Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts

Saturday, January 03, 2009

Grace Gems: New Year Prayers

New Year Prayers, from the diary of Ruth Bryan

1830
Be pleased, dear Lord, to grant me during the present year--more of Your gracious presence, more tenderness of conscience and fear of offending You; more humility, stronger faith, and more entire devotedness to Your cause. Enable me to leave my temporal concerns entirely with You, to walk by faith, to have my treasure in heaven, and to manifest by my conduct--that I am Your disciple. Let me not grow cold or lukewarm--but may "I lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset me, and may I run with patience the race set before me, looking unto Jesus. Amen."

1832
"Here I raise my Ebenezer." Thus far the Lord has brought me. Though the past has been a year of multiplied transgressions and backslidings, I trust, through His abundant mercy, my face is still Zionward, and that my prevailing desire is to be devoted entirely to His service. Take me, dearest Lord, and form me for Your own glory. I feel much bodily weakness. Oh, that through the crevices of this frail tabernacle, I may see some of the glories of the eternal world!

1840
Most dear and precious Christ, I had not thought to see another new-year's day--but hoped before now--to have beheld You face to face! Like him of old, who was possessed of a legion of demons, I besought that I might be with You. But for a season, You have seen good to withhold the full answer to my request. "May Your will be done!" Glorify Yourself in me, and be much, very much with me, until You shall say, "Arise, my love, and come away," to be with Me forever! I desire most humbly and unreservedly, in Your own strength, to yield to Your Divine disposal--all I have and am, and to continually lose my wish and will, in Yours. I would lay at Your feet all creatures and created good, with every seeming evil--and embrace Yourself, my Jesus, as my joy, portion, happiness, wisdom, strength, peace--yes, my all in all--for the coming year, or so much of it as I tarry upon earth; and then, as my joyful, blissful portion through eternity! Oh, lead me, Holy Comforter, more into Christ--and out of SELF! I have had much of blessing--but I long and pray for more; in Jesus' name. Enlarge my expectations more, I beg You--and more I shall receive. "Lord, increase my faith."

1842
Precious Christ, I come with a large request for 1842: it is that You would be the "Alpha and Omega" of it. Do You not say, "Ask what I shall give you?" Yourself, Lord! You have most blessedly given Yourself to me. But I find sweet liberty to entreat more unfolding, revealing, and opening of Your glorious person, amazing work, and matchless love, than I have yet had; and more losing and treading down of SELF, too--that I may be lost in Your fullness, and forgotten and forsaken in Your soul-absorbing glories. Oh! raise me higher, draw me nearer, that I may daily die, and You live in me more manifestly. I just give myself to You, to live on You, to live in You, to live for You, more and more than heretofore, and that by the power of the Spirit resting on me. I humbly ask that mine may be a large and still-increasing portion; that, under fresh anointings, You, most lovely Jesus, may be more fully known, more loved, more served; for it is to You the Holy Spirit leads, of You He testifies.

Oh, do make this a large, rich, full year! You being increasingly honored in me, and I increasingly lost in You, and made an increasing blessing to Your dear people. An Ebenezer for past mercies befits me; large and magnificent have been Your bestowments; bountiful and constant Your favors to me--a poor worthless nothing! "Bless the Lord, O my soul--and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Being a Bad Doctor, Being a Bad Christian

