the sapphire of His everlasting love.

Recently, I had a very dear friend and mentor say these wise words to me,

"THIS MAY BE JUST A SEASON OF WAITING AND LISTENING."

I'm not sure she knew how much those words would impact me.
Isn't is cool when God reminds you of something over and over again in different ways? And kind-of humbling as well...that sometimes we don't really hear HIM until the 20th time He's said the same thing!

On listening,

"Nouwen reminds us that 'solitude is the place of the great struggle and the great encounter'. Thuse we do need to face our fragile self. But we do so in the presence of the Loving Other. We do need to face our hurts. But we do so in the company with the Great Healer. We do need to face our waywardness. But we do so in the fellowship with the God who reconciles. Thus, while the place of solitude is the place of honesty, it is also the place of grace. It is not only the place of revelation; it is also the place of embrace." (c.Ringma)

As we listen to His voice today, let us remember those in the world right now who experience deep pain and sadness, overwhelming fear and loneliness, grief and despair. Let us pray the following for them (and for those of us who can relate to this in our time of life right now).

"What is my barrenness? It is the platform for His fruit-creating power. What is my desolation? It is the dark setting for the sapphire of His everlasting love. I will go to Him in my poverty, I will go in my helplessness, I will go in all my shame and backsliding; I will tell Him that I am still His child, and finding confidence in His faithful heart, even I, the barren one, will sing and cry aloud. Sing, believer, for it will cheer your own heart and the hearts of others who are desolate. Sing on, for although you are presently ashamed of being barren, you will be fruitful soon; now that God makes you hate to be without fruit He will soon cover you with clusters. The experience of our barrenness is painful, but the Lord's visits are delightful. A sense of our own poverty drives us to Christ, and that is where we need to be, for in Him our fruit is found."

(truth for life: Charles Spurgeon/Allistair Begg)

Lord, we give you our barrenness and the dark desolation of the many sons and daughters in our world today. We give you our fear of solitude and our lack of taking quality time with you. Help us to listen. Help us to hear. We give you our shame and ask you to change it into something beautiful. We ask you to give us a sense of our own poverty- so that we would be driven closer to the heart of Jesus. Great Healer, help us to sing in thankfulness to you and all you are and all you do.


Prayer Needs:

Children's Hopechest:
-staff training this week
-Ethiopia trip leaves Sunday
-for the orphans and workers serving them around the world

Indian Rescue Mission:
-Investigation team has made their initial contact with the lady who is running a sex racket in a city in Karnataka. Please pray that we can gain access in the coming days.
-Also we have received another information that there are 4-5 minor girls forced into prostitution in Beers Bars in a big city in Maharastra. ( the name of the city is not mentioned because of security reasons)




Please join us tomorrow for a time of prayer!

The conference call times and instructions are as follows:

Wednesdays 9:30 AM (eastern) at CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101

AND

Wednesdays 1:35 PM (eastern) CALL IN # : 760- 569- 9000 ID: 968101

this one will specifically focus on prayer for those who are being trafficked into the sex trade.