Prayer Request: January 7 - January 31, 2006

Pray for my friend Emily that she is delivered from drug addiction and prostitution and her bi-polarism and that God has mercy on her and by the power of the Holy Ghost that she cry's out for His mercy. --- Jordan

father god, thank you so much for all the blessings you gave me for the past days... my friends... my family... lord, please help me with my workload, especially now that I need to be creative and fast so that I can finish my work and meet my deadlines. Thank you Lord. Amen. --- a8

Running Away from the Father

RUNNING AWAY FROM THE FATHER
by Max Lucado

When I was seven years old, I ran away from home. I'd had enough of my father's rules and decided I could make it on my own, thank you very much. With my clothes in a paper bag, I stormed out the back gate and marched down the alley. Like the prodigal son, I decided I needed no father. Unlike the prodigal son, I didn't go far. I got to the end of the alley and remembered I was hungry, so I went back home. But though the rebellion was brief, it was rebellion nonetheless. And had you stopped me on that prodigal path between the fences and asked me who my father was, I just might have told you how I felt. I just might have said, "I don't need a father. I'm too big for the rules of my family. It's just me, myself and my paper bag."I don't remember saying that to anyone, but I remember thinking it. And I also remember rather sheepishly stepping in the back door and taking my seat at the supper table across from the very father I had, only moments before, disowned. Did he know of my insurrection? I suspect he did. Did he know of my denial? Dads usually do. Was I still his son? Apparently so. (No one else was sitting in my place.) Had you gone to my father after you had spoken to me and asked, "Mr. Lucado, your son says he has no need of a father. Do you still consider him your son?" What would my dad have said? I don't have to guess at his answer. He called himself my father even when I didn't call myself his son. His commitment to me was greater than my commitment to him. I didn't hear the rooster crow like Peter did. I didn't feel the fish belch like Jonah did. I didn't get a robe and a ring and sandals like the prodigal did. But I learned from my father on earth what those three learned from their Father in heaven. Our God is no fair-weather Father. He's not into this love-'em-and-leave-'em-stuff. I can count on him to be in my corner no matter how I perform. You can, too.

Prayer Request: December 21, 2005 - January 6, 2006

My husband and i have been trying to have a child for 5 years now. Please pray that god will bless us with a child. --- annie

Please pray for TS. Pray that God will soften her heart and show how love and show love and concern. Pray that the Lord will keep her awake at night and speak to her about this matter. --- John

My sister Judy is having open heart surgery Jan.3.2006 and has only been given a 30 % chance to make it off the table. Please pray for her that the Lord will be with her and have his arms around her. And let her come through this surgery and recover with no problems. --- Judy

father god, please help me. something's wrong with my stomach. i don't feel well about it. please help me. i hope to see a doctor soon and I hope results will show nothing bad about it. amen. --- your son

FORGIVEN AND ADOPTED

I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. Mark 3:28

The novelist, A. J. Cronin, tells a story from his own experience as a doctor that catches the wonder of the gift of grace. Cronin was a friend of the Adams family who lived in the Connecticut suburbs. At the close of the Second World War, Mr. and Mrs. Adams decided to open their home to a little refugee boy from Italy with the outlandish name of Paul Piotrostanalsi. The Adams had two daughters and a six-year old son named Sammy. Sammy and Paul became inseparable friends, but little Paul was a difficult child, and often disobeyed Mr. and Mrs. Adams.

One day, little Paul went swimming in some contaminated water. He became very ill with a high fever, and the doctor suggested he sleep in an attic bedroom. But little Sammy missed his friend Paul so much that one night he crept up the attic stairs and into bed with Paul. Paul's contagious breath fell on Sammy's neck all night. In the morning, Sammy, never a strong child, became deathly ill. Paul recovered his health, but Sammy died within three days. It was a terrible tragedy for the Adams family.

A year later Dr. Cronin decided to pay a call on the Adams family. But as he pulled into their driveway, he was amazed and then angry as he saw Paul, the refugee boy, working in the garden with Mr. Adams. He got out of his car and angrily approached Mr. Adams. "What's this Paul Pio........whatever his name is, doing here after what he did to your family?" Mr. Adams looked at the doctor and then said quietly, "Dr. Cronin, you won't have any more trouble with Paul's name. You see, he's Paul Adams now. We've adopted him."

God has more than forgiven us, He as adopted us. Today in prayer, thank the Lord that His forgiveness is greater than any sin in our life. There is more grace in God's heart than there is sin in your past. - Erwin Lutzer

God's Word: Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Take heart, son; yoursins are forgiven. Matthew 9:2