Call to Prayer
- Dec 13, 2022
FFCC Prayer Sharing
Call to Prayer - FFCC Prayer Sharing
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Breath of Heaven
Have you ever stopped to consider how incredibly exhilarating and disorienting it must have been for Joseph and Mary to be informed that they had been chosen to be the earthly parents of the Christ-child? The scriptures tell us that both Joseph and Mary were told separately that this pregnancy was part of God’s plan for the salvation of mankind. How do you think you would have responded in their position?
As I consider each of the challenges that these two had to face, I think of my own responsibilities as a pastor, husband and father. There are so many good things that one can do as a pastor, husband and father, but what is the right thing to do? Put yourself in Joseph or Mary’s place. How do you parent the Son of God? Joseph and Mary certainly weren’t perfect parents, but there are several qualities that stick out to me that I believe we can emulate.
Many scholars believe that Mary may have been as young as 13 when she was told by the angel that she would bear the Messiah. Her response was full of faith and humility.
“And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’” Luke 1:38
Mary’s humility before God was shown through pure worship.
And Mary said,“ My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Luke 1:46-55
Mary found her strength and joy in God’s purpose for her life. Her faith in God gave her a certainty in the outcome that had been promised her by the angel. True humility before God produces joy!
Joseph was Mary’s betrothed husband – a just man who did not want to do any harm to Mary despite her apparent unfaithfulness. When he had determined to “divorce her quietly”, an angel appeared to him to tell him that the child conceived was from the Holy Spirit. How did Joseph respond? With the same faith and humility that we saw in Mary.
“When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”
Matthew 1:24-25
Joseph’s obedience to God is demonstrated in several other decisions. When the angel comes to warn Joseph about Herod’s plan to destroy Jesus, he humbly obeys and takes Mary and Jesus to Egypt. After the death of Herod, Joseph was once again told in a dream to go back to the land of Israel. Once again, we see that Joseph obeyed the command of the Lord.
It seems like it might be convenient to have an angel appear in my dreams every time my family faces a difficult decision. Even though this doesn’t happen to me, I know that God has called me to obedience regardless. God has given us His Holy Word. Who am I to ask for a vision from God if I haven’t submitted myself humbly to the revelation of God’s truth already given?
As you move into the next couple of weeks of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, I hope that you will ask the Lord to show you ways in which you can emulate the humility ad obedience in Mary and Joseph. God’s work on earth is accomplished through the faithful obedience of God’s people.
Please take a moment to read through the list of prayer needs below:
- Remi & Carline Mesilus - Carline and Remi are doing well. Ask for prayers for God's continued grace on their kids up North and for their ministry in Haiti.
- Orlando Espinosa - Ongoing prayer for direction for hid family and everything they have been going through
- Linda and Steve Pauls - Continued prayer for sister in law Charlene and her treatment plan
- Vaugelas, Evaudie & Ermithe Pierre - His health is now improving and is stable he continues to be cared for by his doctors asked for continued prayer for peace in Haiti and for the safety of his ministry team.
- Nubia Melo - Prayer for relief from headache.
- Barbara Butler - Still recovering from hip surgery and going for physical therapy
- Ron & Susan Vandermeer - Susan will be having gallbladder surgery to remove the gallbladder as soon as her platelets come backup.
- Frank Fallman - Doing well but needs continued prayer that his blood pressure will continue to stablize
- Randy & Sandy Conner - They continue to help out Courtney and Vinnie. Prayers for Courtney's health
- Neeta Rose - Neeta Rose is requesting prayer for her brother’s family. He just passed away this past week. He was young, and leaves a wife, and kids. Neeta is in deep grief as well.
Please feel free to share your own prayer needs by commenting them below.
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Update on Scott Burns, as of latest blood work he now has sepsis
Asking for prayers for Rose Burns, who used to attend FFCC, her son Scott has lymphoma and is in the hospital with the flu. At one point his blood pressure dropped and his temperature got up to around 104