Category: Praises, Requests, & Updates

Tuesday

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NLT)

Update on Mrs. Faye Price:
My grandmother is still progressing well, but her kidneys are still not functioning and the Dr. is saying she is in renal failure. So she will have dialysis early in the morning, it will take 3 to 4 hrs to complete this treatment. Continue to pray for God’s will with this outcome and allow this treatment to make the kidney to start functioning properly, also continue to pray for everyone’s strength and health during this time
Thanks
Laura

Phyllis Vernon, a teacher at KHS, passed out yesterday morning hitting her head. She was taken by ambulance to North Oaks. The last report I got was they were still waiting for test results. Pray for her medical issue to be quickly and properly addressed. Thank God she was able to get help in a timely manner.

Don Denton and his family are enjoying the first few days at home and adjusting to physical therapy, etc. The family is very appreciative of your prayers. Don has a long way to go, so keep on praying. Don’t parents will be leaving Friday for their home. They have been with Don’s family for 2 1/2 months and very much appreciated.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dondenton

Emily Panter is going two steps forward and one step back, but that means her situationis getting better. Please continue to pray for this family. Emily’s hope is to be home on the 20th, the birthday of one of her children. The good news is that she may be able to go home by the end of this week. Thank-you for your many prayers for this family too.
http://emilypanter.blogspot.com/2008/12/quick-answer-to-prayer.html

Lasse A. Grundstrom, Jr.
(July 17, 1944 – December 7, 2008)
U.S. Veteran Lasse A. Grundstrom, Jr. was born on November 17, 1944 and passed away at 6:00PM, Sunday, December 7, 2008 at his residence in Greensburg. He was 64 and a native of Port Sulpher, LA. Lasse was the son of the late Lasse A. & Rita Dominique Grundstrom, Sr. He was a Veteran of the US Navy where he was a Navy Seal.

He is survived by his 2 daughters, Shannon G. Tauzin and husband, Ryan P., Luling, LA & Sheri’ G. LeBlanc and husband, Rod, Jr., Amite; 2 sons, Shane E. Grundstrom, Covington & Lasse A. “Skooter” Grundstrom, III and wife, Kim, Virginia Beach, VA; Children’s mother, Sissy Grundstrom, Amite; a sister, Leah G. Bell, Slidell; 2 brothers, Larry Lee Grundstrom & Lester John Grundstrom both of Pace, FL.; grandchildren Jordan, Harley, Rafe & Rendon Tauzin, Luling, LA, Destin, Dace & Tre’ LeBlanc, Amite, Cody & Savanna Grundstrom, Covington, Ayrian & Paige Grundstrom, Virginia Beach, VA; also numerous nieces, nephews and many friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, Lasse A. & Rita Dominique Grundstrom, Sr.

Arrangements are incomplete at this time.

An on-line Guestbook is available at http://www.mckneelyvaughnfh.com

McKneely & Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, is located at I-55N & Hwy 16W next to Coggins-Gentry Ford.

I saw this video Wednesday and Sunday. I’m sharing it for those of you who have not seen it.

A reason for giving: Gabriel’s story

If you think the story of Jesus has reached every corner of South America after generations of missionary work, talk to Gabriel Mugmal.

His idol-worshipping neighbors almost burned him alive for preaching the Gospel.

Gabriel boldly shared his new faith house to house with other Quichua villagers high in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador. He challenged them to stop the idol worship that permeated the area. They demanded that Gabriel renounce his words. When he refused, villagers dragged Gabriel and his family to the center of town and prepared to burn them.

But Gabriel wasn’t afraid and began preaching from Genesis. And when he had finished, the mood of the crowd had changed.

A local priest, moved by his willingness to die for Jesus, raised Gabriel’s Bible in his hand. “The Word of God shall be preached throughout the world,” the priest said. “Keep preaching the Gospel so that everyone can know Christ.”

As the crowd began to disperse, 10 families stayed behind. “How can we receive Christ?” they asked.

That was 25 years ago. Today, more than 250 villagers worship less than 200 yards from the site where Gabriel was nearly martyred. What’s more, Gabriel and those he has led to Christ have started 30 Bible studies and churches in other villages dotting the Andes.

Southern Baptists supporting partnerships

“He took the Great Commission in Matthew 28 literally,” says Southern Baptist missionary Darrell Musick, who partners with Gabriel and other local leaders to spread the Gospel among the Quichua people. Musick and his wife, Rogene, met Gabriel in 2004 when he knocked on their door after walking hours across mountain trails. “God has sent me here,” he told them. “I want you to train me to lead my people to Jesus.” They did and have since trained more than 200 other Quichua believers in church planting and discipleship.

