It's after 2 in the morning. What am I doing up so late? Actually, I went to bed at 11 but woke up early. God has been putting something on my heart. It's a question asked by Henry Blackaby in his series, "The Prayer Life of Jesus": "If the destruction of America could be held back according to your prayer life, would it stay the hand of God?" Would it? I don't know. Yes, I try to pray effectively every day. I pray for my family and my church families. I pray for special intentions, for those that are sick or having surgery, or waiting for transplants. I pray for the lost: unsaved loved ones, the lost sons and daughters of friends, and the family of a pilot lost at sea. I pray for those who need jobs. I pray for the dark places of this world: for God to send missionaries to Eritrea, to the 4000 Wa people on the border of Myanmar, and for Reunion Island, for spiritual darkness to be overcome by God's light. I pray for the marriages I know are not strong or ones that are struggling. I pray for the health and expansion of churches, for mission leaders, for specific missionaries. I pray for expectant friends, that their unborn babies will grow healthy and strong. I pray for peace in various places in the world: Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Kenya. I thank God for the prayers He has answered. All this is perhaps notable, but would it stay the hand of God if He were about to destroy America for her sinfulness? I doubt it.
God has convinced me I need to be specifically praying for my country, asking for God to forgive her, praying that the people of America will 'humble themselves, pray and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways' (2 Chronicles 7:14). I need to pray earnestly for America and her leaders to turn to God. I am sure that America is on a downhill spiral, turning her back on God. How long before God grows tired of the insults? Why does He wake me at 2am to pray for my country? I'm awake, Lord. I'm listening. I'm praying.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Flu for a week!
Oct. 8, 2013
There's only one thing worse than having the flu for a week, and that's being alone and away from home and having the flu! But, God took care of me through my neighbors checking on me often, along with SIM friends stopping by to go grocery shopping for me and do up my dishes. After 4 days of the flu, I was able to get out to go to the doctor. He gave me some antibiotics for a bacterial infection and told me to stop my blood pressure medicine for a few days because I was dehydrated, making my bp low. But, all is well now and I am feeling back to normal again. Thank You, Lord!
Today was my second day at Living Hope and I'm so excited at the direction the Lord seems to be taking me. I will be doing 20 hours a week as a volunteer there, leaving some time for working with SIM. This week, I am attending some Counseling training for lay people taught by a team from Seattle. I am so delighted to be around folks that I can understand! Yes, they speak English here in South Africa...but, some have strong Dutch accents. I generally have to listen so carefully to make sure I don't miss anything that is being said that my ears get tired! It's wonderful to be here where there is such a mixture of accents. That's why South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation!
I took a tour of the 4 Living Hope ministries yesterday with the Seattle team. It was so informational to hear and see what the Lord has done with Living Hope and how they are helping people. Within Living Hope, there is a health care ministry called Living Care with a 22-bed facility, as well as home based care and community support groups of HIV and AIDS patients. Living Right reaches out to more than 6000 children a year by teaching them to make healthy choices as well as mobile health screening with HIV and TB testing and counseling. This will also be the area that I will participate in with the formation of a ministry called MotherCare, in which I will be teaching moms with HIV about Nutrition for themselves and their children and about breastfeeding benefits. Living Way teaches people skills needed to earn their way out of poverty. Living Grace serves street people with a meal and shower facilities. They also run an out-patient substance abuse rehab at 2 locations. This organization is a partner with SIM and is doing wonderful stuff.
Today was the warmest day so far (about 80 degrees) and warmer weather is on it's way here since we are going into their summer. (Suffering for Jesus here!)
Thanks and blessings,
Grace
There's only one thing worse than having the flu for a week, and that's being alone and away from home and having the flu! But, God took care of me through my neighbors checking on me often, along with SIM friends stopping by to go grocery shopping for me and do up my dishes. After 4 days of the flu, I was able to get out to go to the doctor. He gave me some antibiotics for a bacterial infection and told me to stop my blood pressure medicine for a few days because I was dehydrated, making my bp low. But, all is well now and I am feeling back to normal again. Thank You, Lord!
Today was my second day at Living Hope and I'm so excited at the direction the Lord seems to be taking me. I will be doing 20 hours a week as a volunteer there, leaving some time for working with SIM. This week, I am attending some Counseling training for lay people taught by a team from Seattle. I am so delighted to be around folks that I can understand! Yes, they speak English here in South Africa...but, some have strong Dutch accents. I generally have to listen so carefully to make sure I don't miss anything that is being said that my ears get tired! It's wonderful to be here where there is such a mixture of accents. That's why South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation!
I took a tour of the 4 Living Hope ministries yesterday with the Seattle team. It was so informational to hear and see what the Lord has done with Living Hope and how they are helping people. Within Living Hope, there is a health care ministry called Living Care with a 22-bed facility, as well as home based care and community support groups of HIV and AIDS patients. Living Right reaches out to more than 6000 children a year by teaching them to make healthy choices as well as mobile health screening with HIV and TB testing and counseling. This will also be the area that I will participate in with the formation of a ministry called MotherCare, in which I will be teaching moms with HIV about Nutrition for themselves and their children and about breastfeeding benefits. Living Way teaches people skills needed to earn their way out of poverty. Living Grace serves street people with a meal and shower facilities. They also run an out-patient substance abuse rehab at 2 locations. This organization is a partner with SIM and is doing wonderful stuff.
Today was the warmest day so far (about 80 degrees) and warmer weather is on it's way here since we are going into their summer. (Suffering for Jesus here!)
Thanks and blessings,
Grace
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