The value of consistent prayer is not that He will hear us, but that we will hear Him.
-William McGill
Please keep Yolanda Morales’ sister in prayer her surgery to determine the cause of a rapidly growing lump in her breast has been delayed.
We have been praying for Steve & Cindy (Bev & Floyd Willis’ daughter) as we waited for his test results. They had feared cancer – but it turned out to be Valley Fever.
Donna Hemphill underwent tests last week on her leg. She was in services on Sonday and told me that the procedure went better than they had hoped and that the results were good.
Sharleen Ferree is “on call” with the hospital in San Francisco. Luckily “On call” means she will get a week’s notice on when her appointment for tests is. When she first told me she was “on call” I envisioned her getting the call from the hospital, dropping everything and making a frantic dash to SF!
Please keep my friends, Paul & Mandy in prayer. Paul’s mother passed away this past week
We continue to pray for the following: Bonnie Mendoza, Faye Lowes, Jeanette & Gene Wright, Bob Molander, Keri Reynolds, Roy Rahn, Lance Corporal Eric Hamilton in Iraq, Jacob Filpala in Iraq, Willie serving in Iraq, Carol Simmerman and the two disks affecting her hip, Dorothy Wajckus, my young friend down at juvenile hall, Ivy Huff as she job hunts, Matthew & Lisa as they raise funds for Nigeria, Megan Dineen as she prepares to go to Mexico in September, Jonathan Rumsey, serving in Bagdad, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, Tony & treatment for prostrate cancer, John Rodgers with cancer.
Pray for our missionaries - Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, Biana Grogg with The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
Yahweh Ro’l, LORD our Shepherd,
We thank You, Great Shepherd, for the tender care that You take of us. You provide for our needs, You guide our lives; You protect us from those who mean to harm us. We confess that often we are like sheep that have gone astray. We have purposely left You. Forgive us when we fail us. Even when we fail You, You love for us is so immense, You gladly welcome us home.
We pray for Yolanda’s sister and for Sharleen as they both wait for these tests that will determine the next step in their health care. Grant them a measure of patience.
Yahweh, The Great I AM that I AM, We thank You for Your mercy and loving-kindness that You have shown to Steve and Cindy and to our beloved Donna. All of them continue to face challenges – but the challenge is not as bad as was feared. Continue to watch over them.
We lift up Paul and Mandy at this difficult time in their lives. We thank You for the calm assurance that we will see Paul’s mother again when we also join You. Thank You for Your promise of eternal life and eternal joy.
I love Your Name, Yahweh Shammah – The LORD is there. It gives me great peace of mind because Your name is a promise to me that no matter where I go, or what situation I find myself in You, My LORD, are already there – and You are in control.
We pray for our friends who continue to be on our prayer chain, Holy Spirit, and we ask that in the midst of their problems, You reveal Yourself to them in a fresh new way.
Adonai, safeguard and protect the missionaries who serve You so faithfully in so many places around the world. Provide for their needs and protect their families.
LORD Jesus, I heard about a pastor who is starting a Bible study in a bar. He is serving non-alcoholic beverages to those who are attending. It is kind of a wild idea – but his premise is good. To take Your message of life to the people who need to hear it – and to take it to where they are at. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear new – maybe not so traditional - ways to reach out to those around us. You are the center of everything we do.
We pray for our pastors, Holy Father that You uphold them and strengthen them. We pray for our leaders that their vision will remain strong.
Abba, beloved Father, we lift up our president to You. Every day he makes decisions that affect lives around the world. Stand strong beside him, LORD God. Grant him your wisdom as he makes these decisions. Help him to listen to Your voice first, because You have all the answers. You always have and You always will. Bind satan away from him. Guard his health and make him strong. But most of all, LORD God, guide him on the path You would have him and our country go.
No matter what goes on in this crazy world – I am Yours. Nothing can take us away from You; our very names are written on Your hands and in Your heart. Whom then or what then shall I fear?
The phone rang late one Sunday night. I stumbled to find the phone and a frantic voice told me my brother had been in an accident and was being air-vacced to a medical trauma center.
I don’t remember that first drive to the hospital where I and members of my family, especially my mom, would spend the next six weeks of our lives watching as my brother would finally slip into a coma, ebbing and flowing between life and death.
When I entered the triage unit, I could see David was in shock. His collar bone was broken, his pelvis shattered, knee and femur broken, ribs busted to pieces, left lung deflated, his body filled with spider fractures; he was a bloody, broken, bruised mess. The left side of his body had been horrifically crushed.
Taking a deep breath, I walked into the bay where h e lay while they were hooking tubes and wires into his body. His eyes were foggy and glossed over. He was jabbering away nonsensically about being picked up by a big bird. I assumed it was the helicopter ride filtered through the trauma of having been hit at 60 plus miles an hour by a man who ran a red light. Thank God David always wears a seat belt.
With more bravado than I felt, I asked him how he was doing and if he remembered anything. He took my hand and said that we needed to pray, though what we were about to pray for surprised me.
I was going to intercede and ask for David’s restoration and health but he interrupted me. Though clearly he was not completely lucid, my brother said, “We need to pray for the m an who hit me. If I don’t make it, tell him I forgive him. It’s what God would want me to do.”
My, my; hasn’t he come a long way from being a Manhattan playboy? And haven’t I, a 20 plus year seasoned saint of the living God, got a lot to learn?
I took his clammy hand in mine and together we prayed for the man who hit him. He was wheeled off for X-rays and finally placed into the trauma unit where he would endure 7 (and counting) surgeries, a blood clot that nearly killed him, staff infection, traction, and punctured, failing lungs. And pain. Lots of pain.
Tragedies br ing out our truer selves. My mom has kept vigil beside his bed, in the waiting rooms, pacing the floors and keeping the rest of us in the loop. I took a few days off to sit with him. He probably does not remember I sat there because I was too shaken up to be much good at work. My wife was better than a sister to him.
One, when David emerged from the coma, I asked him if he understood what was happening to him. Though very weak, he smiled and whispered, "God came down." I wonder if I understood what was happening to him.
It's funny, but when I quote certain politically incorrect Bible verses, I get called a liberal by those I suspect would kill me for the glory of God. When I remind the stone throwers that these are Jesus& rsquo; words, not mine, his teachings, not my opinions, they roll their eyes and tell me to be practical. Still, our impractical Savior said, in Matthew 5:44, “But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.”
