Compassion means that if I see my friend and my enemy in equal need, I shall help both equally. -Mechtild of Magdeburg
Char Cole is requesting prayer for her brother-in-law, Dick, who has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer and for her daughter-in-law’s mother who has lapsed into a coma for no apparent reason.
Please keep my friend, Glen, in prayer as he deals with the passing of his wife.
Bobby Mo’ was up at San Francisco for a follow-up on a removal of a cancerous tumor.
Carol Robertshaw’s lung tumor has shrunk with chemotherapy.
Linda Morris will be going to Walnut Creek for treatment for liver tumors on December 11th
George Esparza is home and doing great.
Kelli Hasting has a very busy week, she is moving, cleaning up her old apartment, and then will be having surgery. Please keep our beloved sister in prayer.
Donna Hemphill has been having severe stomach pain.
Sara Ojeda is requesting prayer for her non-Christian friends and for the opportunity to witness to them.
Please continue to pray for – Bev Willis, Josh, Ellen Burton, Ann Herrington with kidney cancer, Eileen Betts, Kathy waiting for back surgery, our Katie as she faced ongoing health challenges, and Walt Couch, with prostrate cancer.
Pray for our missionaries –Meghan Dineen in Mexico, Biana and Faith Alive 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, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray for the person that Jesus has laid on your heart, and pray for boldness to speak His name.
LORD Jesus,
We love this time of year as we gather to celebrate Your birth so long ago. Our joy and our celebration is in Your love for us, a love so strong that You would willingly leave Your glory behind and step into our world to become Emmanuel, God with us. And You are still Emmanuel and still with us.
We pray for Dick as he deals with the prostrate cancer. We pray for the mom who inexplicably lapsed into a coma. We ask for peace to surround Glen at this time. Continue to touch Bobby Mo’ and Carol as they fight the tumors in their bodies. Be with Linda as she travels to Walnut Grove to receive treatment. Kelli is also undergoing medical treatment, LORD, and we ask for Your presence to be strong with her. Donna Hemphill is suffering, Abba, we pray for Your mercy to be on her. We praise You for Your hand of healing on George and ask that You continue to heal him. We pray, Jehovah Shalom for those who remain on our prayer chain.
Holy Spirit, we thank You for Your child Sara and for the courage of her young life. Give her boldness and opportunity. LORD, give us boldness and opportunity also.
We pray for our beloved pastors at this busy time of the year. Place a stronghold of protection around them and their families. We pray that we always keep You as the focus of our ministries. Provide for the needs of the ministries,, and in particular we ask for Your provision for the December to Remember series in our children’s ministries.
Father of All, we pray for Your servants who serve You in places around the world. Protect them as they serve.
Christmas is the time that we remember the greatest gift of all, the gift of salvation that began with the birth of God as man. Everything that had been promised since Abraham was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. Everything that makes our lives worth living is also fulfilled in Jesus. Thank You for loving us and for showing us a grace and mercy that we could never have found without You. We love You, LORD God.
Psalm 8
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by a stringed instrument.
1 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
to tell of your strength,
silencing your enemies
and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—
the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
APACHE SEASONS
Lessons on Life (Author unknown)
There was an Indian Chief who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.
The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.
When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.
The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.
The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and droop ing with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.
He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.
If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.
Moral:
Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
Don't judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time .
Live Simply.
Love Generously.
Care Deep ly.
Speak Kindly.
Leave the Rest to God.
Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keep You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going!
Greetings from Nigeria!
Like many of you, every year I like to take time during Thanksgiving weekend to pause from all of the business of everyday life, before the hectic pace of the Christmas season begins, and make time to remember the many things I am thankful for in my life. However, this is the first holiday season in my life that I have spent on the other side of the world, separated from my family and many friends in the US. In spite of the many differences that has brought into my life, I’ve found that the important things do not change because God loves us all just the same. As usual, I read Psalm 100 this weekend which says in verses 4 & 5 (NIV): “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” I thought I would share with all of you some of the many things I am thankful for this year. I think that you will agree that although the circumstances may change, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, where ever we might find ourselves living. His love and faithfulness to us never changes or ends, and for that we can all be eternally thankful. So, here’s my thanksgiving list for this year (in no particular order).
