Praise and Prayer January 31, 2013

Happy New Year!  This first month of the New Year seems to have gone quickly, but the Lord has been at work and we praise Him for His answers to prayer.  Along with our various ministries we have continued our active search for a house to purchase.  We have found what we believe to be God’s provision for our need and are moving ahead in this process.  In the meantime we continue to pray (and covet your prayers) that the Lord would continue to go before us, opening the doors for the purchase to go through IF this is the house God wants for us, and closing the doors to this home IF this is not the house God has for us.  We want His will to be clear in this matter. (UPDATE: I just got off the phone with the realtor who told us that the house was taken off the market, and therefore it is NOT the house God has for us.)

Another development in the past couple of weeks has been the hospitalization of our elderly friend and brother in Christ.  I had been taking Mr. and Mrs. C. shopping every other Thursday evening.  Mr. C. entered the hospital two weeks ago for testing and treatment adjustments for his Parkinson’s, making life an even greater challenge for his wife (86) who depends on him in so many ways.  Our teammates, the Christys, have been organizing the schedule to have someone take Mrs. C. to the hospital every day to be able to spend some time with her husband.  Both of the times that I have taken her have been greatly appreciated, and I have enjoyed the sweet fellowship in the Lord with both of them.  We are concerned about the days ahead, even after he is released, as their health declines and they live alone.  We pray for God’s direction to be clear to them as well we try to help them in this difficult time.

Praise for:

- a new visitor at our English service last week, a contact through the sports club that I am part of.

- God’s blessing and direction of the Adult Bible studies Sunday mornings as we study the Christian Life.  Praise for the questions that have come up that have lead to spending a greater amount of time studying the New Birth.

- the Lord’s help for Caleb at school as he has faced some big challenges.

- the word that our drivers licenses have been approved to be exchanged.  This is a huge answer to prayer.

- improved health for Claire Corenthin.

Pray for:

- continued contacts and for God to work in the hearts that have heard the Gospel.

- God’s direction and provision of a house in our price range.  We almost saw this prayer answered and know that He is able. 

- Mr. and Mrs. C., for their health and for wisdom for the future.

- God’s help and guidance in our teaching ministries (Adult Bible study, Ladies’ Bible study, Children’s church, Merignac Bible study, English Encounter, and English tutoring for neighbor girl.

- our children and for the challenges they face at school.  They are concerned for their classmates, and long for Christian friends at school.  Pray that God’s light would shine through them though they are greatly limited on what they can say about the Lord at school.