Hello Ted,

The chapters in the upcoming book "Crossroads of Life Prayer" represent 50+ years of Tudi’s and my life

Our theme verses in the book:

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you"

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

THE CROSSROADS OF LIFE are varied but we believe prayer is essential in all areas- That's why we are to pray continually.

This week the emphasis is PRAY for HELP in times of CRISIS

CROSSROADS OF LIFE PRAYER CHAPTER THEMES:

Week 1- Pray Scripture to pray more wisely and draw closer to God 

Week 2- Pray "Your will be done" (when you really just want to say "no!")

Week 3- Pray “HELP “ when faced with major health and/or financial issues

Week 4- Pray for wisdom and witness in the business world

Week 5- Pray for your children/grandchildren

Week 6- Pray for your church to be a house of prayer /outreach

Week 7- Pray with your spouse daily

Week 8- Pray via zoom with and for your family 

Week 9- Pray for God’s open doors to witness

Week 10- Pray often for all leaders, locally and nationally

WE WERE DEVASTATED 

Tudi’s condition intensified greatly; she went downhill quickly. The pain was so intense- her body was gnarling before our very eyes. We went to a renowned arthritis specialist and clinic in Metro Phoenix.

NEVER WILL FORGET THAT APPOINTMENT

I will never forget that day. As we walked through the lobby for her appointment we saw men and women in wheelchairs that were disfigured and in great pain throughout the large lobby area. We went in to see the doctor- Tudi complained of intense pain and ringing in her ears. The doctor COLDLY responded, “Honey, it is not going to get better but worse so you have got to live with it!!!!” We were devastated as we left the doctors office. 

Tudi attempted to make daily living adjustments with special home and car equipment to continue her responsibilities in the home and raising 2 young girls.

Our ministry together was affected because Tudi was no longer “the hostess with the mostess”- I had to make a lot of adjustments too.

Because of her poor health I did not travel for business until I had to make a short 2 day trip. The first day after a number of meetings I went to a phone bank (before cell phones). There were approximately 10 pay phones at the hotel, most being used by business men and women

I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE 

I phoned Tudi and said “Hon, how are you doing?”

She immediately answered, “I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE”.

Then silence.

GOD HELP US

I nearly sunk to the floor and instantly in a very loud voice in desperation I cried out to God, ”GOD HELP US!” The people using the other phones were shocked and concerned about my cry of desperation.

THE NEXT DAY I came home from my trip- Tudi was excited to tell me a woman named Molly called her from Denver. She has never called Tudi before or since.

She told Tudi she had a friend in Seattle who was bed ridden with RA for 5 years. She went to a doctor in San Francisco and, after treatment was living a somewhat normal life even though she still had RA. She told Tudi the doctor treats his patients with Acupuncture for pain and a very restrictive diet for prevention.

WE WERE WARNED-

We had been warned about different programs not approved by the AMA- but we were desperate!

Tudi started on the diet for a month before her first appointment and definitely began to see slight improvement even before going to see the doctor.

FAST FORWARD 

Tudi was a patient of the doctor in San Francisco for 21 years (twice a year) before his retirement. People who meet Tudi now cannot believe this medical story and background. Friends who now see her swing a golf club are amazed at her flexibility.

Tudi has remained faithful to the diet and to weekly water therapy exercise.

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

May I tell the readers of this testimony what I told the doctor. I told the him a number of times that he was an answer to our ongoing prayers to God, and specifically my cry for HELP from the phone booth. ONLY...  through God’s guidance and grace the doctor definitely saved Tudi’s life!!!

Ecclesiastes says it well in Chapter 3- “a time to..REJOICE AND WEEP". We have experienced both for the past 45 years of suffering. We especially rejoice that God has helped us to pray without ceasing in growing humility throughout the years- We know where our help comes from.

"CRYING OUT PRAYER- HELP!" situations are for desperate times of “crisis”. We know God hears our prayers of both weeping and rejoicing.

