People Come Into Your Life for a Reason

This came to us in a forwarded email.....it gives us reason to think and ponder the people in our lives and our relationships with them. I brings to my mind..... I need to focus on those relationships! May you be blessed as you think of the people in your life!

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.!

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

Let the Heavens Declare!

By John Hensman

I got my inspiration based on a Solar Eclipse that West Africa recently experienced (Wednesday 29th)

Scripture:
"The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. The sun lives in the heavens where God placed it. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat." Ps 19:1-6 (NAS)

We are a strange people. Many times we look to our own physical abilities and believe we have the aptitude to control any situation; we slap each other on the back when things go right, stating, “look at me…I did this!” When things go wrong, however, we complain and try to place blame on others as to not hurt our own reputations. Sometimes we may even be so bold as to question God asking “why He is not cooperating with our efforts to complete a certain task.”

Scripture again always places our abilities into the correct perspective. Yes, we can build widgets that proclaim our knowledge in technology, but we should always be humbled by God’s power.

On Wednesday the 29th of March 2006 there was a Solar Eclipse. Unlike others that have happened before, this one should hold some significant meaning to Mercy Ships. The Eclipse’s path came across West Africa, almost directly above Ghana. If one believes in a “glass half-empty verses half-full”, they would tend to look at the dark side of this event as those in this area have for centuries. But for Mercy Ships, we believe in God’s power to control events. Remember, “Let the heavens declare the glory of God.” God still expresses His power and shows His glory in everything…even heavenly bodies. For us, it might take an Eclipse once and awhile to acknowledge that He is still God and we are not. So, whether your day goes well or not, never stop giving Him the glory He desires.

There will (without doubt) be some additional unanswered dark days ahead for both the Anastasis and Africa Mercy that may force us to question why! Remember, for every dark day experience, it is but a prelude to God’s Son, who gives all light. God is still in control; we just need to just keep believing…there will be a brighter day tomorrow…in fact it is just around the corner.

To all who reads this…please continue to pray for our ministry as we move forward in Him, especially for resolution to ship concerns!

He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!

Scriptures:
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalms 37:4)

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:21)

Devotion:
Lately it seems I’ve been reflecting more and more on lesson’s that the Lord has already taught me…and this has caused me to be thankful and a little wondering at the same time. Thankful for the lessons that I’ve been taught…yet wondering what message is there in bringing these lessons to my memory at this time?

Sometimes I have a thought or desire to set out to accomplish this task or that. Along the way am reminded of how if it wasn’t for the faithfulness of the Lord in our lives, His daily protection and provisions for us, we wouldn’t even be in a place to consider doing some of the tasks that come to mind. I guess that is a long winded way of saying I’m thankful for a changed heart.

Early on in my walk with the Lord there was a young minister named Clarence who saw much more of the potential God had placed in me than I saw myself. He told me one day to ask the Lord for the desires of my heart and He would give them to me. I wasn’t very comfortable with this statement and couldn’t believe that God actually would give me the desires of my heart, that there had to be a catch…a condition somewhere that must be fulfilled and I just kind of dismissed it as an over zealous preacher.

From time to time this seed planted so many years before has come back again and again to my thoughts. Each time I’d ponder it a little and then move on to something else. Slowly I’ve come to the point in my life and a relationship with Jesus to understand that as He has changed my heart of stone and given me a heart of flesh that along the way I’ve come to love Him more and more…and now the desires of my heart are to love Him and to please Him, to love my wife and family more and more. It would not seem possible, but please believe me when I say it is so.

He has shown me forgiveness and along the way shown me how to forgive those who had hurt me in the past. He has shown me, His desires for Denise and me, as husband and wife, and empowered us to live a life for Him. We don’t have all of the answers, but are confident as He continues to mold us into His likeness that we will continue to grow in wisdom, love and understanding.

