Prayers

I just received a most disturbing email from Hazel over at Facebook telling me of this request from Jean who blogs at The Virtuous Woman:

Have bad news the NSPCC have tracked me down. They have found me and knocked on my door today. I am abusing Nakai emotionally. They could take her away.

Jean

Your prayers are urgently needed as Jean stands almost alone to fight against those bent on taking her daughter away just because it’s deemed cruel to “emotionally abuse” one’s child when the latter realizes that she can never be good or saved without faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

For the background to this request, please read this post by Jean.

I received an email from a dear brother, Nick, who is currently on a mission trip in China, coveting our prayers. Here’s a quick update that he gave me in his email:

Hubei - where we’ve been doing all his work for the past 10-20 years and where we are this week. The main people we’ve been working with is the head of the Hubei Christian City Council (in charge of all the govt churches in the Hubei Province) and they’ve been the one opening all the doors for us, including outdoor crusades every week in one of the smaller towns, booking a stadium for our band, etc. Sadly, last night, these leaders we’ve been working with just got ousted out of the council and kinda forced into retirement. Not only that, their church has been taken away from them. It’s still early to tell the impact as we liaise with the new leaders and teach them the ways of God so please keep this in prayer. But apparently there’s some politics going on in the church already, people turning people in to the Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB) and apparently we were turned in too! The RAB didn’t wanna care about us but because somebody reported us, they had to come on Sunday to film our services (we actually praised God for that - that they can hear the word of God, ha ha ha)

Hunan - Mao Ze Dong’s hometown. Apparently more than 2000+ govt churches changed their worship styles after my last trip there (think you remember the last testimony I sent out on this one where even the govt officials were touched in our worship sessions) and the Hunan Christian City Council (head of all the govt churches in Hunan) kinda want me back there to teach for 1 year *gulps* (I’m trying to see if I can arrange anybody else to go)

Personally I’ve been doing back to back leading worship and teaching Praise and worship to the church, to their bible training centre, their Christian School (called ‘the Ark’) and to their seminary (all in Hubei) for the past 2 days from dawn to dusk literally (6am to 10pm everyday). The pollution here is not good for my voice I remember last time I came I fell really sick by the end of the week (which was also spiritual warfare) so covet your prayers there.

Please pray for the missionaries, and the Church in China.

Nick, here’s an encouragement for you that I hope you’ll be able to see all the way in Wuhan.

The LORD bless and keep you safe.

This is an ad-hoc weekly column where I share some of the best blog posts I’ve come across in the previous week. Some are notable for their content, while others are calling you to action to help pray about an issue or for fellow bloggers.

Twenty-Three Great Sins Of American Evangelism — Why We Must Pray For A Reformation Again

While reading a great blog Theology Today, I came across a mention of the above post over at Al Tosap Al Davaraiv which lists the 23 reasons why the author feels a reformation is needed in this day and age.

I don’t know much about the American church, but I think it’s apt to say that the author’s observations are true for the Visible Church as a whole.

Read the rest of this entry »

This Shabbat, I have learned of two prayer requests that I hope you will help bring to God our Father in your prayers.

Two of my dear sisters and a brother are facing trials in their lives right now, and they need all our help to bring their cares unto the Father in prayer.

I hope, that even if you don’t know them, that you include them in your prayers, for we are one body in Christ Jesus, and our prayers are like unto God a sweet incense when we pray together.

Michelle’s daughter Jacqui is terribly sick, and I know how much Jacqui is precious to Michelle and a blessing unto her. Shalene and Bobby are facing a difficult pregnancy; they have been so happy about this pregnancy but now there have been some uncertainties.

Lord God our Father,

We give praise unto you for you are God who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, the stars to shine, the sun to shine, and by your word everything came into being. You are Lord of all that is in the heavens, and on the earth, and in the sea.

You are Lord of our lives and your blessings and mercies are upon us each and every day even when we don’t deserve them. You are love, and righteousness, and mercy, and all that is good.

We thank you, Lord, for promising that all things work for good to those who love you. We thank you, Lord, for being our God, and though we never are always faithful unto you, that you are faithful, and just. For even the hairs of our heads are counted, because you are God that formed us and know our hearts.

Father, we bring unto you our prayers for Jacqui, Michelle’s precious daughter. Lord, you are the mighty God that formed her, and you are the loving God who gave Jacqui unto Michelle for a blessing and a joy.

Lord, you know how sick Jacqui is, and how worried Michelle is. Lord we lift our voices and pray that your comfort and peace, the peace that comes beyond understanding, come upon both daughter and mother. Lord, we pray earnestly that you heal Jacqui and restore the little girl her health.

Oh, Lord, we know how you love little children, and Lord you know how much Michelle loves her. Lord you know what our hearts desire even before we speak of them unto you, and we know you desire the best for us as our Loving Father.

Father, you are the God who heals, the God who comforts and the God who provides. We pray today for your healing upon Jacqui, and your comfort and provision unto Michelle and her household.

Father, we also bring unto you our prayers for Bobby and Shalene. Lord, you see how much they love each other and their family. For truly, through them we see your love for them and for us.

Lord, let your comfort and peace come upon them as they worry about this pregnancy. Lord, you know their hearts, and how happy and blessed they are that they have this pregnancy. Lord, you remember how Shalene was thanking you for gifting this unto her.

Therefore, Lord God our Father, we beseech you that you bless them with a successful pregnancy.

Your will be done, Oh Lord our God.

In Christ Jesus we pray,

Amen.