Coming Next Week . . .

Next week, in addition to the start of our nonfiction clinic, my Wednesday is Friendsday guest will be my friend Kim Vogel Sawyer, who will discuss everything from Harleys to healing! Her new book, Waiting for Summer’s Return, is awesome. Her book is on the list of books I’m reading (left column). Click on the cover to learn more.

Why Blog for Prodigals?

I am excited to share Partners In Prayer for Our Prodigals with you. One cannot think about a prodigal without referring to Luke 15: 11-32; the parable of the lost son. While the dictionary defines a prodigal as “rashly or wastefully” I appreciate the deeper spiritual lessons and blessing found in Luke; consequently, I have used this parable as the foundation for my blog.

A few years back, as Director of Care Ministries, I received a frantic phone call from a mother whose son was incarcerated for beating up a prostitute. After struggling with a drug addiction for years, he was currently in jail for one crime while waiting to be charged with selling drugs in another Country. She asked if I knew of a support group for moms whose children were wayward. Did I know of any other mothers? Surprise! She was speaking to another mother, whose son, while not yet in prison–was on a similar road to disaster.

We met on Friday mornings, just the two of us, to support, encourage, and pray! Eventually, other women joined us whose children were involved with drinking, drugs, and minor criminal offenses. Within a few weeks, it became apparent, we would need an agenda, and the research began. Soon, Partners in Prayer for Our Prodigals unfolded into a weekly support group.

Each week we covered a topic that, while our children struggled with different issues in their "pig pens" (vv. 15, 16); each topic was nonetheless shared by each mother as we struggled to love our prodigals home.  Issues studied and discussed included "letting go," surrendering, tough love, isolation, fear, and guilt. When you have a prodigal, so much of your energy is spent on him or her; worrying, seeking answers, anxiety-ridden days and sleepless nights. Crisis after crisis–you dedicate all of your time trying to hold the prodigal’s life together. As mothers, we knew, WE needed help to hold our own lives together.

I was thrilled to be part of that eight-women-support group for more than a year. This February, with some prompting from my dear blogging friends Cindy and Lisa, I began the second leg of Partners in Prayer for Our Prodigals: my blog. My mission statement is to blog openly and honestly about standing in the gap for prodigals; to edify, to encourage, to support, and to provide a venue for other people as we come together and pray for our lost loved ones.

Recently, we had our first-ever blog banquet: a Homecoming Celebration for Dawn’s

son, Kevin. And with much anticipation, my prodigal and I will be traveling to Denver in July to meet Dawn and Kevin personally! At this very moment, Kevin is praying for my son…..God is faithful as He continues the good work He has begun! The prodigal becomes the prayer warrior!

This strengthens our faith as we stand in the gap for our prodigals, reminding God daily of His promises and His character! After all, in the parable of the lost son, guess who the Father represents?!?!?!? God runs to meet each and every prodigal; He longs for and has provided the way home for each of us! Define that? That’s GRACE! That’s MERCY! That’s AMAZING LOVE! That’s GOOD NEWS for all prodigals!

Wednesday is Friends’ Day!

I have invited several guests to blog or be interviewed during the coming weeks, so I’ve chosen Wednesday to be Friends’ Day on my blog. This will be a fun day of the week, as we’ll hear from authors about new releases, have book reviews, and other exciting guests.

Today’s guest blogger is a from a special mom who blogs for Prodigals. Please welcome her to this blog and be in prayer for her ministry. Here is a link to her blog: http://www.prayingforaprodigal.blogspot.com/