But missionaries in South America and all around the world need another strategic partner like Gabriel: you. They’re looking for prayer warriors to undergird their ministries, for strategically involved churches to help them reach those who’ve never heard the Gospel, for God-called servants to join them on the field as new missionaries. And they need your financial support through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

Southern Baptists closing the gap

More than 3,340 of the world’s nearly 11,600 people groups continue to live and die in spiritual darkness. Among these least reached peoples there are few, if any, evangelical Christians, and no one working to plant new churches. Closing this gap will require a growing missionary force partnering with stateside churches, national Baptists and other Great Commission Christian groups.

Sending the unprecedented number of missionaries God is calling will require extraordinary giving on behalf of Southern Baptists. The task is doable; God has given us the resources. Will we be found faithful?

Willing to Sacrifice: Gabriel’s Story Part 2
See Gabriel’s story on video

Reproduce

AVC_Con_Moore.jpgIN NOVEMBER 1965, Lieutenant Colonel Harold “Hal” Moore Jr. and the U.S. Seventh Cavalry’s First Battalion were engaged in one of the opening battles of the Vietnam War…

Surrounded by an estimated 4,000 North Vietnamese regulars at a jungle clearing called Landing Zone X-Ray, Moore’s 450 soldiers were taking searing fire from all sides. Even with crucial American air support, his outnumbered troops faced annihilation. Moore was determined that his men would survive, however, and he directed a heroic defense in what proved to be one of the fiercest battles of the war. He and his soldiers repulsed repeated assaults and inflicted severe casualties on the enemy until his battalion was finally relieved by reinforcements. The dramatic story is told in the 1992 best seller, We Were Soldiers Once…and Young, which was made into an acclaimed motion picture.

Moore won the army’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Cross, and eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant general. He was renowned for his superb leadership skills. A scene in the movie captured his foresight and grasp of leadership principles when Moore’s character a squad leader who had been unceremoniously “killed” in a training exercise. “You are dead,” Moore declared. “Now, who do you have ready to take your place?” The scene reflects both the reality of warfare and a key element of leadership: great leaders always prepare to reproduce and multiply themselves. (Harry L. Reeder III with Rod Gragg)

Elder in the Lord’s church…whom are you training to fill your position when you are gone?

“And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do” ( Exo. 18:20).

Posted by Mike Benson at December 2, 2008 12:39 PM

Choir member, whom are you training to fill your position when you are gone?
Sunday School teacher, whom are you training to fill your position when you are gone?
Deacon, whom are you training to fill your position when you are gone?
Musician, whom are you training to fill your position when you are gone?
Committee members, whom are you training to fill your position when you are gone?
etc.

Jesus is the reason for the season!
Anna Lee

Monday Evening

I received this from a friend. We have seen and heard about what happened in Mumbai please be in prayer for our fellow believers in India that are being hunted down. Pray for militants to hear God’s call to stop what they are doing and follow the Lord. Pray for God to be glorified throughout India so all will know who the TRUTH is.

Thank you for praying!

Melinda

———-
Date: Fri, Dec 5, 2008 at 10:43 AM
From YWAM (Youth with a mission) missionaries in India

We have never seen anything like this. We knew that Orissa was the most resistant and hostile State in India as far as the Gospel is concerned. And we brushed off the continuous threats and harassment we faced as we went about His work. But none of our staff imagined that they would see this kind of carnage…. And it seems to be totally under the radar of the Western Media…. Let me explain…. A militant Hindu priest and 4 of his attendants, who were zealously going around the villages of Orissa and re- converting people back to Hinduism, were gunned down by unknown assailant Orissa last weekend.Immediately the Christians were blamed. The cry rose up…’Kill the Christians!’ And the horror began….

In the past 4 days, we have first hand witness to hundreds of churches being blown up or burned and many, many dozens of Christian tribals have been slaughtered. For no other reason than they bear the name of Christ. Night and day I have been in touch with our Good News India Directors spread across 14 Dream Centers in Orissa… they are right in the middle of all this chaos. In Tihidi, just after the police came to offer protection, a group of 70 blood-thirsty militants came to kill our staff and destroy the home. They were not allowed to get in, but they did a lot of damage to our Dream Center by throwing rocks and bricks and smashing our gate, etc. They have promised to come back and ‘finish the job’. Our kids and staff are locked inside and have stayed that way with doors and windows shut for the past 3 days. It has been a time of desperately calling on the Lord in prayer.

