Holly Michael's Writing Straight

~ Connecting and Inspiring Along Life's Crooked Lines by Author Holly Michael

Holly Michael's Writing Straight

Category Archives: Prayer Request

You Are Not Alone

19 Tuesday Feb 2013

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Family, India, Inspiration, Prayer Request

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

Blog, com, Faith, Grief, Happy Birthday, Holly Michael, India, Jesus Christ, Loss, Love, Sadness, Shilpa Joshi, Writingstraight.com, www.writingstraight, you are not alone

427905_288851894552101_801183559_nYesterday, I heard the sadness in the voice of my niece in India, even though it was her birthday.

“Are you sad, Shilpa?” I asked, over the phone.

“Yes, Auntie,” she answered, then her voice broke.

Shilpa lost her mother very suddenly a few months back and has had a few other setbacks in her life. She’s beautiful, so smart, and one of the loveliest persons that I know. We tried to get a VISA for her to come to the United States last year, but it was denied. It’s very difficult to get a VISA from India, though I pray that someday she can come here.

shilameI went to sleep after praying for Shilpa. In the early hours of the morning, I had a dream that I was in India with her. A song began to play and I hugged her and kissed the top of her head. Then, with the song still playing, I woke. I grabbed my iPhone and searched Youtube using the lyrics I heard in my dream.  Here it is:

Please pray for Shilpa, her future, and her family.

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The Destination: Update & Thank You!

15 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Inspiration, Prayer Request

≈ 31 Comments

Tags

Blog, Ejection Fraction 5 %, Heart, Miracle, Thank you!, Vicky Sclafani, www.writingstraight.com

If you haven’t, you must read the two previous posts, Part 1: The Destination and Part 2: The Destination, Update and Prayer, to grasp my friend Vicky’s situation. She was on life support. Dying. Doctors and other medical staff reported she could not possibly survive the removal of the ventilator. Massive multi-organ failure. Heart. Lungs. Liver.

Vicky did not die when the tube was pulled out, a little over a week ago. She opened her eyes and said she wanted to live. The ethics committee took over. She was given care to keep her alive, but the word “futile” was repeated often. With the heart damage, it just wasn’t medically possible for her to survive much longer.

The medical staff insisted that the best hope was for Vicky to be transferred to hospice. Her heart would give out soon. She had 5% Ejection Fraction. Non-functioning liver. Lungs had been full of fluid.

Then something happened over the next few days. Improvements in her condition. Not expected. But still, she was labeled as “terminal.” The heart was the main problem. It could not sustain her much longer.

Yesterday, we were in the room with Vicky when the nurse came in with the results of the heart sonogram: “Her heart is normal.”

We were all shocked, elated, in tears!

One doctor declared, “God gave her a heart transplant.” There appears to be no medical reason that this can happen. We are told her heart could not repair itself. A doctor said, “We did nothing medically for her.”

Her liver is also normal. Her lungs are normal.

The medical staff keeps poring over her file. They can’t explain it. I can. A miracle! Vicky is doing well and will be released from the hospital, hopefully in the next few days. Thank you GOD! Thank you Jesus! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you all who prayed for Vicky!!!! You have been a part of a MIRACLE! Surely her destination is Heaven; but not yet.

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The Destination: Update & Prayer

11 Tuesday Sep 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Prayer Request

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

Angels, Healing, Heaven, Jesus, Mary, prayers, Vicky Sclafani

Yesterday, I posted about my friend Vicky, who is miraculously surviving a massive coronary and organ shut down. She is still with us, but confused and agitated at times, her nurse reports. She still doesn’t always remember where she is and what has happened to her, often thinking she’s on a bus or in a strange house, wondering when she’s going to reach her destination. I really appreciate your prayers and support in the comments section. They comforted me and made me realize that I didn’t include a prayer of my own in yesterday’s post.

