Today's Haiti verse:
John 8:12: When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
God seems to use many "light" references when I pray for Haiti. Maybe this happens with others as well.
Blessings,
Amy
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Proverbs 19:21
Today's Haiti verse:
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails
Blessings,
Amy
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails
Blessings,
Amy
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Proverbs 3:5-6
Today's verse:
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
This verse was a highlight during Scott's trip to Haiti a couple of weeks ago. Both Bev and I received this verse the same morning (we realized it later during our Haiti prayer time). As I was praying for the trip, the word "trust" came to mind and then this verse just was evident as the verse to pray over.
Blessings,
Amy
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
This verse was a highlight during Scott's trip to Haiti a couple of weeks ago. Both Bev and I received this verse the same morning (we realized it later during our Haiti prayer time). As I was praying for the trip, the word "trust" came to mind and then this verse just was evident as the verse to pray over.
Blessings,
Amy
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Updated information and prayer requests
Updated information about LCF and the orphans in Haiti:
Please be in prayer this week that God will open or close doors to the possibility of LCF purchasing the land that was once the orphanage we sponsored in St. Louis du Sud. There will be a meeting this Friday with the Haitian organization that owns half of the land to decide if they would like to pursue selling their part of the land to LCF. There are many other aspects to everything working out for the sale to happen, but the outcome of the meeting will be the first step. If God opens the door to have ownership of the land, we would then pursue a Haitian partner in opening up the orphanage again.
Here are the prayer requests and if I have left any out, just pray for God to show up BIG as decisions are made this week and the weeks and months to come.
*Pray for ESMI Haiti organization to have a clear and open mind that is focused on God's plan for their work in Haiti
*Pray for ESMI to prayerfully consider the option of selling the land to LCF
*Pray for all other details to work as smooth as possible and as quickly as possible if the sale of the land is approved
*Pray for discernment if the land is not sold to LCF on what to pursue next and who to team up with in Haiti to help orphans
*Pray for Pator Moise, who is a light in a dark world in Haiti. Pray for his dedication to building an orphanage and a school as well as leading a growing church
*Pray for Scott and the Haiti leadership team as they are seeking God during this entire process of what to do next to help the least of these in our world...sweet and adorable orphans
I will post a new verse to pray over each day this week as we seek God and His plan.
Today's verse:
I keep a picture of the orphans in my Bible. When I opened my Bible to search for God's word, the picture of the orphans was laying next to this Psalm. It just seemed right that the picture and the verse are pressed together when I close my Bible.
Psalm 5: 11-12
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Blessings,
Amy
Please be in prayer this week that God will open or close doors to the possibility of LCF purchasing the land that was once the orphanage we sponsored in St. Louis du Sud. There will be a meeting this Friday with the Haitian organization that owns half of the land to decide if they would like to pursue selling their part of the land to LCF. There are many other aspects to everything working out for the sale to happen, but the outcome of the meeting will be the first step. If God opens the door to have ownership of the land, we would then pursue a Haitian partner in opening up the orphanage again.
Here are the prayer requests and if I have left any out, just pray for God to show up BIG as decisions are made this week and the weeks and months to come.
*Pray for ESMI Haiti organization to have a clear and open mind that is focused on God's plan for their work in Haiti
*Pray for ESMI to prayerfully consider the option of selling the land to LCF
*Pray for all other details to work as smooth as possible and as quickly as possible if the sale of the land is approved
*Pray for discernment if the land is not sold to LCF on what to pursue next and who to team up with in Haiti to help orphans
*Pray for Pator Moise, who is a light in a dark world in Haiti. Pray for his dedication to building an orphanage and a school as well as leading a growing church
*Pray for Scott and the Haiti leadership team as they are seeking God during this entire process of what to do next to help the least of these in our world...sweet and adorable orphans
I will post a new verse to pray over each day this week as we seek God and His plan.
Today's verse:
I keep a picture of the orphans in my Bible. When I opened my Bible to search for God's word, the picture of the orphans was laying next to this Psalm. It just seemed right that the picture and the verse are pressed together when I close my Bible.
Psalm 5: 11-12
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Blessings,
Amy
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Fireflies
I have always enjoyed the summer months. Perhaps it is my Texas roots that help shape my view of summer versus winter temperatures. What I love most about the summertime is sitting out on a porch with our neighbors while the fireflies seem to dance around us.