I am thankful for:
…the many family members and friends in the USA who have supported me all year with prayers, donations, and emails,
…the new friends God has brought into my life in Nigeria,
…my biological family who lets me intrude in their lives and camp out in their homes when ever I return to the US for a short visit,
…protection for my family and friends through accidents, cancer scares, pregnancies, surgeries, emotional stresses, fires, and financial struggles,
…healing from a large kidney stone,
…overall health and strength for each day,
…healthy, happy, growing grandchildren in the US,
…”adopted” grandchildren to play with and love in Nigeria,
…a stable enough democratic system of government that protects my general freedoms and allows me to feel safe where I live,
…the apartment in Jos that I live in that has so many more comforts than 90% of my neighbors,
…enough food to eat 3 meals a day, and snacks if I want them, when many of my neighbors can only afford one meal a day,
…a refrigerator and both an electric and gas stove in my apartment,
…a generator that I can start up to provide electricity for my apartment for part of each day,
…readily available internet access at one of the Faith Alive apartments close enough to be able to keep in touch with family and friends daily,
…the opportunity to join other visitors from the US for meals prepared by “Baba” our wonderful cook, and not having to cook for myself, pick up fast food, or eat alone,
…enough water to take bucket baths everyday,
…bottled or boiled water to drink as much as I want,
…staff persons from Faith Alive who come three times a week to draw water from the well in our courtyard and carry enough buckets up the stairs to my apartment to fill three 55 gallon water barrels,
…Faith Alive staff persons and friends who volunteer to come to my apartment to help me clean and do laundry whenever the work load at FA becomes overwhelming and I need a little help with the day to day tasks of life,
…drivers to take me places whenever I want so that I don’t have to struggle alone with the horrendous traffic congestion, unmarked streets, and lack of traffic regulation or lights,
…neighbors with friendly cats and dogs to pet,
…cute little baby goats to watch playing & wandering the street when I walk to work,
…many Christian churches to worship the Lord in,
…Christian friends to work, and laugh, and pray with both in Nigeria and the US.
………………………………………..
The list could go on & on, and that’s the wonder of it – God loves us so much that he not only has provided salvation for all who will accept this free gift to us, but also so many blessings as part of every day of our lives.
May God be with each one of you in very special ways during this holiday season, and may you experience the grace and peace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ everyday of your lives. Biana
Hello!
I hope you all are enjoying a time of celebration and thanksgiving. I write this short note just to let you
all know, as friends, family and supporters, just how much I do appreciate you.
As Thanksgiving is a traditional Canadian/US holiday, I did not really expect to celebrate it here in
Mexico. However, as some of the staff have celebrated it in the past, we decided to go ahead and plan something. Nikki's dad who's here visiting prepared a delicious "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner - turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, bread - yummy stuff!
It was also a time where we invited friends and family to join together with us to give thanks, and it was special because most hadn't ever celebrated this holiday before.
All in all, when the time came to share around the table, I just had to give so much thanks for - a big
part of my thankfulness is for each and every one of you. I cannot express how much it means to know that, ev en though they be 3,000 miles or more away, I have a family that loves and supports me endlessly. Included in that is my church family - those who I know are upholding me in prayer, many in daily prayer; those who, even though we may see one another for 1 hour once a year, I know that I am on their minds the rest of the year, and I can count on them; and I know that when we are together, the connection and friendship remains. I appreciate this beyond words, and it truly
does strengthen and uplift me.
If I haven't expressed it in all that I've now written: "THANK YOU." Thank God for you!
May you be walking in the way of the Lord each day.
All my love,
Meghan
Valerie Rae Hanneman
John 2: 13-17 (The Message) “When the Passover Feast, celebrated each spring by the Jews, was about to take place, Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem. He found the temple teeming with people selling cattle & sheep & doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength. Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. He told the dove merchants “Get your things out of here! Stop turning My Father’s house into a shopping mall!” That’s when His disciples remembered the Scripture, “Zeal for Your house consumes Me.”
I was at a training last year with the Fiscal Team from work. The training was on how to deal with difficult people. In a law firm the size of the one we work for, it sometimes seems that difficult people multiply faster than the loaves and fishes! During the training the trainer was talking about how we stereotype people and he turned to me and asked, “For instance, what is the stereotype about redheads?” I knew what he wanted me to say, that redheads have a temper, but being a non-stereotypical person, I answered, “Redheads do what blondes only dream of – but that is not a stereotype, it’s the truth.” Everybody laughed; the speaker was dumbfounded for a moment then went on. But if having a temper is true of redheads then it is true of me because I am a redhead (just not this color of red) and I have a temper. I used to have a raging temper – I would be totally out-of-control, yelling, name-calling, throwing stuff – you name it – I tantrumed it. With my return to Jesus I knew that I could no longer let my temper go out-of-control like that, so I gave my temper to Him. I had to give it to Him a whole bunch of times before I let go of it (hopefully) for good. My witness for Christ is important to me and I just don’t think a hair-trigger temper is a good witness.