I can hear them at the Judgment saying, “Come on, Lord. Be practical. You didn’t think I would actually, you know, do that, would you? Love my enemies? Why, they are my, my… enemies! What do you mean my name does not appear? Lord – gasp! – why, why, you’re a lib-e-ralllll!.....”
Fortunately, being faithful does not require that we be stupid. There is a beautifully simple rule of thumb for a kingdom person functioning in the w orld: Wise as a serpent, gentle as a dove. It works for me.
I love that my brother’s first inclination was to pray for the man who hurt him. It’s a lesson of the Cross of Christ. While being crucified, Jesus cried out, in Luke 23:34, "Father, forgive them. They don't know what they are doing."
By analogy, as I sat and sat, I began to wonder over the years just how many “red lights” I had sped through oblivious of the consequences to others. It was pretty sobering to contemplate. Thank God for his matchless Grace!
Doctors are now cautiously optimistic that David will live. He’ll spend 4 to 6 months after getting out of the hospital living in a rehab unit relearning how to walk, talk, and care for himself. Hard stuff to do at his advancing age – and he’s my younger brother – but he’s got the truly hard stuff behind: he knows how to forgive and pray for those who hurt him.
Please pray for his speedy recovery.
Bryan Hupperts
Copyright 2006
SheepTrax Media
PO Box 270256
St. Louis, MO 63127 USA
bryanhupperts@hotmail.com
http://www.sheeptrax.injesus.com
www.SheepTrax.com
There was a rather interesting statement in Jeremiah 49:13 – right in the middle of the curses on the nations. ““I swear by myself” declares the LORD” It’s like He is saying – “I am so serious that this is going to happen that the best I can do is to swear by Myself about it.” It brings to mind that flippant little phrase that some of we humans use so easily “I swear to god………” Maybe that is a flippant little phrase we would be better off dropping!
Of all the nations that Yahweh cursed in this closing part of Jeremiah, Babylon certainly got the brunt of it. Although Babylon was destroyed according to this curse – her second destruction – at the end of the tribulation – will be even more complete.
I loved all of the three books of John but 1 John 1: 1-4 was incredible. I read that rather late in the evening and gave a great big whoo-hoo! of praise. None of my family was around – they were in bed – but my little bird, Elijah, had a few choice sounds to make about me startling him awake. But I couldn’t help it – it was like a geyser of joy went off in me.
This week we leave Jeremiah and jump into Ezekiel. We also head into Revelation. The end times and this book are always fascinating to humans – it will be a lively time in our small groups!
This week’s readings:
Sonday, Aug 27…….Jer 52; Revelation 1; Ps 143,144
Monday, Aug 28……Ezekiel 1-3; Rev 2
Tuesday, Aug 29……Ezek 4-7; Rev 3
Wed. Aug 30………Ezek 8-11; Rev 4
Thurs, Aug 31………Ezek 12-14; Rev 5
Friday, Sept 1……Ezek 15-16; Ps 70; Rev 6
Sat. Sept 2………Ezek 17-19; Rev 7
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
Greetings in Jesus' Name.
WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS.
Never in the History of Malkangiri have we ever seen floods. This year the river Saberi and river Seliru met each other and the IMST mission center at Konta went under water for 3 days. The catholic Father Thomas took care of the 35 hostel children and the IMST missionaries. Many families lost their homes and belongings. The government now says over 4000 people in the district of Malkangiri are affected. With finance at Zero level for me and for RHS missionaries, this was the most traumatic and emotional time, as we had to watch the people suffer without being able to do any relief for them. All that we did was pray and took medicines form the shop on credit and supplied prophylaxis and emergency medicines. All our houses had water running on the floor and leaking from the roof, but could manage to have dry beds to sleep at night.
The post flood epidemic has affected most of our missionaries. Romesh became critical and was shifted to Nowrangpur mission hospital where he is recovering. Niranjan K had cerebral Malaria too and is recovering at home. Niranjan G, Swapan and Laban had Malaria. Jyothi and Ranjith have chicken pox. The COM pastor Satyalu's wife Padmaja died of gastroenteritis in the hospital while treating her 6-month son for diarrhoea. She has left behind her 4-year daughter and her 6-month son. This was heart rending. Please cover us with prayer.
Praise God EFICOR came forward to provide food items for 2300 families identified by the government and also for 1000 families tarpaulin. Distribution started on 22nd. Please pray for the coordinator Mr. Green Thomas and their staff and RHS missionaries involved in the distribution work.
Following the flood and the heavy rains, which washed away, the bridges and the telephone cables for 2 km, we were cut off from the rest of the world for 3 days. This is the rainy season for us and so the rains, more than normal is still continuing. The water in most areas is stinking. The electricity and phone connections are still erratic.
I asked the Lord for a promise, as I was feeling very low over various issues. I use 4 different readings for my meditation every morning and when I ask God for a promise, it should be in my regular meditation portion. The promise that God gave me as I was travelling to get the eligibility certificate for Mary was form - Is 43:2 - "When Iris passes through the waters, I will be with her and through rivers, they shall not overflow Iris, when Iris walks though the fire, Iris shall not be burned: neither shall the flame kindle Iris." I told God - "Oh, God I have had enough, from Jan for various reasons I have been much upset - please Lord let me not go through any further troubles - the same day, our Jeep was hit by a heavy loaded Lorry and the Lorry drove away. It was a hit and run case. Remo contacted his friends in SU and so 4 Staff of SU came to the spot to give moral support. Nothing happened to John, Swepan and me but the left wheel guard and the body and the front bumper were all destroyed. The police refused to register an FIR saying, "Go, go we are all on election duty and no one can go looking for the Lorry and any way you are all safe and unhurt. The local people also said - repair the bumper and keep moving, as you are all unhurt. I was upset and as I came out of the police station I saw a new car completely smashed with a head on collision with a heavy lorry. This was a recent accident and I am sure none could have been alive in this car after the accident. So I felt fear and relief and thanked God for His protection. I also feel so grateful that all though we passed through real waters of the rain and the rivers were all over flowing we are all alive. His word and his promise to me is soooooooooo true. Praise Him.