Evangelism Adventure of the Day, Wednesday 24th/08

If there is one tough thing doctors must do is tell their patient the bad news that he/she has cancer (of course the toughest yet is telling family members that their loved one has died). Well today while at the hospital in the pre-labour area, we received a patient who was diagnosed as a possible uterine cancer (we're still waiting for the biopsy results). She had been bleeding the day before and even fainted on her way to the 4th floor of the hospital.
She was placed in one of the beds outside the pre-labour area waiting for the doctors to finish writing some orders and things for the medical record before taking her to the 4th floor, where high risk pregnant women and gynecological case are placed.
I stayed by her bedside because we interns are usually the ones who take patients all around the hospital (and of course for my evangelistic agenda which I try to push when possible ;)) she began to cry and I tried to comfort her but what can you say in situations like these? But then I started thinking about my fear of man when trying to preach the gospel and how it relates to what I started writing in this post.
Imagine if I were too afraid to tell my patients that they have a disease or condition that will most definitely take their life, what kind of doctor would I be if I didn't warn them of their disease and the consequence of it, how would I even offer them the cure? Likewise what kind of a Christian would I be if I didn't warn people of the disease we all carry, called Sin, that will most definitely lead them unto destruction in hell for ever? and If I don't warn them of their disease how can I even offer them the cure, the Gospel of Jesus Christ that would save them from an eternity in Hell separated from God?
I'll tell you what kind of doctor I would be, hence what kind of Christian. A bad one and thus an unloving one. And just as patients have entrusted themselves unto us that we may be good doctors and practice good medicine, so has God entrusted unto us His precious Gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:4, 1 Timothy 1:11, ) that we may be good disciples and practice obedience by fulfilling the Great Commission (Matt 28:18-20). As Paul once said, woe unto me if I preach not the gospel. (1 Cor 9:16)
With that in mind I realized what a great opportunity to evangelize I had, a divine appointment indeed. So when the docs were done with her medical record, she got on the wheel chair and off we went to the elevator and finally to the fourth floor. I took her to her room, she was the only one there, she settled in and I began talking. I asked her if she was a Christian since I had overheard her say she wanted to glorify God in sickness and health (or something along those lines), she said she wasn't a Christian but she had a lot of faith in God, I asked her if she knew what happened after people died she said she knew very well that there was a judgment day and that there are two options either heaven or hell. I took advantage of what she already knew and explained to her that unless we repent and put our faith in Christ like she said we would all end up in hell. I told her that life is short like a vapor, we're alive today but we don't know if tomorrow may come. She agreed with me and then said that her entire family is catholic (I assumed it was her excuse to reject he gospel, it reminded me so much of my first response to the first time I was witnessed to) and I told her that it didn't matter, that my family is catholic too and I was catholic and went to church and yet lived like the world, but that it wasn't until 2 people, sent by the Lord, explained to me that If I didn't repent I would perish by explaining to me what Christ did on the cross or me and for her, that one that cross he bared all of our sins, died and rose again on the third day beating death and the power of sin so that one day people like her and I, sinners, would have a chance to say "wow Lord what a great Savior!" to apologize and repent and put our faith in Him and be saved; that I was truly saved. Her face began to change, her eyes started to well up in tears.
I kept talking, R (name will be disclosed) I said, you don't know if perhaps the Lord willed for you to be here in this hospital with this disease in this room with me so that you may hear his Gospel and be saved. "Please don't wait another day" I pleaded, at this point she started to cry, I kept insisting and told her she didn't need to go to church to be saved, I explained to her that she could pray right there on her bed, and told her that God's word says that those who call upon the name of the Lord would be saved. (Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, )
It was time for me to go back to my area so I finished our conversation with some last words "Think about what I said and don't wait another day", and a gospel of John tract.
Please pray for her, the Lord knows her name and who she is and her heart. Pray that she may be saved.


"For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"" Romans 10:13-15

Monday, September 01, 2008

Prayer Request: Persecution

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
- Revelation 6:9-10


I've been receiving these news reports from GFA (Gospel For Asia) about increasing violence in Orissa against Christians by Hindu extremists, it has been a horrible situation and it has kept on getting worse. Here's a description of what has been going on from K.P. Yohannan the President and Founder of GFA:

"Imagine how you would feel if a mob broke into your home, raped your wife and daughters, tried to kill you and then burned your house down—all because you are a Christian. That's exactly what is happening to our brothers and sisters in Orissa, India, right now. Read the latest update on the continuing volatile situation here.

