Prayer Letter - 3 October 2005

To: Prayer Partners
From: Pastor Lucenay

One of life’s repeated prayers is: How long, O Lord, how long? (Psalm 6:3) Time weighs heavy on us. However, with God time is not the same. The Psalmist prayed, for a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night (Psalm 90:4). When we are in God’s waiting room, a minute may seem like hours, hours like days, and days like years. God’s silent response to our pleas, our demands, our requests, and our bargains is hard to handle. Somehow it is difficult to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Yet the faith walk sometimes requires that we wait in the dark while God works in ways we do not understand even as the Bible says, My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8).

Yet when we pray our worries and fears, our hopes and dreams, we are praying in obedience. Peter wrote, Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). A few days ago I asked the church to share prayer requests. Sunday night we prayed for many of these concerns as well as others. This week I invite you to join with the church family in praying for these prayer requests. (The initials are initials of those making the requests. If there are no initials, the requests came from several people or are general requests.)

Thanksgiving

• IGA - God helped my son, B to pass his interview for Bible School; the provision of his finances; the blessing of being a part of KIBC family
• A - for good health and wisdom in spite of the trials of life
• FC - for a good domestic helper for her father-in-law; looking after J when he was sick; the safe arrival of P; L’s confession
• EW - for happy marriage; good changes in parents; keeping her and family members safe and healthy; help with visa
• LY - employment
• JL & MT – for the joy of C
• For the Thursday night inquiries about faith, God and science during our Putonghua Lecture Series.
• For the testimonies of faith, baptisms and people who came to Christ Sunday.
• For S and L’s faith commitment.
• For the morning worship attendance and God’s good provision of resources this year.

For Salvation

• IGA - My sister-in-law H; all her loved ones
• AH - JY
• OM - NM, E, F, P, SDJ, S
• A - B, A, J, J, D, M, J, H
• FC - husband, mom, dad, father-in-law, mother-in-law, P, C
• EW - ZY; HK (mother); PG (father); PF (brother)
• MT - mum and dad
• T, A, O, M, F family.
• Many of our church family members have parents, children and friends who have not made commitments to Christ.

For Health

• OM - N, E
• FC - husband (cough) son (fever)
• EW - uncle, LJ
• ER - B
• SC - D
• D - mother’s surgery
• B health and renewed commitment to Christ.

Bereaved

• EG - sister M died

Personal Petitions

• IGA - Help her as she goes home for good; grant her spiritual strength over various temptations; grant her son a safe flight this week
• AH - That God will make her completely humble and gentle; patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:2)
• A - That God will guide and protect son, A, from violence
• FC - for J to sleep well; R and C to have strength and faith; God’s watchcare for the family; financial stability; husbands work ethic; keep her husband and his father close; make her a patient and loving person teaching her how to love others.
• EW - God to help her get her US visa; bless her marriage; keep her and her family safe and healthy
• LY - daughter will have more friends, acceptance from school mates, and better social skills
• Z - for the discovery of God’s will regarding going to Canada or staying in HK
• For God’s care for those who work in oppressive situations in Asia.
• For the victims of the hurricanes and those ministering to them (in US, China, Taiwan). That people will come to know Christ as Savior through these disasters.
• KM - traveling mercy
• For God’s guidance in addressing the bird flu in Indonesia.
• For God’s comfort in Bali.

Church Community

• For the sweet spirit of the Lord to prevail in our church family.
• For the movement of God’s spirit in our hearts, changing our lives to better resemble Jesus Christ.
• For God’s direction in the teaching ministries of the church and the music ministries of the church.
• For God to stir our people to respond to the need for the translators in the morning services, for running the power point, and for the English language discussion groups.
• For God to guide the church to His answer for the space issues.
• For God’s leadership in finding the right persons to serve as minister of youth and, in January, minister of education.
• For God’s guidance to find a kindergarten teacher and a principal for the kindergarten.
• For God’s wisdom, strength, and spiritual guidance for the pastor and staff.

Thank you for joining us in prayer this week. May God bless and guide you. And, may God remain very close to you when you are in His waiting room. He does care!