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Well, it's been 3 months since I've put one of these out. So many blessed things have happened in the last 3 months, though I would not want to continually live at that pace! March was consumed with preparing for our State-side visit and April was filled with that visit that touched us so much as God rekindled existing relationships and connections and forged new ones as well. That brings so much delight to me (to God as well, I believe) and I have such a desire to see that continue and grow. Our return at the beginning of May launched us into a time of connection and "logistics ministry" that has varied in intensity but not really stopped yet! Even as I write, a team of South African intercessors is in our region praying specifically for our little corner of the world. We've been lightly involved in these logistics as well. During this whole time, God has been faithful to teach and admonish and to supply our needs abundantly. There is the sense of His active presence in our lives and activity as a family. Certainly not without challenges, but my overall sense is one of gratitude and a God on the move! Read on to see how your prayers can make a difference. ;c)
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- Distraction - I'm pretty convinced that the enemy's #1 strategy in my life currently is distraction. Distraction leads to so many other problems, but I really see the root as distraction. The primary consequence of distraction is the fact that it robs my time with Jesus...and that leads to so many other problems. You may have seen Lou Engle's call for a 40-day fast leading up to July 7th (7/7/7). I'm not personally up for a 40-day food fast (I did 21-days once and it pretty much put me off long food fasts!), but I feel convicted to fast my "time". I've started a more focused/structured time in the Word a few days ago that will consume enough time in each day that SOMETHING has to give in my "busy-ness". I've got to learn how to let non-essentials drop, but more importantly, I've got to soak in God's presence and His Word. The soaking, in fact, is the key, I believe to letting those things drop and re-prioritizing. Additionally, of course, the soaking feeds what really needs to be fed...my heart! So, please pray that my "time" fast starves my distractions and facilitates the feeding of my heart and establishing new habits that go well beyond 40 days! ;c)
- Marriage Investment - Obviously "activity/things distraction" keeps me away not only from God, but also from Angela (and the kids). We've been having lots of discussions lately about how to concretely invest quality time in our marriage. Our primary struggles in implementing anything seem revolve around money and Angela's value of spontaneity up against my value of scheduling things that matter. We've still not got it completely worked out, but one step has been to "schedule" the money (i.e. start a monthly marriage investment budget) so that we have some means available when the spontaneity strikes. Of course, Mr. Schedule needs to continue his remedial spontaneity training as well! ;c) Please pray for us as we strive tenaciously to invest in our relationship against all that would seek to rob that investment.
- Worship/Intercession - Our church here in France, the "Joshua Church", has always had an identity as a worshiping and interceding church. That has been, if you will, its work of ministry. It is, in a sense, a call to do The 1st Commandment. What happens when one focuses on the 1st commandment is that the 2nd commandment eventually and inevitably flows from that. The priority or order of these two commandments is crucial, however. The enemy would love nothing better than for sincere, faith-filled Christians to get a bit fuzzy simply on the order of these two commandments. "Go ahead and do them both, if you must.", he says, "Just don't concern yourself with the order!" If we get the 2nd ahead of the 1st, we're on our way to burnout, division and messed up theology - our "1st love" is what keeps the "2nd love" healthy. At our church, which also has a calling on it to pray for the Christian School we're involved in, there are the strong stirrings of exciting new ways (for us anyway) to reach out and touch the community, to share the love of God and to serve people. This is exciting stuff and we see clearly the hand of God guiding this. As a member both of the intercession team and the worship leading team at church, I desire strongly that we, as a church body, understand that our roots in God are what have, and will continue to facilitate and feed fruitfulness. June 15th is the last 4-hour worship tabernacle that we have scheduled for this year (school year). We sense that we need to continue to grow our worship and intercession...our concrete, corporate focus on Jesus. What we don't know is the "how"...the next step. Please pray for the leadership in our church to know concretely in this next season how we, as a body, are to keep the 1st commandment in 1st place.
- End-of-school-year "Push" - The end is in sight! ;c) In Germany, Rachel is coming up on her final exams right now with school over at the end of next week. For the rest of us, school ends the 30th of June with the school "Fete". There is increased pressure in the teaching side of things with grades and such to prepare (which can also make computer problems at school more "dramatic"). There is the huge logistical undertaking of the end-of-year school fete, in which I'll be responsible for the sound team and Olivia and Noah will be participating in the various activities. It's a time where we need to keep pushing until the end like a runner leaning for the tape...when he is tired! In short, we need God's grace to persevere and a motivation of love in all we do. Please pray that we keep our "eyes on the prize" these next several weeks.
- Summer Intercession Project - Last summer our church "organized" an intercession walk around the borders of Alsace. This summer there will be an intercession walk from St. Louis, France (just across the border from Basel, Switzerland), through Switzerland, and on to Lyon, France. This is specifically to pray about how the Lord has used and wants to use the French and the Swiss in relationship with one another to advance His Kingdom. I'll be helping with this logistics of this and am currently getting the necessary information on the church web site. Please pray for those of us involved in the organization and also that the right people, especially French, Swiss and German, will be able to participate.
- School Attitudes - For a while now, Noah has struggled with his perspective and attitude about school. While his grades don't reflect it, he does have some real challenges at school, notably un-interested/disruptive classmates and language challenges. Lately, however, Olivia has also taken up the "chant" of a negative attitude about school...though she does not have Noah's challenges. While school attitudes are complex things...especially in teen and almost-teen years, one of my concerns is helping our kids understand the power of their words to affect challenging situations. We ask your prayers to help get across to Noah and Olivia that their mouths are not simply organs that "report" or "react" to situations but that they are tools that God has empowered to "change" situations and be "creative" and call things into being that are not, as though they were, and that it is important to wield those tools carefully and positively.
- Finances - The last three months have seen an unusual outpouring of finances for us. The trip to the States ate up much of that in all the traveling around and stocking up on things from the US that are hard to get or much more expensive here. We've no idea if this influx will continue like that, but it has given us enough extra that we can begin to deal with some things on our house...which is a huge answer to prayer. As there is always more to be done than can be afforded in one fell swoop, please pray that we would be good stewards of this little extra and that Angela and I would be in agreement on the best way use (spending/specific budgeting/etc.) these funds.
- This weekend in Strasbourg - This is a quick "timely" prayer request not personally for us, but which touches our region of Alsace specifically in the city of Strasbourg. Notably, also, that which touches Strasbourg touches Europe due to Strasbourg unique role in European politics. This weekend there will be the annual March For Jesus in Strasbourg, where the name of Jesus is exalted publicly in a live worship parade through the streets. Part of this gathering will be a multi-national prayer gathering at the European Parliament and the other European institutions in Strasbourg. At the same time...there will one of the largest international gatherings of Free Masonry. An emergency call for prayer from a US minister traveling to Strasbourg to participate in the March for Jesus gives these details: "This is the first time in 20 years that different streams of Mason's from Africa, Europe, and Latin America gather in Strasbourg. 50 countries will be represented for the first time since 1877 that British Free Masons and Global Free Masons will come together again hoping to reunite in brotherhood after a split from one another in 1877.The theme of this Free Masonry Gathering is called "Building Europe Building the World"." Simply pray that light would shine in the darkness and that the darkness would not overcome it!
Please let what touches your heart be what guides you in prayer. Don't worry about the rest.
Thank you!
David
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