I pray for them.

I am not praying for the world,

but for those You have given Me,

for they are Yours.

~John 17:9 (NIV)~

Margie Williams was able to return to Line Creek last night after six days in the hospital and surgery.  Pray for her as she recovers.

KneEmail

“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”

Philippians 2:10

Mike Benson, Editor

A TEN-YEAR-OLD who is playing in a living room inadvertently knocks over a lamp and cracks its ceramic base…

He knows that the lamp is highly treasured by his parents, and–based upon past performance–he knows that they will fly into a rage when the crack is discovered.  He realizes this in an instant as he surveys the damage.  As he plots his next move, he can have no thought of confession.  He notices that the lamp can be turned that the crack faces the wall and cannot easily be seen.  Rather than face the issue head-on with his unapproachable parents, he elects to cover up the problem.

For weeks, however, the guilty child lives in fear of the day when someone will find the crack.  Every time he sees his father or mother go near the lamp to turn it on or off, his body tenses–has the moment of truth arrived?  The longer the secret is undisclosed, the more it drives a quiet wedge between him and his parents.  He doesn’t enjoy the living room, especially when his parents are in it.  Even the objects in the room become his enemies because they are identified with the lamp whose crack is going to betray him one of these days.  The anticipated response to the crack has become more significant than the original problem.  But unapproachability in bad moments–“when the heart is faint”–has quenched all possibility of keep short accounts.

Why is it hard to grant to children the same forgiveness we adults so desperately desire when we make mistakes?  Must there be punishment for something which was done unintentionally–even if the initial act was actual disobedience?

The approachability of fathers in the early years of their children’s lives will reduce the number of defense mechanisms their children will erect.  If they experience sledge-hammer reactions in their sour moments, children will create a remarkable facility for passing responsibility, making excuses, or perhaps taking no risks at all.  What father wants that?  Much better that they find in their fathers–effective fathers–tender responses when their child-sized hearts are faint.  Gordon MacDonald, “No Busy Signals Here,” The Effective Father, 132-133

“…Indeed we do come to you.  For You are the LORD our God.” Jeremiah 3:22b

Happy Father’s Day!

Pray for families that are not able to be together today.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE

IMB
Friday, June 18, 2010

“God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne,’” (Psalm 47:8, NKJV).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the Office of Global Prayer Strategy, encouraging you to pray for clear communication and language acquisition.

Join the Bozo Team in praising God as they write: “Though they could say a total of about six words in the language, two volunteers came to share the Word . . . and share they did! Each night that they stayed in the small Bozo camp, the two college-age young women would take out their English Bible and the Bambara Bible they had been lent and ask permission to read it aloud. They received the blessing of their host to do so, and with the offer to stop when needed, they began to read the Word of God to this family. When stopping for a break, they were urged to continue and soon had the attention of the man who positioned himself close enough to read along. This continued for three nights. The young women came back fulfilled and excited, while the remnant of what was read remains to be pondered by the family. This Bozo family heard the Truth from two young women who couldn’t even say a whole sentence in the language.”

“Learning new languages can be very rewarding and even a fun experience as one begins to communicate with the nationals in their heart language. However, for so many, this can be a very discouraging time. Mature, well-educated and eager missionaries often find themselves barely speaking like a 2 year old after months of studying a language. It is a humbling time for them. Please pray with us for our missionaries in the Zambezi Cluster who continue to work on their language acquisition. It is an ongoing learning process”

* Please pray that Christian workers all will be able to communicate the Gospel in ways that the people truly understand.

* Give thanks for the perseverance of volunteers as the persistently share the Gospel even without language skills.

* Intercede for the nations that God will draw them to salvation and to His holy throne.

Have a great Lord’s Day!  Spend some time with your Heavenly Father and your earthly father if possible.

Anna Lee