We pray that if you haven’t already come to this place in your life that this devotion may serve to plant a seed, such as the one planted for me so many years ago, and given time and love from Him the seed may grow to full maturity in each of you.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006

For four years now we have been inspired and challenged each day by a devotional written by a Mercy Ships coworker somewhere in the organization. If you are visiting this site, we pray that you will join us in the focus for the day and pray the prayer points with us.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 40

Focus: Finishing Well- The Resurrected Messiah
By Don Stephens, Founder/President

Scripture Reference:
“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” and with those words, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46 (NLT).

“It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 (NLT).

‘Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! . . . Didn’t our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us . . . and explained the Scriptures to us?’ Luke 24: 31-32 (NLT).

Devotional:
What a powerful model of ‘finishing well’ is our Risen Lord! He endured suffering and the cross that he might accomplish the will of his Father and in so doing, provide redemption for us.

Perhaps we can each one look again to Jesus example of ‘finishing well’, as most of us experience some level of suffering in the ending of the Anastasis era of Mercy Ships. The organizational resurrection we are all experiencing has a new body – the Africa Mercy.

More importantly, as we encounter others on their individual Emmaus roads, may we warm the hearts and minds of those walking alongside us on our journey. Jesus explained His role from the Scriptures as he spoke. As He said a prayer over the evening bread, their eyes and minds were open to the risen Messiah.

Prayer Points:

* Ask God to give us grace to individually finish well.
* Ask God that each person met as we journey may see Jesus through our word and deed.
* Ask God for grace when His will involves suffering and is not our will.
* Ask God that we may corporately finish well.
* Praise God for the thousands of lives we will see in eternity through the service of Mercy Ships.
* Praise God for using each of us in this process.
* Thank God that we are privileged to have a part in what He is doing.
* Thank God for all the stakeholders of the past 28 years. Some have greatly sacrificed that we might serve. Some have been greatly blessed through our service.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 39

Focus: A Doorkeeper in the House of my God
By: Rene Lako, Mercy Ships Sierra Leone

Scripture Reference:
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”(Psalm 84:10).

Devotional:
The compound of our team house in Freetown, Sierra Leone is surrounded by a wall, topped by broken glass and razor wire. Two uniformed security guards patrol the compound, equipped with radio, baton and panic button alarm system to keep us safe. This is part of land based life for Mercy Ships staff in West Africa, and it’s quite different from life on a “Mercy Ship”. These guards are not considered Mercy Ships staff, but are employed by the security company. Yet, they get a taste of “mercy ship”, as they say here, and our team house compounds and Aberdeen Clinic and Fistula Centre have become popular postings for the guards.

Psalm 84 emphasizes the theme of God’s dwelling place and the desire to be in God’s presence. “How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” (Ps. 84:1-2).

The birds have nests to protect and feed their young. This is the kind of safe haven God offers us in his presence. When we are close to him, we have reason to praise him and we experience God’s protection and strength. Yet, this is not just about being stationary in a home. The Psalm speaks about setting your heart on pilgrimage . . . and this was a song pilgrims were singing as they traveled the long road to their destination, the literal “house of God”.

Sometimes, I see my life in Mercy Ships as a 26-year pilgrimage, having served on the Anastasis, the Rotterdam office, the IOC and now in Sierra Leone. Some legs of the journey have felt like dark valleys, other parts have been on sunny hillsides. Even as we pass through the driest desert lands, we can turn them into a place of springs. In God’s presence, as we follow Jesus, we can go from strength to strength.

Although we may not always feel significant or like a hero of the faith, even as a doorkeeper in God’s compound, we can be in his presence and make a difference in the world we live in. In Sierra Leone we aim to serve some of the forgotten poor afflicted by child birth injuries, such as women with fistulas (VVF) or children with disabilities, such as polio. As we meet their physical needs we also share God’s love and compassion with them and bring them into his presence.

Prayer Points:

* Pray for God’s protection for staff in Sierra Leone, and for crew and staff around the world.

