August 7, 2005
Prayer Request
World's Easiest Quiz

The Power Of Prayer

When you feel afraid, snared in a net of fear,
when the darkness is a frightening place for you,
when you have trials to your heart, pain to your soul. . .
as a child of God, you know exactly what to do.

Get down on your knees and seek the presence of Jesus
for strength and guidance to set you on your way.
Never are we nearer to the Lord's grace and power
than when we take the time to kneel down and pray.
© Sherry Asbury, Portland OR

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .Where do you go when you feel afraid?

2) Pray for our country. . .Pray for the marriages in America, that both men and women will grow in their understanding of their spouses' needs.

Pray for those fighting wildfires all across the west. Pray for those whose homes and livelihoods are in danger. Pray for those directly involved in the hurricane season.

3) Pray for President and Mrs. Bush as they continue their working vacation at their Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, TX, asking God to protect, strengthen and refresh them as they enjoy their time away from Washington. Pray also for President Bush as he travels to seven states to speak with Americans and as he meets with members of our military and their families throughout August, asking God to use him to bring encouragement and strength. Continue to pray for protection and safety for President and Mrs. Bush, for health, strength and spiritual growth. Pray that his disciplines of diet, exercise, Bible reading and prayer will continue to be strengthened and will inspire many to honor God similarly.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Psalm 125:1 & 2 & Joel 1:14

4) Pray for the world. . .Pray for our troops as they faithfully protect our freedom by serving around the world, particularly in Afghanistan and Iraq, asking God lead each one to serve His purposes. Pray for their continued protection and care every moment of every day, asking God to help each one to know the support and gratitude of those whom they protect.

Pray that the London police succeed in catching the rest of the terrorists involved in the bombings.

Oregon

Update: Last month you prayed for Irene's back pain. She reported that the pain is gone, the inflammation has subsided and she can sit again without pain to do her office work. PTL! Thanks for praying. See!!----PRAYER WORKS!

5) Pray for Daniel. He is a young man with problems and he will not take his meds regularly and consistently. When not taking them he is dangerous and without boundaries or remorse.

Missionaries

6) Within a few weeks, the Jews will force their people out of Gaza and turn it over to the Palestinians. A missionary gave this report: "We need to be ready for war. A solider hitch-hiker told me yesterday that the army expects quiet in Gaza during the pull out...but major attacks from Hisbullah in the north, and from Palestinians in the West Bank. Be assured, the goal of the Palestinians is not Gaza but Jerusalem.

If the trouble doesn't come from "freedom-fighters" it'll come from within - civil disobedience as soldiers refuse to drag Jews from their homes. Already one soldier has been imprisoned."

Pray for Israel in this heated time. What goes on there will affect the whole world.

Our Government

7) Soon, Congress will be voting on the embryonic stem-cell research and cloning bill. Pray that they realize that in 20 years of research not one cure has come from the embryonic line while more than 70 medical advances have been made with adult stem cells. Pray Congress votes as if they all believe in the sanctity of life.

California

8) Pray for a family where all four adult children have major problems. One is gay, one is marrying soon and the parents are not happy with the choice, one is in jail, and one has no contact with the family. Pray for strength and peace and obedience.

9) Praise God for a family that was in disastrous condition and is now up and running and doing well through God's grace and you'all's prayers.

*** As you can see, PrayerWorks is being mailed two at a time every other week until such time as postage is available for each week. Sorry for the inconvenience. ***

World's Easiest Quiz

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
3) From which animal do we get catgut?
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
7) What was King George VI's first name?
8) What color is a purple finch?
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
10)What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?

You Only Have To Get Two Right To Pass!!!!!

Well, Did You Pass?
Thanks, Rod and Amber, California

August 14, 2005
Prayer Request
Out Of The Mouths Of Babes. . .

The Mercy Seat
Hebrews 4:16

When the tides of life come crashing in,
And dark clouds of impending doom descend,
Run to the mercy seat.

When the burdens are too heavy to bear,
And it seems as though no one really cares,
Run to the mercy seat.

When doubt sets in like an increasing weight,
And faith and hope slowly fades away,
Run to the mercy seat.

When life is just one cluttered mess
Of responsibilities that remain undone,
Run to the mercy seat.