That is why I have always had a difficult time with this passage. How could Jesus, God the Son, lose His temper like this? Doesn’t it seem as if God, most of all, should be in control of His temper? And here He is whipping people, stampeding animals, throwing tables over – sounds like a temper tantrum to me! Why does God expect me to control my temper, when He doesn’t seem to be able to control His?
I read this passage many times before I realized that Jesus was angry but He did not lose control of His temper. Let’s look at what Jesus was looking at that day. He was entering the Temple at Passover time. The holiest place in Israel at the holiest time of the year. And what does He see? He sees the faithful who have come to offer sacrifice in atonement of their sins, but there is a man-made barricade to them. Now God was very clear on the type of animal sacrifice, unblemished, no broken bones, of one color. That’s all that God has said, but men have taken it further. Just to be sure that the sacrifice is acceptable, you can only buy the animals offered at the temple and you can’t use regular money. You have to use the temple coin to buy the sacrificial animal. So first of all, you have to change your money. Can you guess what Jesus saw in the Temple of God? He saw the loan sharks (money changers) dealing short on the exchange, and the animal sellers overcharging for the animals. Right there in the Temple of the Most High God, the worshippers were getting robbed by the low-life’s who were using God to make a profit. I think Jesus had every right to be angry. It is called a “righteous anger” – an anger caused by injustice. And Jesus did not lose control of His temper. He very calmly fashioned a whip and then did what was necessary to stop – for at least one day – people from being robbed by the representatives of their God.
What makes you tremble with righteous anger? The child at Faith Alive who screamed in fear of me – she makes me angry. Not because she was terrified of me. (I was the first white person she had ever seen and even under normal circumstances I can be a little much.) This child was from a rural tribe brought into Faith Alive by her grandma because she should have been walking and talking and wasn’t. Dr. Ogbeh explained to me that the child was undersized and under-developed because she was suffering from malnutrition. Faith Alive did not have the food supplements that could help the child, but Juth hospital did. I told Dr. Ogbeh that I wasn’t going to let a child starve, that I would buy the supplements. Dr. Ogbeh left with the child to get the supplements. Unfortunately I learned later that there had been no supplements at Juth and the child had returned to the tribe with her grandma. Unless there was some other intervention, the child returned to her tribe to slowly starve to death. It makes me angry that for lack of a nutritional supplement that costs less than a dollar a day, a child is starving to death. And this child is one of millions of children dying from malnutrition.
Jesus did something about what made Him angry. He couldn’t fix all of it - well, He could have but He would have had to leave His purpose for being on earth, so He really couldn’t. But for that day, He made a difference by acting on the injustice He saw.
Jesus has left us an example to follow. He wants us to be like Him and to get angry about the injustice we see. But then He wants us to do something about it. Maybe we cannot solve the whole problem – but we can make a difference.
What injustice makes you angry and what are you doing about it?
And yes, I am trying to do something about the malnourished children. I can’t make a difference for all the children in the world – but I am doing what I can for some of the children of Faith Alive.
LORD Jesus, help me to burn with Your righteous anger and help me to never stop trying to make a difference in Your name and following Your example.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of FFBC at valerie@fresnofirst.org
An attitude of gratitude creates blessings. -Sir John Templeton
Bev Willis is now over at San Joaquin rehab. An e-mail from her daughter Joni says that she is doing great, working hard on her therapy and that Floyd is with her giving her lots of support. Please keep Bev & Floyd in prayer that they will continue to be strong.
George Esparza’s surgery was delayed until Monday of this week. His surgeon says that George did great - not even needing a transfusion. At last report from Lorraine, George is able to get up out of bed and will hopefully be released in just a few days.
Josh, Biana’s son, is doing much better. He is going into outpatient counseling for his alcohol related problems.
Please pray for Faith Alive as they are facing discord caused by outside influences. Hold up Dr. Chris, Dr. Mercy, and Biana up in prayer as they seek the solution to this problem.
Ellen Burton is now in hospice care. Her physical life will soon draw to a close. Please pray for her spiritual health.
Please continue to pray for – Ann Herrington with kidney cancer, Eileen Betts, Kathy waiting for back surgery, Carol Robertshaw with lung cancer, our Katie as she faced ongoing health challenges, and Walt Couch, with prostrate cancer.
Pray for our missionaries –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, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Yvonne Deel in Belize, Bounkham & Khamla in Laos, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray for the person that Jesus has laid on your heart, and pray for boldness to speak His name.