Dear friend, I have seen a lot of violence against Christians in my more than 30 years of sharing the Gospel with the people of Asia. I have even been on the receiving end of some of those attacks. But the events in Orissa are by far the most orchestrated and horrifying atrocities I have ever witnessed. Please join me in praying for these persecuted brothers and sisters in their time of great suffering."



From the TeamPyro Blog, a more detailed description of what is being done to our brothers and sisters in Christ from Orissa and names of Pastors who have been harmed, tortured and the churches they pastored destroyed, or burned, or ransacked.

Maoists (communists) have taken responsibility for Swami Saraswati's murder, but Christians have been the main targets of the radical Hindiu backlash. VHP leaders insist Christian missionaries plotted the murder.

More than 50,000 Christians are said to have fled the region, hiding in jungles and forests to escape the violence. Many of them will likely be permanently dispossessed of all they have.

Reports also allege that the partisan government in Orissa has done little to stop the anti-Christian violence, and has perhaps even been complicit in the persecutions.

I've received a few e-mails this weekend from friends in India describing some of the persecution. The Web is full of stories about it as well. None was more disturbing than this e-mail I received, from an evangelical church in India:

Yesterday one of our church members B_____ P______ hailing from Orissa reported that Fanatic Hindus came to her home in Orissa and asked all of them to become Hindus. On refusal they started threatening the family, so her brother said, "We will worship our Lord Jesus." The Hindus said that they would kill him, and asked, "Don't you fear to be killed?" He said, "I am willing to die for Jesus." So they cut him in three pieces. They also killed her maternal uncle, burnt the whole house and threw them on the road. Kindly keep on praying. Things are started happening in our state also. Kindly see Orissa violence on Net for more information.

I thank you all for praying, & we can say that He is El-Shaddi God. S_____ F______.


Here's another document, compiled by the Evangelical Fellowship of India, listing forty-six typical acts of violence that have occurred over the past week. At the end of the document is contact information for three government officials to whom letters of concern and protest may be addressed.

  • On 24th of August Pastor Jeebaratna Lima from Khurda District, was attacked and beaten up mercilessly. The miscreants doused petrol on him and about to set him on fire but timely arrival of Police saved his life. He was in Police custody but later was released on bail next day.
  • Pastor Bahumulya Paik of Bamandei, Patpur Police Station. Ganjam District was beaten to a point of death by a mob of around 100 people. He vomited blood and later gained conciousness and managed to flee from the place while the group was engaged in attacking the local believers. Since the hospitals were closed no medical help was available. On August 26, the police escorted him to some distance by their vehicle and left him on the way to take a bus and go away.
  • Pastor Bishnu Kumbhar and his pregnant wife of village Dutta, under Madan Rampur Police Station of Kalahandi district, were chased out. To save their lives, they ran away in the darkness and hid themselves from the attackers.
  • Pastor Susanjit Beero of Tengada Pathar under Tikabali Police Station of Phulabani, was attacked by a group of Hindutva miscreants. Along with few believers he is still reported to be taking shelter in the forest though without food and clothes from the last 48 hours.
  • Pastor Dillip Koshla of Tiangia village, under Raikia Police Station was attacked by the mob. His house and property are burned and looted by the unruly mob.
  • Pastor Birendra Harijan, of Nakapolo Church under Dharmasala Police Station of Jajpur District was beaten up badly. As the miscreants were about to set his house on fire the timely arrival of police saved the disaster.
  • Pastor Amit Pani of Ampani village, Koksora Police Station(PS) under Kalahandi district was chased out and locked in a house but they manage to escape.
  • Pastor Lebiyo Raito of Kanjamendi, Nuagam PS, Phulbani, was attacked and chased away from his house. He is still hiding in the jungle.
  • Pastor Jatan Nayak, of Bhadrak district was attacked and his house ransacked. He is in the Police protection at the moment.
  • Pastor Abinash Garjang, of Tattaguda, Malkangiriis attacked and the Church building was ransacked.
  • Pastor Aurobindo Sahu of Tumgurpada Church, Bargarh District is threatened to leave the place with dire consequences.
  • District pastor Anant Benya of Badibahal church, Luisingha PS, in Bolangir District was issued threat to attack the church on 26th August..
  • ...