Please continue to uphold all of us and Mary's education in your regular prayers. Her eligibility certificate from the university of Madras is still pending and it is a matter of great concern. Her admission is provisional till she gets her eligibility certificate.
If you are led of the Lord please contribute for the work here as finance continues to be a major problem for us.
Please send all donations in the Name of " MALKANGIRI DEVELOPMENT PROJECT " and send to
Dr. Iris .G. R. Paul,
Founder Director,
Reaching Hand Society,
MALKANGIRI .P.O / Dt.
Orissa - 764045.
Inspired by Dr. Tim Geddert
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Mark 8:14-15 “The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod."”(NIV)
Remember the heat wave in July? Remember all the record setting days of 113+ degrees? My air conditioner broke the Monday of that week. I would ask you to imagine how bad it was, but trust me, you can’t. It was really bad for me because I am a cold weather person. Hot weather just wrings me out. And during that week you could have – wrung me out that is. When I was home I was constantly covered with sweat. It was the worst at night when I would wake up with my pillows soaked with sweat and even more sweat running off of me. I was so miserable I would cry at night. I was praying constantly for God to help me. We were promised that the repairperson would be there on Thursday – he didn’t show – we didn’t even get a call. He wasn’t there on Friday either, and our call to them gave us a “Monday at the soonest” response. We had floor fans, they at least kept the air moving, but the noise of them further interrupted my sleep. Not even sleep medications could help me. It felt like my prayers were of no avail. I was knock, knock, knocking on Heaven’s door but it seemed like God had a “Do Not Disturb if your name is Valerie” sign on the doorknob. I wondered what I had done that God should punish me like this. Seriously! He is God. He could have sent a snowstorm if He wanted to. But I wasn’t asking for that – just for a simple repairperson! Finally that following Tuesday the repairperson showed up. I was so excited to see him that I could have hugged him! Only there was a part that needed to be replaced and he had to order the part. As soon as it came in………. So I started praying about that part. Again, my prayers went unanswered for another whole week! Wasn’t I God’s child? Wasn’t I called by His name? Why wouldn’t He take care of this for me?
It had been an exciting few days for the disciples. Jesus had fed the 5,000 with a little boy’s lunch, He had walked on the water, had done several healings, and just that very day He had fed 4,000 with just a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish. Then He had had that little confrontation with the Pharisees, they wanted Him to do a miracle and He refused. Now they were crossing the lake, and the disciples realize that for this long trip they have one loaf of bread. Now for those of us in the 21st century – a loaf of bread will give 13 people a sandwich – if you use the heels. But in the first century a loaf of bread was about the size of a dinner roll – and flat. Remember the little boy’s lunch? He had 5 loaves of bread for just his lunch. So imagine one dinner roll – one flat dinner roll – to be shared by 13 grown men. This was not good. And then when they showed the bread to Jesus He made the most bizarre statement! “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod.” What the heck does that mean?
Earlier that day the Pharisees had asked Jesus to give them a sign from heaven. Jesus must’ve been floored. He had been feeding thousands, healing the deaf, the blind, casting out daemons, what did the Pharisees think He had been doing? But what the Pharisees wanted was for God to act at their command and under their control. Jesus was having none of that! God acts only on His will and control. The 21st century version of His response is “I ain’t your trick monkey. I don’t jump when you say so”
Now here He is with the disciples in the middle of the lake with one little loaf of bread. Can you imagine the look of expectation on their faces? After all, Jesus had blessed bread and fed 4,000 earlier that day – how hard could it be to do the same for them? They were expecting to provide a little bread feast on the lake. Then Jesus made that off-the-wall comment about the Pharisees. What’s up with that?
Jesus was telling the disciples not to let the expectations of the Pharisees become their expectations as well. He did not do miracles – signs from heaven – at the Pharisee’s command and expectations – He wasn’t going to do it for the disciples either. He wasn’t the Pharisees trick monkey and He wasn’t the disciples trick monkey either.
Jesus could have dropped the temperature to a reasonable 80 while my air conditioner was broken, He could have changed me so that the heat did not affect me, He could have given that air conditioner “the look” and it would have scrambled to fix itself just to glorify Him. Or He could have taken the easy route and sent the repairperson on the day the air conditioner broke with the needed part already in his truck. That is what I was expecting when my air conditioner broke. I was expecting Jesus to fix it for me. After all – I am His child – He counts the hairs on my head – anything I ask in His name and so on. But Jesus ain’t no trick monkey – not for the Pharisees, not for the disciples and not for Valerie.
My expectations are not His obligations.
Jesus is God and any action that He takes is absolutely perfect. And when He chooses not to act that is also absolutely perfect.
When Jesus was in that boat that day and He warned the disciples against the yeast – the expectations – of the Pharisees, He already knew that in July ’06 Valerie’s air conditioner was going to break. He knew that I would also need to learn the lesson about my expectations and His obligations. And He let me learn it. The hard way.
LORD Jesus, I take You for granted way to often. I expect You to behave like I want You to. But You are nobody’s trick monkey – You are God. You reign over everything I know about and everything I don’t know about. Your sovereignty is absolute. Forgive me for forgetting that.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First at Valerie@fresnofirst.org.
When you see God’s hands in everything, it is easy to leave everything in God’s hands – unknown
Please keep Yolanda Morales’ sister in prayer as she undergoes surgery next week to determine the cause of a rapidly growing lump in her breast.
From Lorraine Esparza “Our neighbor stopped us this morning as we were on our way to church and asked us to pray for them (Diane and Don). He just had triple by-pass surgery and she just had breast surgery. She now needs to have some pretty extensive treatments. She's a Christian and I'm not sure if he is. Please pray for their health and salvation.”
John Eland’s brother, Bill, had an arteriogram today because of major blockages on his left side. He has already had a couple of bypass surgeries. Please keep him in prayer.
The area around Reaching Hand Society has been hit with severe flooding affecting over 4,000 people. Dr. Irish has sent me a report on what is happening and I will be sending it out later this week. The flooding has caused an outbreak of diseases – please keep RHS in your prayers.
