Make It Right Prayer Highlight 6/27-7/1/11

Brenda Shaw, Make It Right Event Chair Prayer Highlight for 6/27-7/1/11

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before you in the Name of Jesus praising you and worshiping You as our Lord and Savior. We thank you for Your Hand of mercy in our lives today.

We lift our Make It Right Event Chair, Brenda, before Your throne and ask that You would be her sufficiency as she continues to undertake leading this event. We ask that You would surround her with your peace as she manipulates her daily schedule to include the many responsibilities that this chair position demands. Send her Your encouragement. Give her Your wisdom. Help her as she trusts in You to be her sufficiency.

Thank you for Brenda and the incredible skills and talents that You bless her with that enable her to be the BEST woman for this position. Thank you for her husband and daughter who come along side her in this. Bless them as they too make the sacrifices needed out of their family time.

We ask for continual stamina, perseverance, and determination as Brenda presses on in this role. Bless her Lord, today and always.

In Your Name, Jesus, we ask these things. Amen 

Prayer for the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle World Vision Team

Running for IMPACTS

Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon and Half Marathon

Tomorrow four women from our Chapter, Brenda Shaw and Jamie Samuelson along with Annie Brandt and Julie Sievert will be running in the Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon to raise money for IMPACTS, which stands for Improving Management of Programs and Aftercare for Children Trafficked and Sexually Exploited, in Cambodia. Over the past five years, World Vision has been a key player in establishing a network of partnerships that ensures vulnerable girls are receiving quality restorative care as they come out of Cambodia?s sex industry. World Vision and its partners (World Hope International, Hagar) create a case management plan for each child to support her in becoming physically, mentally, and emotionally well until she can be reintegrated back into family or community life or is otherwise able to leave the residential facility.

World Vision extends its deepest thanks to you for providing meaningful assistance to girls removed from forced prostitution and sexual abuse in Cambodia. The activities that you are supporting are enabling them to start a new chapter in their lives. (World Vision Donor Report - June 2010)
Please consider sponsoring one of these women as they run in the Seattle Rock n Roll Marathon tomorrow. Click here to make donations of any amount.

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the Name of Jesus, praising You that You can use each of us to bring hope and good news to others. We thank you for the members of our Chapter who are running in this race to raise money for IMPACTS.

Lord we ask that you would protect both of our participants, Jamie and Brenda. Thank you for giving them the strength, stamina and perseverance to do this race. Thank you for working on the hearts of others who have heard their ask for financial and prayer support. We praise You that Jamie's financial goal has been met and that Brenda too will reach her goal. We praise You that children in Cambodia who have been removed from forced prostitution and sexual abuse will receive care and be restored, renewed and re-established in communities where they are valued and respected. We are so thankful for these two women who are literally "going the extra mile(s)" on their behalf.

Bless this event in all facets and all who participate in any way. Let it be a glorious day as a testimony to You and your redemptive work in the World!

We love You, Jesus. In Your Name we pray. Amen.

Prayer for the Make It Right Event

Make It Right

Sheryl WuDunn Event



Dear Heavenly Father,

We come to you in the Name of Jesus praising You as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and sustainer of all life. We bow down before You today with our will and surrender our way to Yours. We are humbled by Your mercy and grace in our lives and ask that You would show us Your way today, Lord.

We bring the Make It Right event before Your throne. You and You alone know what is the “necessary” of this event. We ask that You would give us Your wisdom on what to do and what not to do, when to go and when to wait, when to ask and when to be silent. Lord, this feels huge, but we serve a huge God; it seems impossible, but we serve the God of the possible; it feels overwhelming, but we serve a God who “supports us in the whelming flood”. We ask for funding, workers, audience with those who have means. Lord, we are a small group believing in faith that we are called to a larger-than-life task. We believe that this is Your will and we look to You. We need donors, sponsors and attendees. We need more members for our committees. We need You.

