Monday

“Trust in Him at all times, you people;

pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.”

~Psalm 62:8~

Please continue to pray for Mrs. Annie Bell Harrell. She has another appointment today. Her problem seems to be getting worse, not better.

Please add my mother, Dot Smith of Roseland, back to your prayer list. We saw her doctor Friday. Tests are being done to determine the problem.

MISSIONARY PERSONAL NEEDS. A missionary couple asks: “Please pray for our son and his wife. They have both suffered a myriad of health issues during their three-year marriage. These issues are putting a strain on many areas of their lives. Please pray for complete healing, and ask that they will deepen their relationship with the One who provides the blessings in their lives.”

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Monday, October 6, 2008

“In the beginning was the Word…

In Him was life,

and the life was the light of men.”

~John 1:1a, 4, NKJV~

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, asking you to pray for South Asians.

Hindus across South Asia are preparing for Durga Puja, one of the biggest festivals of the year. Idols are selling in a fury and department stores are spending thousands to encourage customers to shop for new clothes so they will look their very best. Restaurants are creating special Durga menus, and the air is filled with the heavy smell of incense. It is party time.

People spend money they do not have in order to display bigger and classier idols of Durga than their neighbors. Durga is one of many Hindu goddesses, and the holiday celebrates her coming into Hindu homes. The celebration ends with the images of Durga being immersed in a river or body of water. It is really a very sad time for believers to witness such intense idol worship.

Later in the month is the beginning of Divali, a six-day festival that is shared by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhists. Known also as the Festival of Lights, Divali celebrations are marked by fireworks, clay lamps and, increasingly, electric lights similar to those used during Christmas. Light represents knowledge and the victory of good over evil. Darkness represents ignorance and all the negative forces of wickedness, violence, lust, anger, envy, fear, etc. Some believe that lighting a lamp allows the beauty of the world to be revealed.

Can you see the spiritual truth imbedded in this festival?

* Please pray that South Asian Christians will boldly let their light shine throughout Durga Puja and Divali.

* Ask the Father to shine His light during this dark time so the people will turn to Him and not to the host of gods that they idolize.

* Minister to your South Asian neighbors during the month of October, helping them to see that the Light of the world has been revealed and has sealed the victory over darkness for all eternity!

Revival services at FBC, Kentwood continue tonight at 6:30 P.M.

Deacons for the week:

• Smiley Conerly
• Roy Turner
  

Daily Strength for Daily Needs

Mary W. Tileston

October 6

I had fainted, unless I bad believed to see the goodness of the Lord in he land of the living.-PS. xxvii. 13.

I will surely do thee good.–GEN. xxxii. 12.

Thou know’st not what is good for thee,
But God doth know,–
Let Him thy strong reliance be,
And rest thee so.
C. F. GELLERT.

Let us be very careful of thinking, on the one hand, that we have no work
assigned us to do, or, on the other hand, that what we have assigned to us
is not the right thing for us. If ever we can say in our hearts to God,
in reference to any daily duty, “This is not my place; I would choose
something dearer; I am capable of something higher;” we are guilty not only
of rebellion, but of blasphemy. It is equivalent to saying, not only, “My
heart revolts against Thy commands,” but “Thy commands are unwise; Thine
Almighty guidance is unskilful; Thine omniscient eye has mistaken the
capacities of Thy creature; Thine infinite love is indifferent to the
welfare of Thy child.”
ELIZABETH CHARLES.

Have a marvelous Monday!

Anna Lee