Our lives are the answers not only to the prayers of other people,
but to the prayer the Holy Spirit is making for us
and to the prayer of our LORD Himself.
O. Chambers
This past week the world has been hit by another senseless act of violence. This time over 300 killed, most of them children. Another group of terrorists so driven by anger that they have to paint their rage in the blood of innocents. Hostages beheaded, buses blown up, planes flown into buildings. It is simply incomprehensible to me. And once again - the question. “How can a loving God permit this to happen? Why didn’t He stop it?” And we answer, “Because He loves us enough to give us free will - the right to chose.” I praise God that in the midst of all this ugliness I have His beauty to hold onto. I praise Him that although it seems like the world has gone crazy I can find my sanity in Him. I praise Him that although the world is filled with too much hate, my life is filled with so much of His glorious love. I praise Father because in a place where there is senseless death, He has given me eternal life. I thank Him that in a world of chaos, I stand firm on my sure foundation - which is Him. Most of all I thank Abba, on my knees, that in this insecure world NOTHING can take me out of the security of His hands. Please keep the families in Russia and those around the world who have been devastated by this evil in your prayers.
We have received an update from Charles about Chantel’s operation. Praise Father that they were able to do a less intrusive procedure on Chantel than what had been planned. She is recovering well.
We lift high our praises to Father because Khamla’s chemotherapy is over and she is already feeling better!
L:illian Seward continues to improve and has been able to start on physical therapy. We are so looking forward to the day we have Lillian back in services with us!
Little Marisela continues to improve and gain weight over at Valley Children’s. According to her doctors, the second week is the toughest on premie’s so please keep Marisela in prayer.
Anna Gossen’s mom has taken a downturn in her recovery from depression and is once again hospitalized. The doctors are trying to adjust her medication.
On September 13th Robert Kammer will be undergoing his sleep study #4 for his sleep apnea. This will allow him to get a CPAP air machine that will help improve his condition.
Please continue to pray for the following: Debra’s family as they mourn her loss, The Speers family as they grieve the loss of Kyle, Chuck Johnson for his cancer treatments, Ray Rahn, Jr with his kidney dialysis, Julie & her mother with their broken bones, Jim Holdman and his radiation treatments, Evelyn Hayhurst with her cancer, 16 month old Brandon Johnson who has leukemia, Peggy Molander as she undergoes physical therapy, Bill Clem’s recovery from shoulder surgery, Lois & Dan Hansen and new job for Dan, John Robert’s need to be in relationship with Jesus and for his cancer, and Cheryl Balestra as she continues her cancer treatments. (If you have updates on these situations - please send them to me)
Please continue to hold up Karl & Shelly Roth and the church plant in the Rio Mesa Development in your prayers. (P.S. - a small correction on the directions to Biana Grogg’s house for the meeting this upcoming Monday - she lives west of Blackstone - not east of it). Please continue to hold up Horatio & Cheryl Aleman and the LifeHouse church in Reedley in your prayers.
Pray for our missionaries: The Reaching Hand Society in India, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, Laurie Bethall & Simon in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw as they work at the New Life Center in Thailand, Dr. George Pe Myat and the hospital in the Congo, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos and all the missionaries worldwide.
Praise God for our membership in His Church and for the privilege and opportunity to support her pastors and leadership through our prayers. Please continue to pray for the ministries and finances of our local congregations.
Pray for our country, her leaders and our military.
Everlasting Creator,
Humbly we bow before you and not only acknowledge but also rejoice that we know that You and You alone are God.
Refuge in the time of trouble, sometimes it feels like this earth is spinning out of control. We praise You and thank You that during these troubled times we can hold tightly to You and know that we are safe and secure. In the darkness of this world You are our ligh and You will guide us home.
Father, we ask that You comfort the families in Russia and around the world who have lost loved ones to these meaningless acts of violence.
We thank You, Abba, for the success of Chantel’s operation, that Khamla’s chemo is done, that Lillian is able to take physical therapy and that little Marisela continues to improve.
LORD on High, we lift up before You Your daughter, Anna’s mom. We ask healing for her mind and spirit. Pour Your Spirit on her and give her peace.
Father God, we ask that You bless Robert and this 4th sleep study. Let the results be good and let him get this machine that will help him.
Precious Jesus, thank You for the sacrifice You made on the cross. Because of Who You are, I am who I am. We take joy in knowing that we will be with You for all of eternity.
Comforter and Provider, we pray for Debra’s family, the Speer family, Chuck Johnson, Ray Rahn, Jr., Julie & her mother, Jim Holdman, Evelyn Hayhurst, Brandon Johnson, Peggy Molander, Bill Clem, Lois & Dan Hansen, John Robert, Cheryl Balestra and Robert Kammer. Continue to meet the needs in each of these situations.
Holy Spirit we ask that You pour Yourself on Karl and Shelly Roth, Horatio and Cheryl Aleman and all who are involved in the launch teams of these new churches. We ask that You bind satan away from them, do not let satan sow discord or discouragement as we work to build Your kingdom.
Good Shepherd, we pray for all of those who bring Your message of life to all the farthest reaches of this earth and among the forgotten, ignored and belittled peoples of the world. We thank You for the work that Laurie Bethell and Simon do among the women trapped in prostitution in Prague, for Judy, Faye & Miisaw as they work among the women at the New Life Center in Thailand. We thank You and praise You for the work done by Jan and Larry Martin in the villages of Thailand where lives are being enriched and changed in and by Your name. We praise You for the work done by the Reaching Hand Society as they reach into the villages and into the prisons to impact lives for Your kingdom. We sing Your praise for the work done by Dr. George and Your hospital in the Congo where people come to find healing for their bodies but also find healing for their souls. We thank You for the work of Bounkham & Khamla as they serve the physical and spiritual needs of the Laotian people. We ask Your provision and blessings surround all of these.
Great Provider, to be a member of Your Church is to be part of Your body - that is how deeply You love Your church and how deeply You love us. We thank You for the pastors and leaders that You have placed in our congregations. We ask that You bless them with Your abundance. Help us to support them at all times. Holy God, bless the outreach ministries of Your church and remind us that it isn’t about the numbers - it is about the souls.
Merciful God, we ask Your forgiveness on our country for straying so far from You when You are the very foundation she was built upon. Help us to lift our voices and make a stand for what is right and proper so that the we will come back to You. We ask You to bless our leadership with wisdom. WE pray Your protection on all of those who serve in the military.
Holy God, we cannot wait to be shown Your glory and Your majesty in the Throne Room of Heaven. We are going to follow You for all of our days on this earth and throughout eternity in Your presence. Help us to never forget the magnificence and power of God, Whom we serve. Amen
Posted by Valerie at September 8, 2004 06:01 PM