We continue to pray for the following: Bonnie Mendoza, Faye Lowes, Donna Hemphill, Sharleen Ferree, Jeanette & Gene Wright, Bob Molander, Keri Reynolds, Roy Rahn, Lance Corporal Eric Hamilton in Iraq, Jacob Filpala in Iraq, Willie serving in Iraq, Cindy & Steve as they wait for Steve’s test results, Carol Simmerman and the two disks affecting her hip, Dorothy Wajckus, my young friend down at juvenile hall, Dennis Galloway & recovery from surgery, Ivy Huff as she job hunts, Matthew & Lisa as they raise funds for Nigeria, Megan Dineen as she prepares to go to Mexico in September, Khamla & arm pains, Sandy Hall & radiation treatments, Jonathan Rumsey, serving in Bagdad, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, Tony & treatment for prostrate cancer, John Rodgers with cancer.
Pray for our missionaries - Biana Grogg with The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
El Roi, God of Seeing,
Sometimes we wonder how those who do not know You in a personal relationship survive in this world. Then we read the newspaper and realize that they do not. We who do know You praise You because You are El Roi, God of Seeing. There is not a nanosecond of time when You do not see us, care for us, and love us. No matter what happens on this crazy planet, nothing can take us from Your hand. We are secure in You.
Son of Rightousness, we lift up Yolanda’s sister as she undergoes these tests. We pray that the lump can be removed and that no further complications will arise. We lift up Yolanda, LORD God, as she supports her sister during this time. Give her the strength to persevere.
We praise You, Mighty God, for the witness of Your children, George and Lorraine, that is so strong that their neighbors stop them and ask for prayer. We pray for Diane & Don as they deal with their health problems. Bring complete healing to them LORD. With fervent hearts we lift up Don and pray that You use this situation to bring him into a relationship with You.
We pray for Bill as he undergoes these tests. We ask that Your healing hand be placed on him and that he can be returned to full health.
LORD Jesus, we pray for our friends at Reaching Hand Society as they struggle to do Your work during this flood. We pray for those who have been struck down by this disease, that You restore them and return them to their families. We pray for the many people who have been harmed by this flooding and ask that You provide for their needs.
We love to call You Attiq Yomin – Ancient of Days – because it reminds us that when time began, You already were and always had been. Eternal God, You reign from everlasting to everlasting. You are Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the End. We lift our hands and our voices to You in praise and thanksgiving. We rejoice because we will be able to praise You forever.
We pray for those who remain on our prayer chain, Holy Spirit, and ask that Your presence continue to sustain, strengthen and guide in each situation.
Kurios, LORD, we pray on behalf of our pastors, that You will give them the strength to resist all that satan brings against them. He prowls around our pastors looking for that weak spot that he can use to bring them down. We pray for a wall of protection around our pastors. Renew their vision of all that You are.
We pray for the leadership and ministries of our community of faith. Help us to keep our hearts and our purposes directed only towards You.
God of Wonders that we cannot begin to imagine, we pray for missionaries around the world. We pray that You provide for their needs both physical and spiritual. We ask that You comfort them in times of trouble and confusion.
God of the Angel Armies, we pray for our military that serves around the world. We pray for those who we know, who are on our prayer chain. Father, grant them serenity and peace of mind as they face the challenges of serving far from home.
We lift up our county and ask that You be our strong tower.
We have called out your names in English, Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic, and still we have not touched how glorious You are. We sing a song of praise to You that only we can sing. The angels cannot sing our song because our song is the song of Your redeemed. There is no God like You. We surrender our lives to You.
Before U were thought of or time had begun,
God stuck U in the name of His Son.
And each time U pray, you'll see it's true,
You can't spell out JesUs and not include U.
You're a pretty big part of His wonderful name,
For U, He was born; that's why He came.
And His great love for U is the reason He died.
It even takes U to spell crUcified.
Isn't it thrilling and splendidly grand
He rose from the dead, with U in His plan?
The stones split away, the gold trUmpet blew,
and this word resUrrection is spelled with a U.
When JesUs left earth at His upward ascension,
He felt there was one thing He just had to mention.
"Go into the world and tell them it's true
That I love them all - Just like I love U."
So many great people are spelled with a U,
Don't they have a right to know JesUs too?
It all depends now on what U will do,
He'd like them to know, But it all starts with U.
Author unknown
I was so blessed this past week to read the three psalms that we were assigned. To start my Monday out with Psalm 96 just set the tone for my whole week! Seriously! When you read words like that – what can this world possibly bring against you?
I loved Jesus’ last prayer in John 17. I am convinced that although He was praying for those disciples gathered with Him on this last night of His life – He was also looking down through time and He was praying for me. And you. All of us.
If you have not read Jesus’ interaction with Pilate in the Message I most heartily urge you to. You can almost hear the ho-hum blasé of Pilate as he questions Jesus. In John 18:37 he asks Jesus “Are you a king?” And Jesus answered, “I Am King” He didn’t say, I am a king, or I am the king, instead He phrased it so that any Jewish listener would understand that He was claiming His rightful title as God. The Jews called God “Yahweh” or “I Am” When Jesus said I Am King” He was declaring Himself God/King – the one true God, the one true King. I am going to tell you that when I read this, the hairs on my arms stood up.
By the way, if you do not have “The Message” go to www.biblegateway.com – under quick search put John 18 and then change the version from NIV to the Message. Click on Search the Bible, and you can read this chapter and get your own goosebumps.
This week’s readings:
Sonday, Aug 20…….Jer 48-49, Psalm 67; 1 John 1
Monday, Aug 21……Jer 21, 24, 27; Psalm 118; 1 John 2
Tuesday, Aug 22……Jer 28-30; 1 John 3
Wed. Aug 23………Jer 31-32; I John 4
Thurs, Aug 24………Jer 33-34; Psalm 74; 1 John 5
Friday, Aug 25……Jer 37-39; Psalm 79; 2 john
Sat. Aug 26………Jer 50-51; 3 John
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Isaiah 64:6 (CEV) “We are unfit to worship You, each of our good deeds is merely a filthy rag. We dry up like leaves, our sins are storm winds, sweeping us away.”