  • Continue reading at TeamPyro

    Please let us keep praying for ALL of our brothers and sisters in Christ, from India and all over the world.

    Thursday, August 21, 2008

    Of Birthdays and Other Celebrations

    Exactly 23 years ago on a day like today inside the delivery room the Lord allowed me to breathe my first. Ordained before the foundation of the world to be the day of my birth, so that on the year 2005 I, by His Grace and Mercy, would be saved and be born again. It is a privilege and honor to be allowed to have a chance in this thing called life, and an immeasurable blessing to be allowed to be a part of God's family, that such a Saviour would go through the pain of the cross for a sinner like me. Thank You Lord Jesus! Thank you for mercies which are new everyday!
    Amen!

    Friday, August 15, 2008

    Prayer Request: "The Lord Gave...

    "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21




    Yesterday afternoon as I walked up the stairs on the 2nd floor of the Educational Center: The Meadows (Centro Educativo Los Prados) toward the auditorium where the International Baptist Church congregates, I no longer smelled the distinct scent it always had every Wednesday, Saturday night, Sunday morning and any other day I went there to gather with my brothers and sisters in Christ. The fowl smell that penetrated my nostrils had erased it. No longer were the large wooden doors wide open for the visitors and attendees to go in through there, the engulfing fire had blown them away. As I entered the auditorium, referred to as Temple by its congregates, there were no bright white lights illuminating the place, no air conditioning to refresh even the hottest day, no comfortable chairs and pews, it was all dark, wet, empty and chaotic. Now we the IBC/IBI are building-less, but never homeless for our Heavenly abode awaits us as the Lord has promised in His Word, the auditorium may have burned completely but the Church still stands ready to continue serving the Lord wherever he leads us, whether it's in the middle of the desert or in a promised land. We rest in knowing that the Lord, our God, is in control always, He is faithful and good.

    Father now that you have washed off our make-up, may we continue to worship you in Spirit and in Truth as we remain striped bare of our commodities that you had provided us for the past 10 years. What lies ahead is unknown to us, but the One who goes before us we do know, and that is our comfort.



    And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28


    Incendio afecta iglesia Bautista
    En Los Prados, Distrito Nacional
    Por Máximo Zabala / El Caribe
    Viernes 15 de agosto del 2008 actualizado a las 12:18 AM


    Acción. Los bomberos acudieron a sofocar el fuego.(María Peña)












    Un incendio provocó ayer cuantiosos daños en la Iglesia Bautista Internacional, en la tercera planta del Centro Educativo Los Prados, en el sector del mismo nombre, en la capital.
    Varias unidades del Cuerpo de Bomberos de Santo Domingo acudieron al lugar ubicado en la calle Eugenio Pichardo logrando impedir que el siniestro provocara daños en el resto del edificio.

    Se informó que una persona, sólo identificada como Luis, resultó con heridas en un brazo, ocasionadas por los cristales, que fue necesario romper para que los bomberos pudieran sofocar el fuego, cuyo origen se desconoce.

    Neridania Martínez, profesora del centro educativo, dijo que el fuego fue intenso y que se quemó todo el mobiliario de la iglesia, tras agregar que el mismo inició cerca de las 12 del mediodía.

    La educadora dio gracias a Dios que el fuego se produjo, precisamente, cuando los estudiantes se encuentran de vacaciones, lo que evitó la ocurrencia de una desgracia mayor.

    En los dos primeros pisos del edificio funciona el Centro Educativo Los Prados y en el tercero la Iglesia Bautista Internacional, la cual sufrió daños de consideración.

