In its deepest sense, love is the life, the energy, of God in us. -Kallistos Ware
I saw the most wonderful moment in services this past Sonday. We were singing “How Great is Our God!” as we brought our commitment cards forward. I saw one of the young families in our church come forward, a dad, a mom and their child. They held hands together, paused for just a moment, and then together, put the commitment card into the plate. The world says the family is falling apart, that family values are falling apart. What I saw Sonday says to me – not all of it. Thank You, Father, for strong Christian families.
Ask and you shall receive! I asked last week after Bev Willis and got several responses including one from Bev! Thank you to all of you for responding. Bev has not had her surgery yet, it is on hold until a wound she has can fully heal. An e-mail from her tonight says that the wound is getting much better so things are looking up!
Sandy is now in hospice care. She isn’t in any pain but her memory continues to fail. Kelli has put her own health concerns on hold as she cares for her friend and roommate. This sad news makes our Right Hand of Fellowship greeting with Sandy last Sonday even more precious.
Please pray for Ann Herrington, a friend of my mother’s and mine. She has been admitted into the hospital. I am not sure of what the challenge she is facing is.
Continue to pray for Eileen Betts as she may have to have chemo.
Keep Kat Bailey’s father in prayer as he undergoes surgery.
Please continue to pray for – Kathy waiting for back surgery, Melissa & baby Eliza, Barbara Kansler with health issues; Carol Robertshaw with lung cancer, Norm Baird as he leads the Men’s Emmaus Walk, our Katie as she faced ongoing health challenges, Ellen Burton with worsening cancer and Walt Couch, who has prostrate cancer.
Pray for our missionaries –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, Judy, Faye & Miisaw with New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, 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.
Father,
We turn to You and You are there. When we dance with joy, You dance with us. When it seems like the whole world is falling apart around us, You do not hide Your face from us, You help us pick up the pieces and put it back together again. When our life is filled with songs of praise, You rejoice over us with singing, when the storms of life crash around us, You are the calm voice that tells us to just hold on. Your presence either calms the storm, or calms Your child. Our hearts overflow with our love and thankfulness for Your loving-kindness that is poured upon us.
Good Shepherd, we lift up our sisters and brothers before You who are in need of Your healing touch. Thank You for the news of Bev’s progress, continue to heal her and prepare her for surgery. We call out Sandy’s name with sorrow LORD, and ask that her journey home continue to be without pain. Bless Kelli, Abba, as she continues to be the strength that Sandy can depend on. Help Kelli with her own physical challenges. Heal Ann and bring her back to health and back to the doll club. We ask that You surround Eileen with Your comfort and strength as she walks this path that has been chosen for her. Father, surround Kat with Your peace as she goes through this time with her father. Bless him, LORD of Lights, and heal him.
We continue to pray for those who are on our prayer chain, and we thank You, Holy Spirit, for the love that You have for them, and the love that we have for them. Each situation is unique, but each person is under Your loving hand. Continue to move in them and through them.
LORD Jesus, I thank You for letting me see that family on Sonday, for showing me again that in the midst of this troubled world, Your remnant remains.
Forgive us for the times that we have failed to be witnesses of You. Help us to live our lives stronger for You, help us to have the courage and the words to reach out to those around us. Give us opportunities to share Your love with those around us through our prayers for them, our actions around them and our words to them.
Surround the missionaries who serve You with Your hedge of protection, God of the Angel Armies. Keep them safe within the shelter of Your wings.
Remind us, LORD that the Church is to be a beacon of hope to the world, strengthen our pastors, and show them the path You would have us walk. Give wisdom to our leaders so that they will know Your will. Provide for the needs of our church, Jehovah Jirah, so that we can be equipped to reach out to all who are around us.
Your love for us is the same today as it was yesterday, and it is the same yesterday as it will be forever. You are unchanging in Your love for us. Even when we did not love You, Your love was strong. Even when our love for You is not faithful, Your love for us is always faithful. I want my love for You to be more like Your love for me, but I can’t do that by myself, LORD. Help me, LORD, to love You more.