More police have come to offer protection. In Kalahandi, the police and some local sympathizers got to our dream center and gave our staff and kids about 3 minutes notice to vacate. No one had time to even grab a change of clothes or any personal belonging. As they fled, the blood thirsty mob came into the building. We would have had a mass funeral there, but for His grace. In Phulbani, the mob came looking for Christian homes and missions. The local Hindu people, our neighbors turned them away by saying that there were no Christians in this area. So they left. We had favor. The same thing happened in Balasore.

All our dream centers are under lock down with the kids and staff huddled inside and police outside. The fanatics are circling outside wait ing for a chance to kill. Others were not so fortunate. In a nearby Catholic orphanage, the mob allowed the kids to leave and locked up a Priest and a computer teacher in house and burned them to death. Many believers have been killed and hacked into pieces and left on the road… even women and children. At another orphanage run by another organization, when this began, the Director and his wife jumped on their motorbike and simply fled, leaving all the children and staff behind. Every one of our GNI directors that I have spoken to said: ‘We stay with our kids…. we live together or die together, but we will never abandon what God has called us to do.’

More than 5000 Christian families have had their homes burned or destroyed. They have fled into the jungles and are living in great fear waiting for the authorities to bring about peace. But so far, no peace is foreseen. This will continue for another 10 days….supposedly the 14 day mourning period for the slain Hindu priest. Many more Christians will die and their houses destroyed. Many more churches will be smashed down. The Federal government is trying to restore order and perhaps things will calm down. We ask for your prayers. Only the Hand of God can calm this storm. None of us know the meaning of persecution. But now our kids and staff know what that means. So many of our kids coming from Hindu backgrounds are confused and totally bewildered at what is happening around them. So many of their guardians have fled into the jungles and are unable to come and get them during these trying times. Through all this, I am more determined than ever to continue with our goal: the transformation of a community by transforming its children. Orissa will be saved… that is our heart’s cry. If we can take these thousands of throw-away children and help them to become disciples of Jesus, they will transform an entire region. It is a long term goal, but it is strategic thinking in terms of the Great Commission.

What can you do? First, please uphold all this in fervent prayer. Seco nd, pass this e-mail on to as many friends as you can. We must get the word out and increase our prayer base for this is spiritual warfare at its most basic meaning. We are literally fighting the devil in order to live for His Kingdom. The next 10 days are crucial. We pray for peace and calm to pervade across Orissa. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass it on and help us to get as many people to partner with us on this cutting edge effort to fulfill His mandate: Go and make disciples of all nations…. Prayer works!

Blessings,

Chip & Sandy W

Col 2:2 MBI

Team Facilitators to YWAM frontlines

—
Blessings
Deb

Monday Afternoon

The following is the current prayer request for Freda. Monday, December 8, at 12 noon, EST, she is to have a series of spinal blocks to try and determine the source of the pain or at least to narrow down the area of interest. For this test and the one on December 10 she has had to be off blood thinner for one week and without food and liquid since midnight the night before. After the spinal block she has a MRI or something similar (3 PM, EST) where they will try to look at the spinal column from all directions. The front of the spine is of particular interest. Then she is to return December 10 with the results of these procedures and they have another procedure of some kind scheduled that I suppose should result in a conclusion as to what the problem is that causes so much pain. I will let you know more about that procedure and the time along with how thing go Monday as soon as I know.

Freda and I appreciate your prayers,

Floyd

Remember Freda is in the US at John Hopkins Hospital while Floyd is in Bucharest.

Melinda

Please pray for Chris, Jill and Christian W. serving in Russia.
Today Chris received a 3 day notice to leave Russia. They have been
struggling with visa issues for some time now and were recently told
they would soon have to leave Russia. Pray mercy will be shown by the
Russian government and that more time will be given to deal with this
issue. Pray for clear direction from the Lord.

Central Easter Europe Prayer Team

In Russia the missionaries have to leave about every 3 to 6 months to renew
their visas outside of the country. Pray for this family and others that
are having visa problems.
Thank you for praying!
Melinda

Dear Prayer Partners,

I know I should not be amazed by what the Lord continues to show me but I am. This morning while looking my Facebook page to see what is going on (I have learned this is important when having a Facebook page) my attention was drawn to a link from a colleague who serves in Czech Republic. I am attaching the link for you to read. http://hope4cee.org/ceestories/index.php/2008/12/journeyman-from-russia-makes-an-impact-in-the-czech-republic/ The article is about a Russian journeyman that is now serving in Czech Republic. It is an amazing story of how she came to know the Lord and how God is now using her for his glory.