    La profesora Martínez indicó que tras verificar el piso que ocupaba la iglesia y que está hecho de madera, vio que se quemó casi completo.(1)



    1: El Caribe El Portal Informativo de la República Dominicana (The Informative Portal of the Dominican Republic)

    Saturday, July 26, 2008

    Prayer Request

    If there is a powerful tool the Lord has left us, that changes a person, it edifies, it connects us to the Lord, connects us to others, it brings us to our knees, it brings us closer to God, through it the Lord heals, through it the Lord transforms, through it the Lord delivers, it is prayer.
    In the OT we are given so many examples of God's faithfulness to answer the prayers of a faithful servant, Moses. We are told in God's word to:
    1. Confess our sins to one another
    2. Pray for another, that we may be healed.
    And finally are told that:
    3. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (and we see this come true all through out the OT and NT)
    * James 5:16
    Well now I urge you brethren to join me and so many others in prayer for a faithful brother in Christ who is going through some health issues, Jim Bublitz from Old Truth, here's part his closing message from his website:

    I have, as of late experienced some medical problems that make it impossible for me to continue blogging at this time. I recently learned that I have "Non Alcoholic Cirrhosis of the Liver" which will require a liver transplant in order to survive beyond the next several years. For the past month I've spent a double-digit number of hours per day sleeping and have lost over 60 pounds in water retention. As some of you know, I've also been battling broken bones this last year, several of which are still giving me some problems.

    Through all of this, my family and church in Milwaukee have been incredibly supportive, and I'd like to thank them all. A special thanks goes out to Chad who has not only helped me with blogging through the months, but has also been a loyal friend and brother in the Lord. I am looking to the Lord through all of this and know that he has good that comes from these things (Romans 8:28). I'm at a loss as to how unbelievers are able to make it through these types of things without looking to the Lord for strength.

    I would love to return to blogging one day, perhaps after I receive a transplant, but that may be months or even a couple of years. For right now, I've been told to expect to get more sick as the months go on, so needless to say - I have some big challenges ahead of me.

    Please pray for Jim and his family, that they may be strengthened through this hard time in their lives, that they may be encouraged through this, that the Lord may heal him, and that contrary to what the doctors have told him about feeling worse that the Lord may delay or stop those symptoms that are to come.

    Thanks!

    Monday, June 02, 2008

    Grace Gems: A Puritan Prayer

    Another devotional from Grace Gems, they truly are grace gems and specially this beautiful puritan prayer, the puritans if I may say so put us to shame or at least me to shame, I read their prayers and the read about the passion and devotion they had for Christ and it is something I desire for my self as well, to have that same passion and devotion to have the same boldness they had, that the Holy Spirit may empower me, strengthen me clean me of all my uncleanliness daily, that in times of sorrow may I be driven to the cross, and in times of joy may I rejoice in Christ. So now without further adieu, a Puritan Prayer:

    (A Puritan Prayer)

    O Holy Spirit,
    Move, I beg You, upon my disordered heart.
    Take away my unruly desires and hateful lusts.
    Lift the mists and darkness of unbelief. Brighten
    my soul with the pure light of truth. Make it . . .
    fragrant as the garden of paradise,
    rich with every goodly fruit,
    beautiful with heavenly grace,
    radiant with rays of divine light.
    Be my . . .
    comforter,
    light,
    guide,
    sanctifier.

    Take of the things of Christ and show them to my
    soul. Through You may I daily learn more of His . . .
    love,
    grace,
    compassion,
    faithfulness,
    beauty.
    Lead me to the cross and show me . . .
    His wounds,
    the hateful nature of evil,
    the power of Satan.

    May I there see my sins as . . .
    the nails which transfixed Him,
    the cords which bound Him,
    the thorns which tore Him,
    the sword which pierced Him.

    Help me to find in His death--the
    reality and immensity of His love.

    Open for me the wondrous volumes of truth in His
    death. Increase my faith in the clear knowledge of . . .
    atonement achieved,
    redemption completed,
    guilt done away,
    my debt paid,
    my sins forgiven,
    my soul saved,
    hell vanquished,
    heaven opened,
    eternity made mine.