You might be wondering about the connection between fireflies and the children that lived in the St. Louis orphanage. Beautiful bonds formed between the LCF congregation and the children. It has been painful for many with the latest developments of not being able to locate the children. Yet God has other plans at this point that will ultimately bring His glory to the situation. When the LCF team first found out that the government would displace the children, many of us grieved for the loss of the connection with the children. One night we prayed in small groups for the children. Many of us felt so helpless in the situation yet knowing that God was and is in control. As we were praying, I saw a visualization in my mind of the children as fireflies on a summer night. Little lights in the darkness. They are dispersed and moved throughout Haiti, but God's light in their hearts continue to shine. Since that night, I have been focusing my prayers on our Haitian fireflies...the precious children from the orphanage.
I encourage you on your summer nights, to pray that God will dwell in the children's hearts even though they are separated from each other. What many of them knew as family has been changed dramatically. Yet, God is so faithful and so good and so real that I know God will use the children to further His kingdom no matter where the children are. He ordained each of them as His light...His fireflies. Thank you, Jesus, for being our light and being the light for the children.
Blessings,
Amy
You might be wondering about the connection between fireflies and the children that lived in the St. Louis orphanage. Beautiful bonds formed between the LCF congregation and the children. It has been painful for many with the latest developments of not being able to locate the children. Yet God has other plans at this point that will ultimately bring His glory to the situation. When the LCF team first found out that the government would displace the children, many of us grieved for the loss of the connection with the children. One night we prayed in small groups for the children. Many of us felt so helpless in the situation yet knowing that God was and is in control. As we were praying, I saw a visualization in my mind of the children as fireflies on a summer night. Little lights in the darkness. They are dispersed and moved throughout Haiti, but God's light in their hearts continue to shine. Since that night, I have been focusing my prayers on our Haitian fireflies...the precious children from the orphanage.
I encourage you on your summer nights, to pray that God will dwell in the children's hearts even though they are separated from each other. What many of them knew as family has been changed dramatically. Yet, God is so faithful and so good and so real that I know God will use the children to further His kingdom no matter where the children are. He ordained each of them as His light...His fireflies. Thank you, Jesus, for being our light and being the light for the children.
Blessings,
Amy
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Isaiah 49:16
I received a book of pictures beautifully chronically the last Haiti team trip to the orphanage. Looking back on these pictures, it seems that it was God's design to have so many pictures as a remembrance to pray for the children that are now separated and placed in other situations besides the St. Louis du Sud orphanage. I encourage those that hold the children close to your heart to look over the pictures or just picture the children in your mind and PRAY over the children and the tough situation in Haiti.
God never promised us anything to gain for ourselves as a result of loving and caring for these particular children. I believe that God wants us to continue to pray for each child's physical and spiritual well-being just as if they were living in the orphanage. It is a difficult challenge to pray over people that we don't have contact with. It is difficult because our nature is to want to see physical results of our prayer requests. When God has other plans that do not involve us, it is difficult to understand and yet, I am so relieved that God is in control of the situation.
There is no way LCF could go on this journey of helping those most in need without God leading the way. So, what is left after the children have been displaced? Continue to pray. Do not let Satan crowd your mind (and mine) with our daily lives that we forget to pray over the children. The children need prayers for their faith to grow. For the seeds that were planted to flourish not matter what situation they are facing right now or in the future. And, in a sense, I believe we need to pray for them because our faith grows to allow us to "let go and let God".
Isaiah 49:16: See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are ever before me.
Focus on God's hands... the children and the circumstances in Haiti are right there before Him. Set your mind on Him, pray for the children, and continue to pray for LCF's involvement with Haiti missions.
Blessings,
Amy
God never promised us anything to gain for ourselves as a result of loving and caring for these particular children. I believe that God wants us to continue to pray for each child's physical and spiritual well-being just as if they were living in the orphanage. It is a difficult challenge to pray over people that we don't have contact with. It is difficult because our nature is to want to see physical results of our prayer requests. When God has other plans that do not involve us, it is difficult to understand and yet, I am so relieved that God is in control of the situation.
There is no way LCF could go on this journey of helping those most in need without God leading the way. So, what is left after the children have been displaced? Continue to pray. Do not let Satan crowd your mind (and mine) with our daily lives that we forget to pray over the children. The children need prayers for their faith to grow. For the seeds that were planted to flourish not matter what situation they are facing right now or in the future. And, in a sense, I believe we need to pray for them because our faith grows to allow us to "let go and let God".
Isaiah 49:16: See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, your walls are ever before me.
Focus on God's hands... the children and the circumstances in Haiti are right there before Him. Set your mind on Him, pray for the children, and continue to pray for LCF's involvement with Haiti missions.
