Prayer Requests Room

Comment

Comment by Richard J. Ramirez on November 14, 2014 at 4:43pm

God, grant Paul's Son Nathan a full recovery from his affliction and may your hand guide him on his path of service wherever that may lead.  Amen.

Comment by blondie on November 14, 2014 at 4:02pm

Comment by blondie on November 14, 2014 at 4:02pm

Comment by Jon Williamson on November 14, 2014 at 3:20pm

I haven't been on the site in a while but saw these messages in my email box and felt that I needed to come back and continue to be a part of those praying.  So, Paul, I'll be praying for your son and thank you Gary for sharing your story.  Blondie, thank you for your commitment to prayer for our sailors.  My daughter went through a terrible time of trials and giving into temptation while she was stationed in Greece but our Lord has used it to strengthen her and grow her faith now that she is on the other side.  She is currently stationed in Japan and has been plugged in with the church on base and working with the kids as well as an orphanage in town.  I'm very thankful for the opportunities she's had to return to the ministry she loves.  She will be coming home to visit for Thanksgiving so we're praying for safe travels for her and her friend.  I pray our Lord's blessings for you all.

Comment by Paul Tarnowski on November 14, 2014 at 12:24pm

I can't tell you how thankful I am of the responces that I've recieved. Thank you for all your prayers, we have a Great Savior and I know that all things will work out for the good. I will let you know how he does at the dotors and the med board.

Comment by Gary Ray on November 14, 2014 at 11:31am

Paul,

May I say that I am sorry that your son and your family have to go through this struggle. I will be praying for you and your family. 

Recently, I heard Ravi Zacharias being interviewed about a book that he and Vince Vitale co-authored. The title of the book is "Why Suffering?: Finding Meaning and Comfort When Life Doesn't Make Sense." This book may be something that can comfort your whole family in this situation. 

As to how you can prepare your son for the possibility of discharge, I am not sure you can. In the end, he will have to struggle with the loss.

• You can point out that it is a possibility but he already knows that.
• You can not say for sure that it isn't going to happen. 
• You cannot take away the pain and anxiety that he has. 
• You cannot take away the pain if it does happen.

You can:

• Tell him that God "works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to his purpose."
• Encourage him to study the life of Joseph so that he can discover that principle through the story. Remember what Joseph said to his brothers? "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good."
• You can let him know that you love him, no matter what. 
• You can tell him stories of when you experienced disappointment and your path was changed by something that, at the time, seemed wrong but now you see God's handiwork.

We all hate to see our children suffer, however, many times God uses that suffering to grow us into the person whom he wants us to be. 

I am reminded of a time about a year and 3/4 ago when my son was finishing his senior year in high school. He had already signed up with the Navy and was working out with special warfare instructors to try to qualify for SW. Physically, he qualified easily in running, push ups, chin ups, sit ups and the like. He struggled with the combat swim but was able to finally qualify in that as well. He passed the tests and the recruiter was ready to get him a special warfare slot. However, the recruiter asked for something that ended up shattering Alex's dream. He asked that he bring a report from the eye doctor. Alex wears glasses and the recruiter waited until then to check to see if his eyes qualified. Well, as you can probably guess, they didn't.

I had tried to ease the blow by warning him  that his eyes might disqualify him. He heard me say it. But didn't want the think it might be so.

After he gave the report to the recruiter and the recruiter told him he didn't qualify, and a waiver wasn't a possibility, he went into a period of mourning for a couple of weeks. Nothing we could say comforted him. But he dealt with the feelings of loss, made a new plan and moved on. Last I heard, he intends to get corrective eye surgery and give it another go. Of course, if that falls through it will be another blow that he will have to struggle through. 

I have been a bit long but please allow me to share some observations. While working out with the special warfare guys Alex matured by leaps and bounds. His attitude became one of I can rather than I can't. After his disappointment, he displayed a new characteristic of making a new plan to achieve his goal. You see, we adopted Alex at age 8 (almost 9). He came to us defeated (something we couldn't change). HE had been in an orphanage his whole life. He learned early on that he couldn't fight back and win against the older kids who took his food and toys. But now he is someone who, in the face of defeat, will not give up until he has exhausted all avenues or he thinks his path is to be a different one.

I know Alex's struggle is nothing compared to what your son is going through but the point is that struggling with pain and disappointment grows us in ways that we might not grow otherwise.

Comment by blondie on November 14, 2014 at 7:20am

Paul,  Prayers going up for you, your son, his command and the doctors.  I Believe God has a Plan, it is not always what we want but He will lead us.  I always pray His Will be done also.  My daughter has been given the choice for medical discharge twice and she said no both times, she fought hard to get where she is.  as did your son.  but the biggest thing to remember is Safety.  I always told my daughter God is in control, He is with us Always and will guide us.  Let your son know we are Praying here, no matter what the decision we will continue to Pray for him to follow God's Path for his life.  God' Blessings (hugs)

Comment by Paul Tarnowski on November 14, 2014 at 7:01am

I always remember our military members in prayer. Those of us who have sons and daughters in the Navy realize that without The Lord's help they won't make it. 4 weeks into his "A" school at Ft. Leonard Wood, my son had a brain aneurism, thanks to quick acting petty officers they were able to get him to sick bay and to medi-vac'd to St. Louis, Barns- Jewish hospital. After brain surgery and 7 months of "lim du" he is doing fine and is presently in Gulf Port MS. He is due for medical evaluation this month and the Navy is considering "Med Boarding" him. He wants to stay in but that might not happen. Please pray that God's will be done in his life, we are all torn as to what will happen. There is always a fine line between what is best for us and what we want. We need the Lord's direction on this. What does he need to know about a "med board"? How do we prepare him if they discharge him? Please pray for Nathan, he is an EO in the  Seabees.

Comment by Bill Penrod on October 31, 2014 at 10:14am

Have your daughter locate the Reflection Room because it is not on the normal tour, surprisingly  few people  know it exists.  Our daughter's skipper that was  there  four over two years didn't  know it existed.  It is awe-inspiring and you will brush back a tear or two........

Comment by blondie on October 31, 2014 at 10:03am

Bill, we have been there, we get behind the scenes tours.  I just never saw this video.

I don't usually accept friend requests, unless my sailor okays it....she's high security....we have to be careful. ( no offense.)

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• …
• 192
• Next ›
• Page