Lord, we want to bring honor and glory to Your Name through this event. We ask that this event would be great in Your Kingdom. We ask that those who don’t know You, Jesus, through this event will come to know You; we ask that all of us would be drawn closer to You as a result of Your working in our lives as we plan, participate and prevail. Lord, we ask for unity amongst us, for common purpose, for strong communication. Bind us together, Lord, as a testimony to Your Love.

Lord we will give You all the glory and honor and praise for we know that it is only through your grace and mercy that we accomplish your Kingdom work. We look to you for the great that You will do on our behalf. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen

June Devotional

From Mountain Tops to Suddenly

Living Life in the Dots

Church of Living Water

Pastor Ron Cobler 6/12/11

Habakkuk 2

Pastor Cobler’s sermon “From Mountain Tops to Suddenly” focuses on how God works through change which often results in us waiting. We are in the midst of change Nationally, locally and in our own lives and we find ourselves living in the dots. . . What are the dots? The dots are marks used between the end of one statement and the beginning of another but what happened in-between was too long to write so the writer uses a series of dots for what is omitted. These marks are called ellipsis from the Latin word meaning to fall short.  There are times when personal promises can come to us as we read scripture or when we pray. It is wonderful when we see the promise fulfilled, but the time between the promise and the fulfillment requires us to wait. That waiting time is living in the dots or the ellipsis.

In Acts 2:4b “He gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” The disciples may have been surprised when Jesus ascended into Heaven that the Holy Spirit did not descend sooner. Instead, they began a time of waiting in the upper room. The disciples were living in the dots waiting for the fulfillment of the promise. They were waiting for the “suddenly” of Acts 2:2-3 “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from Heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” They had gone from a mountain top watching Jesus ascend into Heaven to waiting for the “suddenly” to happen.  When we find ourselves waiting on the Lord, what should we do?

On way to survive living in the ellipsis is to embrace the dots trusting God and in faith believing that we may not understand the dots, but we trust the God of the dots. God’s timing is different than ours and we must not grow weary in waiting. We don’t want to be one dot Christians who step out in obedience and when circumstances don’t change we give up waiting and we go back to doing it our way. Often these dots over time can suck faith, hope and joy out of our lives and the dots become like a black hole drawing us into it. Psalm 23 promises us that even if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil. God promises us that we will never be alone, someone greater than the black hole is on our side. Everything that comes into our lives has gone through the Father filter because God has allowed it. Embrace the waiting and hold on to God’s Word. 

A second way to survive the dots is to find a handhold from the Word in the midst of the ellipsis. In Habakkuk 1:2 we read “How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” God replies in Chapter 2:2 “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”  Here we read that although it may take a while, what we are waiting for will happen. The only word that will get us across the bridge from ellipsis to the suddenly is the word faith. Without it, we will fall short. One day, we will look back on the dots with gratitude because we will see how God used the time of waiting for our good. Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart to your testimony and not to selfish gain. In the dots, we begin to see our hearts and who we really are and when we hold on we begin to see who God really is. The dots squeeze us so that we can see what is in us. We see our need for Him and we turn to Heaven and praise God that He loves us. Our independence turns to dependence, we become humble and we begin to look like Jesus more and more as we focus on His Word as our stronghold.

God is working in the change around each of us. As we embrace the time of waiting on the Lord we begin to trust Him more and we find peace. When we find ourselves living in the dots, we need to grab hold of something from the Word of God as our anchor. While we wait, we need to be intentional in increasing our faith in Jesus. God is using the change to conform us more to His image. One day when we see Him face to face, the ellipsis between now and forever will be filled in. All will be revealed and we will fall at His feet, grateful.  