God bless you as he uses you in your community throughout this week. Pray he will use you to reach out to those that do not know the Lord.

Love,

Melinda

Journeyman from Russia makes an impact in the Czech Republic
December 8th, 2008

by Karen Pearce

Natasha enjoys the first snow of winter

Natasha enjoys the first snow of winter

Natasha, an International Mission Board (IMB) Journeyman to Olomouc, Czech Republic, was proud of herself for buying her own train ticket, finding the correct platform and even boarding and locating her seat. However, since she had been in the country only a few weeks, she didn’t realize the train she had chosen was going in the wrong direction.

As she paused from reading her book to glance out the window, she saw valleys, hills, tunnels, towns and villages she had never seen before.

“For the first few minutes after I realized what was happening, I felt so sick I wanted to throw up,” Natasha said. “Instead, I prayed God would calm my heart and give me wisdom to know what to do.”

Natasha found comfort in the fact that she was listening to music that seemed to be playing just for her.

“Lord, I don’t know where all this is going, or how it all works out; lead me to peace that is past understanding, a peace beyond all doubt…” sing the Newsboys, a Christian group that’s words seemed appropriate for the moment.

After four hours of travel, instead of the necessary two, Natasha safely made it home.

“The good part of it was that I was not scared or having a heart attack, but rather enjoying the scenery and falling in love with this beautiful country, parts of which I would have never been able to see if not for a wrong train,” she said.

This is just one of many adventures Natasha has experienced since giving her life to Christ and following His call from Russia to America, and then back to Europe.

The journey

Natasha grew up in Tartarstan, Russia, and lived her childhood knowing of God only through the Orthodox Church, which kept Him distant and un-engaging. That changed in college when Natasha’s classmate returned from a year in America, now a believer, and shared about her personal relationship with Christ. Though Natasha faced accusations of betrayal and was ostracized by many, she committed her life to Christ, clung to her new-found faith and let it shape her future. Her church in Russia became the hub of her life, and there she learned through evangelism and discipleship in surrounding villages that “missions” is a vital part of her faith.

Through an American/Russian partnership with her church, she was invited to study dental hygiene in America, and followed God’s leading. Her love of sharing Christ continued in her new Texas home, and eventually she heard God calling her back to Europe as a missionary. In fact, God gave her such a strong burden for the Czech Republic that she considered moving there on her own, learning the language and culture and sharing Christ.

However, friends told her about the IMB Journeyman program and she looked into that, instead. When she saw a request for an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher in Olomouc, she was excited and started researching the Czech Republic, its people and religion. What she found about the low number of believers and the secular lifestyle broke her heart.

“I started crying—it was weird—I was bawling in the bookstore,” she said. “I felt like God was telling me, ‘Nobody goes there.’ I was like, ‘I’ll go. I really want to go.’ I felt like God was really telling me that was the place where He wants me to be.”

So, once again, Natasha followed God to a new country.

New home

Since arriving in Olomouc, Natasha has started language classes, begun teaching English, and served cookies, candies and Bibles to passers-by at her ministry team’s annual Christmas booth. She has learned valuable lessons—making eye contact is not something Czechs value, saying, ‘Excuse me’ when trying to exit the elevator gets no response, and, of course, checking the direction of your train is very important. However, despite the cultural differences, Natasha loves her new calling.

“My life here is incredible, and God has been showing me His love, mercy and care over and over again,” she said. “I love every bit of my days here, and pray that they would be filled with … words and deeds for His glory until the end of my term.”

Team Moravia

Steve and April Brown are the leaders of Natasha’s ministry group, Team Moravia. They consider their newest member a direct answer to prayer.

“We’ve been praying for someone to join our team for four years now,” April said.

Natasha’s arrival could not have come at a better time. God has been doing some amazing things in Olomouc in the past few months.

Not only are several members of the team’s home group awaiting baptism, but a young man named Honza recently accepted Christ, and the Browns have begun an international church in Olomouc that is averaging about 50 people each meeting.

“God constantly brings people to us and we are so grateful for it,” Steve said. “April and I are meeting with people weekly for cappuccinos and conversation–they talk, we listen; we talk, they listen. We have had great opportunities to share the hope that lies within us.”

In this atmosphere, Steve is grateful to have Natasha on their team.

“With her perspective and background, it will speak immensely into the hearts of Czech people,” he said. “She’ll be able to speak to them more clearly than us, since she has a better understanding of where they come from.”

