Prayer Thought from Family Research Council

Dear Praying Friends,

After the Boston Tea Party, King George closed Boston Harbor on March 7, 1774 in a deliberate effort to destroy the colony's economy. William Prescott wrote, "If we submit to these regulations, all is gone... Our forefathers...spent their blood and treasure that they might enjoy their liberties, both civil and religious, and transmit them to their posterity... if we should give them up; can our children rise up and call us blessed?"

Upon hearing of Boston's crisis, Thomas Jefferson led the Virginia House of Burgesses (on May 24, 1774) to proclaim "a Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, devoutly to implore the Divine interposition, for averting the heavy calamity which threatens destruction to our civil rights." Lord Dunmore, Virginia's Royal Governor, was so upset by the Proclamation that he dissolved the House of Burgesses. The members regrouped in nearby Raleigh Tavern to make plans for a Continental Congress, which in 1776 declared American independence (American Minute, Bill Federer, March 7, abridged).

We need this same formula now: dependence upon God, humility, fasting, prayer, and sacrificial, lawful resistance against all ungodliness and tyranny. As in the founding era, God wants us to meet His requirements so He can do what only He can to heal our land and preserve our liberty for our children.

Linda's Request for Prayer for China this week 3-29-10

Just a quick note with a prayer focus for this week.... found it in Operation World website and will be sending you one as often as they change it. It definitely helps me keep the persecuted church in front of me and puts a lot of things in perspective.

Linda
Pray For…
China
Stats
Population - 1,338,612,968
Percentage of Evangelicals - 6%
Total Number of People Groups - 462
Number of Unreached People Groups - 388
Language Spoken - Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghainese
Major Religion - Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Christian, Muslim
Human Development Rank - 92
Persecution Index - 13

China is one of the oldest civilizations and for centuries one of the most advanced. Until the 19th century, China was advancing quicker in science and arts than most other countries. However, the 19th and 20th centuries were plagued with civil unrest, famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. These events led to upheaval of the emperor in China and the eventual establishment of a communist state in 1949. Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, China instated what is widely known as the Cultural Revolution where all threats to the state were highly restricted or even banned including news media, religion, and even forms of education. Christian missionaries were kicked out, churches were deemed illegal, and believers were forced to worship the Lord in secret. Believer who were caught by authorities were beaten, imprisoned, and at times sent to "re-education camps". In the last few decades, such restrictions have become more relaxed. However, persecution still remains for believers who are a part of unregistered churches (a.k.a. house churches). In addition, some believers who are a part of the ethnic minority face persecution from their family and culture. It is said that there are more Christians in prison or under detention in China than in any other country. So even though China has experienced new freedoms, many Chinese Christians still endure persecution.
Pray for those who have been imprisoned and persecuted for their faith.
Pray for the church in China to be further established in the Scriptures.
Pray for the 259 people groups who do not have a gospel witness among them.
Ask the Lord to work in the hearts of the government leaders and draw them to Himself.
It is illegal to work in China as a Christian missionary. Pray for missionaries in China to be able to remain there while they spread the gospel and strengthen the church.

Prayers and praises

Well, whatever malady I (Linda) had on Friday was gone on Saturday. Praise His Name!!! Sorry about cancelling Friday night but I was a mess all day Friday and then Sat AM.... I woke up feeling fine. Maybe it was allergies. :-)

Jeremy had his wisdom teeth removed on Tuesday of last week and is doing better now. I say, now, because besides it being painful, on Wednesday he had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic they gave him after the extraction. It gave them a pretty big scare since it caused him to lose his equilibrium and messed up his speech, etc. until it was out of his system. Praise God He is doing well now.

Jim Brown is close to closing a deal at work!!!! Thanks for the prayers for him and keep praying. AND he sold another house at Grace Subdivision.... that is #6. He did say that Ernie needed to keep praying because there was still no profit.... Hear that, Ernie!!!

