To be afraid is to behave as if the truth were not true.
Bayard Rustin (1912-1987) Civil rights activist
Did you talk about Jesus – the Truth of God - today?
I saw Ann McBain on Friday. She was asleep when I arrived and woke while I was writing her a note. She asked who was there, and I came into her eyesight and said, “It’s Valerie, back from Nigeria” She gave my Nigerian clothes the once over and I said, “I know, I look a little weird.” And she responded, “Nothing new about that!” No doubt about it that her body may be giving her problems but her mind – and her mouth – are as sharp as ever! I had a wonderful visit with her.
Ellen Burton’s cancer is getting significantly worse. Ellen is my sister, Cyndi’s, ex-sister-in-law and has other connections as well to our church. I do not know the health of Ellen’s soul – please pray that Father becomes very real to her during this time.
Our Little Katie Arrigon continues to face health challenges, please keep her and her family in prayer. Please keep Katie’s older sister in prayer as well – for the healing of her spirit.
Martha is recovering well following her surgery this past Monday; please pray that her recovery continues to progress well.
Care Fresno Kids Klub opens on September 28th with a 40 foot banana split. Please keep this ministry to our neighborhood children in prayer as we get busy with our new year.
Norm Baird is the lay director of the November Men’s Walk to Emmaus. Although there is no doubt that Norm is perfect for this honor, it does come with a great deal of responsibility and work. Please keep him in prayer during this time.
Please continue to keep Ann, Jan and all of the Mead family in prayer following Larry’s passing, and Charles’ family & friends as they mourn his passing. Remember to pray for Walt Couch, my step-father, who has prostrate cancer.
Pray for our missionaries – 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, Biana and Faith Alive in Nigeria, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Don't forget your prayer challenge of two minutes a day praying for unity within the Body and that we all are given opportunities to witness for Christ.
LORD God, Most High,
We praise You and thank You, Jehovah Shalom, for the grace, mercy and peace that You have brought into our lives. You have broken the chains of sin that bound us, You have redeemed us and You have given us the freedom to fly in the light of Your love.
We pray, triune God, for Ann McBain and ask that You continue to be with her at this time. Give Joy, Willie and all of the family the strength to support her and protect her as she is ill. We pray for Ellen Burton, Father, and ask that You use this time to bring her close to You. Holy God, her physical condition is bad, but we pray for her spiritual condition. We ask Your mercy and healing on our little Katie and ask, LORD God, that you ease her troubles and that You grant peace to her family. We pray for Katie’s sister, Jesus, that You can become the foundation of her life. We lift up our beloved Martha before You, praising You that things have progressed well following her surgery, and asking, Abba, that You continue to heal her.
We lift up the leaders of Care Fresno Kids Klub as it once again gets ready to open its doors. Strength and patience are greatly needed. We pray for the children that will come into our program and pray that You will open their hearts to the glory of knowing You.
Being the lay director for the Walk to Emmaus is a huge responsibility, God of Eternity, but we know that Norm is Your chosen leader for this men’s walk. We ask Your guidance and strength be poured out on Norm, and that You prepare the hearts of those who will be taking this walk.
Comfort Ann, Jan and all of the Mead family; comfort Charles’ family as they continue to mourn the passing of their loved ones. Father God, I ask Your mercy on my step-father, soften his heart so that he can hear Your call upon his life.
Jehovah-Jirah, LORD God Who provides, provide for the spiritual and physical need of Your missionaries who serve You far from their homes.
Holy Spirit, we lift up the pastors and the leaders of our churches and ask that You remind us often to lift them constantly before You in prayer. We pray that You protect them from the temptations and snares that that great liar, satan, puts in front of them. We pray for the unity of the Church, the Body of Christ. Remind us that we are one in You.
Messiah and LORD of All, You left us with two commandments – to love You with everything we’ve got and to love each other. The first one is easy – we are created to love You and to be in relationship with You. Loving You is the joy of our life. It is that other commandment that gives us problems, LORD. Some of the people around us are easy to love – but some of them are more of a challenge to love. Help us to love others as deeply as You love us. Remind us that there are those who are our family, our friends, neighbors and co-workers who do not know You. Give us a heart for them, give us the courage to speak the Truth, the Way and the Life to them, and give us the right words to say that will reveal You to them as we know You.
Help us to remember what the true richness of our life is – remind us that it is not our stuff – it is our relationship with You. We love You, LORD.