e-Praise & Prayers - July 27, 2004
We must get back to the place where we are concerned only aboutfacing our own inner souls with Jesus Christ,Who searches right down to the innermost recesses.
O. Chambers
Anybody who knows me knows that I am not too thrilled when Willie is out of the pulpit. Although I am chief among his naggers telling him to take his time off - get his rest - don’t get bogged down - that doesn’t mean I like it when he is actually gone. But today I am praising God that Willie and his family have gotten some well-deserved time off together and that we were privileged to hear Lisa Watson preach this past Sonday. To use our favorite religious word - WOW! Willie’s asking Lisa to fill in was definitely a “God-thing.” If you missed services last Sonday - be sure and set your VCR/DVD to record them on Sonday morning, 8:00, KMPH. You will not be disappointed!
We were also honored to watch as two young women from our youth group made an outward declaration of their inward faith in Jesus by following Him in believer’s baptism And then to see the right hand of fellowship extended to our new members was equally joyous. How richly Father has blessed our congregation!
Many of us know Ray Callahan, and if you don’t know him by name you most certainly know him from his work with the children’s music program and his wonderful baritone voice. Karen, Ray’s daughter, has been down visiting him for the summer from Bend, Oregon. This past Thursday tragedy struck this family when Karen’s mother, Kathy, passed away suddenly. Please keep this family in prayer as Ray, his mother, Jean, and Karen grieve this loss. Please pray for Karen as she faces this sudden upheaval of her life. Please pray for traveling mercies as Ray & Karen travel to Bend, Oregon.
Kerry Johnson, Kelli Hasting’s brother, is in the hospital in Corcoran with pulmonary fibrosis. Fluid is building up in his lungs making it difficult for him to breathe.
Kelli’s father, Chuck Johnson, is home in Corcoran but has to travel to LA once a week for his chemo. Chuck is also suffering from depression. Please pray for physical, mental and spiritual healing for Chuck.
Please continue to pray for Kyle Speer (8 years old) and his family. Kyle is terminal with leukemia and the doctors have exhausted all treatment plans.
Please pray for the family of Geri Kinnish as they mourn the loss of Geri’s grandson, Don.
Please continue to pray for Walt Hemphill & his continued recovery, Ruth Rush’s recovery from knee replacement surgery, Emmy Lou Graves as she recovers from pink eye, Lillian Seward’s recovery from gall stone surgery, Ray Rahn Jr, who is undergoing dialyses treatments, Judi Wright and he mother (We miss you, Judi!), Lois & Dan Hansen with his job situation, John Roger’s and his cancer and most important - for his need to be in relationship with Jesus, Cheryl Baldera and her cancer, Mandy & her cancer, Khamla and her chemo treatments, Rick, Leslie and Kayla as Rick undergoes chemo, Chantel & her surgery (Charles - please send us an update on Chantel), and Robert Kammer & his sleep apnea.
Dr. Iris Paul is now in the Santa Cruz area and will be back in Porterville in August. To learn more about Dr. Iris Paul and the ministry of Reaching Hand Society visit www.indiapartners.org
Please continue to uphold our beloved missionaries in prayer. Please pray for Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Dr. Dr. George Pe Myat and his hospital in the Congo and for the Reaching Hand Society in India.
Please pray for our pastors, leadership, ministries and finances of our church. I called the church office early this past Monday and was told that I could not speak to Mitzi because she and the staff were in prayer together. You know - I just flat out like knowing that our staff prays together. Every other Sonday in our weekly bulletin is a wonderful prayer sheet. This prayer sheet details the praises and prayer requests of our membership and those who attend- or watch - our services. Karen Musselman, Karla Baker, Faye Lowes and Charles Betts take care of this vital ministry. Let’s hold them up in prayer and thanksgiving this week.
Please pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
Great and Glorious Father,
There are not words adequate to express the joy we feel to be in Your loving presence. To be in Your presence is to dance in streams of love. We praise You, Father, and we love You.
Bread of Life, we thank You for Your mercy and love for us. We thank You for Your abundant blessings on our congregation that You have not only put into place a wonderful pastoral staff but also lay people who fill the pulpit so wonderfully. Bless Willie, Joy and the family as they continue their vacation. Bless Lisa as she continues to serve You wholeheartedly..
Water of Life, we thank You for the testimony of these two young people who were baptized this past Sonday and we ask that You fill and guide their lives. We ask Your blessings on all those who have joined our church family.
LORD God Who heals us, we lift high before You Ray, Karen, and Jean Callahan as they grieve the loss of Kathy. Comfort them and strengthen them. Abba, we call out for a special touch to be given to Karen as she faces the loss of her mother and a sudden change in her lifestyle. Father, help us to love and support her during this time. Father, be with this family as they travel to Bend Oregon, grant them traveling mercies and comfort. Be their guide.
God Almighty, we hold up Chuck and Kerry Johnson. Clear the fluid from Kerry’s lung and restore his health. Father, we ask Your mercy on Chuck as he travels back & forth to LA for his treatments. We ask that You heal him physically, mentally and spiritually. Bring peace to him.
God Who fills Eternity, we admit that this situation with Kyle is difficult for us. The impending death of a child is hard and knowing that nothing can be done to stop it grieves us. We hold on at this time to Your promise that no life is in vain - if it has been lived for You. Comfort the family - remind them that time is just a vapor in Your eternity and then they will see Kyle again.
Holy Father, we lift up Geri and her family as they recover from the loss of Don. Bring them the peace that passes all understanding.
Our God Who provides, we lift up the following names, knowing that You are in control of each situation. Walt Hemphill, Ruth Rush, Emmy Lou Graves, Lillian Seward, Ray Rahn Jr, Judi Wright and he mother, Lois & Dan Hansen, John Rogers, Cheryl Baldera, Mandy, Khamla, Rick, Leslie and Kayla, Chantel & her surgery, and Robert Kammer. Please continue to bless each of these situations.
LORD Jesus, we ask Your blessings on all of the missionaries who serve You around the world. We thank You and praise You for their strength and courage. We ask that You provide for their needs and build a stronghold of protection around them We cry out the names of Jan & Larry Martin, The Reaching Hand Society, Dr. George Pe Myat, and Bounkham & Khamla.
Holy Spirit, You have promised that whenever two or three of us are gathered together, You are in our midst. We thank You for Your presence among us as we lift before You our pastors. Spirit we ask You to pour Your wisdom on them as they guide the direction of our congregation. We ask Your blessings on the leadership of our congregation and ask that You guide their decisions. We thank You for the many ministries that our congregation is involved in, we thank You for the opportunity to serve You through them. We ask that You provide for the needs of the church as we serve You.
Father God, we thank You for the faithfulness of Karen, Karla, Faye, and Charles as they prepare the prayer sheets that are in the bulletins. Bless them Father in all that they do. Help us to support this vital ministry.
Father God, our country has turned away from You. We have asked You to leave our schools, leave our town squares and leave our government. Our country is wrong to do this and we have taken the wrong path. Father God, use the hearts and minds of your people, in whom You reign supreme, as a powerful force to turn this nation back to where we should be - on our knees before You. LORD, we ask that You bless and guide the leaders of this country, to give them a heart for justice and a desire to follow You. Bless and protect our military as they serve our country.
God of Wonders, because of You, we know what abiding peace, constant joy, and endless love is. Thank You for being the center of our lives. We love You forever. In Your name we pray, Amen.
Posted by Valerie at July 27, 2004 06:06 PM