December 31, 2006
There are so many praises as we end up 2006 and prepare to serve the Lord in 2007!
Before we discuss the past week, please remember that Church in the Woods designates the first 10 days of each year as a time of prayer and fasting. We encourage you to make this a time when you give up something -- food, a favorite habit, television -- and whenever a craving for it arises, pray to God for His guidance in the New Year. We see this as a giving of "first fruits" by consecrating the first 10 days of our year to God. Another suggestion for fasting is to designate the money saved to give to those in need.
Isaiah 58:7-8 discusses fasting for a purpose:
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
In Luke 2:37-38, Anna becomes one of the first to see Jesus after many years waiting in the temple ... "and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Fasting is also mentioned as an important part of commissioning missionaries.
"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away." -- Acts 13:2-3
During the 10-day fast, there will be nightly prayer vigils at the home of Alice McGee to seek the Lord's guidance. All are welcome. For more information call 772-7050.
Back to a long blessed week with the Lord!
On Dec. 23rd, an area church and many volunteers delivered 225 bags to the homeless at Moore Square. The bags contained Recovery Bibles, socks, gloves, scarves and other essentials for the winter season. Another area church gave over 30 bags with gifts for children. During this outreach, one woman approached a missionary and said she had just started a fulltime job but hadn't received her first check. She wanted help getting a motel room for her family for two days. The missionary prayed with her. A few minutes later, a church agreed to pay for the motel room out of outreach funds. The woman was praising God the rest of the afternoon! Many people were blessed with the use of cell phones, calling loved ones they hadn't spoken with in many years. A pastor found material for his Sunday sermon as he spoke with a faith-filled homeless woman who constantly praised God for looking out for her every day. He said he was humbled to think that, with all he had, he didn't praise God as often as this woman.
An area family adopted a family of lambs in Fuquay. The lambs called missionaries thanking God for all the gifts given to themselves and their three boys. They rejoiced with how good God is!
On Christmas Eve, many lambs chose to stay with missionaries after one church service, have a holiday lunch, then go back to church for the 6 p.m. service! Missionaries handed out Bibles left over from the Moore Square outreach and still more food was donated to the ministry. Later, one lamb staying with missionaries opened up about his past. The Holy Spirit appeared to be softening him even more after a week of shopping for gifts for those people God has placed in his life. He was able to visit his girlfriend at the hospital on Christmas Day and appeared even calmer.
Perhaps Satan chose this "opportune time" to attack. On Tuesday, the lamb was picked up for work by two others and they decided not to go, even when their boss said they would still have jobs if they showed up late. With no job, he returned to the woods and wasn't seen for several days. He was seen this Sunday in a pensive mood, trying to get himself together, preparing for what he hopes will be his final court appearance this Wednesday. Please keep him in your prayers.
A missionary's son has a new job at a Jiffy Lube thanks to recommendations by two lambs who work there! One of the lambs also fixed the brakes on the young man's car.
At the regular Thursday night outreach, two lambs were driven by a member of a local motorcycle gang that does outreach through several churches. The driver was excited to learn about Church in the Woods and said his group and the churches might be interested in doing more. He was especially interested in intercessory prayer in dark areas of the city -- something he said his group is already doing.
During prayer on Thursday, missionaries could hardly get a word in as lambs gave praise reports, prayed aloud for each other, for their own needs and for the nation's leaders. One new lamb came with an electric guitar tied to his back. He was so blessed to play an acoustic guitar brought by a missionary and to share songs and chords. Another lamb apologetically returned a Bible he had received, saying, "I only read the King James version." The group began studying the Book of Acts but only got threw a few verses because so many lambs were contributing to the discussions of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
The lamb who fixed the car is doing very well. He continues to get side jobs in addition to working at Jiffy Lube and is regularly attending AA meetings. He is receiving help from a church support group and continues to work to repair family ties.
On Friday, with the New Year approaching, missionaries received word that someone donated $500 for new car batteries to be brought to homeless camps where they are used as generators to power lights, small TVs and other appliances. Please continue praying for batteries and other items for the Jan. 13th outreach. CitW is praying to be able to purchase up to 50 batteries at an estimated cost of $2,000. Others are offering camp heaters, camp stoves, and propane. Tarps are also needed. The January 13th mission trip to the woods of Wake County is departing at 11 AM. For more information contact Alice at 605-5400 or appraisalnet@nc.rr.com .
Finally, on Sunday missionaries were blessed to see another lamb who had not been seen for several weeks. She is staying at another lamb's trailer and is planning on attending church next week. She is substance free and looks so healthy! An area pastor had an awesome message about putting our feet to our walk as Christians and reaching outside church walls to make a difference in the lives of those around us.
A lamb who's moped is in need of repair is asking for prayers for a bicycle. There is an area organization that repairs bicycles and donates them to those in need. Please pray the two can connect this week.
We are thanking the Lord for all of you, your prayers and Jesus in each of your hearts.
