Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Zechariah 14 New International Version (NIV)
Zechariah 14
6 On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. 7 It will be a unique day—a day known only to the LORD—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.
8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.
9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
10 The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up high from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place. 11 It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.
12 This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. 13 On that day people will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another. 14 Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. 15 A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.
16 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. 18 If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD[b] will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.
20 On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. 21Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite[c] in the house of the LORD Almighty.
The LORD Comes and Reigns
1 A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. 2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3 Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake[a] in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.6 On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness. 7 It will be a unique day—a day known only to the LORD—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light.
8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.
9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.
10 The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up high from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate, to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses, and will remain in its place. 11 It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.
12 This is the plague with which the LORD will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: Their flesh will rot while they are still standing on their feet, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. 13 On that day people will be stricken by the LORD with great panic. They will seize each other by the hand and attack one another. 14 Judah too will fight at Jerusalem. The wealth of all the surrounding nations will be collected—great quantities of gold and silver and clothing. 15 A similar plague will strike the horses and mules, the camels and donkeys, and all the animals in those camps.
16 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. 18 If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD[b] will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.
20 On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. 21Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite[c] in the house of the LORD Almighty.
Footnotes:
- Zechariah 14:5 Or
My mountain valley will be blocked and will extend to Azel. It will be blocked as it was blocked because of the earthquake - Zechariah 14:18 Or part, then the LORD
- Zechariah 14:21 Or merchant
1 Thessalonians 1 (with text - press on more info.)
1 Thessalonians 1 (New International Version, ©2010)
1 Thessalonians 1
1 Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.
Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians' Faith
2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 For we know, brothers and sisters[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Today We Join With Operation World in Praying for Several Country's
St Vincent
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Caribbean
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 389 sq kmWindward Islands; located between St Lucia and Grenada. One larger island and a chain of 16 smaller islands and islets to the south.
Population: 109,284 Annual Growth: 0.10%
Capital: Kingstown
Urbanites: 47.8%
HDI Rank: 91 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Official language: English (official), Vincentian Creole Languages: 3 All languagesReligion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 98,465 | 90.10 | -0.1 |
| Evangelicals | 42,720 | 39.1 | 1.3 |
Answer to Prayer
Through the ministries of the Evangelical Association, cooperation among the various evangelical churches remains strong. A cross-denomination prayer movement recently started as well.Challenge for Prayer
St Vincent is a religious country, but most are not related to God through a personal faith in Jesus Christ. There is a crisis of holiness, lack of spiritual fruit and growing apathy, especially regarding missions. Pray for revival and for restoration of a biblically-based, Spirit-led Church.For an additional 2 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
More Information
The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of St Vincent._______________________________________
Samoa
Independent State of Samoa
Pacific
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 2,831 sq kmTwo large volcanic islands, Savai’i and Upolu, and seven small islands covered by lush tropical rainforest.
Population: 178,943 Annual Growth: 0.00%
Capital: Apia
Urbanites: 23.4%
HDI Rank: 94 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Official language: Samoan; English Languages: 2 All languagesReligion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 172,859 | 96.60 | 0.0 |
| Evangelicals | 32,263 | 18.0 | 0.7 |
Challenges for Prayer
Samoans have been Christian for over a century, and every village has at least one church. But the traditional class structure and pre-Christian cultural standards were not necessarily transformed by the gospel. Much of the Church suffers from nominalism, and rivalry among denominations does not generate a good spiritual atmosphere. Pride and politics influence church life too much, and the financial demands on a poorer population are heavy. These, coupled with the modern challenges of domestic strife and imported moral vice, make for a society in need of prayer.Mormonism is a point of contention; it is growing quickly, but the numbers they claim and the census results are hugely divergent. Mormons receive and send more missionaries to/from Samoa than any other denomination. Pray for all seeking to win Mormons to Jesus and to enlighten Samoan Christians of Mormonism’s errors. Pray for renewal and revival within churches that will safeguard against further Mormon growth.
For an additional 3 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
More Information
The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Samoa.___________________________________________
San Marino
Most Serene Republic of San Marino
Europe
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 61 sq kmA city state in north central Italy near Rimini.
Population: 31,537 Annual Growth: 0.84%
Capital: San Marino
Urbanites: 94.3%
Peoples
Official language: Italian Languages: 2 All languagesReligion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 28,002 | 88.79 | 0.8 |
| Evangelicals | 4 | 0.0 | 5.6 |
Challenges for Prayer
The Sammarinese are Catholic by tradition and culture, but most give only lip service to the Church and are very materialistic. Increasing numbers reject their religious heritage altogether, with smaller numbers of JWs, a small group of Baha’i, a few Waldensians and a scattering of people from other faith backgrounds. Pray that they may have a life-changing encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.San Marino proclaims itself “Ancient Land of Liberty”. There is freedom to worship, but evangelism hardly exists. In the past, outreach by evangelicals resulted in jailing or expulsion from the country. As a result, no churches or ministries currently evangelize in San Marino.
