Prayer for Mothers & Their Families

At 2 pm today a teen was found dead in a car in Stockton, California along 12th street.  Whether male or female, the article didn't say.  Then there was a drive by in Stockton on East Street at 10 pm tonight, followed by a drive by in the 1100 block of South Commerce, again, in Stockton, in which one male teen was instantly killed by a gunman's bullet and another male teen was taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition.

I've never had to live with this type of violence, but so many parents have had to that I wanted to make this a prayer for parents and families, especially the mother's tonight.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you now to lift up the mother's and their families who have lost their son and possibly a daughter today, as well as to another family who waits to see if their son will live or die.

Lord Jesus, help them to call upon you, for your mercy, your grace, your forgiveness, even when we are not in sin, you and I both know Lord, that they will blame themselves as we family members, especially us mom's have a tendency to do.  Lord God, please just fill them with your peace?  Give them what they need to get through this awful, most painful ordeal they are going through, and please lift up their neighbor's and friends to help them through this horrific time in life that no parent should ever have to go through.  Please provide enough companionship for them that they do not have to go through this alone. 

Lord, if this occurred because of gang activity of some sort, please Lord, find a voice other than that of the "usual type," to go in and help these young people make peace amongst themselves, and help each other forge a new peace in their neighborhoods, for this is certainly not what you intended for them!  This is not what you want Lord.  You want us to "love one another even as you have loved us." (John 15:12), not this mania!

Finally Lord, I lift up the Stockton California Police Department to you.  Keep them safe, and give them an extra measure of blessing of safety since budget cuts have left fewer and fewer cops on the streets.  For those who reach out to these families, bless them especially Father God, for they are the ones truly going above and beyond the call of duty, no matter how strained the relationship between the two groups.  Help these men and women go in regular clothing, pay their respects and ask if there is anything they can do to help.  It's when we ignore the great commission, that we become hard in heart, like a rock beating inside of us, just barely keeping us alive.  There is so much more love, friendship and a common spirit of cleaning up the streets that must be done here.  Give someone the mantle Lord Jesus and help them to save our children!

In Jesus name, Amen.

 

Read more: http://www.kcra.com/news/Stockton-Police-investigate-multiple-drive-by-shootings/-/11797728/16471134/-/c6aa76/-/index.html#ixzz25U9esiAi