For Natasha, she knows she is where God wants her.

“I went to America because I was sure God had a plan for me,” she said. “Now I know He took me over there so I could leave.”

Her ministry

Natasha’s friend who led her to Christ taught Natasha a lot. She didn’t push the Gospel on her, but lived what she believed. Her attitude, perspective and conversation evidenced her faith.

“I remember her being different,” Natasha said. “She was just an attractive person you wanted to be with—and then to find out what changed her—I knew I needed that.”

Now Natasha wants God to use her in the same way. She desires to truly love the Czech people.

“First Timothy 1 says that love comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith,” Natasha said. “My prayer is that I have those qualities to show the love of Christ and to be a bold witness.”

For more information on how you can be involved in what God is doing in the Czech Republic, visit the Web site.

Spread the word about Hope4cee.org Stories:

Read more stories from Czech Republic.

Since this posting is all about missionaries and MK’s, I’ll add my latest missionary/MK story. Miles, almost 9, broke his right wrist at soccer practice this afternoon. Before taking him to the doctor, Jennie gave him medicine for pain. The Czech doctor asked Jennie if Miles had had any ????? (new word to Jennie). Jennie said yes, ibuprofen. The doctor looked at her with a strange expression. ?????? was the Czech word for X-rays! Miles has a new cast. Jennie has a new Czech vocabulary word.

Monday

“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Deuteronomy 32:4

Let’s pray for Mrs. Faye Price to be a little better than she was yesterday. Small “steps” in the right direction would be very welcomed. I’ll post an update later.

Majel Dean’s sister and brother-in-law are both doing well. Thank-you for your prayers for them.

Pray for those who will attend the grief seminar Thursday. Pray each speaker has the right words for those who are listening. Continue to pray for the many who have experienced the loss of a loved one lately. If you need more information, please contact Jan Hammons or FBC.

Pray for the children of FBC as they prepare to present “Miracle on Main Street” next Sunday night at 6 P.M. “Main Street” arrived at church yesterday afternoon. Thanks to Peggy Alford and others who created the scenery. Thanks to Wendy A. Fowler and others who had worked with the children to prepare for next week’s presentation. You are invited to attend next Sunday at 6 P.M.

Deacons for the week: Jimmy Tolar and Lloyd Hayden

Now that the Week of Prayer for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is officially over, I thought I would share some information about various missions in different parts of the world. I hope you enjoy learning more about international missions. Each one is supported through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. 100% of the money given goes directly to missions.

Drive-thru missions
When people line up for the car ferry from Europe to North Africa, they often get more than a boat ride. They can get a copy of the New Testament. When these Bible portions at $3 each are multiplied enough for a mass distribution, the cost can run between $15,725 and $17,550. It’s a price paid in full by the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and from other participating agencies.

Behind the scenes, project volunteers from several countries form an assembly line, boxing up packets for distribution to motorists. Each packet contains a copy of the New Testament, which motorists can choose in one of four languages: French, Kabyle Berber, Arabic and Chawic [shaw-wee] Berber. A copy of the JESUS film and other materials complete the packet.

Given this drive-thru ordering system, it wouldn’t be too unusual for someone to say, “I’ll have a Kabyle Berber Bible to go, please.”

Even without the window, many such orders are filled. Motorists who take these materials into North Africa can read about Jesus’ love for them and thus satisfy their hunger and thirst after righteousness.

INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS PRAYERLINE
INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD
Monday, December 8, 2008

“Now Jesus has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26b, HCSB).

Dear Intercessors, this is Eleanor Witcher of the International Prayer Strategy Office, praying with you for those who need to understand the true sacrifice.

Eid al-Adha, the Islamic Festival of Sacrifice, is celebrated on December 8 (or when the new moon is sighted) this year. Also known as Korbani Eid, Bakra Eid, or Eid Kbir, every Muslim who is financially able will sacrifice their best sheep, goat, cow or camel in commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son for Allah. The sacrificial ritual is followed closely because Muslims believe it will atone for the sins of the people in their household.

The meat is divided into three portions, two of which are shared with the poor, and their neighbors or relatives. It is very important to share with the poor so that no impoverished Muslim is left without sacrificial food during this holiday. The third portion is for the immediate family.

Eid al-Adha provides one of the greatest redemptive analogies in Muslim culture. Scripture tells us,”Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham . . . and said, ‘By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this thing and have not withheld your only son, I will indeed bless you and make your offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. . . . And all the nations of the earth will be blessed by your offspring because you have obeyed My command’” (Genesis 22:15-18, HCSB).

