Prayer Letter - 9 May 2005

To: Prayer Partners
From: Pastor Lucenay

Jesus said Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3, NIV). Eugene Peterson rephrases these words, You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. An empty cup has more room to be filled than a full cup. A life cluttered has little space for more of anything good or bad. Poverty hides behind trinkets designed to catch the eye and divert the attention.

Do the words of Jesus invite us to feel our poverty of spirit? Certainly so. These are not words calling forth false humility. Rather, they are inviting us to see the rags of our righteousness we seek to hide under the riches of our pleasantness. The poverty of our powerlessness overpowers us when life’s circumstances turn sour. All our prayers turn to beggars’ pleas for help.

But I know the poverty of a misspoken word, an ill-timed comment, and a misunderstood action. No amount of rehashing, no pain of regret, and certainly no pretense will erase that which has been said or done to my loss and the depreciation of the person hurt. Here alone I feel like society’s underclass, though my feelings may be well-hidden in the privacy of a dark corner of my soul where only I dare visit.

Jesus offers blessing to His followers who are willing to invite Him to share their poverty. This call to study my soul requires time and effort. For only in time with the Savior can I peel back the layers of godliness I have used to cover the poverty deep within. Only in extended prayer can I exhaust my endless requests and carefully developed excuses. My impoverished silence makes room so the Father can speak without my feeble rebuttals.

I want the blessing of God day by day, but my pride prevents me from admitting to God my helplessness. Do not misunderstand my meaning. I know the language of confessing my need to the Father. But my poverty of faith is betrayed by the discrepancy between my words of faith and my life of action.

Let me invite you to join me as we invite God into our poverty of spirit. We need not define poverty of spirit as that which we do not know about the faith. Rather, let us define our poverty of spirit as the discrepancy between what we claim to believe and what we practice in our daily life. May God meet us in our poverty and enrich our souls with His kingly presence.

Recent weeks have brought several new believers into the faith family. Two are graduate students from the mainland. They prayed to receive Christ a few nights ago. They invite our prayers for them as they prepare for baptism and for finding a church in the mainland when they return next month. One is praying for a friend who is a new believer to follow Christ in baptism. There are other students who are close to a decision for Christ. Pray for the witness to them.

Another prayed to receive Christ a few days ago. Last Sunday he brought his family to church. Some of them have given their hearts to Christ in recent days. Next Sunday he will share his testimony and be baptized. Sunday evening he will have a celebration dinner and is praying that those who do not know the Savior will come to faith.

Another gave his life to Christ some time back. He is ready to be baptized. He has invited about 30 family members to come to the services for his baptism. Many of his family members do not know the Savior and he wants to reach them with the gospel.

Two others have been playing musical instruments in the Praise and Worship services. They are believers who will be baptized this week.

Every week we pray for family members and friends to come to faith in Christ.

Last Sunday night we welcomed some of the parents of the children in Sunday School to a special children’s service. Pray for these parents to come to Christ as you pray for family and friends who need Christ.

Two have been going through chemo treatments. They are progressing well. Another is facing some physical challenges now. Pray for them and for others who are fighting various types of illness.

Our church kindergarten needs a principal and a teacher. We really need to fill these openings with strong Christians. Pray for God’s guidance to the right people.

Often people speak to me of the marriage and family challenges they have. Many of our ladies from the Philippines are praying for family members back home. Some are struggling with difficulties of various kinds: depression, finances, illness, children’s struggles, husband’s lack of faith or alcoholism, etc. Let us pray for these families.

Always remember your church staff in your prayers. We need God’s wisdom to lead properly, God’s strength to meet the needs, God’s grace to relate to every situation in a God-honoring way, and a fresh word from God to feed our people in the faith. Kitty has not felt well the past week. Pray for her and for Mary who also works in our office.

Let us pray for our Sunday School teachers for all ages, our deacons, our music ministry, and our small group ministries. Pray for the people who will be visiting our congregation this week. Ask God to bring a spirit on oneness to our studies and worship services. Ask God to feed His people from His Word. Ask God to help people come to faith in Christ and to grow in Christ. Take a moment to think of the people who sit around you in the services. Pray for them.

Thank you for your prayers and your encouragement. God bless you.