He cares and will answer.

Quote: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him". The Bible - Hebrews 11:6 (King James Version)

Prayer: The start of something new for 2008

Hello there! We are glad you found us. We are at the start of something new within the Fresh Manna Christian Center Prayer Ministry. This blog will be a vehicle used by our Fresh Manna Christian Center Prayer Ministry to expand the Kingdom of Light through prayer. Everyone reading can trust that one or more believers will be in constant prayer over the prayer needs left on this blog.

This is so exciting because the Internet enables us with lightening fast speed to reach a broader base of people across the world who have specific prayer needs. It's my belief this blog will come before folks who may not necessarily attend "church" per say. Maybe folks who have been hurt, stuck or wounded in the whole "church/religious experience". Or perhaps those who may be in places classified as "unreachable". It makes me wonder if this is what Jesus meant when he said........the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do because I go unto the father" John 14:12 KJV.

This will also act as a tool to help centralize, stream and connect our Prayer ministry Team efforts daily. So check back often.

Prayer does not just change things...it changes Everything.

Prayer Exercise: Put your hand in front of your mouth. Now speak the following words into your hands....."There is life and death in the power of my tongue. What I think about I speak about. This year I decree and declare I will focus more on things that are positive, lovely, and of a good report". Now, did you feel the literal power of your breath on your hand? Yep, you've got more power than you think down here on earth. Use it wisely.

Quote: "....with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible". The Bible - Matthew 19:26