Continue to pray for Suzanne in Ghana. She will be home Friday, April 2nd, and will be having Com Group at her house on the 9th so I am sure we will get a full report.

We love and appreciate you all.

Tonights Community Group

Sorry, we are going to have to cancel tonights Community Group meeting at our home. Linda woke up with major congestion and sneezing and didn't think you would like to share in this experience with her. What we initially thought were allergies in Jim seem to be something contagious. Lots of sneezing, coughing, and nose blowing..... just a minor light affliction.
Please let us know as soon as possible that you have received this message. Thanks and we will see you in two weeks, Friday April 9th, at Suzanne's home. Keep praying for her Ghana mission work.

Community Group

We are still going to meet for community group tomorrow night at the City Smith's home. Jim has been bothered by allergies and gets pretty tired by night, but is ready to persevere in prayer. Ah, Arkansas flowering trees... beautiful but full of pollen. We will try to make it a shorter evening unless God has a different plan. So see you at 7PM and we will begin shortly after with prayer and then ..... goodies.

Praising God today for so many things that He is doing and just for who He is. Praise His Name!!!! See you tomorrow night. If you CANNOT come please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks,
Linda

Suzanne and Africa and Marriage 911 Alert

Suzanne left for Africa today.... please pray for her. Her dad has a little issue that came up Thursday with his potassium being high. He is on a diuretic so should be fine, but it was a last minute thing to think about for her.

I am meeting with my Marriage 911 person today for the first time. Please pray for me and for her as we begin. That she would begin her walk toward healing for her marriage because He is able to heal and restore.

How is Felicia doing??? Praying for her...
Peyton off to Washington, DC for a week of leadership training. Kelly and Cecilia (and Avery) are going with her to DC but will leave her with the conference people today and not see her until Thursday. Pray that she does well. She doesn't know anyone she will be with, but it is an excellent program that she was invited to attend.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights!!! praise Him all His angels: all His hosts: sun and moon and all stars of light. Praise Him in the highest heavens and the waters that are above the heavens!!!!..... and us, too!!!!!

Community Group Update and more

I am so sorry that I am late getting this update on the blog.... but here are some of the things we prayed about and a few new prayer requests for your prayer lists.

First, it was a great time of prayer at the Brown's home (thank you very much), and here is a partial list...

Suzanne Patton - Africa (Ghana) trip march 19 - April 2.
Marriage 911 - every Tuesday night 6:30-9PM
Felicia off to the Ski trip... safety and fun and spiritual growth.. plus good relationship with her teacher who is also her chaperone.
Susan Bowden - moving April 17th.... blood work, March 25th.
Sageworks
Praise about David getting on Medicaid.
Dan - bronchitis
Susan and Jim Brown - for Jim .. success in workplace and in Grace subdivision
Jerry, Jim's friend, - prostate check
Nicholas court date end of May
Church
Erik Daniel Dukes, our grandson, has hernia surgery tomorrow AM
Jennifer, Suzanne's daughter, prayer for her job

If you missed Sunday night you might want to go to the Fellowship website to view Bill Parkinson's presentation. It was very good and helped explain in more detail the things that Robert presented the first night. He put some flesh on the bones.... and there will be more to com when it is launched in the fall.

CG Meeting Friday Night

Don't forget CG Meeting Friday night March 12th at 7:00 PM at the Browns. Let them know if you can't make it. Linda will call Susan Bowden and get the word to her. Hope to see everyone there.

Pray for Jeffrey Dean's mesage

Friday, March 5, 2010 Jeffrey Dean will be featured on The 700 Club during the CBN News segment with Pat Robertson. Jeffrey will be discussing teen culture in this interview which will also feature Dr. Joe Mcllhaney, the founder and chairman of The Medical Institute.


The 700 Club airs live this Friday in most markets at 10 CST / 11 EST on ABC Family. (Check local listings for exact times and stations in your area.) You can also view this feature at http://www.cbnnews.com/.