• EDIT LEADERBOARD HERE

    • Dec 15, 2012

    by Layla

    Praying and Giving

    It is with a heavy heart that I publish this post today.

    Heavenly Father,

    We pray that you’ll comfort the citizens of Newtown, Connecticut during this time of tragedy and crisis. We pray that you’ll give peace and strength to the families of the innocent victims, and that you’ll give rest to the souls of their children who are now in Your kingdom. We pray that you’ll touch and heal the injured children and staff- as well as their siblings, parents, relatives, friends and everyone who works at Sandy Hook Elementary school. We pray that you’ll continue to work through the medical staff helping those who are injured, and that You will bless all those who seek to calm a community in crisis.

    In Jesus’ comforting name we pray- Amen.

    Dear e-friends,

    It goes without saying that the people of Newtown could really use our help right now. United Way of Western Connecticut, in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank, has created the Sandy Hook School Support Fund that will provide resources and support services to them.

    Please click the banner above for more information about how we can unite and help them through giving.

    Pin It!
    Shoot Fly Shoot
    • COMMENT
    • VIEW COMMENTS
    • TWEET
    • LIKE
    This entry was posted in Pray.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

    37 Responses to Praying and Giving

    2. Kate @ Chic on a Shoestring Decorating says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 5:47 pm

      A beautiful prayer, Layla. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    3. Leslie d. Brown says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 5:50 pm

      Dear Layla and Kevin,
      Thank you for your beautiful and heartfelt prayer for all of those affected by such a terrible tragedy in Connecticut. Anyone who believes that there is no true evil in this world should be convinced by the horrific events of late. We sadly just had a shooting earlier this week, a couple hours north of us, where I often shopped in earlier years. A crowded shopping mall with happy folks looking for Christmas presents…at least three lives were lost.
      May your thoughtful prayer touch the hearts and souls of many.
      With hugs, from Leslie in Oregon

      Reply
    4. angela says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 5:56 pm

      we all must pray for the family and friends of this tragedy.

      Reply
    5. Melissa Betts says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 6:53 pm

      What a beautiful prayer for the people affected by this tragedy. I know God hears our prayers. Thank you for putting words to our feelings.

      Reply
    6. Jaime says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 7:24 pm

      Thank you so much for that beautiful prayer. I’m printing it out so my family and I can read it together, your words are so touching and true.
      God bless you all

      Reply
    7. Flower Patch Farmgirl says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 7:31 pm

      Beautiful, El. God’s presence is alive in your words.

      Reply
    8. Denise says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 7:33 pm

      A beautiful prayer

      Reply
    9. Carole says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 7:48 pm

      Thank you for your heartfelt prayer, Layla. While we mourn with the rest of the world for the victims of this heinous act in Connecticut, we must turn to God for the comfort of His spirit. So many are blaming Him for allowing it but we have to trust Him and recognize that it has hurt Him even more than it has anyone. He will take care of it in His own way and in His own time.

      Reply
    10. carol@houseandhomedefined says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 7:54 pm

      Thank you for sharing the prayer we are all saying, in one way or another. Our blogs allow us to do the most good when we take moments like this and share what is right and important. God is watching us, I do believe.

      Reply
    11. Sharon Lynn says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 7:58 pm

      Amen

      Reply
    12. Amy@the Avery House says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 8:39 pm

      I join you in prayer for these families and community members who lost their precious loved ones due to this tragedy. Your prayer is so heart felt and I appreciate you posting it. It is such a horribly sad time and my heart breaks for this community.

      Reply
    13. Lisa says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 9:29 pm

      Layla,
      Bless you for this prayer and for making people aware of the support fund for the injured and the grieving. God’s spirit is upon you.

      Reply
    14. Barbara says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 10:18 pm

      Amen and Amen.

      Reply
    15. Mindy says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 10:38 pm

      As I drifted off to sleep last night, I prayed that those poor people could find strength in God. And then I told Him that I don’t think I could. I’m just not sure I could go on with that kind of sadness.
      We had the mall shooting just miles from our house this week. Our neighbor was killed. Her son goes to our son’s school and I was feeling sick over their family’s loss. That poor, poor kid, losing his mom just days before Christmas.
      Then Connecticut happened.
      I just don’t know what to feel at this point. I’m hugging my kids that much more, but feeling such sadness for those that will never have that again.
      This past week has changed me forever.

      Reply
    16. Just B says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 10:49 pm

      Layla – Thank you for sharing such a heart-felt prayer for all those affected by this senseless tragedy. It’s heartbreaking to hear the names and see the faces of those innocents who were lost and to know that so many families who were affected, literally over the generations, not just parents and siblings, but grandparents, all the extended family, and the first responders and those in law enforcement, will live with the shock and pain of yesterday’s horrific events for the rest of their lives. Forever changed. Our thoughts and prayers are indeed with them all.