* Pray for God to send workers into the harvest field of Sierra Leone, especially 1) VVF surgeons (short term/long term), 2) a ward nursing supervisor, and 3) a financial administrator.
* Pray for continued good relationships with all our local and international stakeholders/partners.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 38

Focus: When God is Silent
By Melissa Hall, Anastasis

Scripture Reference:
Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed (Proverbs 16:3).

Devotional:

You have an important decision to make, or you feel unsure about your ability to do something and don’t know where to start. You’ve prayed to God and asked for his guidance. You’ve constantly petitioned him (Luke 18:1) but there’s been no answer. You’ve pored over your Bible (Psalm 119:105), sought the advice of your friends (Proverbs 20:18), even returned to the last bit of guidance you received only to find out it doesn’t apply. Finally you repent of everything you can think of (Isaiah 59:1-2), but still God is silent. You feel like Job (19:8), wandering in the darkness, desperate for encouragement. But God is silent. What next? What happens during these times in the wilderness? Are we left to wander around in circles - or worse freeze, into inactivity too scared to make the wrong decision lest we fall off the narrow path?

God knows us; we as Christians have to trust that if we’re about to wander from his will for us he will warn us (Numbers 22:21-38). After all he sent us his Son to be our Shepherd (John 10:14) and what do shepherd’s do? They make sure their sheep don’t go wander onto dangerous paths, fall into holes or start chewing on something that looks really good but turns out to be poisonous. Now I confess I have never herded sheep, but in England it’s a sport; you can even watch it on television! When the sheep are going in the right direction the shepherd and his dog are quiet, but they whistle and bark like crazy when the sheep are going in the wrong direction. We are Jesus’ sheep, we know his voice (John 10:27), but when we don’t hear him perhaps we shouldn’t despair; maybe we are just going in the right direction.

When I made my decision to join Mercy Ships it was based on wisdom and the desires of my heart. I love sailing and wanted to serve God in Africa. I agonized over whether it was the right decision. God never gave me that resounding, ‘Yes! This is the way walk in it!’ It was only after I’d signed the contract, when money came pouring in and I discovered we were going to Liberia (a country I’d supported as a schoolgirl) that I felt God confirm my plans.

Perhaps, occasionally God wants us to simply step out and ‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed’ (Proverbs 16:3). This is after all a journey of faith: we cannot always see the path before us. It’s like that scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, when Indiana has to find the way across a great abyss to reach the Holy Grail. The only clue he has is to, ‘Take a step of faith’. He closes his eyes, and places his leg over the chasm, shifts his weight and bang! His foot makes contact with a glistening path, reaching to the other side of the ravine. It’s sometimes only when we move forward that God reveals and confirms the way.

Prayer Points:

* Pray we will know when to persevere in seeking God’s guidance and when we need to step out in faith and commit our plans to Him.

* Pray for an increase in faith for every person in Mercy Ships, faith in our ability to hear God and faith in His ability to keep us on the right path.

* Pray for God’s Liberian sheep - that He will comfort them and guide them to fresh pastures this Easter.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 37

Focus: Praise God
By Sherry Carpenito, Anastasis

Scripture Reference:
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” But in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, or height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39).

Devotional:

So many things come our way during the course of our days . . . deadlines, chores, promises that we don't know how we can keep; small headaches and big headaches. Leaders, co-workers, cabin mates and projects are only a few of our daily tests. We have finance, family and friends, here and at home, who take a share of our hearts. Some have more intense struggles. Life and death does not stop just because we are in the Lord's army. And that is exactly our focus for today - we ARE the Lords children, and nothing can separate us from His love. Overwhelming victory . . . not just winning the battle . . . but overwhelming victory is ours! Like a landslide, Jesus Christ has won our victory . . . because He loves us. How can we not praise Him? Nothing can separate us from His love.

The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace (Ps.29:11).

For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover him with favor as with a shield (Ps.5:12).