    O Holy Spirit, deepen in me these saving lessons.
    Write them upon my heart, that my walk be . . .
    sin-loathing,
    sin-fleeing,
    Christ-loving.


    - Join the Free Grace Gems Mailing List Today! -


    Monday, May 26, 2008

    THANK YOU LORD JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been in such a faith crisis due to something that had been happening to me pertaining to the ministry I belong to at church, and I had been praying to the Lord that He would give me courage (I'm an UBER shy person) to go to the pastor and beg him to dedicate an entire sermon on True Biblical Evangelism. To preach on the NEED of preaching Repentance and Faith in Christ in our evangelism, one Sunday one of the pastors talked about the Gospel, I was so excited, but on the service I attended 12-2pm (there are 3 services) the pastor did not talk about repentance, I was disappointed. I commented this to a friend of mine from Church who had gone to the 10-12 service in which repentance was explained. But the service recorded to publish the sermon on the website was the last one, again I prayed and prayed. With the new semester I've had no time whatsoever to go to bible studies on Wednesdays and I had to miss a couple of Sunday services due to trips with the family, the hospital, etc. Anyway, this Sunday I couldn't go to church because I had an 8pm to 8am shift at the hospital and was beat when I got home. Today about 10 minutes ago, I launched iTunes went directly to my Podcasts to get my daily dose of WOTM Radio noticed that they hadn't uploaded today's show and remembered that because today's monday my church's sermon should've been uploaded by then so I clicked the IBI podcast and there it was!!! My prayer ANSWERED!!! Just look at the title! "And then, How will we evangelize?"
    I was skeptical at first and hopeful all at the same time!! the pastor preached on Acts chapter 3, verses 1-16 and v.19, the pastor read twice verse 19 (my heart skipped a beat) then proceeded to explain what just happened in those verses. Compared that type of healing with today's modern version of -unbiblical-"healing". Then made very clear that he was going to preach on v.19 and how we have done the terrible thing of blotting out the preaching of REPENTANCE! from our Evangelism!!!! Ohhhh Praise the Lord JESUS CHRIST!!!! Finally my prayer answered!!
    It's like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders!!! I wanna cry and leap out of Joy and sing and shout! :D Can't wait for Sunday to arrive!!!

    "Act 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
    Act 3:2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
    Act 3:3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
    Act 3:4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."
    Act 3:5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
    Act 3:6 But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"
    Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
    Act 3:8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
    Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
    Act 3:10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
    Act 3:11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.
    Act 3:12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
    Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
    Act 3:14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
    Act 3:15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
    Act 3:16 And his name--by faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
    Act 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out," (ESV, emphasis mine)

    AMEN!

    Thursday, May 01, 2008

    Youth Group

    I am sooo stoked about Youth Group! so the debates are finally over, I say finally because we had plenty of debates but they were really great! It made us all think and analyze ourselves plus we learned heaps about defending our faith among other things. Next Saturday May 10th we begin something called Parcheesi I have no clue what thats going to be about, all I know is that we need to be experts on Christ and the Resurrection for that day.I'll post an update as to how it went.

    In the meantime, today is National Day of Prayer..everyday should be! But today it is celebrated, I know because of my trusty WOTM calendar, its a day to be spent praying for our respective country, in my case the DR, the world, our fellow brother's and sisters in Christ out there, people who haven't given their lives to Christ yet, for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who risk their lives everyday for the Gospel, our local Church and its leaders, the Universal Church that she may be strengthen each day and stand on the promise made by Christ that the gates of Lades shall not prevail against her. A day to give thanks to the Lord for His countless blessings, His amazing grace and gift of Salvation, for his trials that build perseverance, His judgments that purify us, His Holy Spirit who convicts us and lead us and comfort us, His amazing love which holds us, His Holy word which instructs us and edify us. A day to give thanks for all the days that we have been allowed to have, and the days to come.
    A day to reflect on the times that we are living but also to remember that the Lord once promised a young man: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." This promise is true for us today! (Mat 28:20, Heb 13:5)

    God bless!