First Saturday Prayer for June

Make It Right

From Oppression to Opportunity

The Western Washington chapters of Women of Vision have gathered together to present an educational event and fundraiser. Our South Puget Sound Chapter will be raising funds for our International project, the Aftercare Facility in Cambodia. We ask that you join us in praying for this event that will take place on September 18, 2011 at the Hyatt in Bellevue, WA. Sheryl WuDunn, author of Half the Sky, will be our keynote speaker with Renee Stearns, wife of World Vision President Rich Stearns.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before you in the matchless, wonderful Name of Jesus and ask that you would help us in this event planning, preparation and presentation. Our heart is to bring about a greater understanding of global, National and local human trafficking through Sheryl WuDunn. Give her the words to open hearts to the reality of this issue. Lord, we want to see captives set free, broken hearts mended, and comfort brought to those victims who mourn about their losses from injustice. Use us Lord to bring Light to the darkness!

Lord, we specifically ask for an emcee for the evening. We ask for someone who would be the catalyst to blend all facets of the evening into a smoothly flowing event, someone who will bring an aspect of entertainment, yet respect the seriousness of the topic and help bring people to a point of action. We need a person knowledgeable about human trafficking, familiar with the Seattle culture and who also has a heart for World Vision, Women of Vision and You. Thank you for opening doors for this person and bless them for their part.

Lord, we ask that You would help us to raise funds to impact the human trafficking darkness. We pray specifically that each chapter would raise their pledged sum for their projects. That the monies allotted for this event will be paid back in full and that funds would be raised for projects beyond what we could think or ask. We ask that You would sell each seat three times. We ask for underwriters to cover the cost. Lord, we ask BIG because we believe that You are the God of the BIG and miraculous.

Give us wisdom about the program for the evening. We ask that You would send the music that will be pleasing to You and that will honor and glorify Your Name with praise and thanksgiving. We pray that all details for the program will unfold this coming week so that the collateral, communication and advertising can begin. Let nothing hinder this progress.

We ask that people would use wisdom and follow the necessary protocols and procedures in all matters and that each responsible person would be able to complete their task with excellence remembering that each part is time sensitive.

We praise You Lord for each person connected with this event. We ask that you would bless each one. Lord, You have orchestrated a team of mighty, godly women who “do” so that others can live life in its fullness. We praise You that You have called us to this event at such a time as this and that You will equip us in every way to be all that we can be as a testimony to all that You are! We do not presume that we are sufficient in ourselves for this or any other task that we do to advance Your kingdom. We praise You that You send Your Holy Spirit to guide us through this process and that we cannot fail because You are the center of this work.

We praise You and worship You as the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Worthy is the Lamb to receive glory and honor and blessing. In Your Name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Prayer for "Finding Lacy" Conference

Prayer for "Do You Know Lacy?" Training Day June 3, 2011

Overlake Church, Redmond, WA

Information:

The name “Lacy” is used to represent all survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking.

“Hi, my name is Lacy.

I’m about 13 years old.

I am rented every night to different men.

I live in your community.

Will you please help me?”

"Shared Hope International exists to rescue and restore girls just like Lacy. They want to provide for her a safe and secure place to heal and an opportunity for new life. Prostituting of our children is so revolting. Shared Hope International works to assist activists and legislators to create laws to prevent the offense and punish the offender, so no more girls will have their innocence stolen like Lacy's was.

It is so easy to walk by this girl and not even know it . . . she's in your church, your school, the shopping mall, the drug store, the clinic, the nail salon. That’s why Shared Hope is also passionate about training people like to identify and help the girls like Lacy in their  community.

Training Track options : Law Enforcement, Social Service Providers, Advocates of Youth who directly work with youth in supportive roles – teachers and principals, youth pastors, students (university and high school), Crisis centers (such as pregnancy and drug) youth empowerment organizations, peer programs, anti-trafficking groups/task forces, the Boys and Girls Club, Boy/Girl Scouts, YMCA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, etc.; Fighting DEMAND (Men Only),Community Advocates

Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before you in the Name of Jesus asking that You would make a way for people throughout the Puget Sound Area who are law enforcement agents, social service providers, advocates of youth, men who want to fight the demand and community advocates against human trafficking to attend this conference. Lord, we need people educated about the problem in this area, equipped to make a change and empowered to persevere in the fight against this atrocity against children. We pray that a grassroots task force would emerge from this conference that will impact the darkness in our local area.