When you feel useless and totally alone
Bound by memories of a tortured past,
Run to the mercy seat.

There is peace in the midst of the storm.
There is rest from the burdens you bear.
There is faith and hope born anew.
There is where mountains become molehills.
There is a friend who soothes all hurt.
There -- at the mercy seat.
© Brendaly Drayton, Brooklyn, NY

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .Do you run and hide? Do you head for God?

2) Pray for our country. . .Give thanks for the success of Discovery's mission, praying for God's guidance and wisdom for NASA Director Michael Griffin and his team as they seek to launch the next mission as soon as possible.

3) Pray for the president. . . and Mrs. Bush as they continue a working vacation at Prairie Chapel Ranch, asking God to protect them both at home and as they travel. Pray for meaningful moments of reflection and encouragement from the Lord.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: II Corinthians 4:18

4) Pray for the world. . .Pray for those developing the Iraqi constitution, that their efforts will benefit the greater good for that nation.

Illinois

5) Uncle Ed's surgery was scheduled for Thurs. the 11th in Iowa City. The doctors still are not sure what they're dealing with (a biopsy was inconclusive) They'll know much more after his surgery is over. He has a good attitude. He was very willing to be put on prayer chains, so you'all please pray. (First for salvation, then healing!) And of course, Grandma is beside herself so pray for her, too.

6) Pray for Nancy. Last week she was in an car crash. No one hurt other than bruises and stiffness, praise God for that! Pray all the paperwork and legal stuff gets worked out quickly. Pray for the salvation of the other lady involved.

Oregon

7) Last Friday, during an emergency plumbing repair, Marty's back went out. Pray for healing.

8) Pray for Ruthie's sister, Lenore. She has gone to the nursing home every day for 35 years to care for Ruthie and she is wearing out. It is getting harder and harder for her to go. Pray for strength.

9) Pray for Tyler, a young man from the southern Oregon coast who is in the hospital in Portland with very serious injuries suffered in a nasty car crash. He is expected to live but will take quite a while to recuperate. He is a Christian.

10) Pray for the young doctor in the next bed who crashed also.

11) Pray for a middle-aged man who has decided to go back to school at Multnomah Bible College. It can be tough going when you are not a young'un.

Washington

12) Pray for John. God knows!

13) Pray for Dave as he overcomes his childhood past.

Nevada

14) Pray for Peg, Jay's mom. Last week she fell and finally went to the doctor 4 or 5 days later. She had a broken hip and the doctors did immediate surgery to repair the damage. This is the same hip she cracked last fall. She seems to be in good spirits although she has some rehab to do before returning home. She is a spry 88! And a blessing to God and those around her.

(The fall occurred at Jay's brother's cabin at Lake Tahoe. She is in Reno at the hospital. The night they left the Lake there was a huge commotion at the cabin and they later found out that a bear tore off the back door, demolished the kitchen, wrecked the refrigerator and ate all the food! They are sure it was a bear because he stepped on the chocolate sauce bottle and left chocolate tracks on his way out!)

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes. . .

A teacher asked her kindergarten class, "Can a bear take his warm coat off?" "No," they answered. The teacher asked, "Why not?"
There was a long silence. Finally, a young boy spoke up, "Because only God knows where the buttons are."

At Sunday School, Mr Duncan told his students that God created everything, including human beings. Freddy seemed especially intent when Mr Duncan explained that Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week, his mother noticed him lying on the floor and asked, "Freddy, what's the matter?" Freddy responded, "I have a pain in my side. I think I'm gonna have a wife."

The Sunday School teacher was explaining the story of Elijah and the false prophets of Baal. She explained how Elijah built the altar, put wood on it, cut the steer in pieces, and laid it upon the altar. Then Elijah commanded the people of God to fill four barrels of water and pour them over the altar. He had them do this four times.

"Can anyone tell me why God would ask Elijah to pour water over the steer on the altar?" the teacher asked.
A little girl excitedly answered, "To make the gravy!"

From The Teacher, Teacher Joke Book, by Jennifer Hahn -- Thanks Dean, Portland OR for submitting.

August 21, 2005
Prayer Request
"It's So Hot Here That..."