* Please pray for Muslims across Northern Africa and the Middle East, West Africa, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Rim that their hearts will yearn for an explanation of true sacrifice.

* Ask God to open doors of opportunity for believers to explain that Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for their sins.

* Bow in gratitude to Jesus who removes our sin and brings us abundant joy.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING?

There’s a Hasidic story about a rabbi who crossed a village square every morning on his way to the temple to pray. One morning, a large Russian Cossack soldier, who happened to be in a vile mood, accosted him, saying, “Hey, rabbi, where are you going?”

The rabbi simply said, “I don’t know.”

This infuriated the soldier. “What do you mean, you don’t know? Every morning for twenty-five years you have crossed the village square and gone to the temple to pray. Don’t fool with me. Why are you telling me you don’t know?” He grabbed the old rabbi by the coat and dragged him off to jail.

Just as the Cossack was about to push him into the cell, the rabbi turned to him, and softly said, “You see, I didn’t know.”

James taught those of us who are Christians to live in such a way that “we don’t know where we are going”. He put it this way:

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:13-14)

There’s nothing wrong with making plans, but we need to remember that there is much that may happen in the future that we don’t know about right now, and things may happen that we don’t have much control over. We have only to look back over our lives to see how things in the past often turned out very much different than we thought they would.

What James says is true — death could come at any moment. Or Christ could return. Or any of a hundred other things — good or bad — could happen to us shortly. So where am I going? I don’t know. But as long as God is with me, it doesn’t really matter.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

This devotional thought was very thought provoking for someone who likes to plan the month, week, and day like me. My written schedule seems necessary to accomplish what I see as important. Pray I will be more open to what God has for me. Pray for others who seem to function best with a planned out schedule.

Have a marvelous Monday!
Anna Lee

Sunday

Go, therefore, 12 and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. 13 And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” – Matthew 28: 19-20

Continue to pray for Mrs. Faye Price, the medical staff, and the family. I’ll post an update before I go to Sunday School.

http://www.hope4cee.org/index.php
If you haven’t explored this site lately, you might want to.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions
2008 Theme – Go Tell the Story of Jesus

Watch this video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMDidl0WPMg

Day 8
Urban Poor of Brazil

It’s 9:20 P.M. when Eric Reese maneuvers his truck through the dirt roads of a slum in Rio de Janeiro. With frequent shootouts, prostitution, and drug trafficking in the streets, the favelas (slums) are a rough place to share the Gospel. He taps on the ceiling light of his Chevy pickup as he drives. It’s a signal to everyone outside the cab that he’s not a threat.

“In these communities, it’s an ugly evil you’ve got to deal with,” Eric says, “but you’ve got to deal with it. We can’t stand here and let these people shoot and kill each other without the Gospel being preached.”

Seeing past the violence and corruption is a challenge for the Reeses. But the self-destruction that keeps some from receiving Christ is precisely what compels the Georgia natives to share.

“Communicating the gospel with these folks cannot wait until tomorrow,” Eric says. “You’ve got to share it with them today because you don’t know what their tomorrow holds.”

Pray:
Ask God to use the difficult conditions in Rio de Janeiro’s slums to show people their need for a Savior. Pray for Eric and Ramona’s personal safety as they work to share the Gospel in this dangerous place.

For more information go to http://www.imb.org/main/pray/page.asp?StoryID=5750&LanguageID=1709.

KneEmail
Catalog

TIS THE SEASON to receive catalogs in the mail….
Every trip to the mailbox ends with an armload of slick holiday catalogs. Each one claims to offer me something I need–immediately. “Don’t wait!” “Limited offer!” “Order now!”

The lure works. I open the pages to discover what I didn’t know I needed. Sure enough, I see things that suddenly seem essential, even though a few minutes earlier I didn’t know they existed. Manufacturers use catalog illustrations to create desire for their products.

In a way, Christians are God’s catalogs. We are His illustration to the world of what He has to offer. His work in our lives makes us a picture of qualities that people may not know they need or want until they see them at work in us.

As you browse holiday catalogs, consider what the “catalog” of your life says about God. Do people see qualities in you that make them long for God? (Julie Ackerman Link)

“You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men” ( 2 Cor. 3:2).

Posted by Mike Benson at November 14, 2008 11:34 AM

“You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men” ( 2 Cor. 3:2).
That’s why we have to “Go Tell the Story of Jesus” with our words and our actions.
Anna Lee