Be encouraged. God is doing wonderful things and people are hearing of His love and the sacrifice of His Son for our sins. Pray for this new church in the country of the Czech Republic.
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.