Thank You for Shared Hope International. We ask that You would bless this organization and protect those involved with this ministry. Prosper them financially and allow them to extend their reach globally.

Thank You for what You will do through this conference.
In Jesus Name we pray, amen.

May Devotional

Just Stay

 A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside. "Your son is here," she said to the old man. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. "Who was that man?" the Marine asked.

The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.

"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life.

"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed. I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey. His son was killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this Gentleman's Name?"

The nurse with tears in her eyes answered, “Mr. William Grey.”

This is an email story currently circling cyber space. It gives us a strong visual image of what we are to do with God: Hold tightly to His Hand and “just stay” as we take this life journey. We are to wait on Him because “God acts on behalf of those who wait for Him” Isaiah 64:4. During the long hours of waiting it is easy to be discouraged, we feel as if God has forgotten as this dying man must have felt. Charles Stanley writes in 30 Life Principals on page 47

     “You may feel as if God has forgotten you. He has not. God is always at work, and
      at this very moment He is engineering your situation to provide His very best for you.
      In fact, He is lining up circumstances in a way that is better than you could ever imagine
      (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Another example to us from this story is how the Marine whispered words of strength and encouragement. As we wait on the Lord He whispers His Word of love and encouragement to us. Isaiah 40:28-31

    “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the
     ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
     He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired
     and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their
     strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk
     and not be faint.”

When we stay focused on God and His Word nothing around us causes us to lose our focus and our strength is renewed, our purpose is verified and God’s plan is revealed to us. When we put blinders on our hearts and minds to the world and its resounding gongs and clanging symbols, He intimately speaks to us of His love and the pleasure He takes in giving us the best that He has for our lives.

Taking a second look at this Marine, we glean another lesson. We see how we are to be God’s Hands extended to bring encouragement and comfort to others. As we reach out to those marginalized in our world that live in poverty, we too can not only share words of encouragement but we can take action to make a difference and bring Light to their darkness. It is not easy to deny ourselves the conveniences and comfort that giving to others often requires. Some of us know like this Marine the smells, sounds and sights of sitting by a hospital bed as a loved one lingers and finally breathes their last breath. As Women of Vision, we know that the needs of those who are waiting to be released from modern day slavery do not present a savory picture to our world. Through our advocacy efforts we have seen how people prefer to stay in their comfort zone, live their life and turn an eye to the needs of victims of sex and labor trafficking. God’s Word admonishes us to reach out to the poor and needy in our world to bring them hope and freedom.

“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:1b-3

Is this not a perfect picture of modern day slaves and what we can do to make a difference in their lives? As we stay the course of our cause against slavery, we know that God will bring His Word to pass and prisoners will be released from darkness, their broken hearts will be mended and they will wear a crown of beauty instead of ashes. They will walk in fullness of life in ways they never thought possible. Staying the course is stressful and we will come under attack, yet we know that “Though the righteous man falls seven times, he rises again” (Proverbs 24:16). The discomfort is worth it when we see bills become laws in Olympia and in Washington DC, when we see changed lives through documentaries like “Money + Sex” and when we learn about how Light has overcome darkness in the World Vision After Care Facility in Cambodia. God is faithful to His Word and to His children.

The title of this story is compelling to us as Christians. As we fulfill our role in our Women of Vision Chapter, let us remember it. We are faced with the planning, preparation and presentation of another major event to educate Puget Sound about the condition of women and children in the world who suffer. We find ourselves overextended, out of our comfort zone, and frustrated with a plethora of details. Let’s remember the image of this Marine in the story. Just stay holding tightly to the Hand of God; just stay on course as we present an event to raise funds for human trafficking victims; just stay and watch Him do the miraculous.