My boss and I have very different personalities. My personality is very linear. I like to do things a certain way and in a certain order. I think that if a report is due on Friday, it should be finished by Wednesday. My boss’ personality is what I call a scatter-gun. He works on what is in front of him at the moment. Any interruption will send him off in another direction. He is always working on something but not finishing anything as he is pulled in multiple directions. A report due on Friday often finds him scrambling on Friday morning to get it completed. Somehow he manages to get it all done but he drives me so crazy. And yet, there are not many men I hold in higher esteem than my boss. When I was sixteen I was focused on the typical teenage things – boys, the next school dance, boys, geometry, boys, my next swim meet, the mall, boys, phone calls (preferably from boys), the prom and boys. When my boss was sixteen he was already involved with an organization dedicated to bringing justice and equality to the poorest and most overlooked of our society. He is now 50 and his life has continued to be dedicated to justice and equality for the overlooked. He has spent his life being an advocate for the poor. His work habits may drive me to the brink of insanity but I respect and honor his lifelong dedication to the poorest of our society. He is a good man – a really good man.
I am blessed to know a lot of good people. They are people who make a tremendous difference in our community and my heart breaks in sorrow for them. My heart breaks for them because there ain’t no good people in heaven. All of their goodness, all their good deeds, and all the difference that they make here on earth don’t amount to a hill of beans in eternity.
People believe that God is so powerful He can do anything He wants. But that is not true. There is something that He cannot do. Because God is absolutely perfect, God cannot sin. He can fling billions of stars across the universe, but He cannot lie. He can change the seasons, but He cannot change Himself. He can create all of life, but He cannot be dishonest in thought or deed. All of the weaknesses that plague humans – our lusts, our ulterior motives, our greed, jealousy, thefts, etc. – do not touch God. He is perfect. When Moses asked to see His face God answered that for Moses to look upon God would kill him. When Isaiah was taken up into the throne room of God the first thing he said was “I am a doomed man because I am unclean and I have seen God.” Isaiah realized that because of his sins, he could not survive in the presence of our perfect God. Sin cannot be in the presence of God.
God used Isaiah in the older testament to tell us the value of our good deeds. He told us that all of our good deeds are as filthy rags to Him. In the newer testament God used Paul, in his letter to the Romans, to tell us that there is none righteous, no not one. He also tells us in that same letter, that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
God’s Word is clear. We have all sinned. No matter how hard we have tried, no matter how much good we have done, we have still sinned and because of that, we cannot be in the presence of God. There ain’t no good people in heaven because there ain’t nobody good enough to be in God’s presence.
Then who is in Heaven – if the good people aren’t there? People – like me – who know that they are not good. People who know that they are sinners and cannot get into heaven on their own goodness are there. People who accepted God’s plan of salvation are in Heaven.
John 3:15 says that God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
Jesus is God’s plan of salvation. The Word says that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Our sins have earned us eternal death, so God sent Jesus, His only Son, to earth to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus’ last words on the cross were “It is finished.” With His death our sin-debt was paid.
We receive this gift of God’s salvation by admitting to God that we are sinners, then by asking Jesus to forgive us of our sins and to come into our lives as LORD and Savior. When we ask Him into our hearts then Jesus takes our sins away from us and we can be in the presence of God – not because of anything we have ever done – but because of everything Jesus did.
The gift of God is eternal life in His presence – and like any gift, it cannot be earned – it can only be accepted.
How good do you have to be to get into Heaven? You can’t be good enough – it is impossible - you don’t have a chance of making it. It is only through Jesus that we can be in Heaven
There ain’t no good people in Heaven – just redeemed sinners.
If you would like to know more about accepting Jesus as your personal Savior, please contact me at Valerie@fresnofirst.org, or call one of our pastors at (559) Bap-tist or go onto our website at www.fresnofirst.org and click on the “Knowing Jesus” tab.
LORD Jesus, I pray for all those who are reading this and who are not sure of their eternity. Speak to them softly, call them to You. Show them that the way to heaven is through You.
The essential meaning of prayer is that it nourishes the life of the Son of God in me and enables Him to manifest Himself in my mortal flesh – O Chambers
This past Tuesday I was at our Christian Ed team meeting. What a blessing it is to have Kristen Nolte as our new Director of Children’s Ministries. I am convinced that there are GREAT days ahead for our children. Please keep Kristen in your prayers.
Awana kicks off on September 6th and Care Fresno Kids Klub kicks off on September 8th. Please keep both of these vital ministries in your prayers. Both of these ministries need volunteers.
Bounkham will be leaving for Laos on Sept 10th. Khamla will be going with him if the doctor clears her to go. Please keep these two faithful servants of God in prayer.
Sharleen Ferree was back in the hospital with more kidney stones.
Donna Hemphill has an appointment on Aug 21st to determine the cause of the severe pain in her right leg.
Faye Lowes is recovering slowly from pneumonia and a bad cough.
Bonnie Mendoza has been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. It has been keeping her out of church, but with new medication, she is doing better.
Bob Molander is facing a biopsy on two tumors in his pancreas. A mass has been discovered behind his pelvic area. An aneurysm pressing on a nerve in his neck makes it impossible for him to walk.
Jeanette Wright took a fall recently that sent her to the hospital. She is home now but still facing health issues. Dr Gene Wright continues to improve.
Please pray for Lance Corporal Eric Hamilton, Gene & Jeanette Wright’s grandson, as he serves his country in Iraq for the next 5 months. Pray for Jacob Filpala, Maddie Neuman’s nephew, as he also serves in Iraq.
Doris Rahn’s son, Roy, needs healing for his foot and for traveling mercies as he goes to Utah.
Keri Reynolds will probably be going to Stanford to determine the cause of the malformation in her arm. The doctors believe that it is the cause of her health problems.
We continue to pray for the following: Willie serving in Iraq, Cindy & Steve, Carol Simmerman, Dorothy Wajckus, my young friend down at juvenile hall, Ivy Huff as she job hunts, Matthew & Lisa as they raise funds for Nigeria, Megan Dineen as she prepares to go to Mexico, Jonathan Rumsey, serving in Bagdad, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, Tony & treatment for prostrate cancer, John Rodgers with cancer.
Pray for our missionaries - Gospel for Asia, Biana Grogg with The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
El Elyon, Most High God,
How we love Your ancient Names, each of them reveal Your character to us. Your names declare Your power throughout eternity, and they show Your great love for us. We are humbled by Your power and filled with joy at Your great love.
