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Sunday, August 26, 2007
Subject: Isaiah 65:24
"Before they call, I will answer"
This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa.
One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but
in
spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature
baby
and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping
the
baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an
incubator).
We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the
equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One
student
midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool
that the baby would be wrapped in.
Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She
came
back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it
had
burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our
last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good
crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered
no
good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees,
and
there are no drugstores down forest pathways.
"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely
can,
and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from
drafts.
Your job is to keep the baby warm."
The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with
any
of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the
youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told
them
about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby
warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby
could
so easily die if it got chills.
I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her
mother
had died.
During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the
usual
blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she
prayed,
"send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the
baby
>will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."
While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added,
"And
while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little
girl so she'll know You really love her?"
As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I
honestly say, "Amen"? I just did not believe that God could do
this.
Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But
there
are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this
particular
prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in
Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever
received a parcel from home.
Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water
bottle?
I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was
teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that
there
was a car at my front door.
By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the
veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking
my
eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the
orphanage
children.
Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We
folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was
mounting.
Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large
cardboard
box. >From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys.
Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted
bandages
for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored.
Then
came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch
of
buns for the weekend Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt
the.....could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a
brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to
send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the
front
row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has
sent
the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!"
Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small,
beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!
Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this
dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves
her?"
That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by
my
former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's
prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one
of
the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five month s
before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to
bring it
"that afternoon."
"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24) This awesome
prayer
takes less than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer,
that's
all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to
whomever
you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts
we
receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards.
Let's continue praying for one another Father, I ask you to bless my
friends reading this right now. I am asking You to minister to
their
spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your
peace
and mercy.
Where there is self doubting, release a renewed confidence to work
through them. Where there is spiritual stagnation, I ask You to
renew
them by revealing Your nearness, and by drawing them into greater
intimacy with You. Where there is fear, reveal Your love, and
release
to them Your courage.
Bless their finances, give them greater vision, and raise up
leaders
and friends to support and encourage them. Give each of them
discernment
to recognize the evil forces around them, and reveal to them the
power
they have in You to defeat it. I ask you to do these things in
Jesus'
name.
P.S. Passing this on to anyone you consider a friend will bless you
both.
Passing this on to one not considered a friend is something Christ
would do.
"Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you're not willing
to
move your feet.
God Bless !!
Sorry for the bad text arrangement. It's from someone. Be blessed.
See what faith can do.
Announcement: Paradise Live
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Hello my brothers and sisters!
Paradise Live, the band from Australia will be having a concert/rally. Here's the info:
Date: 10th September 2007
Venue: Dewan Grace, Taman Chi Liung
Time: 8pm
Entrance: FREE
For the Form 3s and 5s, your trial exams are on... if you really can't come, its ok. But be excited about it and talk about this to your friends! Or else, make sure you study the whole day Monday and come for 2 hours during the night. That can be done too.
But don't disobey your parents, ok. If they say no, submit but know that as you encourage others who can come for it, you are also doing your part.
God bless!
Prayer Walk 2007
Friday, August 17, 2007
After Howard Hendricks' conversion, he went to his first prayer meeting. Everyone was getting up and uttering their flowery (and maybe showy) prayers. Finally, this new convert stood to pray and said, "Lord, this is Mel. I'm not sure whether you remember me or not . . . I met you last Tuesday night. I just wanted to say . . . well . . . Thank-you for changing my life." And then he sat down. The simplicity and honesty of that prayer brought tears to the eyes of many. I suspect it brought a smile to the face of the Father, as well.
taken from http://www.unionchurch.com/archive/031598.html
This year's prayer walk started with Jonathan sharing about what prayer is all about-a two way communication with God. In prayer, we are to be:
Humble
Honest
Personal
Next, we were divided into a few groups. These groups, led by the leaders, walked around the school and prayed.
The prayer walk was great because God was listening to us. It was a fantastic experience just to pray around the school grounds, praying for the legalisation, the new committee, praying for the teachers, the new principle and the students.
And of course, for God's pleasing and perfect will to be done.
Be aware that God has already started His fantastic work in our school.
The prayer walk ended behind the physics lab. Some of us got high and started singing Majesty.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way. -Colossians 1:9,10
KEEP THE FAITH! Or we'll have to add you as a prayer item...
Prayer Walk Aftershock
Darn, it was really awesome. Will update tomorrow. God bless.Why Are We Having Prayer Walk?
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Why does STAR CF carry out this Prayer Walk activity?- To come together in prayer, to unite and agree among each other.
- To strengthen the bond between members when praying for each other.
- To grow more mature in Spirit.
- To practice praying in public, to build a more confident persona when praying.
James 5:16 (New International Version)
16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Prayer Walk
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
This coming Friday (August 15th 2007), we're gonna have our annual Prayer Walk. It's gonna be as simple as last year. We'll explain what prayer is and how important prayer is. Please don't miss this chance to come together to pray. You don't need to be the "best" prayer in school or a mature Christian to join us - everybody is welcomed. Let's claim STAR for God. Glory to Him.GodTube - Broadcast HIM
Monday, August 13, 2007
Enjoy =).
God's great, all the time. All the time, God's great.
Prayer Request
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Fellow friends, one of our brother in Christ is facing a very heavy tribulation and we want all of you to pray that he will go through that test with God's strength and full of perseverance. Let's keep our brother Wai Kit in your prayers so that he WILL NOT fall. Let's encourage him to run the race and will never look back to see all his failures. James 1:2-8 (New International Version)
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.