Praying for Families In Montgomery

These past two weeks have brought many challenges for families in Montgomery. I have several friends who have children with long term chronic issues. A family lost their son to a freak accident at a high school and one of our Baptist churches had a horrific car accident that fortunately had no fatalities. Difficult times bring unrest and challenges for famillies dealing with either short term or long term issues.....

I thought about other families in Montgomery. I know there are famiies who RIGHT THIS MINUTE are going through many difficult times.

Just this past week I heard about families struggling with these things:

Cancer

Finances

School issues

Job losses

Poverty

Mental Illness

Chronic Illnesses(MS, Diabetes, depression, etc)

Children straying away

Older parents needing assistance

Retirement depression

Divorce

This week, take some time as you are driving around, going to restaurants, sitting in church and look at the families who are around you. A lot of them are probably carrying burdens that you don't even realize. They are trying to hold it together though feeling like they are about to explode inside.

Here are some specifics to pray for our Montgomery families:

1. Pray that they first of all will realize that they are loved with an everlasting love from a Father in Heaven who knows their every thought. He created them so he knows them better than anyone else. Pray that they feel and know in their hearts that love. For those who do not know the Lord in a personal way, pray for a hunger for Him to be the boss of their life.

2. Pray that they will be able to hand over their situations to the one who promised to be Provider, Healer and Guide to them. Pray that they will not try to take that burden back but lay it at the foot of the Cross.

3. Pray for support to surround them. Sometimes just having someone to give you a hug or pat you on the back and say " I am here for you" can make a world of difference.

4. Pray for provision on whatever is needed: finances, the right doctors, a new job, counseling, etc.

5. And pray for ourselves to be aware of what God is doing around us and being willing to join him in it.

I leave with you this week my favorite promise in the Bible ...pray this prayer for families in Montgomery.

Isaiah 30:20-21 "Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the left or to the right, your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, 'this is the way, walk in it." NRSV

It Is That Time of Year!

I saw a church sign today as I was coming into work. It reminded us all to pray for our schools. There are lots of issues and lots of angst in Montgomery that we could argue and talk about but really.. it is all about the kids, isn't it? Praying for the kids and teachers should be a top priority in the hearts and minds of all Christians in Montgomery. They are our future and we have the ability to affect their futures through our relationship with the Lord. So....this week as school starts up on various days, remember our schools...but mostly remember the kids.

Some thing to pray for this week:

1. For the kids-there are a number of kids this year whose parents have lost jobs, had to move, etc. Because of that....pray that the kids will be provided for in the needs that the school asks of them. From uniforms to school supplies...God's provision is needed.

2 For our kids in Montgomery to be in an environment where it is condusive to learning. I heard today from several different people that some of our schools are overcrowded this year, I know that high school are being shifted to adding 9th graders, etc and it is hard to learn when you are squeezed together in a classroom or dont have enough books to let everyone have one.

3. For our teachers to remember that every child that comes into his/her classroom is special to the Lord.

4. Pray for teachers to have wisdom and be creative to be able to work with the resources they have!!

5. That our churches in Montgomery will be more involved in the lives of schools in their neighborhoods. I have talked to many schools who would love to have churches involved in helping students and teachers in a variety of ways!

Happy School Days!!!