Giver of Life,
At this Thanksgiving season, we give our thanks and praise to You for the joy of our lives. We are thankful for the gift of Jesus’ life that freed us from the penalty of death for out sins and has given us the freedom of a relationship with You. We thank You for our salvation. Thank You for the way that You sustain us, protect us, guide us, live within us and work through us. Thank You for answering when we call on You. Thank You for the promise of an eternity spent with You. With everything within us, we thank You, Abba, for all that You are.
We praise and thank You, LORD Jesus, for the great news on Bev and George and we ask that You continue to act in their lives and continue to heal their bodies. We lift up Floyd & Lorraine and ask that You continue to support them as they support their spouses. We ask that Your mercy continue to be on Josh as he heals from his addiction and we ask that You help him restore his marriage. We ask that Your mercy and love be shown to those who remain on our prayer chain and that each situation be used to Your glory.
Abba, death is a hard thing to face and for a person who does not know You, it must be frightening. LORD, I don’t know where Ellen is with You, my hope is that she is Your child, but if not, Father, send somebody to her that she will listen to.
Jehovah Jirah, Faith Alive is facing some challenges and they are struggling. I ask that You pour Your wisdom on Dr. Chris, Dr Mercy and Biana at this time so that they will be able to guide Faith Alive through this problem. I pray that You strengthen all of them and provide for them.
Holy Spirit, we humbly ask that You surround our pastors, our leaders and ministries with Your love and guidance. Help us to be effective in our fishing for people. We ask that You lift up Your missionaries and give them a renewed vision. Help them to see the difference that they make.
LORD God, help us to be effective witnesses of You. Help us to show this hurting world that You are the Great Physician and within You all of the hurts, all of the pains, all of the brokenness that is suffered is healed. You are God, You are LORD, You are King and You love us.
Psalm 147
1 Praise the LORD.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
6 The LORD sustains the humble
but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;
make music to our God on the harp.
8 He covers the sky with clouds;
he supplies the earth with rain
and makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He provides food for the cattle
and for the young ravens when they call.
10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of a man;
11 the LORD delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
12 Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion,
13 for he strengthens the bars of your gates
and blesses your people within you.
14 He grants peace to your borders
and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.
15 He sends his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow like wool
and scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
19 He has revealed his word to Jacob,
his laws and decrees to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;
they do not know his laws.
Praise the LORD.
Valerie Rae Hanneman
2 Corinthians 3:12 (New International Version) “Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”
“Valerie, Valerie” Terry’s voice came over the answering machine, “He’s back! You have to come get him out of here right away! Bring your son!” I could hear the panic in her voice so I immediately jumped up. “Steven, get your shoes on we’re leaving” I shouted down the hall as I ran for the phone. “Terry, what’s wrong?” my voice was probably just as panicked as hers was – I could not imagine what it could be! As far as I knew she was not having any troubles with her ex-husband, no disagreements with her neighbors, she has no sons, just daughters. Why did she need my judo-skilled son? And why does she think I should know about t he threat of “him” being back? “He’s in the backyard again! I think he tried to jump on me! If you don’t come get him, I am going to kill him!” What???? “Terry, who is in the backyard?” “That spider, the one you told me not to kill! I went to open my patio umbrella and he almost jumped on me! He is still in there!” Okay, now I understand what is going on. I calmed down immediately. A few weeks ago Terry had seen this spider on the back patio of her apartment. With each telling, the spider had gotten bigger and she was determined to kill it. Now, I happen to like spiders, I have had a few pet tarantulas, so I had told her not to kill it, Steven and I would come and get it and take it out of her complex. She had not seen the spider for a while, but now, I guess, he is back. “We will be right there, Terry” I said calmly. Steven and I packed up our spider safari gear (aquarium fish net and a mayo jar) and off we went to get this spider that – at last telling – was almost bigger than her hand.
It was a Saturday afternoon and Terry lives halfway across town from me, so it was not convenient for me to drive to her house to get this spider. But I went because it was I love Terry. Although I have many friends and acquaintances, Terry is one of a closer circle of friends that I know that not only do I trust them with my life – I would trust them with my children’s life. For me, trust just does not get any deeper than that. Because I trust her so much, Terry can trust in me just as much. I would never purposely harm her and if I accidentally harmed her I would be devastated. And yet, the truth is that every single day I am doing harm to Terry. I am putti ng her at great risk for her life.
