Racism and Being a Christian

"Babies don't care if the people around them are overweight or thin, black or white, rich or poor, Christian or Buddhist. If they're treated with kindness, given comfort and have their needs taken care of, they develop strong bonds with those who care for them. So how do children go from loving infants to angry adults who fear or hate certain groups of people? As early as the preschool years, children are aware of stereotypes and may already have formed opinions about other groups of people. These judgments are based on what they've learned in their homes, in their neighborhoods and on TV. Because lasting impressions can be formed in early childhood, it's never too soon to teach your child to respect diversity."

Parenting Online Magazine, Optimum Health

Saw this article the other day and I got to thinking about Montgomery and how we really live each day. What is it we communicate to our children, our friends, our fellow citizens about racism? I thought it might be good to have the prayer focus again this week on this issue since it continues to be a concern for all of us who are believers in one way or the other.

PRAYER GUIDE THIS WEEK:

1. Pray that the Lord will continue to help us search our own hearts and see what prejudice we might still harbor.(Psalm 139:23-24)

2. Ask the Lord what we need to do this week to show God's Love to someone who is different than us.( Ephesians 4:32 )

3. Ask the Lord to show us how we can make a diffference in this city and break any barriers that we see. (Psalm 119:133)

4. Pray for the boldness to take a stand for right-ness when we see someone being unjustly treated because they are different. (Psalm 119: 77-78)

5. Ask the Lord to show us what we are teaching the children in our lives about truly loving others. ( Proverbs 22:6)

"Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me."

Psalm 119:133

I Was Hungry.............

"If you negect the cries of the poor, your own cries for help will not be heard."

Proverbs 21:13

1.In Montgomery, 17% of the population lives UNDER the national poverty level of $21,000.

2. 67% of the 30,000 children in Montgomery live below the poverty level. that means that it is hard for parents to feed their kids over the summer and holiday breaks those two meals they usually eat at school.

3. There are many reasons that people live in poverty: lack of education, generational poverty, unemployment, illness, divorce, lack of good judgement.

4.There is no one thing that contributes to poverty. It seems like an overwhelming issue.

How do we pray for the poor and disenfranchised in Montgomery?

Here are some suggestions:

1. Pray for our city and state governments to begin to create new ways of "assisting" people in need. Ways that will give a HAND UP instead of making people dependent on a system.

2. Pray for ministries/churches all over Montgomery to see the deeper needs that a person has as they come and ask for food or clothing. Pray that there will opportunity for that person to hear the gospel in a way that they understand.

3. Pray for all of our churches to be sensitive to the needs of the poor in their communities especially as they may visit our churches and not understand the way in which we "do" church.

4. Pray for healing , heart changes and open doors for jobs that will provide for that familiy of low wealth.

5. Pray for Christians to be even more generous than we have in the past and pray for us all to have opportunities to serve those who are hurting financially.

And finally, pray for each of us to have a deeper understanding of God and his generous spirit, so that we will be ready and willing to serve those of low wealth with the resources that we have been given.

"Because you have been treated generously, live generously"

Matthew 10:8

The Message

TONIGHT!!

Please pray for the last MPS Board "town hall" for our school tonight at Lee High School. Be there if you can....6pm. They will be talking about changes in grades at the schools. The long term plan is great...the transition plan is not so good. Hundreds of kids will have no transition year to high school this next year. Pray that the board "hears" those who speak. Our schools will be GREATLY affected next year! Thanks!

Unemployment in Montgomery and Alabama

Continue to pray for the people of greater Montgomery who do not have a job at this time...

1. Pray for our country's economy and changes
2. Pray for open doors for new work
3. Pray for our people to turn to the Lord for provision and peace-the ONLY one who can bring both.

FROM WSFA March 10, 2010

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama's unemployment has risen to 11.1 percent, the highest figure in 26 years. The state Department of Industrial Relations announced the January rate Wednesday.
It is up from December's revised rate of 10.9 percent. The last time Alabama recorded 11.1 percent unemployment was January 1984. Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said Alabama saw a decline of 30,800 jobs in January, and the unemployed rate represents more than 228,000 people.
"As we begin a new year, I hope that this great recession is nearing its end..." Surtees said. "As that happens, I would like to remind everyone that the unemployment rate is a lagging indicator of economic recovery."
The counties with the lowest unemployment are Madison at 8.7 percent, Shelby at 8.8 percent, and Coffee at 9.0 percent. The counties with the highest unemployment are Wilcox at 27.4 percent, Monroe at 22.4 percent, and Conecuh at 21.8 percent.

Prayer for March 9-16, 2010

Praying for Schools

Montgomery Board of Education will be making a decision shortly to re-distibute grade levels in our public schools. While many teachers and parents think that this is a good idea, there needs to be time to help the students get acclimated.

The grade levels will be as followed:

K-5 Elementary
6-8 Junior High
9-12 High School

There are many factors to preparing the schools for this transition.

1.Pray for the Board of Education to take into consideration this transition and how it will affect particularly students. Many students who have special needs will find it very difficult to transition to a new school with only a few short months to prepare.

2. Pray for meetings in March to discuss this issue. Pray for these meetings on these specific days. They are as follows:

Carver Elementary Magnet March 10
Carr Junior High: March 15
Lee High School: March 22

All meetings are at 6 p.m.

3. Pray that any concerns that PARENTS and TEACHERS have will be heard by the superintendent and the Board and taken into serious consideration.

4. ARMPT/SAT testing will be coming up starting March 22nd for almost 2 weeks. Pray for students and teachers to be prepared.

5. Pray for SPRING BREAK next week-March 15th-19th. Pray for safety and rest for all students and teachers.


"Point your kids in the right direction—when they're old they won't be lost."
Proverbs 22:6 (the Message)

Prayer for March 2-9, 2010

Pick one of the issues we have named this last year as a prayer point in Montgomery.

Crime
Poverty
Racism
Schools
Misuse or abuse of affluence

1. Look around you and become aware of what is going on in one of those areas this week. Ask the Lord these question:What do you want me to do about this situation?

2. Test the answer:Is this in accordance to God's word?

3. Then just do it!

II John 1:6"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love"

And as Henry Blackaby says: "look around you to see where He is working an then join Him in it."Dont be surprised as you obey him, that you find you are more blessed than those you minister to......

Peace, Lisa