Exhaustion

Do you ever feel like you are just drained beyond all reserved that you thought you had stored up? Have you felt like you can't face another day?

Today, I know I feel drained. I work as a school teacher and I get constantly challenged by students, attacked spiritually, and overloaded with things to do and think about that I, today, feel like I'm at that snapping point. I am sure that my daily life is less oppressive than many out there in the body, who are daily challenged by antagonists, attacked physically and politically, and threatened with death, torture, prison or fines.

For those of you that feel like you just can't go one more day with life as it is, this prayer is for you.

Lord I ask for refreshment first and foremost. I pray that each of your children will find the time to seek assurance in you and your promises. May your words be an ever present comfort. May songs of praise come to their lips to ever turn their eyes toward the heavens and cause their eyes to seek signs of your presence. May the body be your hands and feet - going out among each other to encourage and edify. May the topics of conversation be God-focused rather than self-focused for it is only when we think of ourselves less that we become selfless.
I also ask for rest and sleep. May there be no dreams that are not from you. May there be no terror at night. May your children be protected in their beds physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually for you protect your children from the sun during the day and the moon at night.
I pray for those who travel. Whether it be traveling between home and home group/church/house church meetings or traveling because persecution has tossed people out of their homes and they were no longer safe. I pray that you provide safe houses along the way to hide and shelter your precious children.
May you fill their feet and souls with strength that is diminishable. May your Spirit speak words of truth to spur them onward. May they continually shine your light where ever they go - fearlessly preaching the Word, the Good News, and proving that Jesus is the Christ - darling of heaven and savior of the world. May they be as Paul was; blessed with endurance that flowed forth from your Spirit. May there be no fear but always trust that no hand can lay harm to your children if it could not bring Glory to Your Name. For to die is gain, and to live is Christ.
Thank you for being our ever present help in times of need.
Amen.

Spritual Attacks

It's funny how satan has no new tricks - just the old ones that he uses over and over again. Sometimes - if he can get the non-Christians around Christ Followers to not care about their faith - he attacks our heads and minds and tries to be more subtle with lies in our minds, things like sickness, and broken relationships, etc. And other times - if he can get the non-Christians to raise up verbally and physically against Christ Followers - he attacks us physically literally trying to destroy our very lives (in addition to all the other mental attacks he uses).
Today, I am walking into a battle field as a teacher and I was drawn to the question is this worth it. You see, I'm a new teacher this year and today is the day of parent/student orientation. Today I feel like I need to be prepared and to show myself as prepared, and I DO NOT FEEL ready. I'm being attacked with anxiety, perfectionism, and stress. I am spending money I don't have. I feel like I'm freaking out and coming apart at the seams because I am neither mentally prepared nor is my classroom physically ready for them to walk in the door.
And I ask myself, is this really worth all the hassle, going through all this trouble, just to teach? The answer (which actually surprised myself): YES!
Why? Because God has a purpose in my life and He put me HERE for is Kingdom Plan. Anything that furthers his plan is worth it - even if it doesn't feel like it. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this place is where God wants me to be. He hand crafted my team of teachers and mentor teacher to be around me for support. He picked my principal. He choose my students (I just haven't met them yet - by the way I do have 3 pairs of students with the same first name).  I am meant to be here. And I don't need to be ready and all set to do it myself because I'm not supposed to do it myself. I am suppose to do it with him and he has prepared me to depend on him for all I need in this.
So... Today I will drive to school, knowing that what I am doing is worth any cost because the gains are infinitely greater and more important that anything I could lose. And even if I lose anything, God can and will use it for my good because I love Him!
May you, as you face your trails, be secure enough in him to say unequivocally, "Yes. This is worth it for my Lord and Savior in whom I trust is Good, Loves me, is With me, and has Good Plans for me. "

Suspected Islamists Shoot Five Christians to Death in Pakistan

Here is the link to the article: Suspected Islamists Shoot Five Christians to Death in Pakistan

Influencing others/Moving in Power

Father, I pray against the power of your enemies to influence those who are blind and cannot see truth. May their efforts to attack and destroy those who would see you for who you are be naught in the face of your glory. I pray that you show yourself to those men that they might become your greatest advocates. Show yourselves and raise up a generation of Saul's become Paul's. Reroute their passion and fervor for your glory. May those that they attack be a light unto them. May those who are oppressed speak loudly with no shame so that the men that persecute them might quail in fear of what God might be so great that they don't fear death or pain. When light comes, darkness must flee - it has no choice. May the words of believers shed light into the hearts of men. May their boldness, courage, wisdom and discernment astound their opposition. May they have no words to stand up against them despite all their knowledge and training. Bring forth miracle workers full of faith and gifts of healing. Bless many with tongues and the interpretation of tongues as well as prophesy so that many may come to the faith. Allow baptisms to continue unmolested as people receive the holy spirit and thereby are fill with Your Power. Encourage your children to trust that you are the same God of today as you were yesterday and as you will be tomorrow - you will show your power if we step out in faith and ask. Give your children greater faith to ask and depend on you - you do not have because you do not ask, so I pray that we have the courage to ask. May we ask "God big" instead of "human small" with full expectations that you will move in power through us.
Amen.

Christian Nursing Student Nearly Dies from Assault in Pakistan

A Christian Nursing student was thrown from a window after being gang-raped by fellow doctors. Read the article here.

Two Chrisitians Play Dead to Survive Attack in India

Two men were beaten because the attackers claimed they were forcing conversions. The link to the article is here.

Pastor in Russian Republic of Dagestan Killed

Recently a Pastor was shot when leaving his church. It is suspected that the reasons behind this was because he was converting too many ethnic Muslims and was himself a local who converted to Christianity. Here is the news article reporting his death.