Prayer Letter - 5 September 2005

To: Prayer Partners
From: Pastor Lucenay

This past week I admit to spending no little time trying to ferret out as much information as possible about what is taking place in the Gulf Coast of the United States. During the 1980’s Nancy and I served a wonderful church in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and were often in the area hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. Thus, we have been praying for our many friends in that area.

Disasters are not new to us. A few short months ago, we were astounded by the amount of devastation the tsunami caused. We see too many typhoons cross the Philippines or Taiwan before entering China. Several storms hit Japan and south of us there are many weather issues. Job faced terrible losses when a mighty wind caused a house his children were in to collapse on them as they were feasting (Job 1:18, 19).

The apostle Paul asked Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...no, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Romans 8:35, 37). In the face of suffering, personal loss, destruction of so much that is a part of the structure of life, how can one say something like that? Paul had great faith and faced no few problems himself. He was imprisoned, flogged, exposed to death, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, exposed to the sea and sun, in danger from people who wanted to take his life, hungry, thirsty, without sleep, cold, naked, and hard pressed on every side (2 Corinthians 11:16-29). Through everything that came his way he maintained a strong faith in God. He wrote And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Every life knows it difficulties. James wrote about trials of many kinds (James 1:2). He believed the trials came in a wide variety of forms and attempted to pirate one’s joy in the Lord. The Psalmist knew there was no escape route to avoid some rough experiences. Yet, he discovered a key to overcoming. Note even though I walk through the valley of the shadow, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:4). God is always with His children. Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you…The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid (Hebrews 13:5,6).

Let us turn our attention to the Lord Jesus Christ as we pray. Take time to set your soul in line with the Lord. Forget the clock for a few minutes. Lay down your heavy burdens and think about your helper. Take time to let your heart experience His heart. When troubles come I know I need to let Him still my heart. I need to be quiet with Him. He already knows all about what is going on in me, around me, in those about whom I am concerned, and what will happen. He has the keys to yesterday, today, and forever. He asks me to find Him in the present. I cannot live yesterday again. I cannot live tomorrow today. I can be alive to this moment and find Him in this moment. The first step to facing the storms of our lives is to find the heart of our Savior. Only then can He help us find His path through the debris.

Let us praise the Lord for He alone is able to immeasurably more than all we ask or imaging, according to his power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20). Let us praise Him not only for what He is going to do, but for what He is. He is Lord. He is the Creator and Sustainer of life. He is Sufficient. He is All Seeing. He is the Provider. Take a few minutes to think through what those words mean in your life. Ask God to help you trust Him with the burdens that weigh heavy on your heart today.

Let us take time to Thank God for His blessings. No matter what the state of our health we are in better shape than someone else. Think about the blessings God gives you through your body. Thank God for the parts that have worked and are working. We thank God for the adoption of C. by J. and M.; for Z.’s decision to be baptized; for Kenneth’s good physical report; for safe travel and for many additional answered prayers.

Invite God to guide you to be His light in someone’s life this week. Does someone need a friend who will listen? A meal? A note of encouragement? A kind word? Some laughter? A cup of cool water? A cup of hot tea? Someone to play a game? Read a book? Share a story? Shoulder a task? God can help you find time in your schedule to work with Him. Open your life to God’s opportunity.

Try to place names by each of the following situations. This week pray for:

• the people who are ill, physically or emotionally
• the people seeking employment or having difficulties with employees or employers
• the people with troubles with a family member
• the people who are starting school
• the people separated from their families
• the people struggling through the aftermath of disaster
• the people who are new to our faith in Jesus Christ
• the people who are thinking about giving their hearts to Jesus Christ
• the people who are being exposed to the story of Jesus for the first time
• God’s guidance in the governments of the home countries of our people
• the people with relational difficulties.

This week as you think of our church ask God to:

• develop a spirit of expectancy in our hearts whereby we expect to encounter God when we meet for worship
• strengthen our spirit of brotherhood
• let His joy overflow in our hearts
• guide Angie as she seeks to guide each area of our music ministry
• guide Kenneth as he seeks to guide our education ministry
• inspire our pastor as he seeks to share God’s Word and lead our church.

Thank you for your prayers. And thank you for the kindness you have expressed to Nancy’s family. Your loving encouragement expressed to them helps them better understand our work here.