Do not fret because of evildoers nor be envious of the workers of iniquity (Ps.37:1).

And you have been give fullness in Christ who is head over every power and authority (Col.2:10).

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful (Col.3:15).

Now may the Lord of Peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way
(2 Thessalonians 3:16).

Prayer Points:

* Pray for acceptance of Christ’s peace and love to penetrate our mind and heart; even through our specific struggles.

* Praise Him for His love revealed to us in Jesus Christ.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 36

Focus: Trust
By Bonnie Usher, IOC

Scripture Reference:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
(Proverbs 3:5-6).

Devotional:

There once was a program on TV called “Who do you trust?” Maybe it was before your time, but it is a good question.

I am the parent of two adult sons and last year we had a situation in our family that almost destroyed us. My oldest son freely admits he is an alcoholic. He had been through rehabilitation and three months later fell “off the wagon.” My younger son and I lived thousands of miles away and we were concerned. We went to a family get-together with high expectations. Unfortunately Colin and I could see immediately that Ian was literally killing himself with alcohol and pills. We felt helpless, along with his wife, but God would not leave this situation unchanged. The Lord actually arranged an intervention for us with Ian; he wanted help and was willing to change. I asked Ian to commit to at least six months in rehabilitation and he agreed.

The next day I made some phone calls and arranged to bring Ian to Texas with me. He had an appointment at Rhema Ranch, and the counselor agreed to take Ian into their program following detoxification. After five days in a psychiatric hospital Ian entered the program at Rhema Ranch. During his second week a pastor prophesied over him that he would go home and be the spiritual leader of his family. He went back to the single wide trailer where he lived with nine other guys and got down on his knees and asked Jesus to take over. He stayed for nine months, made a wonderful recovery, and is now home with his wife and little girl.

It is a miracle, but nothing is too hard for God. Many people prayed for him and I know God heard our heartfelt cries. I still pray for my son everyday and thank each of you who have done that with me. We can trust God with the most important things and people in our lives.

Prayer Points:

* Pray for increased trust in God to finish the good work He has begun in each of us (Philippians 1:6).

* Pray that we can trust that the Africa Mercy will sail in His time.

* Pray for a renewed sense that God hears our prayers and will answer.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 35

Focus: It’s not About Me.
By Charles White, IOC


Scripture Reference:
“The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less. The one who comes from above is above all…” (John 3:29-31a).

Devotional:

A devotional could be written about verse 29 but it is only included here as context for verse 30. Early in my Christian walk I learned about verse 30. I had been a Christian for only about 6 months when a friend at our church invited me to lunch. During that lunch he asked me to consider teaching a short course with him, “Living the True Christian Life”. I was cool on the outside but panicking on the inside! Who was I to teach anyone about Christianity when I still had so much to learn myself? My mind was racing for excuses and then, suddenly, I knew I had the answer that would get me out of doing this. I smugly told my friend, in a most humble way (sarcasm here!), that I really could not assume such responsibility because I just was not big enough to handle it yet. My friend smiled at me and the next words he uttered have stuck with me since that day: He said, “Charlie, it is not about how big you can be, but how small you can be and understanding how big our God is.” John the Baptist understood this perfectly. He had been getting a lot of attention but understood who Jesus was and is and put himself in the rightful place. John said it even more clearly in verse 31a,”The one who comes from above is above all…”

Prayer Points:

* Pray that we will understand and truly realize in our daily lives that this life is NOT about us but about Him.

* Pray that Mercy Ships corporately will continue to seek His will in all we undertake.

* Pray that we all individually will continue to grow in His likeness and will decrease as He increases.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 34

Focus: Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work
By Dee Patton, IOC

Scripture Reference:

“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” (James 1:4) (KJV)

“And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:4)(NASB).

