You do not have because you do not ask.  James 4:2

 Last month I wrote about some quiet simple ways to offer encouragement to someone, including simply sitting with them. (click here to read last month’s Bear Witness) This month let’s take sitting there one step further. Even if that person is opposed to you praying out loud with them you can still pray.  Paul tells us to ‘pray without ceasing’ (I Thes 5:17). While you are sitting there, unsure what to say, speak to God. Focus on Him and ask for quidance in what to say, what to do.

While prayer can be general, “God lead me, give the words this person needs to hear”, we should also be specific in our prayers.  This  was brought out to me during a recent Bible Study. While I was praying silently I was listening to another woman speak. She was telling about a battle she is facing and she  made the comment “God knows what I need.”  I was reminded of a passage in Matthew 20 (click here to read the passage). The blind men cried out for mercy. Jesus asked them specifically, “what do you want me to do for you?”. He knew what they wanted but Christ wanted them to verbalized exactly what they desired. Sometimes I wonder if I make my prayers so vague that I am missing out on the blessing God has for me because I do not ask. Matthew 6:8 tells me” the Father knows what you want before you ask” but note the last word is “ask”!!  You must ask. Follow this up with James 4:2 “you do not have because you do not ask”.  It is when we ask that we finally give up our own desires and seek God’s desire.

How do you pray? Are you asking for God to take a look, see what you might need and hand it over? Or are you seeking God to help you specifically, to “fill you with joy” and to give you peace as you seek His will?

Bear one another’s burdens Galatians 6:2

I use Barnabas from the book of ACTS as my model for the “Bearnabus Bear” which is used to bring comfort and encouragement to others who are hurting.     Pictured here are some of his friends who recently were sent to bring comfort to an elderly couple in ill health and their nurse daughter who helps care for them.   I got a note from the person who requested these adorable creatures. She said they were so pleased to receive the bears. It reminded them that someone was thinking of them even when not in their presence. Nurse Beary Well with her bottle of antibearotics watches closely. The couple sat arm in arm enjoying their paw holding counterparts. 

It’s hard sometimes to know what to say to someone in pain whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual.  There is a song from many years back “When You Say Nothing At All’. Though a love song telling of all they ways his lover’s presence is encouraging to him, we can sometimes apply these words when offering comfort to another. Sometimes just a hug or your quiet presence is enough. Sometimes just holding their hand while they cry in pain.

When Jesus walked the earth people came from miles around just to be near Him. There was a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe (see Matthew 9:20 click here).  While the touch of your robe probably won’t bring about the miraculous hearing this woman received, your caring presence can bring comfort.

There are many ways to “bear each other’s burdens” and these bears are just one example.

The moment I called out you stepped in; you may my life large with strength.  Psalm 138.3

When my youngest daughter was just a few weeks old, doctors became concerned that her eyes looked as though she would suffer from Down’s Syndrome.  After a year and half of follow up visits and testing it was determined she was in perfect health. She was to go on to excel in all her schooling.

While our story had a happy ending, there are thousands of families who do not hear the healthy words I did. According to the National Down Syndrome Society webpage, down syndrome occurs in one out of every 733 live births, and more than 350,000 people in the U.S. have this genetic condition.

In Kansas City, the Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Line teams with the local Down Syndrome agencies to raise money for support, care and research and to create positive image of those with Down Syndrome. You can check for more details on this at  http://www.fdfds.org.

Bear Witness would like to help this year by supplying a teddy bear with back pack straps and a teddy bear tshirt. If you would like to help make this possible, please contact us to send a tax deductible contribution OR you can contribute via PayPal.

The new 2007 desktop calendar wallpaper is now ready for download. You can choose from 3 sizes to save to your desktop. Click here.

All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.   Acts 9:39

I recently ran across  a story about a modern day Dorcas from the Cleveland area. She shared her talent for sewing to do alternations for the elderly and made teddy bears from fur coats for people with cancer.    Click Here to read the story   She was a true “Bearnabas”.

 

Sir Andrew and Bearnabas are now available for purchase at the new Bear Witness Online Store.  Be the first in your pew to share in the comfort and encouragement offered by these adorable plush bears.

Other items will be added daily.  Click here to look around the store.

Each sells for $15.00.  FREE SHIPPING through December 15.

I apologize if you have been having problems accessing the Bear Witness website. There are server issues. We are working to resolve this as quickly as possible. We may have to move to another server host. Thank you for continuing to check the Bear Witness website.

I will lie down in peace and sleep, for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.        Psalm 4:8,NLT

I cried when Mark first told me about the children in the Dom Dziecka home in Poland. This 19th century castle has been converted to a children’s home with playground equipment of the same period. But the thing that tore at my heart was to hear that at night the children are placed in their rooms, the place is locked up and the adult supervision goes home. These children do not have the comfort of knowing someone is there to hold them should they awaken from a nightmare or a thunderstorm.

Praise God we can take comfort in knowing we can call out to Him, even when there is no one around to hear our cries, He is with us. We are not alone.

I have been telling you about Bearnabas’ latest mission trip to Poland. He and his friends are packed and ready to leave this weekend.  They will be accompanied by Big Z (pictured left). Big Z’s real name is Pan Plac Zabaw which means Mr. Playground in Polish. Big Z is dress to imitate the infamous Mr X of “The Great Escape”.  The team has chosen to name their mission “The Greater Escape”.

For a limited time you can read the Kansas City Star article about Mark White who is heading up this trip to build a safe playground at the Children’s Home.