We lift Your daughter, Kristen, before You, Father, and we ask that You show her the direction that You would have our children’s ministries go. Pour Your abundance on Awana and Kids Klub as they gear up for a new year.
Adonai, Master, we call out for Bounkham and Khamla as they prepare to go back to Laos. Place Your hand of healing on Khamla. We pray for all of Your missionaries as they serve You around the world. Grant them a great harvest of souls for Your Kingdom.
Jesus, as You walked among us you were the Great Healer. Your power is absolute; Your power to heal is absolute. We pray for our friends who are facing health issues – Sharleen, Donna, Faye, Bonnie, Bobbie Mo’, Jeanette, Dr. Gene, Roy and Keri – heal their bodies, their spirits and their minds. Draw them ever closer to You.
LORD God of the Angel Armies, Great is Your name, We pray in agreement for Erik and Jacob as they serve in Iraq. We pray a wall of protection around all who serve our country
There is a place around Your throne, my God and Savior, that has my name on it. It is the place that You have chosen for me for all eternity. The cares and troubles of this world melt away into irrelevance when I think about my spot around Your throne
We pray for those who continue to be on our prayer chain. We lift up with love our pastors and leaders. We pray Your blessings on our ministries. Help us to declare your name with boldness.
With great joy we declare that You are God and we are Your beloved children. Thank You for this earthly life that You have given us and for the eternal life You have promised.
They lie on the table side by side
The Holy Bible and the TV guide.
One is well worn and cherished with pride.
Not the Bible, but the TV guide.
One is used daily to help folks decide.
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide.
As the pages are turned, what shall they see.
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV.
Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree
On what they should watch on the old TV.
So they open the book in which they confide,
No, not the Bible, but the TV guide.
The Word of God is seldom read,
Maybe a verse as they fall into bed.
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be;
Not from reading the Bible, from watching TV.
So then back to the table side by side,
Lie the Holy Bible and the TV guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word,
The plan of Salvation is seldom heard.
But forgiveness of sin, so full and free,
Is found in the Bible, not on TV.
Choose which book will rule your family.
~The author is unfortunately "unknown"~
Last week we read one of my favorite verses – Zephaniah 3:17. I just love this verse because of the awesome picture it gives us of how deeply God loves us. Particularly the last sentence in the verse – but I wonder – what does He sing? Can you imagine God singing? We know He has a great voice – in fact – His is the perfect voice. He is infinite so we can imagine that He sings notes that our finite imaginations cannot conceive of. The music of creation – the sound of the sea, an eagle’s cry, the roar of thunder and the laughter of a child – proves once again His endless creativity. Can you imagine that creativity turned into a song? I think that when we are home, around the throne, singing to God about our joy in Him and our love for Him, He is going to sing the last chorus, His song about His joy in and love for us. And we will be astounded. Anyway, that’s what Zeph 3:17 says to me.
There is so much great stuff in our chapters in John that it is almost impossible to pick just one or two things – The woman caught in adultery – the declaration by Jesus when He said “I AM” and the Jews – understanding what he was saying – tried to kill Him, or the blind man and his simple declaration – all I know is that once I was blind but now I see – the raising of Lazarus – the prophecy of Caiaphas - the last supper – this is all some great stuff - full of such richness. But I did have one errant question through it all – I wonder how Lazarus felt about coming back to earth after four days in heaven? I bet he was not a happy camper. I wonder if God hid Heaven from his memory.
This week’s readings: Keep an eye on Thursday & Friday – we jump around in Jeremiah
Sonday, Aug 13…….Jeremiah 13-15; John 15
Monday, Aug 14……Jer 16-17, Psalm 96; John 16
Tuesday, Aug 15……Jer 18-20, Psalm 93; john 17
Wed. Aug 16……… 2 Kings 24; Jer 22; Psalm 112; John 18
Thurs, Aug 17………Jer 23 & 25; John 19
Friday, Aug 18………Jer 26, 35, 36 John 20
Sat. Aug 19………Jer 45-47, Psalm 105; John 21
Valerie Rae Hanneman
Mark 5:15 “They came up to Jesus and saw the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes and making sense, no longer a walking madhouse of a man.” (Msg)
I don’t know when I tied on the boxing gloves and started fighting the world. It seems like forever. I remember fighting the things that my stepfather put in my head. Every chance he got, he told me that he was the first in his family to marry a divorced woman with children but he loved my mother so he married her anyway. The message was clear – he never wanted me. He told me how successful his daughters were going to be - they were going to change the world. He was equally positive that I wouldn’t amount to a hill of beans. Again, it was clear – I wasn’t worthy. For a long time, I believed him. Then I decided to prove him wrong and I started fighting. With a flurry of left jabs and right hooks I kept advancing in my accounting career. Then the knock-out uppercut – I was promoted to the CFO of a major law firm with nothing more than a high school diploma in my hand. I WON! Only there was no feeling of victory – just emptiness inside. I had proven to him he was wrong but I hadn’t proven it to me. I blamed the world for my feelings of inadequacy and I kept fighting it. I told myself I was fighting so hard to show the world that I was worthy, that I should be wanted. I refused to listen to what my heart knew. It knew that I fought so hard to keep the world from knowing the truth about me – that I really was unworthy and unwanted. To the outside world, I was a cold, heartless woman who was not above using low-blows against any who would come against me. Inside I was a scream of rage against the world. I thought I needed my rage to survive.
If I were to draw a picture of myself 11 years ago I would draw a woman in boxing gloves and in a boxer’s stance. My face would be bloody from pounding it against the wall of the world’s indifference; my body would be bruised from the hits I had taken from the world. My eyes would reflect the rage that possessed me like a demon, my face would be set, my hands lifted high, determined to unleash that rage against any who came against me.
There was a man in Jesus’ time who would understand me – he fought his world as well. The Message calls him a madman possessed by demons. He ran naked through the cemetery screaming and cutting himself with sharp rocks. His body bore the bruises from when he broke the chains that people tried to restrain him with. The Word doesn’t say how long he had fought his world but he could not stop. He needed something more than himself to set him free from his demons. The something more that this man needed was Jesus. Jesus came across the sea that day specifically to reach this man. When His boat touched the shore this madman was compelled by his demons to run to Jesus and fall at His feet in worship. Even the demons know Who Jesus is and worship Him! Jesus cast the demons from this man and freed him. When the townspeople came out to see what was going on, they found this former madman calm, rational and sitting at the feet of Jesus. He no longer fought his world – he was at peace.