Devotional:

Sometimes we go along merrily (or not so merrily as the case may be) for a long time…years in fact…and then out of the blue we see something, look at something, read something and perceive it in a whole new way. Small changes in us align. The tumblers fall into place and something unlocks. Small details and bits of understanding get pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle in our conscious and sometimes subconscious minds and WHAM! Suddenly things that were just bits before are now a bigger bit. Maybe not the whole picture yet, but enough so that we can see that it really might be a picture of something.

Puzzles take time to put together . . . longer for some people than others, of course. When that piece finally fits something that was lacking in us is fulfilled, perfected. It’s a process….a work on the way to completion. When we struggle on and persist, the picture grows and we want for less and less - lack for less and less. We become more complete and more completely who God means us to be.

Faith is knowing that all those pieces actually will be a completed picture eventually and that God Himself is helping with the project. And patience in not just waiting. Patience is knowing that something is happening when it looks like nothing is happening. Patience is putting that small troubling piece of jigsaw puzzle aside and working on the edges, finding something useful to do until the moment arrives when those tumblers align, when those pieces finally fit in our hearts and minds. Patience is knowing that if you keep after it you will eventually know where to put that piece of sky.

When you allow her to, Patience works, not only in you, but in others as well and in the situation itself - even when you can’t see it. Let her.

Prayer Points:
· Pray for that Fruit of the Holy Spirit, Patience, to grow in your heart. Not through more trouble or trial, but through trust in the Father himself.

· Pray that the Lord will show you that patience is, indeed, at work in your life and work.

· Pray for leadership, that they will be filled with the Spirit as they walk through difficult times of decision making.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 33

Focus: His Will versus Our Will
By Andrew Conteh, New Steps, Mercy Ships Sierra Leone

Scripture Reference:
“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8–9).

Devotional:

It was on a hot Thursday afternoon in Lunsar, a northern town 120 km from Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone. A crowd of polio mobility impaired children and their parents were gathered outside our work center. Alone in one of the rooms of this building, I was quietly assembling a couple of PET units (Personal Energy Transportation) while my colleagues were busy seeing the patients outside.

While I was doing this job with a passion for the many children it would help, I suddenly began to ponder the theme of this year’s Mercy Ships 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting—“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). I realized that each time you obey God, His kingdom is operating in your life the same way it does in heaven.

Can you imagine anybody in heaven telling God, “I will think about it” or turning a deaf ear? The last person who tried that was Satan, and we all know the consequence that followed.

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” simply means, “God, be fully in control. Let my steps be ordered by You. Let my decisions be based on Your approval alone. Let my choices be subject to Your veto. If you’re not Lord over all, then you are not Lord at all.” Be honest with yourself and reexamine the greatest mistake you have ever made in your life. Whose will were you operating in, God’s or yours? Did you ever consult Him? Did you wait upon Him long enough to hear what He had to say? Or did you disagree with the direction He gave to you, and so launched out on your own?

God’s will can be painful because He has only one plan for your flesh—death.
In 1 Corinthians 15:31, the apostle Paul said, “I die daily.” The end result of dying to self is abundant living.

When we pray “Thy will be done,” we are seeking the heart of God. He will never hide from us what is in His heart, if we are willing to listen. Our challenge is to submit and obey even when we do not fully understand His purposes.

Prayer Points:
* Pray for God-given grace to accept His will.

* Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you relax in the hands of God each time He gives you a new direction.

* Pray that God will reveal His heart’s desire for you.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 32

Focus: A Costly Sacrifice
By Lois Astwood, Africa Mercy

Scripture Reference:

“I’m not going to offer to God, my God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice” (2 Samuel 24:24e).

Devotional:

All of us know that there is a cost involved in following Christ. We experience this in different ways in our lives. Those involved in Mercy Ships have all offered something to Him.

Many are aware that, during this stage in Mercy Ships, the cost seems to have been raised. More seems to be required of us as we face change, loss, delays, and frustrations.

The challenge I face is, how much am I really willing to give? Am I willing, as David was, to give what really costs me?