So…

…knowing, when two or three gather in His name (even across the internet), He is there. Please pray with me:

Father, be with Vicky now…mortal arms often failed to hold her up when she was weak…and this fragile, gentle soul sometimes stumbled and fell. Jesus, wrap your Heavenly arms around Vicky now, as she once hugged and assured the tsunami orphans in India…

…shower Vicky with Your Mercy and Grace. Lord, heal her broken soul, her wounded heart, and restore her to complete fullness and wellness. As I can not sit at Vicky’s bedside today, please let your holy angels be her visitors. Please send Mother Mary, whom she loves, to sit with her and comfort her through her pain and confusion. Lord, don’t allow her to stray on the mountainside, alone and confused. O Good Shepherd, call to her, bind her wounds, heal her, and bring her to green pastures. Thank you Lord.

Troubles and trials often betray us
Causing the weary body to stray
But we shall walk beside the still waters
With the Good Shepherd leading the way

Those who have strayed were sought by the master
He who once gave his life for the sheep
Out on the mountain still he is searching
Bringing them in forever to keep

Going up home to live in green pastures
Where we shall live and die nevermore
Even the Lord will be in that number
When we shall reach that heavenly shore…

(Ferdinand Ortega – Green Pastures).

Below, Vicky in India with us in 2004, giving a Certificate of Deposit to an orphan that will help this child with college or marriage costs in a couple of years.

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Happy Mother’s Day Prayer

13 Sunday May 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Inspiration, Prayer Request

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Blessed Virgin Mary, Blog, Holly Michael, Mother's Day, mother's day prayer, Mothers, Prayer, www.writingstraight.com

A PRAYER FOR ALL MOTHERS

Most Gracious Heavenly Father, We thank You for our mothers to whom You have entrusted the care of every precious human life from its very beginning in the womb. Watch over every mother who is with child, strengthen her faith in Your fatherly care and love for her and for her unborn baby. Assist all “spiritual mothers”, those who, though they may have no children of their own, nevertheless selflessly care for the children of others — of every age and state in life. Grant that they may know the joy of fulfilling this motherly calling of women. We beseech You to send Your Holy Spirit, the Comforter, to all mothers who sorrow for children who have died, are ill or estranged from their families, or who are in trouble or danger of any kind. Help grieving mothers to rely on Your tender mercy and fatherly love for all your children. We ask your blessing on all those to whom You have entrusted motherhood. May Your Holy Spirit constantly inspire and strengthen them. May they ever follow the example of Mary, mother of Our Lord, and imitate her fidelity, her humility, and her self-giving love. May all mothers receive Your Grace abundantly in this earthly life, and may they look forward to eternal joy in Your presence in the life to come. We ask this through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. AMEN

**Thanks Fr. Julio for the lovely prayer!

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Walking on Water

09 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Christianity, Crooked Lines, Diabetes, Family, Football, Inspiration, Jake Byrne, Prayer Request

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

agents, Blog, Christianity, Crooked Lines, diabetes, doubt, Faith, Holly Michael, Jake Byrne, Jesus, juvenile diabetes, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Novel, Peter, publisher, type 1 diabetes, walking on water, Wisconsin Badgers, www.writingstraight.com

For the last four years, while my son Jake was a starting tight-end for the Wisconsin Badgers, I was writing and editing my first novel. We both proclaimed our lofty dreams when we were children. NFL player. Novelist. Using the talents God gave us, we both worked hard and honed our talents, even through a myriad of challenges, including Jake’s diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.

In an earlier blog, Novelist Aspirations and NFL Dreams, I shared about a mother-son connection that allowed four-year-old Jake’s fears to travel from his dreams into mine. “Connections,” is the theme of this blog; to connected to each other to inspire and share about life and writing.

The connections between my son and I continue. When Jake earned recognition in the Rose Bowl, I earned an award in a major writing contest. Jake got an agent at the same time I got an agent. Not an easy task. Getting an agent means someone, other than yourself, believes in your talents and is willing to invest in you.

Jake signed with the New Orleans Saints. He survived Rookie Camp and we are looking forward to the football season. Go Saints! My novel is being shopped around at publishing houses. Newbies in being a NFL player and a Novelist, we can’t help but wonder, “Will they like us? How far will we go?”

