“When people sin,
you should forgive and comfort them,
so they won’t give up in despair.”
~2 Corinthians 2:7 CEV~
Dakota Brook got to go home from the hospital at day 16. He will have to be kept close to home for a few weeks because he was borm prematurely. Continue to pray for the family as they care for and protect Dakota.
KOMpray
Kids on Mission Pray
Prayer requests
“Let the little children come to Me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,” Luke 18:16b
THE BEATING OF THE DRUMS
In Zambia and Namibia, they say, “Ni utwile milupa.” Well, I don’t
have ANY idea how to pronounce that one! But it means “I hear
the drums.” Sky Scott and her family moved to their new home
on the Zambezi River. She tells us that she “enjoyed the frequent
music of African drums.” She would listen to the deep, hollow
bumping of the drums and find it very romantic. Her family loved
living in the African bush, surrounded by Lozi (LOH-zee)villages!
They still love living there, but they don’t enjoy the drums as much.
Here’s why. Sky and her family walked through the drying sand
one hot day. They got to a friend’s village and found only the
grandmother and children. The others had gone to dance. The
friend’s family and some others from neighboring villages had gone
to dance to help a man who was at the witchdoctor.
What do the drums echoing along the river mean? The Lozi people
are drinking and dancing, fully believing that this is the only way to
‘help’ someone or to control their fears. The repetitive, quickening
rhythm of the drums is like the fear that still beats in the hearts of
Sky’s friends. Please ask Jesus to help the Lozi people understand
how much He loves them then they won’t have to live in fear. First
John 4:18a (HCSB) says, “There is no fear in love; instead, perfect
love drives out fear.”
MORE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM MISSIONARY KIDS
Eight +/- million reside in Johannesburg. They live in big modern
homes, block homes or squatter areas. People from many parts of
South Africa live here as do many from other countries. They
speak more than a dozen languages. Pray for safety as there is
lots of crime. Pray for leaders to be developed in our small church.
BENJAMIN, age 11 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)
Pray that the people will have enough money and jobs. KARIS,
age 6 (Central, Eastern and Southern Africa)
Please pray for my friends, Jeano and Daniel. They are my friends
from preschool but they don’t know Jesus. Daniel goes to church
sometimes but they don’t teach about Jesus and Jeano never goes
to church. Soon, I have to go back to America and I will miss
them. I hope that they can hear about Jesus before I leave next
summer. Jesse, age 3 (Western Europe)
Our goal is to have a church in every apartment building. Pray
that it will happen. MG, age 11 (East Asia)
The people are very hospitable and the language is easy enough
for some people. I can’t even take up a general conversation in
Arabic. I really want to be friends and help the people around
me, but I can’t. I need help, so please pray. WILLIAM, age 12
(Northern Africa and the Middle East)
If I was sick, pray to God and my mom and dad will help me.
AVERY, age 7
Please pray for my youth group. MICAH, age 12, (Western Europe)
Baptist Press
May 7, 2009
WASHINGTON–Obama issues prayer proclamation, eschews event.
ttp://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30436
WASHINGTON–D.C. council votes for ‘same-sex marriages.’
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30437
MARYLAND–FIRST-PERSON (Eric C. Redmond): We’re not the
bigoted ones. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30438
MAINE–Mainers will have last word on ‘gay marriage.’
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30439
MISSOURI–Mo. Supreme Court refuses MBC appeal on Windermere.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30440
ARKANSAS–53 new indecency charges filed against ex-music
minister. http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30441
SOUTH CAROLINA–Motorcycle rally helps men ‘get real’ with Jesus.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30442
TENNESSEE–SBC’s Land: ‘Waterboarding’ never ethical.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30443
TEXAS–FIRST-PERSON (Malcolm Yarnell): The unchanging
relevance of biblical revival.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=30444
The following devotion was written by Scott Belgard, the son of
friends. He gave me permission to share this. Scott is in his 20’s, but had lots of Christian maturity.
When we are called by God to enter into His family we are accepted in an “as is, where is” condition.
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? On hearing this Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13
God takes possession of our “house” just as we are with every flaw and blemish both known and unknown. The good news is God doesn’t want to keep us in that condition. By His power he prunes our life so that we may be a tree that bears good fruit (John 15:1). One thing to keep in mind is that God is the gardener. He is the one that prunes us. Often times we try to take the role of God as the gardener. We see things growing on our tree that does not bring Glory to God and we start cutting by our own power and authority. After numerous attempts we find ourselves to be beaten down with failure then we have the audacity to ask God, “Why can’t I overcome this?” It’s at that point that God gently reminds you that YOU can’t but he can.
Paul, in Galatians, explains this idea very simply. “For I (Paul) have been crucified (died) in Christ that I no longer live but Christ lives in me and the life that I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20
We no longer live. When God took possession of our lives we died and now Christ lives in and through us. It is God’s power that overcomes the flaws of our worldly condition so that we may live a life on this earth that brings Glory to God.
Jesus told his disciples in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in ME (Jesus) you may have peace. In this world you WILL have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” How comforting is it to know that the God who knows every star by name lives through you so that you don’t have to stay in the same condition you were in when God called you? Stop trying by your own efforts to prune your life. You will be left without limbs. Let God do the pruning.
When Jesus called His disciples he said, “Come, follow me and I (Jesus) will make you fishers of men.” So I am asking you, will you come just as you are? Your house doesn’t have to be in perfect condition when God takes possession. Will YOU die so that Christ may live in, through and for you? Will you let God mold, prune and make you into His fisherman? You can’t follow and not be pruned. You can’t come and not become a fisherman. They go hand in hand.
The Prayer Link 