As I look back over the years, I recognize times when the cost has been truly great. Times when I have struggled and cried at the cost of the sacrifice I have been asked to make in order to be obedient to Him. But, as I look at my life day by day, is there the same willingness to sacrifice to the point where I feel the pain of the cost involved?

In this Scripture, we read of David, who could have taken the easy road with his sacrifice. He was given the opportunity to sacrifice at a much lesser cost to himself, yet he chose to make the full sacrifice, deeming it the least he could offer his God.

The words of a song come to mind:
Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be;

For it’s only in Your will that I am free.

All of my ambitions, hopes, and plans,
I surrender these into Your hands;

Jesus, all for Jesus,
All I am and have and ever hope to be.

Prayer Points:

* Pray that we might grasp the privilege of offering a “costly sacrifice” to Him.

* Pray that we may be willing to lay down our own ambitions, hopes, and plans.

* Pray that we may daily count the cost and offer our sacrifices to Him as a sweet smelling savor.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 31

Focus: Running the Race – With Joy.
By Marianne Lako, ACFC, Mercy Ships, Sierra Leone

Scripture Reference:
Running the race set before us – with perseverance – joy –
(Hebrews 12:1).

Devotional:

Athletes or not, we are all in this race together: The race of life. In this Bible passage we are not only reminded to “run the race”, but also to “run the race with perseverance, with joy”. Those of us who are involved in exercise are aware that getting fit and staying fit means perseverance and determination. Exercising once in awhile might make us feel good, but does not prepare us for a “race”.

To win the race we need a goal; for most of us the goal would be to focus on the finish line. In the race of life our focus will be “eternity with Jesus”; not to only run the race, but to finish strong.

That is easier said then done. Maybe when we first started this “race” or journey – we experienced excitement, people were cheering us on, and the first couple of miles were not too bad . . . we were excited and believed in ourselves. Yet once when we get further along, the race it is getting more and more difficult; and unless we keep the “finish line” in mind – it could be very tempting to let go and forget about finishing all together. Yet nothing just happens. We need to practice and continue to strive for the goal set before us. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. We take one step at a time, and one day at a time.

Winning the race of life is getting to know God and seeing our lives transformed in the process. It will require repeated practice. Yet it is worth it. Now the “joy” part is a different story and most of the time a choice we need to make. Am I willing to let go of circumstances around me and focus on God’s “joy”? This is a daily choice to make.

Definition of Joy: To take great pleasure; rejoice, the emotion of great happiness.

Definition of Perseverance: Steady persistence in adhering to a course of action, a belief, or a purpose; steadfastness.

Prayer Points:

* Pray for God’s joy to come and take control of our lives.

* Pray for the work of Mercy Ships, the Anastasis, the Africa Mercy and Mercy Ships Sierra Leone: the Aberdeen Clinic and Fistula Centre and the New Steps Centre and for our local and international staff.

* Pray that key positions at ACFC, such as Finance/Admin Officer and Ward Nursing Supervisor will be filled soon.

* Pray for perseverance in this “race of life”, and that we will be able to finish strong.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 30

Focus: A Merry Heart
By Larry Mast, IOC

Scripture Reference: “A merry heart does good like a medicine . . . .”(Proverbs 17:22).

Devotional: My wife is an exceptional cook, but sometimes . . . well, things don’t always turn out in life as you’ve planned them.

Several years ago my wife and I sat down to lunch. Helen had heated up a quick meal for me—rice, tomatoes, gravy and meat. She had a leftover salad. I ate about a third of my food without saying anything; not her best ever, but not too bad either. Finally I asked, “What kind of meat is this?”

“Turkey, why?” She replied.

“It tastes like old liver,” I said.

I ate a couple more bites and then Helen got up and went to the kitchen. I immediately heard hysterical laughter. I was sitting with my mouth full when she brought me the empty can and pointed to the label, which she was unable to read aloud due to her laughter. It said, “Turkey & Gravy . . . for dogs and puppies.”

