Sabbath Prayers

                   

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 (KJV)

James wrote to believers scattered under pressure, reminding them that prayer was not a final option when everything else failed—it was their first and greatest resource. 

Let us not measure the effectiveness of our prayers by immediate visible change. Some answers unfold gradually, shaped by divine timing. Continue to pray with faith, not frustration. Our tears are seen. 

Almighty Father, ignite our prayer life with fresh faith. Teach us to pray with persistence and confidence in Your promises. 

Today we once again pray for Samira - grant her physical and mental resilience as she recovers from Immunotherapy. For Lisa, as she walks through a difficult and challenging time in her life - We pray for her daughter  Arielle during her treatment and upcoming chemo.  For strength to Lisa in re-building her life and her court case. We pray for Victoria and Alison, for Joan and Lindsey. 

And Lord, we widen this prayer to every person fighting cancer right now. We pray for Lexi as she battles her addiction; for Paladin for the DNA Test. For Janes husband to get a job; For peace for Trishy' Finally Lord we pray for Jen and the chemo she is going through. Thank you for the markers remaining stable and the efficacy of the treatment. For the doctor as well as strength for Jen. 

May this Sabbath bring:

Rest that restores. Peace that settles the soul. Joy that rises from gratitude. Faith that grows deeper. Light that guides every step.

May the peace of this day linger in our hearts long after the sun sets, fueling our purpose for the week to come.

Amen.

Please join us every week in our Sabbath Prayer for the week. We request your support in adopting prayer points for people mentioned, in your own prayers this week and become vessels of His healing.

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Living with Intentionality

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Every human being has a daily choice - to live randomly or live intentionally with purpose.

As Christians, we are to live intentionally or with intentionality, which is a life according to God's plan, Gods word and Gods purpose. 

But the most intense Christian faces an enemy within himself - the mind. The mind is random and leads us into thoughts which create fear, uncertainty and doubt. Or lead us into dreams based on untruths. The mind can take us into a false paradise or into a false hell. No matter how logical or intelligent we are, reaching a conclusion based on truth is an uphill task because each of us has a different truth - governed by logic and probability - and which is changing constantly. So what does one do? Where do we anchor our minds?

The answer is obvious: Gods truth and Gods word is constant. Never changing.

But, while we can try and anchor in the word of God, the outside world still crowds our minds - and uncertainty and doubts and fears still assail us. We therefore need a filter for our minds - not to block out world but to live within this world and yet let only His word dwell in our minds because that's where it all starts.

We therefore need a filter and the quoted verse tells us how to create that filter, with knowledge of the Word of God. That is where Christian maturity comes in. 

Maturity is the ability to choose your thoughts rather than letting your thoughts choose you. You are the gatekeeper of your imagination, and you have the authority to deny entry to any thought that does not align with the peace of God. When you intentionally focus on what is true, lovely, and of a good report, you are not simply ignoring the harsh realities of life; you are choosing to dwell in a higher reality that governs the lower one. Because God has your life and it's actions in His hand. We don't. Therefore, He creates the reality, we don't. If he has promised healing - it will happen. If He has promised abundance it will happen. But: In His wisdom and His time. 

Basis this, spiritual maturity is found in the believer who has learned to shut the door on spiraling unreal, anxious thoughts before they have a chance to take root and grow into a harvest of panic. Strengthening your walk involves a daily cleaning of the mental filter by washing your mind with the Word. As you choose to think on these things, you will find that your outlook becomes bright and your spirit becomes resilient against the storms of life. Let your mind be a sanctuary of hope that reflects the light of Christ to a dark world. Yield your focus to the leading of the Holy Spirit today and watch how He transforms your perspective.

Lessons from a Hiding Place

The story of Corrie ten Boom—a Dutch watchmaker who, along with her family, hid Jews during the Holocaust and later survived the Ravensbrück concentration camp—is one of the most powerful testimonies of the 20th century. Her life offers profound lessons on the limits of human strength and the boundlessness of divine grace. Her Book is available here 

​Here are the key lessons we can learn from her testimony:

​1. Forgiveness is an Act of the Will, Not a Feeling

​Perhaps her most famous lesson came after the war when she encountered a former S.S. guard from Ravensbrück. She felt paralyzed by hatred and could not bring herself to shake his hand.

• ​The Lesson: Forgiveness is a decision. Corrie prayed, "I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling."

• ​Takeaway: When we are commanded to love our enemies, God doesn’t just give the command; He provides the love itself when our own has run dry.

​2. "No Pit is So Deep That God’s Love is Not Deeper Still"

​Corrie and her sister Betsie lived through the unspeakable horrors of the "Extermination Camp" for women. Even in a place defined by dehumanization and death, they found that God’s presence was accessible.

• ​The Lesson: There is no environment or situation so dark that it can shut out the light of God.

• ​Takeaway: We often feel our circumstances are "too much" for faith to survive, but Corrie’s life proves that faith is often most visible in total darkness.

​3. Gratitude in All Circumstances (Even the "Fleas")

​In the barracks at Ravensbrück, the women were tormented by an infestation of fleas. While Corrie complained, Betsie insisted they thank God for them. They later discovered the guards refused to enter their barracks because of the fleas, which allowed the sisters to hold secret Bible studies and prayer meetings undisturbed.

• ​The Lesson: We rarely see the full picture of why we are enduring a particular "nuisance" or hardship.

• ​Takeaway: Gratitude isn't about liking your situation; it’s about trusting that God can use even the most miserable details for a greater purpose.

​4. Preparation for the Future

​Corrie often spoke about how her father, Casper, prepared her for suffering. He told her that God gives us the "ticket" (the strength) for the journey just as we are about to board the train, not weeks in advance.

• ​The Lesson: Don’t worry about whether you have the strength to handle a future crisis today.

• ​Takeaway: God provides "dying grace" for the day of death and "suffering grace" for the day of trial. You will have what you need when you need it, and not a moment before.

​5. Holding Earthly Things Lightly

​Corrie lived by the mantra: "I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess."

• ​The Lesson: Tightening our grip on possessions, reputations, or even loved ones only leads to more pain when they are taken.

• ​Takeaway: True security is found only in the "Hiding Place"—the person of God—rather than in physical safety or worldly stability.

​Core Quotes to Remember:

• ​"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength."

• ​"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

• ​"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"