In my small circle of friends, Terry is unique because she is the only one that I do not know if she has accepted Jesus or not. Everyone else in my small circle professes Christ, and with one other exception, they all attend Fresno First Baptist (Not that going to Fresno First Baptist makes you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car!) Terry and I have been friends for almost 15 years and I do not know if she is in a personal relationship with Jesus. She knows that I am – she teases me about it once in awhile (particularly on those occasions when my behavior would not qualify as a poster child for Christianity.) I know that she loves antique-y looking jewelry, she wears a lot of black, and she is as crazy over her dog as I am over my Ra scal. We talk about everything – our boss, our kids, TV shows, where to go for lunch, our weekend plans, our pets, our ex’s, our hairstyles, our clothes, our likes and dislikes, politics, music, art, everything under the sun – except the Son – except Jesus.
I came back to Jesus 12 years ago. However, in 12 years I have never talked seriously to Terry about Jesus, His gift of love, and about eternity. If you were to ask me why I would probably shrug and mention that we are so busy we just never got around to it. (Although we sure got around to talking about everything else!) With a bit of nervous laughter, I would say that there is plenty of time, Terry is still young! It would be nervous laughter because I know that there is no promise of tomorrow for any of us. I doubt that I would ever tell you the truth, and the truth is that although I say I love Terry I love my pride even more. Every day I let Terry inch closer and clo ser to an eternity separated from Jesus because I am afraid to tell her about Him, because I am afraid of what she would think of me.
Peter is my favorite disciple, he often let his mouth run away before his brain kicked in, but he walked on water with Jesus, he was the first to state the Jesus is Messiah, and then preached the first sermon of a brand-new church. Peter spoke boldly about Jesus and it cost him his life. He was crucified upside down. It cost many of the early disciples their lives. There are too many places in the world today where it can still cost you your life to speak about Jesus. Daily there are people who are martyred because they did speak boldly. Here in the United States, for the most part, the worst persecution I will face is ridicule. Around the world they willing put their lives on the line to speak about Jesus, and I cower in fear, afraid to speak His name because somebody might think less of me.
And so Terry’s eternity is uncertain because I, who say I love her, won’t love her enough to ask her. I am gambling her eternity because of my pride.
You know, I don’t think that I am comfortable with that.
I think I want to be sure about Terry, I think that I want to laugh and talk with her for all of eternity, and so I think I have to kick my pride out and let boldness in. Maybe it will cost me a friendship here on earth – but maybe I will gain a friendship for eternity. I’ll take that chance.
LORD Jesus, help me speak Your name with boldness to my friend. Give me an opportunity to speak to her and LORD God, most of all – let me recognize the opportunity when it comes, give me Your words, and help me make sure that my friend will share eternity with me.
Contact Valerie or sign up for the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at Valerie@fresnofirst.org
Jan and Larry Martin
International Ministries
Thailand November ’07
Dear Partners in ministry
Well, here we are at “home” reconnecting with family and friends, enjoying the good things a little too much and finding that we need to spend more time exercising to make up. So far we have had some vacation time, some conference time and times to share what God has been and is continuing to do in our small part of Thailand. Our times sharing in the churches has taken us to both the East and West coasts of the US and the churches have been encouraging in their enthusiasm for what God is doing in Thailand. Larry turned 50 while we were in Maine and he was treated to 3 birthday parties. The fresh lobsters went down well too
God is in the business of drawing people to himself, bringing them into His kingdom and changing lives. He does it in ways that he shows that his love and care for people is very personal meeting each person where they are at.
Just before we left a woman in her 40s committed her life to Christ. We started to disciple her but only had a few weeks to do so. Our colleagues over the hill have gladly taken on this responsibility and the following is from John and Vicki Rees.
\
In’s story
When In reads the Gospels she longs for the healing Jesus is able to bring into her life. She recently had a dream in which Jesus phoned her mobile – she knew it was Him because the name Pra Yesu (JESUS) appeared on the face of the phone! She suddenly felt overwhelmed – too flustered to answer and unsure how to respond to him. A month later (in another dream) a holy man met her, lifted her in his arms, and prayed for her. She came away from that dream with a wonderful sense of wellbeing and peace. Later while we were introducing a picture book (right), In took a hard look at Jesus and said, ‘That’s him – He’s the one who lifted me!’
In has a serious heart condition and, although needing major hospital treatment is not yet well enough to undergo surgery. Last Wednesday when we took her to the hospital in Nan the doctor prescribed medication for her heart. She believes God is helping her – lifting her above the obstacles that only a short time ago seemed unsurpassable. Her family and friends are happy that In has found a reason to rejoice. People in her neighborhood are watching closely – perhaps wondering what is going to happen next!
May the God of surprises do something wonderful – both in her life and in the community!
We are excited about what God is doing and will do and grateful to be part of a team knowing that the work goes on even when we aren’t able to be there.