      Reply
    17. yuko says:
      Dec 15, 2012 at 10:50 pm

      thank you layla for sharing your beautiful prayer. lord, let us find the light in the midst of this darkness… peace be with the families of the victims and many other wounded souls…

      Reply
    21. Marianne in Mo. says:
      Dec 16, 2012 at 10:49 am

      I can’t wrap my head around what’s happened lately, and the Conn. shooting stills my heart. My thoughts and prayers continue for everyone in that community as well as their extended families. I don’t know how someone gets through something like this – I’m not sure I could. So mournful of the little precious souls that will no longer get to continue with their lives. Lord, give us all strength!

      Reply
    22. Terry says:
      Dec 16, 2012 at 11:35 am

      Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

      Reply
    23. Sheri says:
      Dec 16, 2012 at 1:01 pm

      Thank you so much for your beautiful prayer. I can’t even imagine what they are feeling. I live in Omaha NE where there was the Von Maur shooting a few years ago. Gunfire and Christmas music just don’t go to together at all and neither do kids and schools. I worked in an elementary school for many many years and my hearts go out to everyone involved and to that whole community.

      Reply
    24. Hope @ Fairhope Supply Co. says:
      Dec 16, 2012 at 3:32 pm

      Thank you for this beautiful prayer.

      Reply
    25. Nancy says:
      Dec 16, 2012 at 3:48 pm

      Agree! God bless the families!!!

      Reply
    26. Maggie says:
      Dec 16, 2012 at 4:22 pm

      Thoughts and Prayer are all well and good but without action it is not going to cut it this time. If this does not move this nation into action then we do not deserve a better nation. I do not know what the answer is…better parenting, better mental health services, better gun control…I don’t know, what I do know is that I am going to do my best to educate myself and use what voice and action I have to make a change.. I am tired of saying oh what a tragedy and not doing anything to be part of a solution…that’s my prayer!

      Reply
    27. Mom Palmer - Katie says:
      Dec 16, 2012 at 6:13 pm

      Layla, thanks for this post and your beautiful prayer. Our prayers and thoughts also go out to all the families and the entire community of Newtown that have been affected by this terrible tragedy. Thanks for sharing information of how we can make donations to help support these families.

      Reply
    29. Geri says:
      Dec 16, 2012 at 7:27 pm

      Layla.
      Your words are always so comforting, wise and compassionate.
      I live in the next town and it feels so sad and so wrong.
      I love God and have faith always. I have never been in a position these families are in right now. I find myself praying so many times throughout the day that they turn to God and let his arms hug them and care for them, just like the poem” Footprints” says. I imagine it may be a time that faith may waiver. God will know
      what to do. Peace to all.

      Reply
    31. Kim says:
      Dec 16, 2012 at 9:26 pm

      Thank you for putting your prayer on your blog. It was very well said. As a mom and a past school volunteer, I am so deeply saddened about what happened. Sadly, the media is also politicizing this tragedy. I sing in my church’s praise band and we actually changed some of our song line-up to sing songs that beg God to come and cover the entire earth and bring peace. The entire band was in tears by the end of our set. It was quite emotional. So again, thank you for your prayer and thank you and Kev for everything you do for the bloggy community.

      Blessings,
      Kim

      Reply
    32. SJ says:
      Dec 17, 2012 at 12:30 am

      Amen. Your words are echoed by many, including myself.

      Reply
    33. Axelle the french cook says:
      Dec 17, 2012 at 4:36 am

      In France, we saw what happened in Newtown. We feel so sorry and sad.
      We’re thinking of them.

      Reply
    34. Rebecca says:
      Dec 17, 2012 at 9:04 am

      Thank you for your prayer….what a tragedy.

      Reply
    35. Carla says:
      Dec 17, 2012 at 10:17 pm

      Such a heartfelt prayer. We can never make sense of this. I pray god’s grace for the families who have some dark days ahead.
      Blessings on you Layla and your hubby.

      Reply

    36. Pingback: Our heavy hearts and loving children with aspergers » JosieJones & Company

    37. Mary says:
      Dec 19, 2012 at 11:23 am

      Lovely prayer Layla.
      Now, however, it’s time to get mad and perhaps use your blog to influence change. Do you know that since the shooting at Sandy Hook, sales in Bushmaster automatic rifles is skyrocketing. Apparently, some “folks” are scared of the possibility of gun legislation and are buying now in case they can’t later. I wonder how many of those sales are to mentally ill people like the young man that shot all of those beautiful children? Action, people speaks louder than words. If you don’t want guns in the hands of criminals and lunatics you’re going to have to do and say something about outlawing the sale of guns and ammunition.

      Reply