Missionaries are supposed to eat anything and be happy about it but I now confess that I spit it out in the toilet. I think I’d rather have fried grub worms, thank you.

When things calmed down a bit and Helen quit laughing, she explained to me that she got the can at the food bank and hadn’t looked at the label closely. (Obviously!) “But” she said, “It was similar in size to a can of tuna.”

I’ve been pondering over this experience a lot. Mainly I’ve been wondering whether I’m a dog or a puppy. I guess since I’m over 50 I’m probably an adult dog by now. Actually it didn’t seem to hurt me any, it’s just that - - well, every once in awhile I start barking. It’s annoying, kind of like having the hiccups. To avoid any possible further embarrassment, I’ve taken to avoiding fire hydrants until this wears off.

In the midst of life’s serious situations, never pass up the opportunity to laugh at yourself. By the way, we’d love to have you come visit us. Helen will cook up a nice meal for you . . . .

Prayer Points:
* Pray for a positive, faith-oriented and happy outlook on life.

* Pray for the capacity to laugh at ourselves.

* Pray for the ability “to change the things you can, accept the things you cannot change and the wisdom to know the difference.” St Francis of Assisi

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 29

Focus: Freedom
By Lyn Westman, Anastasis

Scripture Reference:

“So Jesus said, ‘When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.’ As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to these Jews who believed Him, ‘If you continue in My word, then you are true disciples of Mine, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free’” (John 8:28–32).

Devotional:

Freedom means different things to different people—how free you think you are is influenced by your perspective. In national and international wars, freedom may mean release from tyranny and/or loss of life. For many youth, freedom means release from parental expectations and control. For people of color, freedom means release from discrimination.

Freedom for the Christian, however, is defined in spiritual terms. In Isaiah 26:12–14 it reads: “Lord, You will establish peace for us, Since You have performed for us all our works. O Lord, our God, other masters besides You have ruled us; but through You alone we confess Your name. The dead will not live, the departed spirits will not rise; therefore, You have punished and destroyed them, and You have wiped out all remembrance of them.” This Scripture speaks of spiritual forces, rather than natural forces. The paradox of natural life versus spiritual life is found in Matthew 10:39: “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.”

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:31: “I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” Therefore, if we as Christians can recognize the freedom we have in Christ—that our eternity is decided and secure, and that the things of this world have relatively little power in our ultimate existence—we can more easily die daily to sin, earthly circumstances, the expectations of others, fear of the unknown, and internal wrestling. When we truly realize the power given through “Christ in us, the hope of glory,” our daily deliberations will pale in comparison. May we come to realize in greater measure the truth of John 8:36: “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” The price has been paid. We belong to Him. We are set free.

Prayer Points:
* Pray for greater revelation of the freedom we have in Christ and the love that He has for us.

* Pray that this revelation empowers us to live in the freedom we have been given by the blood of Christ.

* Pray that we walk in obedience in response to the indescribable gift we have been given.

* Pray that with the freedom we have been given, we will set other captives free to live without torment in this life and to spend eternity with Jesus.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 28

Focus: Praying According to God’s Will
By Andre Cronje, Anastasis

Scripture Reference:

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7).

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3).

Devotional:

Commenting on the above Scripture from James, Richard Foster in his classic book Celebration of Discipline writes the following:

“To ask ‘rightly’ involves transformed passions. In prayer, real prayer, we begin to think God’s thoughts after Him; to desire the things He desires, to love the things He loves, to will the things He wills. Progressively, we are taught to see things from His point of view.”

The most effective prayers are those that are birthed in the knowing of His will. To know God’s will, His Word needs to abide in us. His Word is the revelation of divine truth, so the more of His Word that abides in us, the more we know His will. It also involves listening to that still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. Soren Kierkegaard once observed, “A man prayed, and at first he thought prayer is talking to God. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer is listening to God.”