Prayer Points
Please join us in prayer as God works in In’s life, and the lives of her family and neighbors as they see Jesus meeting her needs.
Pray for John & Vicki, and Muana and Villy as they continue to minister in their areas and look after our area as well.
Pray for the fellowship at Ban Sra, pray that the believers will be effective witnesses to their friends and neighbors.
Pray for us as we travel, tell the story of what God is doing in Thailand and look for churches and individuals who will partner with us.
Thank you for your partnership, as we see God doing amazingly personal things for His children. May you too know that personal touch from Jesus.
Yours in Christ
Larry and Jan
What does that mean to a person in Ban Luang? In Rural Thailand people call them selves Buddhists and have some attachment to the local Temple. Festivals are often celebrated at the temple. Monks may be consulted on occasion but the deep seated spiritual beliefs is found centered in the spirit world.
Rural Thais aren’t actually Buddhists but folk Buddhists. That is the belief in Spirits is much stronger and has a bigger effect on the way they live their lives. Chickens are sacrificed and offered to the spirits. Life is lived in fear not really knowing what to do to make the capricious spirits happy.
When people such as Kwee, Nuk and Long come into a relationship with Christ they discover a real freedom from fear – they become liberated in a way that is hard for us westerners to appreciate, for Kwee that liberation was instantaneous and she started living not only free of the fear of spirits but seeing change in other aspects of her life
Kwee and a close neighbour who had been close friends as children hadn’t spoken to one another for many years. As soon as Kwee came to know Christ she knew it was wrong for her not to love her neighbour and, difficult though it was to be the one to set things straight she made some food and took it to her neighbour. The neighbour accepted the food as a gift of reconciliation and the two women are now on better than good speaking terms, visiting one another regularly again.
Not just content to have her own relationships restored Kwee has set out to heal other broken relationships in her village by bringing people back together. Kwee has been dramatically changed by Christ and is seeking to change her world for Christ.
Long has also been released from the fear of Spirits. His change has been slower but over time they have learnt to trust Jesus in their lives and now seek his power and wisdom in their lives. Long had a broken leg that was refusing to heal, we were told that a bone graft was the only way the bone would heal. Our prayer was that the bone would heal slowly and that Longs faith would also grow and strengthen. That is exactly what happened slowly the bone tissue grew and healed as did his faith. Long has become a strong believer and visits the sick in his community sharing about the healing power of Christ.
Through Long’s ministry to the sick Por Beng has been coming to the fellowship meetings. At first he was unable to attend but Long would take information from the fellowship meetings and share with it with him and they would pray together. After a while Por Beng would come if someone would pick him up, now thanks to Jesus healing power he is able to come under his own steam.
On our return to Thailand we are looking to start a short term Bible school for lay leaders so folk like Nuek and Long can study in short blocks in the off season (farming) this will give them not only knowledge but credibility. The courses will need to be run a little differently to most Bible courses, as the folk we are working with are semi literate and have low comprehension. We have been and will continue to develop materials that will not only help them understand who Christ is for them but, will equip them to share with others.
We are here but the ministry continues there, our colleagues, are continuing and even making the trip over the mountain to visit new believers In and Kiang to encourage them in their new found faith. And when they can make the connection with Sompian, who had shown real interest in the Gospel while we were still in the area.
We may make the plans, but it's God who has the last word.-from a church sign
In the two weeks since e-Prayers went out there have been some changes! Remember that we were praying for Bev Willis’ surgery to be sooner than the December 21st that was scheduled – but the doctors said it was impossible? Bev had that surgery yesterday. Anyone with any updates on how she is doing?
George Esparza is back up in San Francisco to have surgery to get rid of the last of the infection that was so devastating to him earlier this year. Lorraine is up there with him and they are hoping to be home in time for Thanksgiving. (Sorry, but hospital Thanksgiving turkey makes me shudder)
Please keep Char Cole’s mom, Annabelle, in prayer - she continues to improve. Char’s whole family will be at her house for Thanksgiving – a blessing on one hand – a need for prayer on the other.
Biana is back in Nigeria – I e-talk with her every couple of days – and she is once again busy as she can be. Hold Biana up over the holidays when she is so far from her family and her church family.
Please continue to pray for –Biana’s son, Josh & marital problems, Kelli as she continues to mourn Sandy’s passing, Ann Herrington with kidney cancer, Eileen Betts, Kathy waiting for back surgery, Carol Robertshaw with lung cancer, our Katie as she faced ongoing health challenges, Ellen Burton with worsening cancer and Walt Couch, with prostrate cancer.
