24 April 2006

 To: Prayer Partners

From: Pastor Lucenay

 A young boy was placed before Jesus. He was struggling with convulsions. Jesus was asked if he could do anything to help. Jesus responded by saying everything is possible for him who believes. To which the boy’s father said I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief (Mark 9:20-24). Where do you wrestle with your unbelief? Are you willing to bring your doubt to Jesus?

 We may choose to pray through our doubt by confessing our faith while acknowledging our doubt. No one understands everything about God. The child in us will always have some questions about things that do not make sense from our point of view. Life’s contradictions confuse us. Sometimes we cannot see through the smog surrounding us.

In times like these we choose put our hand in God’s hand and to trust God.

Trusting God does not mean we fail to ask our questions openly. Rather, it means that we come as children to the loving Father above to honestly explore life’s complexity with him. God does not ask us to be content with hollow words or empty rituals. He wants to us to face the challenges life brings with the faith and persistence to work through them until the light of his presence settles the troubles of our heart. He may or may not give us the answers we think we need. He will give us the guidance we require. And the journey will take with him will strengthen our faith.

The Psalmist gives us some insight into this kind of faith journey. How long, O Lord/ Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me/ How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me. Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes…I will trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation (Psalm 13:1-3, 5).

Are you asking “How long” about something today? Do your thoughts trouble you? Is victory over what is troubling you elusive? Are you like a child longing to see the Father’s face and to receive his help? Trust in his unfailing love. He does love you. He will see you through your anxiety, confusion, and difficulties.

 
Take time today to think about the things on your heart. Talk to your heavenly Father about them. Ask the questions you want to ask. Then ask him to help you where you struggle to trust him. Ask him to meet you in your weakness with his strength.

 
I write to you this week with a grateful heart for the way God is working in people’s lives. The Easter weekend services saw several people raise faith questions and others express a desire to have a closer relationship with the church family at KIBC. We pray God will guide in the conversations relating to the search of these people.

 
This week our new friends, Phil and Irene, are preparing to come to KIBC to begin a ministry among us. They are visiting their daughter before boarding a plane on 1 May. They will arrive on Tuesday evening 2 May. Pray for their safety. Pray for them as they seek to settle here. Angie made a wonderful suggestion last week. She asked if we could get some people together to help them settle in Hong Kong…find places to get groceries, find their way around the city, develop some friendships, put food in their pantry, and help them adjust to this move. One way to put feet to your prayers would be to help in this process. If you would like to help, please let us know. Your efforts could make a positive difference in the way they settle in with us.

 
The Hong Kong Baptist Convention will hold her annual meeting 1 May. Pray for this gathering of our brothers and sisters in Christ. On Monday afternoon our deacons will be meeting to talk about the way God’s Spirit is working with us and to pray for our church family. Pray for the deacons’ retreat.

 Our church prayer list includes:

Thanksgiving: J T’s father was released from the hospital on Sunday; M’s father was released from the hospital over the weekend;  

Salvation: W, T, A; M’s family; S’s mother; R M’s mother; B; A, J, E, J, D, H, M, C.

Health: R’s recovery from eye surgery; I and D fighting with cancer; J T’s father and uncle; M L’s father; A & S M’s son; N’s mom; A C’s foot; A C’s recovery; S’s recovery; G’s mother (cancer); M P’s recovery; S’s father and sister; Dr. L; B.

Education: our teachers and students are facing the last quarter. Some will enter exams very soon. Some are applying to schools. Pray for God’s guidance for all to do their best.

Personal Issues: marriage and family issues; employer/employee issues; money matters; relationships with one another; major decisions;

Church needs: Pray for your pastor (sermon preparation, church leadership, helping our people); your staff (Angie will lead the ladies from our Filipina Choir and from the chapels in a special music night at KIBC Sunday night; K is working on the financial reports for the year); our committees (we have a special committee under P P’s leadership seeking to help us address the special needs surfacing with our refugees)

Kindergarten: the teachers will have an In-service day on Monday; the children will return on Tuesday; the search for a principal; the preparation for new direction in the fall

Thank you for your prayer support. N’s mom is expected to move from B/R Hospital to Baylor Specialty Care this week. She will probably be there for several weeks as she receives post-op treatments. N is scheduled to return to the US on 3 May. I hope to join her on 8 May. We are planning to be a part of C’ graduation from Baylor University. Yes, we are praying for him to find employment.

 May God bless and guide you in your journey with God this week.