Friday

LEARNING TO READ

Do you remember learning how to read and write? Wow! That opened up whole new worlds to you.  You can read stories about far-away places, even imaginary places. You study new subjects and learn about history or geography or truths from the Bible. It’s fun to be able to read and write.

In many countries around the world, children and women don’t have a chance to learn to read or write. That is true for many Gujjar (pronounced goo-jer) people living in Pakistan. There is so much work to do that the children don’t have time to go to school.  Every day, they milk water buffalo, gather dried manure chips as fuel for their fires, wash clothes, and cook meals. After all the work is done, a small group of Gujjar women and children get together for reading lessons.  They don’t learn English.  They study Urdu, their national language.

Workers help them learn, and recently they were able to show the “JESUS” film to the class. Even some of the men came to watch.  These Gujjar people have seen the love of Jesus in the workers and now they know the story through the film.  Please pray for these Gujjar families to accept Jesus as Savior.

There has been a really bad flood in Pakistan and many people have died. Please pray for relief workers who are trying to bring comfort to the families and help the Pakistani people find places to live and food to eat.

Pray requests from MK’s:

http://kidsonmission.org/prayer/details.asp?StoryID=7683&LanguageID=1709

PRAYING FROM THE HEART

Today’s thought is a prayer is entitled “Psalm of Single-mindedness” and was written by Joe Bayly:

Lord of reality, make me real,
not plastic, synthetic, pretend, phony,
an actor playing out his part – hypocrite.
I don’t want to keep a prayer list
– but to pray,
Nor agonize to find Your will
– but to obey what I already know,
I don’t want to argue theories of inspiration
– but to submit to Your Word.
I don’t want to explain the difference between eros and philos and agape
– but to love.
I don’t want to sing as if I mean it
– I want to mean it.
I don’t want to tell it like it is
– but to be like You want it.
I don’t want to think another needs me
– but I need him, else I’m not complete.
I don’t want to tell others how to do it
– but to do it;
I don’t want to have to be always right
– but to admit it when I’m wrong.
I don’t want to be a census taker
– but an obstetrician
Nor an involved person, a professional
– but a friend.
I don’t want to be insensitive
– but to hurt where other people hurt Nor to say “I know how you feel”
– but to say, “God knows”
and “I’ll try if you’ll be patient with me”
and meanwhile I’ll be quiet.
I don’t want to scorn the clichés of others
– but to mean everything I say
Including this.

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.” (Philippians 1:9-10)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Thanks for praying each day.  You make a difference for so many!

Anna Lee