All to Him I Owe

On Wednesday evenings we dedicate a portion of our mid-week service to pray together in groups. We pass out a prayer sheet of requests that are broken down into different categories to help us pray specifically. For me personally, the section entitled “health needs” is always one of the hardest sections for me to pray through. It is not because I don’t care for the people that are listed there, but difficult because I don’t always know how to pray.

This last Wednesday I shared the following acrostic to help us know how to pray for those who are sick within our congregation.

Remember it this way, “let’s pray for their HEALTH.”

H – Have wisdom in the decisions surrounding their sickness

E – Energy

A – Attitude that pleases God in the midst of their suffering

L – Let others help them in their weakness

T – Take advantage of their new gospel platforms.

H – Healing

God is able to answer these requests and many more. May we honor Him through specific, thoughtful seasons of prayer

I would like to share with you an encouraging quote for those who are struggling to pray for someone who is struggling spiritually.  James McConkey in his book, “Prayer”  states the following in the format of God speaking to us:

“My child you know not how to convict of sin, but I, who work as you pray, can bow down that soul in a very agony of conviction. You know not when to woo, when to reprove, but I who work as you ask, know just when to pour in the balm of love, and when to let fall the sharp quick blow of needed judgment. You cannot follow a soul in daily unbroken pursuit, for you are finite and must eat, rest, and sleep, but I who do as you ask, follow that soul day and night with sleepless vigilance, through every second of his existence, now comforting, now troubling; now giving darkness, now light; now sending prosperity, now adversity; now using the knife, now the healing balm; chastening, troubling, bereaving, blessing; bending, breaking, making, yea I can do all things needful to be done to bring that wanderer to himself and cause him to cry, ‘I will arise and go unto my Father’.“

August 16 is our last day at Faith Baptist Church of Cherokee Road and August 18 is our last day at Ironwood. We are planning on moving sometime that next week. Between now and then we are praying for a number of things and covet your prayers with us as we anticipate a busy time of life and a number of changes.

We are praying that God would do the following in our ministry here at Faith Baptist Church of Cherokee Road.

1.) A spirit of unity and committment among the congregation.

2.) A interim pastor during the time of transition.

3.) Wisdom for the deacons as they carry a heavier load as well as begin a pulpit search committee.

4.) Protection against complaining, false thinking, and conflict among believers.

For our ministry at Ironwood we are praying:

1.) For Torrey and Jalene Jaspers as they move to Ironwood to assume a number of the responsibilities we have done here.

2.) A good start to Ironwood Institute of Ministry this fall.

3.) A good transition and time of teaching as we hand responsibilities off.

4.) A good finish to the summer camp season.

We are praying for our future ministry in Folsom:

1.) A home or apartment to rent.

2.) The sell of some items here that will enable us to move easier and more effeciently.

3.) Health Insurance

4.) Efficiency and effectiveness as we pack

5.) Wisdom to help our two girls transition well and understand and see God’s hand.

We covet your prayers and earnestly desire to finish right. I am praying that God will allow us to see and remember His mighty hand during this time of wonderful transition.

All to Him I owe!