Do I think that the rage I had was truly a demon? I don’t know if it was or not. But I know that it possessed me, it controlled me and it made me do things that I am not proud of. Like this madman I could not free myself from the rage inside me caused by knowing that I was unworthy and unwanted. I needed something more – I needed Jesus. And He came for me. He told me that it didn’t matter how the world sees me, it didn’t even matter how my stepfather sees me. All that matters is how He sees me. Then He said, “Let Me show you how I see you.” And Jesus showed me a woman who is so worthy that He gave His life for me. He showed me a woman that He wants so much that He has a place for me with Him for all eternity. He showed me a woman so loved by Him that my finite mind cannot begin to comprehend His infinite love. He cast the rage from me, and filled me with His peace.
This past week there was an accident on 168 that stopped traffic. I tried to get over to the Shaw exit so I could take the surface streets to 41 but I missed the exit. I prayed quickly over the unseen traffic accident somewhere in front of us, turned K-Love a little louder and accepted that I would be in this mostly stopped traffic until I got to the Ashlan exit. I noticed the car in front of me when the driver tried to cut off the pick-up merging in from Shaw. When the pick-up did not allow her to cut them off the woman went crazy. She pounded the steering wheel. As I watched she made fists of her hands and punched the top of her car. A moment later she was hitting the passenger’s seat! From somewhere she grabbed up a brush and started brushing her hair so violently that if her hair had gotten tangled in it she would have pulled out her hair, her scalp, her skull and probably some brain as well! She pounded the inside of her car for a couple more minutes, then pulled onto the shoulder of the freeway – and with just barely enough room to squeeze past the retaining wall and the stopped vehicles – she shot off. I was absolutely blown away by her actions but I was glad to see her go, she made me so nervous. Eleven years ago, I would have been her. So possessed by rage at the world that something as unavoidable as stalled traffic would set me off.
These days, I am calm, rational, and sitting at the feet of Jesus. I have hung up my boxing gloves. I don’t need to fight anymore. I know who I am and whose I am.
LORD Jesus, because of You, I know that I am worthy. Because of You, I know that I am wanted. Because of You, I know that I am greatly loved. How can I ever thank You enough? I worship at Your feet – not because a demon compels me too but because my love for You compels me.
Sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist - or contact Valerie at valerie@fresnofirst.org
We need to have a mindset of letting God use us to make somebody else’s life better. When we do that, then there's a joy released in us that we’re not ever going to get anywhere else. -Joyce Meyer
What an amazing week we had with Dr. Chris visiting with us from Faith Alive clinic in Nigeria! I was so blessed to attend the luncheon on Thursday, both services on Sonday and then the reception on Sonday night. And even after all that I could have sat at his feet and listened to more. He is not real physically imposing, but within him beats a heart bigger than King Kong – and that heart is so focused on bringing Jesus to the people of Nigeria through meeting their health needs. If you did not get a chance to hear him, be sure and tune into our broadcast on Sonday – 8:00 – KMPH. You will be glad you did! Dr. Chris continues to travel for the rest on this month and into September before he meets up with Matt, Lisa and Nathan Watson in London and they travel together back to Nigeria. Keep Dr. Chris and his family in prayer – I know that they are missing each other something fierce.
After the Sonday reception I was blessed to meet a man named Dave. Dave is not an attender at our church but was interested in hearing Dr. Chris speak. During our conversation, Dave told me that his son, Willie, is over in Iran serving freedom and our country. Please hold Willie up in your prayers.
Please keep Cindy & Steve in prayer. (Cindy is Floyd and Bev Willis’ oldest daughter) Steve was over at St. Agnes for 5 days a couple of weeks back and the staff expressed a concern about the possibility of cancer. Steve has undergone additional tests and is now waiting for results.
We continue to pray for the following: Bob Molander, Keri Reynolds, Carol Simmerman, Charee & Claud Boggs, Sokvan Chea, Jane & her family as the mourn the passing of Doug, Char Cole & her family as they mourn the passing of Gertrude, Dorothy Wajckus, Analisa & Bethany, Yonatan & Daniel Levitt – fighting in Lebanon, Ofra’s family in Haifa, my young friend down at juvenile hall, Dennis Galloway & recovery from surgery, Ivy Huff as she job hunts, Matthew & Lisa as they raise funds for Nigeria, Megan Dineen as she prepares to go to Mexico, Sandy Hall & radiation treatments, Jonathan Rumsey, serving in Bagdad, Ellen Burton, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, John Rodgers with cancer.
Pray for our missionaries - Biana Grogg with The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, Gospel for Asia, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
God Who fills Eternity with Your Presence,
There is not a moment in time, a speck of creation, or a corner of eternity where You are not already there. You enfold us with Your presence, You surround us with Your love, You are in our speaking, You are in our thinking, You are with us when we sleep, You are with us when we are awake, You are Who we are watching for, You are on Whom our hope is built. We are Yours.
Thank You for this time we were able to share with Dr. Chris. We lift him up in prayer as he continues to travel and build bridges between the US and Faith Alive. Empower him as he does Your work. Be with Dr. Mercy and their children as Dr. Chris is away.
Abba, we pray in agreement for Willie, and ask that You put a stronghold of protection around your son as he serves his country. Grant him a peaceful spirit, comfort him during these times. Bring him safely back to us.
Holy Spirit, we pray for Steve, Cindy and the whole family as we wait for the results of Steve’s tests. We release this situation to Your mercy and care. We know that even in the midst of the storms of life, You are our anchor and You hold.
We think of the praise words – amazing, awesome, great One, powerful, holy, mighty, LORD of all, Ancient of Days – and even combined, they do not begin to describe Your magnificence. You are God – there is none who compares. We are Your children – we worship You in joy.
Eloheim, You are God of yesterday, God of today and God of tomorrow. We lift up before You all who remain on our prayer chain and ask that You continue to be sovereign in each life and in each situation.
Our Shepherd, we pray for those who serve You around the world as pastors in Your churches, leaders in Your ministries, or missionaries to the uttermost ends of the earth. We ask that You renew their strength when they grow weary. Comfort them when they are worried. Provide for their needs when things are tight. But most of all, Pour Your love around them.
