Charity. To love human beings in so far as they are nothing. That is to love them as God does. Simone Weil
Betty Arnold’s biopsy proved to be benign! Praise You Father!
Remo Paul with Reaching Hand Society is home and completely recovered!
On Monday, following a short battle with pneumonia and other complications, Kristen Gates passed onto Father’s loving arms and has found the peace that only He can give. Her Celebration of Life will be held this Friday – May 18th – at 11:00 am. Please keep Pastor Dan & Edie Gates in prayer during this difficult time.
Last week Jim Sullivan had his knee replaced. The reports that I have had is that his recovery is nothing short of amazing.
This Saturday Care Fresno Kids Klub will have our annual family picnic at the church. Huge water fight involved – so please keep us in prayer! Particularly since this is a wonderful opportunity to meet the parents of our kids.
Biana is back in Nigeria! She is tired from the travel but glad to be at Faith Alive again. Please pray that Matthew, Lisa and Nathan Watson will soon be cleared to go as well. My trip to Nigeria becomes more real to me every day. My tickets arrived in the mail, my arms are bruised from the multitude of shots to protect me from stuff that I didn’t know existed, and my funding is almost completely in place. I leave Fresno on July 18th and am back home on August 31st. Please keep me in prayer, ‘cause now that it is really real to me – I am getting a little bit nervous.
We continue to pray for: Colene McDonough & family, Holly Hedrick, Erlene Nickell, Charles and his mission trip to India, Remo & Susan Paul, Nola Ambler, Bianca & Stephanie, Tony McDonald, Ellen Burton, Walt Couch, and Michael Ferris.
Pray for our missionaries – Biana in Nigeria, Judy, Faye & Miisaw with New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Yvonne Deel in Belize, Bounkham & Khamla in Laos, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Meghan Dineen in Mexico, Matthew, Lisa & Nathan (Soon to be back) in Nigeria, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. I am issuing a prayer “challenge” on behalf of our fellowship and for the fellowships represented by other subscribers to the e-Ministry. I am challenging you to spend two minutes a day in specific prayer for your church. Jesus said that the world would know us because of our love for one another. Pray first for the unity of our local congregation and for the unity of the Eternal Worldwide Church. Jesus said that the fields are white to harvest – but the laborers are few, and He said GO! Pray that we will focus on evangelism – reaching our neighborhood, our community and our world in Jesus’ name. I know that there are many other issues that face our community of faith but I am convinced that if we focus on unity as the Church and on reaching the world – the rest of it will fall into place and we will not be able to hold the blessings that God will pour down on us. Remember that unity and evangelism is the business of the church and the business of the individual member of the church. So that is my prayer challenge – I’ve already started adding two more minutes a day – will you join me in prayer? Will you join me in action?
Jehovah Shalom, God of our Peace,
I love the Sonshine times with You, when we dance with the joy of a life well lived in Your presence. I love the stormy times too (although I love those best when they are over). I love them because in the middle of the storm when I am getting buffeted from every direction You assure me that You are with me, You hold me tightly to keep me safe, You calm the storm of fear within me. It is at these times – when I have nothing to hold onto but You, that I learn that I need nothing to hold onto but You. You have never failed us and You never will.
We praise You for the great news on Remo, Betty and Jim and ask that You continue to be with them.
Comforter, hold on to Dan, Edie and the family as they grieve the passing of Kristen. Remind them that she is with You and that she is at peace.
LORD God, open the door for the Watson’s to go back to Nigeria and complete the work that You have set before them.
Abba, Daddy, I am so excited about going to Nigeria to serve You, but it is a little scary too. I trust You so I’m jumping out of the boat and I am walking to You.
We lift up the names and situations that are on our prayer chain and we release them to Your sovereignty.
Holy Spirit, be with the missionaries that serve You around the world, protect them and restore them.
LORD Jesus, we pray for the unity of Your Church. Denomination is not Your word, it is a word we use. Help us to forget about the differences that divide us and to focus on what unites us – You and Your gift of Life. We pray that You will give us opportunities as the eternal Church, as the local congregation and as individuals to share our faith with the world. Give us the courage to speak, give us the words to say, help us to live lives that reflect the words we say.
You are our Great and Glorious God, there is none above You, there is none like You, there is none worthy as You are worthy of our praise. We praise You, Lord with the beat of our hearts, with the thoughts of our mind, with the songs on our lips and with the actions of our body. You are everything.