e-Praise & Prayers - August 24, 2004
“I ought to spend the best hours of the day in communion with God” E.M. Bounds
“A little less religion - a little more relationship” Karl Roth
I love having new experiences (the good kind) and Sonday night’s service was a new experience for me. I met a lot of brothers and sisters who attend Clovis First Baptist Church and got to sing some great praise to our King of kings. But there is no doubt in my mind that the best part of the night was hearing the vision of the new church plant at the Rio Mesa development. Karl Roth, the pastor of the Rio Mesa church, talked a little about himself (he made sure that we knew he wasn’t a religious man, whew, what a relief!) and talked a lot about the God we serve and a passion to reach the lost. Then this crazy, enthusiastic, committed man put the vision he has the for new church up on the screens. I don’t know a lot about church-planting - but I know big audacious goals when I see them - and these goals are big and audacious. My first though was “It is impossible for Karl to accomplish this!” And I am right. Karl Roth CANNOT accomplish these goals. I know that - and so does Karl. He said so. After he read the goals he looked at us and simply said, “I know that these are big goals - but I serve a big God.” I don’t know about you - but that is a WOW! Statement of faith. Let us praise God for His children who dare to have big audacious goals to go with their big audacious faith!
Walt Hemphill was in services this past Sonday! His wife, Donna, told me that he continues to get better! Let us praise God for this wonderful report!
I am requesting prayer for my children’s grandfather, Big John. He is facing some serious health and financial problems.
Mike Schwab was in services this past Sonday as well. He is doing much better but will be on antibiotics for some time in order to continue to fight the infection.
Bev Willis has sent us an update on Rick, his wife, Leslie and their daughter Kayla. Rick is not doing well on his chemo, however there is some good news in that they are now attending services at North Pointe Church.
I spoke on Sonday with Harold Seward and he told me that his mother, Lillian, is doing much better, although her recovery from gall stone surgery continues to be slow.
Please continue to keep the following in prayer - Ray Rahn, Jr & his dialysis; Jim Holdman and his fight against the infection that is holding up his radiation treatment; Julie & her mother for swift recovery from broken bones; Khamla who will shortly be able to stop her chemo treatments, Evelyn Hayhurst and her cancer, Brandon Johnson (16 months old) who has leukemia; Peggy Molander and her physical therapy; Kyle Speer’s & his family; Bill Clem & his continued recovery from shoulder surgery (this incredible man is still over at the church working on the landscaping to the best of his ability - I am telling you that we have some awesome people who serve God and our congregation!). Please continue to pray for Chuck Johnson and his chemo treatements. Chantel Kabambi, in Paris, will be undergoing her surgery at this time next week. Please keep Chantel in prayer. Continue to pray for Ruth Rush as she recovers from knee replacement surgery; Lois & Dan Hansen as he looks for God’s guidance in a new job situation; John Roberts and his need for a relationship with Jesus. I spoke to Annie Dennis, John’s daughter, and she said he was doing okay with his cancer treatments. Delaine Zody says that Cheryl Baldera is doing very well with her cancer treatments. Please continue to pray for Robert Kammer & his sleep apnea.
Please continue to lift up our missionaries in prayer. Laurie Bethall & Simon as they work in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw as they work among the women at the New Life Center in Thailand, Reaching Hand Society in India, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, Dr. George Pe Myat and the hospital in the Congo, and Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos.
Please lift up the world-wide Church as she serves Jesus. Please pray for our local congregations, pastors and leadership.
Continue to lift up our country, her leadership and our military.
King of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of Peace,
How we love Your royal titles, it reminds us of the majesty and power that You are. We look forward to the day that You take Your place as absolute Ruler of this earth. On that day mercy, justice and righteousness will be the norm and not the exception.
You are a great, big, audacious God and we thank You and praise You for your children who dream dreams of serving You in great big audacious ways. We thank You for Karl and the simple statement of faith “I serve a big God” We ask that You bless the church at Rio Mesa and bless her pastor as they serve You. Father, show each of us how we can be a blessing to this new church plant. We ask that You lead us in ways to use our gifts to help birth this church.
LORD God, we thank You that Walt and Mike were able to be in services this Sonday. We ask that You continue to heal their bodies and lift their spirits.
Great Provider, we lift Big John before You and ask that You heal his body and provide for his financial needs.
Father, we continue to lift up all of those that we are praying for. We thank You for the good updates that we have received on many of them this week. We pray in faith for each of these situations, not placing our confidence in any result, but in the character of You Who heals us. Our faith is in You, the results are up to You.
Blessings and honor, glory and power be unto Your glorious name!
Great I AM, we pray for those who serve You in places around the earth. We lift up all of Your missionaries and ask that You show them Your glory and renew their vision. We ask Your wisdom and abundance be poured on Laurie Bethall and Simon as they serve You in Prague, Judy, Faye and Miisaw as they serve You in Thailand, Reaching Hand Society in India, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, Dr. George in the Congo, and Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos.
LORD of All, LORD of us, in Your last prayer You prayed for Your church that we would be known for our love for You and our love for each other. Forgive us when we allow the things that are different among us to overshadow all that unites us. Help us to overcome and to build the Kingdom as Your Church - one Church united in love.
Father, we lift up our congregation, fill us with Your Spirit and help us to make a positive impact on our community in Your name. We pray for the pastors of our churches and ask that You grant them strength and wisdom as they lead us, We ask Your abundance on the leadership in our churches and for the ministries that they lead. Abba. Let our focus never slip from You and from reaching the lost with Your message. Father, provide for the churches and the ministries out of Your abundance.
Holy One, we cry out for Your mercy to be upon our country. Father, bring her back to You. We ask Your wisdom to be with our leaders as they make decisions that will impact us, our country and the world. We as that You be with our military as they protect us both at home and abroad.
Mighty Savior, help us to have the vision and fire to dream great big audacious dreams. Start a fire of faith that will change our neighborhoods, our city, our country and our world, and let it begin with me.
We love You, LORD God, we long to joyously bow down before You. It is in Your name we pray - Amen
Posted by Valerie at August 26, 2004 04:22 PM