I am the co-director of Bre’s Ministry (in memory of my daughter), a ministry offered through my
church. Every year we host a community outreach event where we share the love of Christ,
spread awareness regarding the drug crisis we face in our country, honor the ones who have
passed away due to this disease, support the families, discuss preventative measures, and we
share resources with those who are looking for a faith-based rehab and other needs.
We had our 3 rd annual event on 8/31/24. In preparation, the day before we prayed over the area
where the event was to take place. Not only did we pray for God’s guidance, to be His vessel,
and for His hands to cover the event, but we also prayed over the weather, asking Him to allow
us to have good weather (I even asked and claimed 79 degrees weeks in advance) … God
answered
Not only did God protect us from the storms around us but he kept the temperature between 76
and 79 degrees! There was an overcast, so the sun was not beaming down on us like last year
(90 degrees). God heard our prayers, and He answered.
We must be more confident in our prayers because our God is able and willing. There were
people all week who discussed the expected storms and rain for that day. We didn’t listen! We
set up just as God instructed. Even though some of the resource vendors, speakers, and others
did not show up because of the possibility of bad weather, we did not waver…God controls
every aspect of this life, including the weather!
As the event was underway, a mother approached me carrying a box underneath her right arm.
She was thanking us for what we were doing, and her eyes began to fill up with tears as she
was speaking, she then pointed at the box underneath her arm and told me that it held her son’s
ashes. She was on her way to one of the pavilions down from us for a celebration and balloon
release for what would have been her son’s 33 rd birthday. He passed away just four days prior. I
hugged her tight and we prayed for them. A few of the men went over and prayed with the
others that gathered there for the celebration of life. The mother and her friend joined us for the
candlelight vigil held for those who lost their lives due to a drug-induced death.
I have since wondered how it may have been had we canceled this event, we may have been in
our air-conditioned homes with no fear of the storms, but how precious an opportunity we would
have missed to hug, pray with, and help someone during one of the hardest moments in her life!
We would have missed the opportunity to meet this mother (and others) who needed us to pray
over them and show them the hope and love of Christ. God is so strategic in His planning. I am
humbled by all His goodness. So, a question to ponder… When you pray do you have faith in
knowing He will answer, or do you doubt before you even get off your knees?
1 John 5:14-15
King James Version
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will,
he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that
we desired of him.