More Information
The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of San Marino.______________________________________
São Tomé & PrÃncipe
Democratic Republic of Sao Tomé and PrÃncipe
Africa
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 1,001 sq kmTwo larger and several smaller islands in the Gulf of Guinea, 200 km west of Gabon.
Population: 165,397 Annual Growth: 1.62%
Capital: São Tomé
Urbanites: 62.2%
HDI Rank: 131 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Official language: Portuguese and three Creole dialects Languages: 5 All languagesReligion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 144,805 | 87.55 | 2.2 |
| Evangelicals | 7,011 | 4.2 | 6.5 |
Challenges for Prayer
The majority of the population are Catholic,but practice is usually mixed with deep-seated African spiritist beliefs. Appeasing spirits and ancestors is often of greater importance than honouring God. Pray for the Holy Spirit to move through the Catholic Church, bringing renewal. Pray for the sovereignty of Jesus to be clearly demonstrated amid syncretized Catholicism and the growth of Islam and marginal sects.Evangelicals are free to minister and do see significant growth. There are close links with several Portuguese and Brazilian groups, such as the Assemblies of God, the Nazarenes, Deeper Life (Nigeria), YWAM and several others. Pray that their missionaries might have a great impact on these islands. Pray for the development of locally led, culturally relevant congregations with effectively trained Christian leaders. Pray also for local support of national workers and for the launching of an interdenominational training centre.
For an additional Challenge for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
More Information
The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of São Tomé & PrÃncipe.Proverbs 18 (with text - press on more info.)
Proverbs 18 (New International Version)
Proverbs 18
1 An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends; he defies all sound judgment.
2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions.
3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace.
4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice.
6 A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it an unscalable wall.
12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 He who answers before listening— that is his folly and his shame.
14 A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?
15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.
17 The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.
23 A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Psalm 49
Psalm 49
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 49
Psalm 49[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. 1 Hear this, all you peoples;listen, all who live in this world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor alike:
3 My mouth will speak words of wisdom;
the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.
4 I will turn my ear to a proverb;
with the harp I will expound my riddle:
5 Why should I fear when evil days come,
when wicked deceivers surround me—
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of their great riches?
7 No one can redeem the life of another
or give to God a ransom for them—
8 the ransom for a life is costly,
no payment is ever enough—
9 so that they should live on forever
and not see decay.
10 For all can see that the wise die,
that the foolish and the senseless also perish,
leaving their wealth to others.
11 Their tombs will remain their houses[b] forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had[c] named lands after themselves.
12 People, despite their wealth, do not endure;
they are like the beasts that perish.
13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.[d]
14 They are like sheep and are destined to die;
death will be their shepherd
(but the upright will prevail over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.
15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;
he will surely take me to himself.
16 Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
when the splendor of their houses increases;
17 for they will take nothing with them when they die,
their splendor will not descend with them.
18 Though while they live they count themselves blessed—
and people praise you when you prosper—
19 they will join those who have gone before them,
who will never again see the light of life.
20 People who have wealth but lack understanding
are like the beasts that perish.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
- Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
- Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
- Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.
Monday, October 17, 2011
Psalm 48
Psalm 48
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 48
Psalm 48[a]
A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. 1 Great is the LORD, and most worthy of praise,in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon[b] is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels;
he has shown himself to be her fortress.
4 When the kings joined forces,
when they advanced together,
5 they saw her and were astounded;
they fled in terror.
6 Trembling seized them there,
pain like that of a woman in labor.
7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish
shattered by an east wind.
8 As we have heard,
so we have seen
in the city of the LORD Almighty,
in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
forever.[c]
9 Within your temple, O God,
we meditate on your unfailing love.
10 Like your name, O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 48:1 In Hebrew texts 48:1-14 is numbered 48:2-15.
- Psalm 48:2 Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites.
- Psalm 48:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Today We Join With Operation World in Praying for TheRepublic of Rwanda, Africa
Rwanda
Republic of Rwanda
Africa
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 26,338 sq kmA fertile, mountainous country similar to its southern neighbour, Burundi.
