It seems like we just did our annual visa prayer request saga, and that one did not finish until last April, though the visa ends on November 23rd. So far this year, the process has gone very well; however, there is one new requirement that is expensive and requires a lot of work in other countries. To put a positive spin on this requirement would be to call it crazy.
Last, Bret seriously sprained his ankle last week. It was the third time in three weeks and this one got it good. Or bad, I guess describes it better.
I have a friend who went through several reorganizations within his company and the memory of his stories have been most helpful. Thanks to Kent for sharing! I have to say reorganizing has been challenging, but at least the people I am blessed to work with have the very best of intentions and really do care about the people out here. I am still on the fourth budgeting phase, and fear it is not the last!
This morning I woke up earlier than I like. It has given me some time to reflect and pray that I don't normally have. This letter is simply intended to be an encouragement to prayer in general and to our month of prayer in particular.
Yesterday, I got a little facebook note from Tom Blackaby, with whom we had the joy of serving with as jmen, during seminary at a local church, and on church staff in Canada. Tom said, "Prayer is not meant to be a religious activity or duty we perform, it is a means by which we come to know God Himself." I want to make sure that heart is being communicated to you during our month of prayer.
The C3 Month of Prayer is not about getting from God. It is not about a checklist or formula we follow to achieve some good and desirable result. It does not impress God, nor somehow earn more favor with Him. It is not about impressing anyone with your piety and personal holiness.
It is about knowing God better. That alone is more than enough. This week I have shared in the prayer guide about some answers to prayer God has already given; however, it is more than enough that we know Him better. What a gracious and good Father we have. He discloses Himself to us. He longs for us to be His children, resting in His peace, joy and contentment. Keep praying. Not for the results, but for the joy of knowing the Creator and Savior!
Check out this link for more on the ministry God has given Tom and Kim Blackaby.
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God answers prayer! My 85 year-old dad received Jesus on Monday, July 27, 2009 and died three days later on Thursday, July 30, 2009. Please read my diary entry about what exactly happened and his testimony to others. You can also see a picture of my last restaurant meal with dad less than one week before he died.
I’ve been praying for my dad for 36 years. What hindered dad from receiving Jesus for so long? Was it his Christian Science background? Was it the fact that he was a psychology professor at Long Beach City College for 35 years and believed strongly in humanism? Was it just the blindness of the enemy? I’m sure it was all of the above.
His mother, Martha, was the first one in our family to come to Christ at the age of seventy-four. God delivered her from Christian Science. She began witnessing to us and praying. My older brother, Jay, was born again, I received Jesus, my little brother, Andy, was converted, and then the youngest, Jeanie, accepted Christ. My mom also became a believer. But my dad held out for all these years, even though Jay, Andy, and myself are in full-time ministry. As a humanist, dad was always my best supporter, but he simply could not believe that Jesus was the way the truth, and the life.
Many have been praying. It was common for me at a conference to ask the audience to pray for my dad’s salvation. Jay, Andy, and I have spent days fasting for his salvation (I’m sure Jeanie has done the same).
I want to declare today that God answers prayer! Granted, He does it in His time, and sometimes at the last moment. George Mueller prayed throughout his lifetime for five friends to know Jesus Christ. The first one came to Christ after five years. Within ten years, two more of them received Christ. Mueller prayed constantly for over twenty-five years, and the fourth man was finally saved. For his fifth friend, he prayed until the time of his death, and this friend, too, came to Christ a few months after Mueller died. For this last friend, Mueller had prayed for almost fifty-two years.
God is faithful. Perhaps you’re praying for the salvation of a mom, dad, child, cousin, spouse, or sibling. Press on. Perhaps you’re praying for revival in your city, country, or church. Press on. Perhaps you’re praying for the multiplication of your cell or neighbors to come to Christ.
I want to encourage you to persist in prayer (Luke 18) because God is listening, and He will answer in His timing.
Twelve of us joined the Lord in His work in Northeast Poland on this mission project. We flew from Memphis to Amsterdam, The Netherlands and then from there to Warsaw, Poland where we were received by missionaries Sean Stevenson and Bryan Intemann. We were transported by vans to “cabins in the woods”, which would be our base camp, about two and half hours away.
During the next seven days we were blessed to participate in a variety of activities including: prayer walking, service projects (picking up trash in a village, building and erecting a permanent road sign, building park benches), in-house evangelism, “American day” after school events (crafts, games, etc.), distributing several thousand leaflets (Gospel tracts, invitations to the church startup, block party invitations, testimonies, notices for free Bibles, etc.), block party, evangelistic dramas, on-the-street witnessing, video production, and more.
It was amazing to see how God used each member of our team to serve Him and the people of Northeast Poland in interesting and unique ways ranging from playing with the children to cheerleading to haircuts to directing skits to hugging to teaching to witnessing. Everyone on our team was able to serve whether they were the youngest (8 year old Jacob) or the oldest (no names and ages!).
One of the things that meant a lot to us was the distribution of our personal testimonies. We told His story by sharing our story in printed handouts! Each of us provided our testimony and a picture prior to the trip. The locals translated them into the Polish language and printed them on half sheets of paper. We were able to hand out 100 each during the week to those we made personal contact with.
God’s presence and activity was noted throughout the entire trip ranging from His clear sovereignty over the weather (whenever it was time for us to do something outdoors the rain “mysteriously” cleared up on queue!) to His moving on the hearts of lost people (we had over 50 people show up at the “Baptist” block party ... this was a huge “God-thing”!) to the fruit being harvested even as I type this report. We’ve already had several emails from the missionaries telling of people responding to the materials we distributed. Today I received an email from one of them stating that a lady requested a Bible and has asked them to teach it to her as a Bible study as well! Praise the Lord!
While we didn’t see any conversions on this trip, we know they are forthcoming. We planted new seeds, watered existing seeds and are waiting for God to “give the increase” in His perfect time.
I think everyone left wishing the trip didn’t have to end, longing for a return visit and praying that the desire to share Jesus with the lost would continue to be strong in each of us as we interact with our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and strangers here in Jonesboro. We are on mission here too!
One other thing worth mentioning is the unity we all experienced during this trip. Not only was there an obvious connection we had with each other, but there was an immediate bond with the missionaries in Northeast Poland (The Stevensons, the Intemanns, the Smiths, Naomi, Bailey, Juanita) as well as the nationals we worked with (Marcin, Artur, Daniel). It was genuine koinonia ... fellowship, a sharing in common of Christ.
It was an amazing trip that left an impression on everyone involved: the CBC team, the on-site missionary team, the nationals and the unsaved. To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
I first heard this song at our first annual meeting of the IMB in Bled, Slovenia in June of 2000. It ministered to me in such an incredible way then, and it continues to do so! My prayer is that I truly will learn to rest in Him EACH and EVERY day of my life! It's harder for me to do when the schedule gets cram packed during the school year. I would appreciate your prayers in this regard! Enjoy the lyrics....
Jesus I am resting, resting
In the Joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power
Thou hast made me whole.
####Chorus:
Jesus, I am resting, resting
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
O how great Thy loving kindness.
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O how marvellous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Beloved,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.
####
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings;
Thine is love indeed!
####
Ever lift Thy face upon me,
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting 'neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth's dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father's glory,
Sunshine of my Father's face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting;
Fill me with Thy grace.