Prayer Letter - 29 August 2005

To: Prayer Partners
From: Pastor Lucenay

Last week an intriguing verse from our read through the Bible efforts caught my attention. The NIrV translates Romans 15:5 Our God is a God who strengthens you and cheers you up. May he help you agree with each other as you follow Christ Jesus. The NIV translates this verse May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus. The words that caught my attention were in the first part of the verse. God does give His people strength.

Let us first consider the strength of the Lord God Almighty. How does one measure the muscle of the omnipotent One? Certainly, no device and no formula exists to determine the extent of what God can do. The ancient Hebrews used to express their confidence in God’s strength by praising Him for the ways He had delivered them and defeated their enemies. Perhaps, we would do well to recall the times God bared His arm on our behalf. Maybe He rescued us from a difficult situation, a dangerous person, or even deceptive desires. Praise God for the power He has exhibited in your life. Thank Him for the many ways He has lifted you from the jaws of destruction.

Where do you need strength today? Are you battling with a temptation to compromise your integrity? Are you struggling with an old habit? Do you find your thought world littered with painful memories that have grown into bitterness? Are you overwhelmed with anxiety? Is your mouth running out of control? How about your spending? Do you lack discipline in your studies or your work? Do you feel like a slave to your schedule? Maybe the prayer you need to lift to the Father is a prayer for strength to face your personal challenges and address them properly. God can provide you the strength you need to overcome. Ask Him. Determine to walk in His ways. Memorize this verse and repeat it as you encounter your temptations. Explore God’s Word to find other verses that can remind you of God’s strength at work in your life.

Our God is a God who…cheers you up. I like to think about God’s interest in our happiness. How does God go about cheering us up? Since we are all different I feel certain God goes about His work in a variety of ways. Think about ways He has cheered you up. Thank Him for lifting your spirits in these specific situations. Thank Him for the people He used to encourage you.

May he help you agree with each other as you follow Christ Jesus. Ask God to show you what steps you can take to encourage and agree with your brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Think about your disagreements. Have they been over the basics or opinions, habits, and approaches? Where can you bend and still be faithful to Christ Jesus? Where can you stretch with integrity? What would the Father have you do in these situations as you seek to be like Jesus? Before you answer, invite God to speak to your heart and then look for His answer as you listen for His voice.

Can you believe we are already approaching September? The summer has flown by. Maybe, I should say floated by. Anyway, this week some students are in transit to Hong Kong and others travel from Hong Kong. Pray for students, teachers, and administrators as they begin the fall semester.

Sunday one of our young men told me he has committed his life to Jesus Christ. He came here from Africa. He has been wrestling with the claims of Christ for some time. Pray for him as he steps into this new faith. Pray for others who are considering the commitment to Jesus Christ. Almost every week we have people from Hong Kong who are visiting our church for the first time. Pray that these people will open their hearts to the Lord. Pray that we will provide a God honoring place where they can grow in the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

This next Sunday night we will have a Praise and Prayer Service. Pray for this service. Pray that we will properly address the various prayer requests of our people. Incidentally, our people are requesting prayer for issues regarding faith, family, friends, employment, employers, ministry, health, pregnancy, church, business as well as a variety of other things. As you think about the different people in our church remember every one has a burden somewhere. Each would do well to remember Our God is a God who strengthens you and cheers you up. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

As you pray for the staff this week: Kenneth and Mary Jo are celebrating their 48 wedding anniversary; Angie is preparing for Christmas, looking for a pianist, and seeking to help the choir grow even as she works with the praise and worship teams; Kitty is on holiday in Botswana; Rodolfo is praying for larger space in Tuen Mun and seeking to build harmony in Tsim Sha Tsui Filipina Chapels; Mary is covered in office responsibilities; Marilyn and Mrs. Ho continue to clean up after the water damage; the kindergarten workers will begin soon and we need a principal; we are also looking for a minister of education when Kenneth leaves in December and a minister of youth as soon as possible; and the pastor is beginning a series of morning messages from Psalm 139 this week, seeking to address personnel needs, and seeking to work through several administrative responsibilities.

September is a time when we will be seeking to find God’s people to serve as deacons. Pray for God’s leadership to the people He would have step into this important responsibility. And pray for our deacons as they seek to help the church adjust to the blessings God has placed upon us.

We continue to pray for the provision of space even as we seek to take the proper care of the space we have.

Each week I pray that new people will enter the family of faith. Join me in praying for a spirit of expectancy in our church family. Together let us ask God to guide us in sharing our faith.

Nancy and I have enjoyed introducing her mother to many of you. Thank you for your kind response to her and to Nancy’s brother and his wife. Thank you for the love for us our family has experienced through you.

May God bless and guide you this week as you walk with Him. Remember Our God is a God who strengthens you and cheers you up.