The Buzzard, The Bat, And The Bumblebee

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkably nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open glass, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat, and the bumblebee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not ever realizing that all they have to do is look up.
Thanks Ron, Portland OR

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. .

2) Pray for our country. . .As American students return to classrooms across the nation, pray for the strength, wisdom and integrity of our teachers, professors and all involved in education, asking God to bring a spirit of excellence and diligence to our educational efforts.

3) Pray for our president. . . as he continues daily briefings on intelligence and foreign policy issues, works on his ranch and spends time with Mrs. Bush and friends, asking God to draw him near, granting spiritual renewal and strength. Pray for a genuine Sabbath rest.

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Psalm 17:6

4) Pray for the world. . .America has within its borders only 8% of the population of the world. We consume 90% of the world's goods. Pray for those who have way less than we do.

Missionaries

5) Pray for Joan, in Israel. She recently visited Thailand and has since had a host of symptoms. She goes to the hospital this week for tests. Her requests are: "Please pray for God's anointed doctors, including specialists in tropical diseases; A quick and complete diagnosis OR God's miraculous healing; Prepared hearts to hear the Gospel of Jesus...I know God has many Divine appointments."

6) Pray for R & C, missionaries in a dangerous place. Dangerous in more ways than one. This week their town had floods. It was thought to be from recent heavy rains, but they later found out that it was because the government lowered the level of water behind the dam. The water through town was 2-4' deep. They sandbagged and got things up off the floor and all was safe for them.

Pray for the whole town and the damage.

Oregon

7) Pray for Mike's family. He died suddenly and they are in shock.

8) Pray for Inez's son. He had her car and was hit by a truck. The car was totaled. Pray he's okay and the paperwork is accomplished quickly. Pray Inez gets her totalled car replaced.

9) Pray for Ruth. She had triple-bypass surgery this week.

PRAISE THE LORD: Tyler, who was in a life-threatening accident, went home from the hospital this week. Still has a lot of recuperating to do. Keep praying.

10) Pray for Anita. She had back surgery and is not healing as well as she should be. Pray for healing, pray for patience.

11) Pray for Richard who needs a heart transplant.

12) Pray for Robin's parents. Both are elderly and not doing too well. Pray for Robin to trust in the Lord.

13) Pray for Sydney's son. He is fighting the Blossom Complex Fire in southern Oregon. Pray for all the men and women who are on the wildfire lines this summer.
(Melody and Alan's son is there also!)

14) Pray for Betty whose lungs are working at 25% of their capacity.

15) Pray for Steve. He is an elderly gentleman Jay is in contact with at the gym. He is a Christian and had a miraculous experience last week and is very open to learn more of God's truth.

16) Continue to pray for Dana. He is doing better. The cancer seems to be at a standstill.

17) Pray for Isabel. She has heart problems and now the doctors want to take out her spleen. (They say she has a 10% chance of surviving the operation.) While the doctor is giving her this rather bad news, she is witnessing to him. Pray for wisdom and strength.

18) Pray for Amanda and her parents as she goes through painful jaw realignment.

Washington

19) Pray for a father and son who will have to confront one another after a long rift. They will both be in the same place at the same time and it will be very public. Pray for wisdom and forgiveness.

Alabama

20) Pray for a 3 month old who had surgery last week to correct a cleft palate. Pray for healing. Pray for strength for the parents and wisdom in dealing with the rest of the child's physical problems. She was a twin, born prematurely, and the other twin died.

"It's So Hot Here That..."

The birds have to use pot holders to pull worms out of the ground.

Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard boiled eggs.

The cows are giving evaporated milk.

You eat hot chilies to cool your mouth off.

You can make instant sun tea.

When the temperature drops below 95, you feel a bit chilly.

The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

Hot water now comes out of both taps.

You break a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 A. M. before work.
(Our son lives in Sacramento, CA and they have had temperatures over 100 degrees 39 out of the last 45 days!. The weather man called it "a cooling trend" when he said it would be 98!)

August 28, 2005
Prayer Request
Prayer Letter

The Ink Stain

An artist went to visit a dear friend. When he arrived, she was weeping. He asked shy. She showed him a handkerchief of exquisite beauty that had great sentimental value, which had been ruined by a drop of indelible ink.