Adonai, we pray for our country and we pray for Israel. Guide us in the best way to end this turmoil in the Middle East. We pray for Lebanon, that peace will be restored to her. We pray for the terrorists, that You can make it though the cloud of rage and hate that blinds them to the horror of what they are doing and that You can bring them peace as well.
We love You so much. We will fill eternity with our songs of praise & joy.
I know that when God wrote Isaiah 60 through the prophet, Isaiah thought He was just talking about Israel, but when I read it I see the New Jerusalem that is promised to all who are called by His name. And then the first 3 verses of Chapter 61 brought tears to my eyes! When Jesus returned from 40 days in the desert He taught in the synagogues around Galilee. In Nazareth He read verse 1 of this chapter, sat down and made the first public declaration of His Messiahship, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Those listening did not understand that He was saying, “Here I am – I AM” (Luke 4: 14-20)
2 Kings 21 & 2 Chronicles 33 both told the story of Manasseh. He did tremendous evil as king and it wasn’t until the king of Babylon captured him, put a hook through his nose and took him off to Babylon that this wayward king recognized his sins and turned back to God. Babylon is often associated as satan’s city, much as Jerusalem is God’s city. As I read this I thought of the hook satan put through my nose (the drugs) and used to drag me down to his sewer-city. It was only when I realized how captive he held me that I could turn to God and beg for my life. When we first read Manasseh’s story we are appalled – but I wonder how many of us would stand up if our lives were written down?
When I was a very young girl (in high school – don’t even try to guess how long ago) I sang soprano in our church choir. In our Christmas cantata was a song based on John 1. As we sang it, I realized for the first time that this chapter talks about Jesus and how He is the Word that was in the beginning. It made such an impression on me that today I can still sing that song.
This week’s readings:
Sonday, Aug 6…….Habakkuk 1-3, John 8
Monday, Aug 7……Zephaniah 1-3, John 9
Tuesday, Aug 8……Jeremiah 1-2; Jn 10
Wed. Aug 9……… Jer 3-4; Jn 11
Thurs, Aug 10………Jer 5-6; Jn 12
Friday, Aug 11………Jer 7-9; Jn 13
Sat. Aug 12………Jer 10-12; Jn 14
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was YOU.-Author unknown
With sadness I report that Doug has passed into the arms of Jesus. His physical condition continued to degrade over this past week until he was gone. Please keep his wife Jane, & the family in prayer.
Char Cole’s Aunt Gertrude passed away today. Please keep the family in prayer – particularly Char’s mom who also lost her husband just a short time ago.
Dorothy Wajckus continues to improve physically and has been moved to the Rosemary Homes to continue her rehab. Please keep Dorothy in prayer for recovery and because today would have been her husband, August’s, birthday.
A mass has been found behind Bob Molander’s pelvic area. He had a CAT scan on July 30th.
Keri Reynolds, Jean Ferris’ granddaughter is having health problems and the doctors can seem to determine what the problem is.
Carol Simmerman is requesting prayer for the healing of two disks that are affecting her right hip, making it impossible for her to move without pain.
Please pray for Charee & Claud Boggs who are facing health problems.
Sokvon Chea is asking for prayers of strength to fight both physical and spiritual tiredness.
We continue to pray for the following: Analisa & Bethany, Yonatan & Daniel Levitt – fighting in Lebanon, Ofra’s family in Haifa, my young friend down at juvenile hall, Dennis Galloway & recovery from surgery, Ivy Huff as she job hunts, Matthew & Lisa as they raise funds for Nigeria, Megan Dineen as she prepares to go to Mexico in September, Khamla & arm pains, Sandy Hall & radiation treatments, Jonathan Rumsey, serving in Bagdad, Ellen Burton, Mike Abbott in Afghanistan, Walt Couch & prostrate cancer, Tony & treatment for prostrate cancer, John Rodgers with cancer.
Pray for our missionaries - Gospel for Asia, Biana Grogg with The Faith Alive Clinic in Jos, Nigeria, Laurie Bethall in Prague, Judy, Faye & Miisaw at the New Life Center in Thailand, Jan & Larry Martin in Thailand, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Bounkham & Khamla’s mission to Laos, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray that we recognize opportunities to share our faith with others
Pray for our country, her leadership and our military.
God Most High and All Powerful,
We exalt You. We exalt You with our lips, with our hands, and with our hearts. Nothing can ever take Your place in our lives because nothing can compare to You. You are God.
Comforter of the hurting, we pray for Jane and her family as they mourn the loss of Doug and for Char and her family as they deal with the loss of Gertrude. In particular we lift up Char’s mom as she deals with this second loss so soon after her husband’s passing. We also lift up Dorothy, thankful that she is improving, and yet knowing that today will be difficult for her.
LORD Jesus, Bobby Mo’ is a man who has served You long and well. We praise You for his witness for You. Place Your hand of healing on him.
Great Physician, The earthly physicians may not be able to figure out what is going on with Keri – but You know. Show her doctors what You already know so that they can help her.
We lift up Carol, Holy Father, and ask that You bring comfort and healing to Your beloved child.
Spirit of God, Charee & Claud are like me – they are the living proof that You don’t care where we have been only that we have come to You now. Heal them and bring them peace.
Sokvon is in need of Your strength, God of the Angel Armies, to fight off this physical and spiritual tiredness. Your promise is that those who hope in You will renew their strength. We claim that promise for Sokvon.
Abba, in the vastness and glory of Your creation, we’re really not much – just specks of dust clinging to a pebble. But You love us and have invited us into a stunning relationship with You. Look into our hearts, Father, and take joy in the love that we have for You.
We pray for those who continue to be on our prayer chain. Your will be done in their lives.
We lift up Your Church, Triune God, and ask that You provide for your missionaries, pastors and leaders. Show up opportunities to share You with those around us.
Jesus, Savior, we pray for our violent and confusing world. Your cross stands as the only beacon of hope and peace that we have. You are our only chance of survival. Shine into the darkness.
God of all, we thank You for changed lives. Eleven years ago I could not have imagined that this life of joy I have in You was possible. And now I live it every day. We praise You forever. Forever You reign.