Prayers for Nancy

Zephaniah 3:17

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁷ The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing

On Aug.18 when I spoke at the annual luncheon for the Women’s Ministry of the First Baptist Church of Carrollton my friend Nancy Howard recited this scripture to me and said God gave it to her for me that morning. It had a major impact on me because it was the scripture that Rita Armenta used when we ministered at the prison together.  I ran and got my phone, writing the verse down in my notes. It is still there,   Zephaniah 3:17 written on August 18 at 10:52 a.m.  We hugged after that and she wished me luck before I shared my story. As we embraced I thought back to late March when I met with Beverly, Brenda, and Nancy at Café Brazil in Carrollton to share my story, it was that night they selected me as their keynote speaker for this annual event. A lot has happened in my life since that night in March but I was standing strong in the Lord and the power of his might. After hugging me Nancy told me how sorry she was about Alexis’ death and that she had really wanted to attend her service but was out of town. I was so blessed by her love, compassion, and concern that morning.  After the luncheon I felt so grateful to have met these wonderful ladies and made it a goal to stay in relationship with them.

It would be a few days later that I learned Nancy was attacked and shot in her garage at around 9 p.m. on the evening of August 18 at her home in Carrollton.  I began to pray without ceasing for her recovery and to follow her Caring Bridge site. It was stunning to realize I now have two Caring Bridge sites to follow: Barbara and now Nancy. I was just shocked that I had two friends who had been shot in tragic situations in the month of August. My thoughts were “What is this world coming to?” and I began to pray more fervently for Barbara and Nancy.

Last night Nancy’s story was on the news and my heart broke for her and her family again. As I prayed I thought of the scriptures below. We are in spiritual warfare during these times and we need prayer warriors to intercede. Please pray for we are in a battle with the rulers of the darkness of this age. So many dark things are happening right now, just look at what happened to my Alexis, Barbara, and Nancy. It is a dark  world out there but HIS Word always brings us hope and we need to cling to what is written in John 16:33 “ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

New King James Version (NKJV)

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, ⁶ and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Ephesians 6:12-15

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,^[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.