Pray for our missionaries –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, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Yvonne Deel in Belize, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray for the person that Jesus has laid on your heart, and pray for boldness to speak His name.
Light of the World,
It is so good to be Your child, to live in the light of Your love, to feel Your presence ever near us. It is good to know that we are never alone, we are never abandoned, we are never forgotten. Your love fills every need, makes every dream a reality, surrounds us at all times. You are God, there is none like You.
Thank You so much for granting our prayers and getting Bev in for surgery earlier than expected. Continue to be with her and heal her. Lord God, although she remains close to our heart, we are missing seeing her and Floyd in the community. We ask Your hand be on George and Lorraine as they are in San Francisco. Papa, heal George completely and finally from this infection that is plaguing him. Grant Lorraine patience and calmness of spirit as she stands beside her husband during this difficult time. LORD Jesus, we call out for Anabelle, that You continue to heal her body – but even more so LORD, that You become real to her as her Savior. We lift up all of those who continue to be on our prayer chain, and ask a special blessing on them.
Father, in the busyness of this holiday time, help us to turn our hearts, thoughts, and spirits to You in moments of quietness when we can thank You because all that we have – the very breath in our lungs and beat of our hearts – is a gift from You. Bless those of us who have too much family coming in with peace, bless those who are far from family with contentment.
Holy Spirit, we gather together as Your children and we pray for our pastors. The holidays are stressful for all of us – and even more so for our pastors as they guide us. We pray that You provide for them, that You give them a calmness of spirit, and that they have an unexpected encounter with You that will refresh and renew them. Surround them with Your love, let them understand how much we love them.
LORD Jesus, Your people are scattered throughout the world, working in Your fields of harvest. Protect them in this increasingly hostile world, provide for them, and provide what they need to be effective in reaching out in Your holy Name.
LORD Jesus, to follow You is to fish. Make us fishers of persons, help us to have a boldness in speaking Your name. LORD God, we pray for the people that You have put on our heart and we ask that we be given that opening to talk to them, and just as important, LORD, that we recognize it.
For all of eternity we will be with You, for all of eternity we will sing “Holy, Holy, Holy” and some of us, Papa, are excited knowing that we are going to sound good singing. On my knees I ask, help me glorify You with every movement I make, every word I speak and with every though in my head. Help me to be more like You every day. In Your name we pray, Amen.
Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of passage?
His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.
He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.
The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
We, too, are never alone. Even when we don't know it, our Heavenly Father is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.
Author Unknown
Hi all! It's that time again! I know I've said it – it seems like every month - but, I can absolutely not believe how fast time is going by! I thank God for health, creativity, purpose, and opportunity to be a partner with Him in this journey of life.
May you be blessed and growing!
Meghan
I have my Visa!! Praise God!! Hello! Happy Autumn! I hope you are all well, enjoying the change in weather wherever you are, and following the Lord with all your hearts. Well, it’s true... I have my Visa in my hands! Finally. God is so faithful, and after three months of paperwork, payments, day trips to Mexico City, hearing “no, come back next week,” numerous Metro, bus, smaller bus and bigger bus, and Taxi rides (pretty much EVERY type of transportation you can imagine in a big city) - God has granted me with a Visa to be here in Mexico. This Visa, in addition to allowing me a one-year stay here in the country, also serves as a great ID that has my Pachuca address on it, and will give me a record of time living here in the country - with this Visa, I will apply for renewal each year, and after five years, I will be able to apply for residency. No plans are definite yet, but, I very well could be on the way to much more time here in Mexico! So, I am so thankful and blessed to have this prayer answered in such a grand way.
For two weeks of the month of October, the YWAM staff cleared out of the base. The family who loans us the house came on vacation and to celebrate their daughter’s Quinceańera (a sort of Sweet 15). So, as we wanted them to feel at home, the staff parted ways for a bit; a few went to visit their families and churches, others with friends, weddings, etc. I took the opportunity to go not too far away to Mexico City. There I was able to stay with the family of my friend, Bere, from my DTS. Although I got a bit sick, I had a good visit, they took wonderful care of me, and on a miraculous day of God-given strength despite being sick with a stomach bug, I was able to continue in the process of my Visa. After staying a few days in Mexico City, I went to another former DTS classmate’s home about an hour
outside of Mexico City. There I also had a great visit. I was given the opportunity to share with the youth group on the Sunday morning I was in town. To be light amidst the darkness, and not just think of “missions” and “missionaries” as distant countries and those who go to them, but to think of what each one’s personal “mission field” is right in the city where they live, with their family, school, and activities they’re involved in. I thank God for the opportunity also to be able to make more connections with the church; hopefully in the near future a group will come to do ministry with us here in Pachuca, and some might take part in the DTS starting in June, which brings me to the next bit of news: We have postponed the first DTS, that was originally scheduled to begin in January, to now begin in June.