Before we discuss the past week, please remember that Church in the Woods designates the first 10 days of each year as a time of prayer and fasting. We encourage you to make this a time when you give up something -- food, a favorite habit, television -- and whenever a craving for it arises, pray to God for His guidance in the New Year. We see this as a giving of "first fruits" by consecrating the first 10 days of our year to God. Another suggestion for fasting is to designate the money saved to give to those in need.
Isaiah 58:7-8 discusses fasting for a purpose:
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
In Luke 2:37-38, Anna becomes one of the first to see Jesus after many years waiting in the temple ... "and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
Fasting is also mentioned as an important part of commissioning missionaries.
"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away." -- Acts 13:2-3
During the 10-day fast, there will be nightly prayer vigils at the home of Alice McGee to seek the Lord's guidance. All are welcome. For more information call 772-7050.
Back to a long blessed week with the Lord!
On Dec. 23rd, an area church and many volunteers delivered 225 bags to the homeless at Moore Square. The bags contained Recovery Bibles, socks, gloves, scarves and other essentials for the winter season. Another area church gave over 30 bags with gifts for children. During this outreach, one woman approached a missionary and said she had just started a fulltime job but hadn't received her first check. She wanted help getting a motel room for her family for two days. The missionary prayed with her. A few minutes later, a church agreed to pay for the motel room out of outreach funds. The woman was praising God the rest of the afternoon! Many people were blessed with the use of cell phones, calling loved ones they hadn't spoken with in many years. A pastor found material for his Sunday sermon as he spoke with a faith-filled homeless woman who constantly praised God for looking out for her every day. He said he was humbled to think that, with all he had, he didn't praise God as often as this woman.
An area family adopted a family of lambs in Fuquay. The lambs called missionaries thanking God for all the gifts given to themselves and their three boys. They rejoiced with how good God is!
On Christmas Eve, many lambs chose to stay with missionaries after one church service, have a holiday lunch, then go back to church for the 6 p.m. service! Missionaries handed out Bibles left over from the Moore Square outreach and still more food was donated to the ministry. Later, one lamb staying with missionaries opened up about his past. The Holy Spirit appeared to be softening him even more after a week of shopping for gifts for those people God has placed in his life. He was able to visit his girlfriend at the hospital on Christmas Day and appeared even calmer.
Perhaps Satan chose this "opportune time" to attack. On Tuesday, the lamb was picked up for work by two others and they decided not to go, even when their boss said they would still have jobs if they showed up late. With no job, he returned to the woods and wasn't seen for several days. He was seen this Sunday in a pensive mood, trying to get himself together, preparing for what he hopes will be his final court appearance this Wednesday. Please keep him in your prayers.
A missionary's son has a new job at a Jiffy Lube thanks to recommendations by two lambs who work there! One of the lambs also fixed the brakes on the young man's car.
At the regular Thursday night outreach, two lambs were driven by a member of a local motorcycle gang that does outreach through several churches. The driver was excited to learn about Church in the Woods and said his group and the churches might be interested in doing more. He was especially interested in intercessory prayer in dark areas of the city -- something he said his group is already doing.
During prayer on Thursday, missionaries could hardly get a word in as lambs gave praise reports, prayed aloud for each other, for their own needs and for the nation's leaders. One new lamb came with an electric guitar tied to his back. He was so blessed to play an acoustic guitar brought by a missionary and to share songs and chords. Another lamb apologetically returned a Bible he had received, saying, "I only read the King James version." The group began studying the Book of Acts but only got threw a few verses because so many lambs were contributing to the discussions of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
The lamb who fixed the car is doing very well. He continues to get side jobs in addition to working at Jiffy Lube and is regularly attending AA meetings. He is receiving help from a church support group and continues to work to repair family ties.
On Friday, with the New Year approaching, missionaries received word that someone donated $500 for new car batteries to be brought to homeless camps where they are used as generators to power lights, small TVs and other appliances. Please continue praying for batteries and other items for the Jan. 13th outreach. CitW is praying to be able to purchase up to 50 batteries at an estimated cost of $2,000. Others are offering camp heaters, camp stoves, and propane. Tarps are also needed. The January 13th mission trip to the woods of Wake County is departing at 11 AM. For more information contact Alice at 605-5400 or appraisalnet@nc.rr.com .
Finally, on Sunday missionaries were blessed to see another lamb who had not been seen for several weeks. She is staying at another lamb's trailer and is planning on attending church next week. She is substance free and looks so healthy! An area pastor had an awesome message about putting our feet to our walk as Christians and reaching outside church walls to make a difference in the lives of those around us.
A lamb who's moped is in need of repair is asking for prayers for a bicycle. There is an area organization that repairs bicycles and donates them to those in need. Please pray the two can connect this week.
We are thanking the Lord for all of you, your prayers and Jesus in each of your hearts.
posted by Cindy at 8:16 PM
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