Blessings,
Amy
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Taking a minute to dwell in Him
This blog entry is tough to write. Tough because I, like many others at LCF, are feeling a loss. Because of many circumstances beyond our church's control, all of the children at the orphanage have been dispersed to other people and places. We so much want to understand how this happened, why this happened, and now, what can we do to make sure they are okay.
But God has reasons beyond our understanding for allowing all that has happened in the last few weeks. He has a plan for each child. We just don't know the details. To be honest, God doesn't have to ask our permission or our opinion. There is no doubt in my mind that LCF followed God's plan for the children ever since the orphanage opened in 2008. God hasn't left the children, He just has another plan for their lives. I believe He is commanding our church to not let go of our mission to help orphans. God is asking us to not let go, but instead, He is asking us to "let God". I, and many others in the church are on our knees asking God to continue to reveal His purpose, His grace and, most importantly His abounding love for the people most in need in this world... orphans.
What now? Pray? Cry? Mourn? Yes to all. I am really trying to focus on one word in particular... DWELL in the Almighty. I thought I would look up the meaning of the word "dwell" in my dictionary. First of all, dwell is a verb, an action verb. A doing kind of thing. It means to "focus one's attention, to continue in a place or a condition, to reside." I would like all that read this post, all that pray for the orphans whether you have been on a trip or not... to dwell in Him with all of the concerns we have for the children. Dwell in prayers for the children. Dwell in prayers for the people in the organizations that are involved with the orphans in Haiti. Also, dwell in prayers for Scott and the LCF Haiti team as they seek to know God's direction in all of this.
I feel strongly led to dwell in a specific chapter in the Bible. Isaiah 43 is a beautiful chapter filled with hope, redemption, and grace. I will share just one particular verse and then ask you to read in your Bible for the other promises God shares in the chapter. We can use these verses to dwell in prayers for the children.
Isaiah 43:10: "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me."
Our outpouring of love and devotion to share the love of Christ to each and every child that lived at the orphanage was no accident. It was by God's design. He chose each child and even each villager to hear the message of true salvation. He chose each LCF team member that would take a week of their time and give hugs, smiles, and show the children Jesus's love through songs and skits. We were and we continue to be God's servants to reach out and bring light to a dark world.
Thank you for dwelling in prayer with the LCF Haiti team. To God be all the glory, all the honor, and all of the praise, forever and ever. Amen!
Blessings,
Amy
But God has reasons beyond our understanding for allowing all that has happened in the last few weeks. He has a plan for each child. We just don't know the details. To be honest, God doesn't have to ask our permission or our opinion. There is no doubt in my mind that LCF followed God's plan for the children ever since the orphanage opened in 2008. God hasn't left the children, He just has another plan for their lives. I believe He is commanding our church to not let go of our mission to help orphans. God is asking us to not let go, but instead, He is asking us to "let God". I, and many others in the church are on our knees asking God to continue to reveal His purpose, His grace and, most importantly His abounding love for the people most in need in this world... orphans.
What now? Pray? Cry? Mourn? Yes to all. I am really trying to focus on one word in particular... DWELL in the Almighty. I thought I would look up the meaning of the word "dwell" in my dictionary. First of all, dwell is a verb, an action verb. A doing kind of thing. It means to "focus one's attention, to continue in a place or a condition, to reside." I would like all that read this post, all that pray for the orphans whether you have been on a trip or not... to dwell in Him with all of the concerns we have for the children. Dwell in prayers for the children. Dwell in prayers for the people in the organizations that are involved with the orphans in Haiti. Also, dwell in prayers for Scott and the LCF Haiti team as they seek to know God's direction in all of this.
I feel strongly led to dwell in a specific chapter in the Bible. Isaiah 43 is a beautiful chapter filled with hope, redemption, and grace. I will share just one particular verse and then ask you to read in your Bible for the other promises God shares in the chapter. We can use these verses to dwell in prayers for the children.
Isaiah 43:10: "You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me."
Our outpouring of love and devotion to share the love of Christ to each and every child that lived at the orphanage was no accident. It was by God's design. He chose each child and even each villager to hear the message of true salvation. He chose each LCF team member that would take a week of their time and give hugs, smiles, and show the children Jesus's love through songs and skits. We were and we continue to be God's servants to reach out and bring light to a dark world.
Thank you for dwelling in prayer with the LCF Haiti team. To God be all the glory, all the honor, and all of the praise, forever and ever. Amen!
Blessings,
Amy
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