CRISIS #2: TRISHA, A MIRACLE 

A few years later our older daughter Trisha developed Juvenile Diabetes (JD) at 11. She has a severe case; there were many scares all the way through middle and high school plus early college. She was hospitalized at various times. In college she developed Diabetic Gastroparisis (the stomach is paralyzed and unable to digest food). She became exceptionally weak and was skin and bones. At 5’6” she weighed less than 100 pounds.

HER OUTSTANDING ENDOCRINOLOGIST DID NOT HAVE AN ANSWER!

ONCE AGAIN WE CRIED OUT TO GOD…”HELP US”

The following Sunday a lady in the class I taught at church asked me, “Have you considered trying the Erdman Clinic in Philadelphia?”

That evening our senior pastor phoned me and said the same thing, "Have you considered trying the Erdman Clinic in Philadelphia?

WE BELIEVED it was God answering our prayers for “HELP”. After making a reservation we packed up the minivan and headed to Philadelphia (Haverton)

Trisha received treatments at Erdman Clinic for a month. Tudi and Trinda stayed a week, I stayed 3 weeks and the 4th week our friends (Tony and Eleanor) in the area helped take care of Trisha. (What very special friends!)

THE MIRACLE

Tudi and I plus friends throughout America were praying for Trisha. We talked to her daily.

One day Trisha phoned us- she had missed a shuttle bus and had to walk back to the clinic. She knew something had changed because she had enough energy to walk the two blocks back to the clinic. She told us, "Mom and Dad, I’m getting better and I am being healed!!!" And she was!! Trisha is a miracle!!!

FAST FORWARD

That was nearly 30 years ago. Obviously she still has Type 1 Diabetes but she and her husband Darren have 2 children- Noah, 23 and Emma Grace, 22. By God’s grace she is very healthy and living a normal life!

DO WE RECOMMEND THE “HELP” PRAYER?

There is a time and place to pray for HELP- You’ll know when!

As Chuck our Adult Class teacher says following the passing of his wife of approximately 60 years..."if you wait until it happens to start preparing ...you are late"

HERE'S HOW YOU PREPARE and GET HELP....in the Word...now!

Seals, a friend of mine at church shared

Psalm 130 with us recently. It reflects a perfect time to “PRAY and cry for HELP”

“From the depths of my despair I call to you, Lord. Hear my cry, O Lord; listen to my call for help! If you kept a record of our sins, who could escape being condemned? But you forgive us, so that we should stand in awe of you. I wait eagerly for the Lord's help, and in his word I trust. I wait for the Lord more eagerly than sentries wait for the dawn— than sentries wait for the dawn.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭130:1-6‬ ‭

THINK and PRAY about these conditions and insights in Psalm 130

Depths of Despair

Call out to God

Confess Sin

Claim Forgiveness (stand in awe because we are forgiven)

Eagerly look for the Lord’s help (Ps 5:3)

NOT CONVENIENT-

ALSO- both Tudi and Trisha’s cases God led us to medical help in

San Francisco and Philadelphia. These were not convenient locations for sure!

Tudi went 2x per year to San Francisco for 21 years.

Trisha stayed a month at the Erdman Clinic in Haverton (outside Philadelphia)

APPLIED TO MY PERSONAL LIFE

I've also experienced in recent years recurring bouts of Pancreatitis approximately every 4-7 years and my doctors could not pinpoint the reason why.

My doctor suggested I see a renowned specialist since he was baffled.

I asked where he was located, thinking he was going to say something like Norway or Switzerland.

He told me the doctor was located at DUKE thinking I was going to say it was too far away! However, I told him right away to “sign me up” because we had prayed for wisdom and direction . I went to Duke and was able to receive help but still no  complete definition as to why I get Pancreatitis...as the Bible says generalized we sometimes  see through a glass darkly.

Here are some of the verses that encouraged us. As pointed out in lesson #1 we are to boldly pray scripture.

“Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5:1-3‬ ‭

My suggestion and encouragement HUMBLE YOURSELF & PRAY to God for “HELP”during times of crisis. Of course at all times too as pointed out in our chapter titles.

-Ted

1Thessalonians 5:16-18