The artist asked her to let him have the handkerchief, which he returned to her by mail several days later. When she opened the package she could hardly believe her eyes. The artist, using the inkblot as a base, had drawn on the handkerchief a design of great beauty with India ink. Now it was more beautiful and more valuable than ever.

Sometimes the tragedies that break our hearts can become the basis for a more beautiful design in our lives. Be patient with the hurts over which you have no control. They may become a source of healing, help, and beauty.
(Thomas Lane Butts) Thank you, Harry!

Prayer Requests

1) Pray for revival and an awakening in the church. . .What set of circumstances needs the touch of the artist for a new perspective?

2) Pray for our country. . .Pray for the devastation left behind by Hurricane Katrina, both to property and to persons.

3) Pray for our president. . .Pray for the President as he wraps up time away at his ranch in Texas, praying for wisdom and strength as he continues intelligence briefings, monitors the situation in Iraq and meets with cabinet members regarding key issues. Pray for the President as he continues his responsibilities as Commander-in-Chief, leading our military forces as they serve freedom around the world, particularly in Afghanistan and Iraq. Pray for strength and wisdom as he works with Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard Myers and other military leaders. (Had a report that it is generally running in the range of 120 degrees in Iraq. Pray!)

Additional leaders to pray for:

Read: Numbers 23:19

4) Pray for the world. . .Give thanks for the latest breakthrough in the denuclearization talks with North Korea, praying that their weapons program will, in fact, be abandoned, paving the way for a more peaceful and stable East Asia.

Give thanks for gradual progress in the Israel and the Gaza strip, asking God to guide the ongoing process of returning to the road map for peace.

5) Landon R. Taylor, the consul at the U.S. Embassy in Riga, Latvia, reports that Latvia is deep into human slavery. He said, "Trafficking in persons either is&mdashor is well on its way to&mdashbecoming the largest source of revenue for organized criminal activity in the world, supplanting trade in illegal arms and trade in illegal drugs. Trafficking is . . . turning that human being into a commodity. That is a fundamental insult to human dignity and human rights. It violates all the principles that underlie our Constitution." Pray against this evil.

Missionaries

6) Pray for Jay Neuharth, home on furlough from Central Asia. He recently ruptured a disc in his back. Pray for wisdom for the doctors, patience for his wife, Linda, and healing for Jay. He had surgery last Wednesday. No update yet!

7) Joan didn't go to the hospital as planned. The doctors changed their minds and she is home resting and recuperating. Pray for wisdom and healing and patience in this request also.

8) Harry writes of his need for you'all's prayers. He has gone to a highly volatile country to teach in several seminaries. His books have not passed customs and are needed. School started two weeks ago. He checked in with one seminary and has 19 students in a Theology class and 6 in a class on the book of Romans. It takes 1 hour to fly from where he lives to this seminary. He will teach a World Religions class and a Theology class at another seminary which takes 3 hours each way on the train or a taxi to get there. Pray for him and his family (who are still in Houston TX) and his teaching schedule. Pray for travel safety -- and maybe a good car for him.

Washington

Update: Dennis asked for prayer that his meeting with an estranged child be blessed and healing. Thanks for praying -- it was. All is not solved but the door is open. Keep praying.

Montana

Update: A while ago you'all prayed for Pastor Fred Emery's son, Paul who was facing cancer surgery at a young age. The doctors feel they got it all. Thank's to you'all for praying.

Oregon

9) Last week a young man recommitted his life to the Lord. Pray for him as he needs to make some things right.

California

10) Pray for Lauraine. She fell and broke the top of her upper leg bone. She needs some encouragement. Charlie, her husband, could use some too. He poured her a cup of coffee and the bottom of the cup fell out. Then he headed for the garbage can with the shards and the screen door fell off. And it was only breakfast time! Pray for both of them for encouragement, peace, and healing.

Prayer Letter

***It is so great when we can publish answers to your prayer requests. Please, when God answers -- yes, no, or wait, let us know.

All you'all great pray-ers love to hear answers and are greatly encouraged by them.

***A young man recently wrote that he would like to receive PrayerWorks. He is incarcerated in Florida. His mother sent it to him. Of course, he now gets it regularly. Anyone you know who would like their own copy? Send name and address. It's free.