There are various reasons, but after prayer and thoughtful consideration, we felt moved by God to
postpone. In the meantime, we are waiting for the completion of a building adjacent to the house, which we will be able to use all of for student bedrooms, a classroom, maybe an internet cafe, and more. It is totally another provision by God, and we are excited for it!
The last thing I will mention about the month of October was a Christian Exhibition Nikki and I participated in in Mexico City. This is an annual event that different Christian organizations, bookstores, music vendors, clothing suppliers, conference and seminar speakers go to, and YWAM Mexico had a booth there. As YWAM Pachuca, it was an excellent opportunity to meet young people, many seeking direction and purpose in their life - which is just what our ministry is geared to! We were able to learn, grow, and make God known through this event.
Thanks for all your prayers and support. All my love,
in Christ,
Meghan
One of the first things Christ says in the Gospel is this: "Happy the simple-hearted!" Yes, happy those who head towards simplicity, simplicity of heart and simplicity of life. -Brother Roger of Taizé
Sandy is finally free from cancer and free from pain. She is at home with her LORD. Her Celebration of Life will be held at FFBC on Wednesday, November 7th at 10:30 am. Please continue to keep Kelli in prayer at this difficult time for her.
Bev Willis’ surgery is scheduled for December 21st. She would like to see is scheduled earlier, but the Dr’s say that is impossible. Please join Bev in prayer that Father can do the impossible for her.
Please keep Char Cole’s mom, Annabelle, in prayer - she is doing better and is back in her apartment at San Joaquin Garden’s
Dan Prescott is recovering well from his quadruple by-pass.
Biana had the surgery on her kidney stone today - it went great -because it is gone! Recovery is going well.
Biana is requesting prayer for her son Josh who is struggling with difficulties in his marriage and with alcohol related problems.
Please continue to pray for –Kat Bailey & family as they mourn the passing of her father; Ken & Marinne Barickman as she recovers from a car accident; Ann Herrington with kidney cancer, Eileen Betts, Kathy waiting for back surgery, Carol Robertshaw with lung cancer, our Katie as she faced ongoing health challenges, Ellen Burton with worsening cancer and Walt Couch, with prostrate cancer.
Pray for our missionaries –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, The Reaching Hand Society in India, Yvonne Deel in Belize, and all the missionaries worldwide.
Pray for our pastors our leadership, our ministries, and Father’s provision for His Church. Pray for the person that Jesus has laid on your heart.
Sovereign LORD,
You are sovereign over heaven and earth, sovereign over yesterday, today and tomorrow, sovereign over life, death and eternity. Be sovereign in us, LORD.
Thank You for this incredible life that You have given us. It is easy to thank You for the big ways that You have enriched our lives, sometimes we don’t think to thank You for the small joys of life. Thank You for the rich taste of strawberries and how their seeds crunch in our teeth. Thank You for the laughter of children that makes us smile, thank You for the way that sunlight dances through the leaves, thank-You for the soft colors of the sunrise and for the bold colors of the sunset. Thank You for the little joys of life that we so often overlook.
Jehovah Shalom, God of our peace, we rejoice in Your promise that when we leave this earth we are forever with You. Sandy is with You right now, we know that Your promises are true, and so we know that she has found peace. Grant that Kelli will also find peace in You as she grieves the loss of her friend.
LORD of time, we ask that You intervene on Bev’s behalf and cause an opening in the surgery schedule so that Bev can have her operation a little earlier.
We lift up our friends, Holy Spirit and ask that You keep Biana, Anabelle and Dan strong and continuing to recover.
Josh needs Your help, Father, with the challenges that he is facing. Help him as he goes into re-hab for the one problem and help him to rebuild the relationship with his wife.
Comforter, we ask that You fill those on our prayer list with Your comfort and Your presence, continue to move in each situation.
God of the angels, we ask Your protection on our pastors and their families. Protect them from the traps that satan, that prince of lies, would set for them. Help us to support them in all that they do.
Jehovah Jirah, provide for the needs of the Church, help us to reach out to others.
LORD God, grant us boldness of heart and courage to speak to our friends and loved ones who do not know You. Help us to follow You and fish.
Pour Your abundance on Your missionaries and keep them safe as they serve You.
Father God, help us to always seek You in all that we do. Help us to honor You with every word we speak, every thought of our head and every action that we take. You are the glory and the joy of our life.