Kay Odle

I was on Facebook this morning and came across a story that just broke my heart. My home town is Sioux City IA, about 85 miles south of Sioux Falls SD. That is smack dab in middle America.

The story was about a 68-year-old grandmother and pastor’s wife who had spent most of her life traveling with her family to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.

This woman wasn’t a stranger to sorrow. Kay Odle is a recent widow. Her husband died on Thanksgiving unexpectedly from heart failure.  The news story reported that she is raising a four-year-old granddaughter with special needs by herself as well.

On New Year’s Day, Kay Odle would encounter a sorrow beyond sorrows. Her son, who appeared to have a history of drug abuse would kick down her door, force his way into her home and beat her beyond recognition.

Who can fathom why? How can something like this happen?  Lord, how many people inside the church are finding themselves in similar struggles? Maybe afraid to open up?

How many of us have children who have wandered far from God, perhaps held captive as Satan’s prisoner of war through substance abuse?  Trying everything they knew to do without avail? Children who disdain and mock parents because they are people of faith?  Appearances on the surface can sometimes look good, even when a simmering caldron is boiling beneath.

My friends, we are in a battle!  And we must never forget Paul’s message to the Ephesians in Chapter 6, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

Yet, while we may know who our battle is with, and while we may understand that it is the enemy who comes to kill, to steal and to destroy, we must always be diligent to be on guard. 

Matthew Chapter 10:34-39 (AMP) is one of the most heartbreaking series of verses in scripture. It says,“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword [of division between belief and unbelief]. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his [own] household [when one believes, and another does not].

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], and whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake will find it [that is, life with Me for all eternity].

That's some pretty hard stuff!  Whaaaat??? What is happening around us is a convergence of the signs of the times Jesus pointed out to His Disciples.  The world around us is imploding in its sin and ugliness.  But we are not a people without hope!  We know that our redemption draws near!

As we wait upon that time when Christ rights every wrong, may we diligently clothe ourselves with the Armor of God each and every day.  May we recognize that our battles are won in the Throne Room of our God, who hears our cries and petitions and who promises that in ALL things, He is working for our good.

Let us pray …

Father, in Jesus name, I want to pray for all with a son or a daughter lost and held in bondage to the enemy today.  Help us to see them through your eyes.  Help us to fight the battle before your throne instead of engaging in battle with them.  Help us trust in your promises, get out of your way, and keep eyes of faith on the road as we pray believing that our prodigal will come home.

Guard your moms and dads out there with broken hearts, and more often than not, broken homes. Set a hedge of protection around them.  Let your healing be like the balm of Gilead to restore them.  Bring them Aarons and Hurs to walk with them.

I want to pray for Kay Odle today. And her son. What the enemy would use for horror and harm, I pray you will turn into a testimony of your faithfulness. I want to ask you to heal her totally and completely. I want to thank you that Salvation is a total restorative work:  physical, emotional, and spiritual!  I want to praise you for sparing her life.  Oh Lord, bring a mighty testimony in who you are from this tragedy!

Lord, teach us to battle strategically in Holy Spirit in this hour. Draw us near to you.  Create in us faithful and obedient hearts.  In you alone is our great hope! But you are enough. We surrender. Amen.