Population: 10,277,212 Annual Growth: 2.71%
Capital: Kigali
Urbanites: 18.9%
HDI Rank: 167 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 13 (23% unreached) All peoplesUnreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: French, English, Kinyarwanda. The entire population speaks Kinyarwanda Languages: 5 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 9,159,051 | 89.12 | 2.7 |
| Evangelicals | 2,761,140 | 26.9 | 3.0 |
Answer to Prayer
Rwanda has made great progress in many areas since the tragic events of 1994-95.a) The nation's infrastructure was brutalized during the conflicts. Political stability since 2000 allows for rebuilding and developing roads, buildings, government services, water and sanitation, education and communications systems.
b) Financial recovery is encouraging, with Rwanda one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. The mainstays of national income - tea and coffee - have seen their high quality and significant output restored. Eco-tourism is a burgeoning industry. The stated goal of the nation to cease its dependence on foreign aid is a sign of confidence in further growth, but many hurdles remain.
c) The presence of women in leadership. Over half the elected parliament are female, surely a sign of progress, especially since men were the primary perpetrators in the genocides and women mostly victims.
d) Give praise for the commitment to reconcile and peace-build, to move on from the terrible past and toward a brighter future. The very fact that efforts are being made in a land with centuries of endemic ethnic tension, is cause for praise. Also encouraging is the fact that churches are at the forefront of the movement.
For an additional Answer to Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
a) Proper healing for those affected. Deep, deep wounds remain, which cannot be fixed by superficial measures. Pray for the continuation of long-term programmes for counseling, rehabilitation and reconciliation. The Church has played and must continue to play a key role in the healing process; there is a great need for more ministries that focus on this.
b) Rwanda’s post-ethnic identity. Banning ethnic identification (Hutu, Tutsi and others) is regarded by many as a positive move. People are said to be Rwandans and only Rwandans. This may help dissolve ethnic divisions, but it may also allow current inequity in the balance of power to continue unopposed. Pray that all such inequity based on ethnicity might end.
c) The process of justice. Only 27 have been convicted in the International Criminal Tribunal. The normal judicial system could not cope with the burden, so the government initiated gacaca, community-based courts, to try lesser offenders. When done properly,gacaca allowed justice to be done and to be seen to be done. But a number of cases were poorly handled; pray that the Lord might bring justice and heal the wounds of those who did not receive fair treatment.
d) The release of prisoners, since the prisons can neither hold such large numbers nor afford the cost. The eventual reintegration of the 125,000-plus people originally imprisoned – many guilty of terrible crimes – will be a true test of Rwanda’s progress. Over half are no longer incarcerated. Some have not been tried. Some tried were found not guilty, some granted amnesty, others found guilty and served their sentence. Most releases trigger at least some outrage by past victims. Pray for true forgiveness as well as true repentance.
For an additional 7 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
Challenge for Prayer
Recovery from the 1994 genocide that claimed up to one million lives is difficult, but it displays the people’s remarkable resilience and willingness to forgive and move forward despite great pain and loss. Pray for:a) Proper healing for those affected. Deep, deep wounds remain, which cannot be fixed by superficial measures. Pray for the continuation of long-term programmes for counseling, rehabilitation and reconciliation. The Church has played and must continue to play a key role in the healing process; there is a great need for more ministries that focus on this.
b) Rwanda’s post-ethnic identity. Banning ethnic identification (Hutu, Tutsi and others) is regarded by many as a positive move. People are said to be Rwandans and only Rwandans. This may help dissolve ethnic divisions, but it may also allow current inequity in the balance of power to continue unopposed. Pray that all such inequity based on ethnicity might end.
c) The process of justice. Only 27 have been convicted in the International Criminal Tribunal. The normal judicial system could not cope with the burden, so the government initiated gacaca, community-based courts, to try lesser offenders. When done properly,gacaca allowed justice to be done and to be seen to be done. But a number of cases were poorly handled; pray that the Lord might bring justice and heal the wounds of those who did not receive fair treatment.
d) The release of prisoners, since the prisons can neither hold such large numbers nor afford the cost. The eventual reintegration of the 125,000-plus people originally imprisoned – many guilty of terrible crimes – will be a true test of Rwanda’s progress. Over half are no longer incarcerated. Some have not been tried. Some tried were found not guilty, some granted amnesty, others found guilty and served their sentence. Most releases trigger at least some outrage by past victims. Pray for true forgiveness as well as true repentance.
For an additional 7 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
Today We Join With Operation World in Praying for
St Pierre & Miquelon
Territorial Collectivity of St. Pierre and Miquelon
North America
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 242 sq kmAn island group at the mouth of Canada’s Gulf of St Lawrence, 25 km south of Newfoundland.
Population: 6,044 Annual Growth: -0.34%
Capital: St Pierre
Urbanites: 90.6%
Peoples
Official language: French Languages: 3 All languagesReligion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 5,859 | 96.94 | -0.6 |
| Evangelicals | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Challenges for Prayer
These isolated islands and their people have long been Catholic. Traditions are strong and change has come slowly, despite the economic downturn when the fishing industry all but disappeared. Pray for people to find hope in a living relationship with Christ.There are no longer any evangelical groups.The Baptists and AoG have both withdrawn from this hard field. While there may be a few private believers, there is no longer a formal evangelical or even Protestant presence in the islands.
