By
Dr. Joseph B. Fuiten
Senior Pastor,
Scripture Reading Luke 2:22-23 (page 725 in the Pew Bible)
22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had
been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to
This is both a joyful and a painful day. It is joyful because of Jesus and because so
many have had the miracle they pray for.
It is painful because so many are still waiting for the opportunity to
raise children.
This is a day for increasing faith and
hope. I love to hear the stories of people’s
lives. Most everyone here will find
someone else whose story is somewhat similar.
If not today, certainly over the years every kind of story has been told
in this place.
This is a day of widening possibilities. I make sure that all kinds of stories get
told. We want couples to get a bigger
perspective. We like medical treatment
stories. We happen to think that medical
treatment is one of the ways that God answers our prayers. We like adoption stories. When God provides for children in that way,
two families are helped. It is an answer
to prayer. We also like the miracle stories where couples have tried for a long
time without success, get prayed for and nine months later have a baby.
In
September 2001 there was an article in the Journal of Reproductive
Medicine.[1]
In the article, Dr. Rogerio Lobo, professor and
chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at
“Lobo's study involved 199
Korean women receiving identical medical procedures (in vitro fertilization and
embryo transfer) intended to help them get pregnant. A computer divided the
women randomly into two groups. Without the knowledge of either the patients or
their doctors, pictures of members of one group were sent to Christian prayer
groups in the
After about 4 months of
treatment, half of the prayed-for group--44 women--became pregnant. This is an
amazingly high success rate for any fertility program. Only about a quarter of
the group that didn't receive prayers got pregnant--a much more typical rate.”
What Dr. Lobo showed by researched we have
shown by demonstration. We pray and
little things happen.
This is a day for peace. When you have done everything and you still
have no child, you can be at peace. You
can have peace in knowing that it is in God’s hands. We don’t know what God has in mind for the
future but we know that God is in charge of the future. He doesn’t love me any less than the next
person. He doesn’t have favorites.
This is a day for forgiveness. There is a connection between healing and
forgiveness. They both come from the
Lord. This is what James, the brother of
the Lord said, in James 5:14-15 “Is any one of you sick? He should call the
elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of
the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well;
the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”
Read
the Prayer cards:
Heavenly
Father,
Mary and
Joseph had the joy of presenting Jesus in the temple. Thank you for the
blessing of our children. Bless every married couple with the joy of raising
children. Especially touch those who, so far, have not be able to have
children.
In
Jesus’ Name, Amen.
As you come forward for prayer
today, receive God’s forgiveness.
Receive his peace!
Prayer for infertile
couples
Heavenly
Father,
You are a
great and mighty God, creator of heaven and earth.
We ask for
your comfort and peace in these lives. We pray for comfort for their souls. Let
them know that you love them. Let them know that you care. Let them know that
in their time of suffering, you have not left them to face the pain alone. God
be with them.
We pray for
peace between husband and wife, that the struggles of life with draw them
closer to each other. Bless them with a strong relationship and a strong
marriage.
We pray for
peace in their souls and hearts, having done all they can, to put their
confidence in you. Take away all anxiety and fear. Give them the joy of knowing
that their lives and their future is in your hands.
We ask for
healing for their bodies. If there is some disorder, disease, or dysfunction
that preventing conception, we ask for your healing. If some can conceive, but
are unable to carry the baby to term, we ask for healing.
We pray for
the blessing of their home with children.
[1] http://health.medscape.com/cx/viewarticle/405270_1 From an article by Sheila Anne Feeny, Medical.Writer