All of us experience moments of, “Wow! I made it this far. Do I have the talent, the strength, the ability to come out from the cusp of this dream and live it?”  But a life of faith is about perseverance, taking risks, and moving forward, knowing God is with us.

Yet sometimes it seems we are walking on water and could sink at any time. Consider Peter’s attempt to walk on water to get to Jesus from Matthew 14:25-31: Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.

“It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage!l It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Peter could not walk on water on his own power. He asks Jesus to tell him to come, in faith, knowing that it’s God’s power that will make it happen. In any situation, if we pray and ask God to lead us, He will.

But when Peter saw the wind, and looked into the troubled waters, he was afraid, and began to sink. The wind can be any threat to our dreams and can come in the form of a moment of self-doubt, a discouraging word from another, or in the form of a physical condition. But when we, as Christian’s, commit ourselves, our plans, our lives to God, we can trust that the power of God will sustain us.

Maybe at times, like Peter, we get into troubled waters and doubt God’s power in our situation. We cry, “Lord, save me.” That in itself keeps us afloat. Jesus will always immediately reach out His hand and catch us. Why do we have such little faith at times?

I expressed to Jake that it feels like we are walking on water now. It seems a miracle for both of us to have come this far. While we have worked hard, we understand that we haven’t come this far on our own. The power of God is as much a part of both of our life’s walk as our breathing. We have committed our lives and our careers to Him. We are confident that if we keep our eyes on Christ, He will allow us mere humans to do the impossible, to walk on water, to achieve things we could not otherwise imagine.

We walk on in faith, praying for the power of God to guide us. His power can make miracles happen. I’ve seen it.

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P is for a Plea for a Prayer for Roxanne Clement

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by Holly Michael in Prayer Request

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Prayer, Roxanne Clement

Today is Roxanne’s birthday. Roxanne is one of the most kindest, most beautiful souls I’ve been blessed to know, a sweet woman who loves the Lord with all of her heart. She has dedicated her life to ministry, more recently mission work in Haiti orphanages.

Roxanne has been diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia that affected her so quickly, it took everyone by surprise. For the last 120 days she’s been in the hospital. Through it all, her husband Roger’s faith in God is incredible and inspiring. Below is Roxanne and her two sons.

Roxanne’s situation is very grim today. Here’s the latest post from her dear husband, Roger: Today I seriously considered just taking Roxanne Home. We talked with Doctor tonite about that. He said lets wait till Thursday to see if the treatment in spinal fluid has lowered the counts , if it has not then taking her home might be the right thing to do . If it has lowered the count then we should stay the course and keep fighting. This is the first day I have really had to deal with the possibility that the outcome might not be what I want it to be. I know God’s grace will be sufficient but I have cried a lot of tears today. Roxanne still does not know anybody but Doctors say if treatment works in spinal fluid she would probably return to normal. God is still firmly in control!!! Thanks for your prayers.

Please pray for a birthday miracle for Roxanne, asking God’s Healing Hand to touch her and restore her to full health. Please pray for His Divine Presence to be with her family. Prayer helps and Roxanne and her family are desperately in need of them. Please pass this along, retweet it, etc, so that many prayer go to Heaven for Roxanne!

Our kids have been best friends with her kids since elementary school. A Facebook post from Roxanne when Jake visited her son, Bobby: Bobby and his best friend Jake Byrne. Congrats to Jake for his football accomplishments at Wisconsin. Jake and his family made a trip to see me here in the hospital this week. What a sweet surprise!

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Done this: Regular freelance ghostwriter and online editor for Guideposts for Teens/Sweet 16 Magazine, creator/editor of a magazine for Wal-Mart Corp., journalist, newspaper features writer, published in a variety of national magazines and local newspapers, script writing/editing for corporations. Doing this now: author of fiction and nonfiction, blogger, and editor of Koinonia Magazine. I’m the wife of Rt. Rev. Leo Michael, an Anglican Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite. Mom to three great kids: Nick (#81 Rajin Cajuns), Betsy (Super cute professor) and Jake (T1D & NFL player) Also, enjoy my travels extensively across the United States and internationally.

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