More Information
The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of St Pierre & Miquelon.Sunday, October 16, 2011
Today We Join With Operation World in Praying for The Far Eastern Federal District, Russia
Far Eastern Federal District
Far Eastern Federal District
Russia
See Prayer Information
Challenges for Prayer
Sakha has a high degree of autonomy and is potentially wealthy with gold, diamonds, other minerals, oil and gas. Russians are 40% of the population; Sakha (also known as Yakut) are nearly 50%. The Sakha are a Turkic people, Christianized by the Orthodox Church, but with strong animist roots. Evangelical work was pioneered by Light in the East. InterAct and other agencies have joined them. In 1987, there were 30 Sakha believers, but now there are over 500, and they actively evangelize their own people. The NT in Sakha was completed in 2004 (IBT), GRN produced audio resources in Sakha, and Christian music in the unique Sakha style is flourishing.Primorsky Krai is predominantly Russian in population, but occupies a strategic location. Its capital, Vladivostok, is the terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway and the port for Russia’s Pacific fleet. It hosts a large Armenian community as well as over 100,000 Muslims from Russia’s minority peoples. Significantly, it is also connected directly to China and to North Korea by railways. Pray this strategic position is used to reach its unevangelized residents and neighbours.
For an additional 3 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
More Information
The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Far Eastern Federal District.John 20 (with text - press on more info.)
John 20 (New International Version © 2010)
John 20
The Empty Tomb
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher").
17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
The Purpose of John's Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20
The Empty Tomb
1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher").
17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
Jesus Appears to Thomas
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
The Purpose of John's Gospel
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Today We Join With Operation World in Praying for the Collectivity of Saint Martin, Caribbean
St Martin
Collectivity of Saint Martin
Caribbean
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 53 sq kmShares an island with Saint Maarten which is part of the Netherlands as well as several neighbouring islets. Part of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean.
Population: 38,250 Annual Growth: 1.64%
Capital: Marigot
Peoples
Official language: French. Other languages English, Dutch, Creole, PapiamentoReligion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 32,073 | 83.85 | 1.2 |
| Evangelicals | 972 | 2.5 | 4.3 |
Challenges for Prayer
The tropical location and French liberality combine to make this a playground for the most wealthy. Exclusive hotels, clothing-optional beaches, designer-clothing boutiques and cafés typify the island’s culture. There is little room for or interest in a life of service to Christ. Pray that in the midst of this elegant but hedonistic paradise, people might gain a hunger for an eternal heaven.A variety of churches serves the French, American and Caribbean populations. Many provide church services for holidaymakers as well as locals. Pray for unity and cooperation among the diverse denominations in this place where spiritual apathy is a much greater rival than other denominations.
For an additional Challenge for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
The Shout of Victory (1/4/07)
This may have recorded back in 2007 but the Word of God is always on time.
Psalm 47
Psalm 47
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 47
Psalm 47[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. 1 Clap your hands, all you nations;shout to God with cries of joy.
2 For the LORD Most High is awesome,
the great King over all the earth.
3 He subdued nations under us,
peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us,
the pride of Jacob, whom he loved.[b]
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings[c] of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
- Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
- Psalm 47:9 Or shields
Saturday, October 15, 2011
God is our refuge
God is our refuge - Lyrics
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, though the earth be removed, though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake, though the mountains shake, with the swelling thereof.
(repeat)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
God is our refuge and strength.
God is our refuge and strength.
Psalm 46
Psalm 46
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 46
Psalm 46[a]
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song. 1 God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the LORD has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
- Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
- Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
- Psalm 46:9 Or chariots
Today We Join With Operation World in Praying for
St Lucia
St. Lucia
Caribbean
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 617 sq kmWindward Islands between Martinique and St Vincent. One of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean.
Population: 173,942 Annual Growth: 1.04%
Capital: Castries
Urbanites: 28%
HDI Rank: 69 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Official language: English, but 80% speak French Creole (Kweyol) Languages: 2 All languagesReligion
Largest Religion: Christian| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 165,384 | 95.08 | 1.0 |
| Evangelicals | 25,303 | 14.5 | 3.2 |
Challenges for Prayer
The veneer of religion without true faith is a widespread problem – the more historic churches are in significant decline. Living Christianity decreasingly influences much of society, as increasing materialism undermines spiritual life. A staggering 86% of all children are born out of wedlock and 45% of all households are led by women. Pray for genuine renewal in the churches and for the spiritual and moral transformation of society.Evangelically oriented churches have multiplied – as have divisions. Pray for true unity amid the increasing diversity so that churches can offer a united front for the gospel’s sake. The Fellowship of Gospel Preaching Churches is working to develop that unity in practical terms.
For an additional 2 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
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