Knowing God’s will does not come naturally. It is a learning process through regular meditation on His Word and learning to recognize His voice clearly. It starts by having the faith that God truly desires to reveal His perfect will to us, if we are willing to seek it with all our hearts.

“I am the ground of thy beseeching; first, it is My will thou shalt have it; after, I make thee will it; and after I make thee to beseech it and thou beseechest it. How should it then be that thou shouldst not have thy beseeching?” —Juliana of Norwich

Prayer Points:
* Ask God to give us the grace and the faith to keep on growing in the knowledge of His will (for us personally, as well as corporately).

* Ask God to transform our passions in alignment with His passions

* Pray out Scripture over different aspects of the kingdom as you feel led—personal lives, Mercy Ships, etc.

* Pray now for those things (personal and corporate) that we are still trusting God for and that we know are truly His will.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 27

Focus: The Prayer of Faith
By Rob Miller, Africa Mercy

Scripture Reference:

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore 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. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced crops. My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:13–20).

Devotional:

This portion of Scripture is very special to Denise and me. Ten years ago, Denise’s mom was near death in a hospital in Maryland with a recently diagnosed cancer; we lived in Florida. When we heard of her condition, we prayed and asked God to protect our family and to heal Mom. Denise was comfortable that her sisters, both Christians, would be with her mom and praying with her, and we didn’t need to drive to Maryland. I was restless and felt very strongly that we needed to go and pray with her. At the time, I was not familiar with this Scripture. Our pastor directed me to it when I explained my struggle and that I felt I was being nudged by the Holy Spirit to be with mom to pray. I wrestled with feelings of inadequacy and wondering if I needed to be there. I wasn’t ordained as an elder; what was I going to do that other Christians couldn’t do? But I couldn’t ignore the feeling that we should be with Mom. So we went.

When we arrived around midnight, we weren’t mentally prepared for her physical condition. Mom was always a radiant, beautiful woman. Now she looked very fragile and hurting. Denise’s sister and Dad had been at the hospital all day with her. We encouraged them to go home for some rest. We would stay with mom. After they left, we anointed her head with oil and prayed for her. We felt the presence of the Holy Spirit come into the room, and into mom. Up until this time she had been unconscious. She awoke as we anointed her head with oil and said, “I knew you would come. Would you pray for me?” That night Mom prayed and talked with Jesus out loud most of the night and gave her whole self to Him. The next night she asked Jesus out loud to heal her. We had come to pray for her, but instead she was an example of faith and prayer to us. She went home from the hospital after having recovered from kidney failure in about a week’s time. Jesus heard her prayers and answered them; Mom was healed of cancer.

Prayer Points:

· Listen to and respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
· Pray with expectation, pray specifically, praise God.

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2006 - Day 26

Focus: Success in the Storms of Life
By Nancy Predaina, IOC

Scripture Reference:

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper” (Psalm 107:28–29a).

“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

Devotional:

None of us like storms (difficulties) to come into our lives. The human tendency is to escape—or at least to complain a lot.
We can learn an important lesson from the eagle. When a storm comes, the eagle turns and faces it so that the wind will not ruffle his feathers (there’s another lesson in that). As the wind pours over his body, it actually makes his feathers shine. When he comes out of the storm, he is bright and polished by the force of the wind; he comes “forth as gold.” An “old-time” Nazarene preacher, Bud Robinson, said: “If your heart is fixed, when the devil brings out a cyclone of abuse, you may be peeled and scaled and blistered, but you will split the storm wide open and get up in the sky, sit down on the rainbow of God’s promise, and shout yourself to sleep in the teeth of the devil.” With God’s help, we can survive the storms.


Prayer Points:
* Pray that we will burst through the storm of difficulties surrounding the completion of the Africa Mercy.

* Pray that, with God’s help, we will emerge victoriously through the problems in our lives.