by Joy Grady von Kleeck

Many of you may recognize the name of Timothy Keller. He has had a great influence in my life. He recently passed away. He wrote a book on prayer that I have read more than once. I am going to share part of it with you 

Ephesians 1:15 - 19

"It is remarkable that in all of his writings, Paul's prayers for his friends contain no appeals for changes in their circumstances. It is certain that they lived in the midst of many dangers and hardships. They faced persecution, death from disease oppression by powerful forces, and separation from loved ones. Their existence was far less secure than ours is today. Yet in these prayers you see not one petition for a better emperor, for protection from marauding armies, or even for bread for the next meal. Paul does not pray for the goods we would usually have near the top of our lists of requests.

Does that mean it would have been wrong to pray for such things? Not at all. Jesus himself invites us to ask for our "daily bread" and that God would "deliver us from evil." In 1 Timothy 2, Paul directs his readers to pray for peace, for good government, and for the needs of the world. In his own prayers, then, Paul is not giving us a universal model for prayer in the same way Jesus did. Rather, in them he reveals what he asked most frequently for his friends- what he believed was the most important thing God could give them. 

What is that? To know him better!"

I hope this gives you something to think about. 

SEND PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS TO MICHELLEKMILLER@YAHOO.COM 

SHINE THE LIGHT OF THE MESSIAH IN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE. 

by Joy Grady von Kleeck, source Advancing Native Missions

In the birthplace of Jesus, most people have little knowledge of Him. Fear and conflict make sharing the Gospel difficult and there is opposition from many sides. Still, Messianic Jews and Arab Christans are the shining light of Jesus, and the Good News is spreading in amazing ways.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

*Fewer than 2% of Israelis follow Jesus.

*There is often suspicion and mistrust between Messianic Jews and Arab Christians.

*Openly sharing the Gospel often draws intense pressure or persecution from some portions of the Jewish populations.

WAYS TO PRAY 

1. Pray for cooperation between Messianic Jewish congregations and Arab Christian congregations.

2.Pray for an Israeli ministry that is reaching out to local Jews by leading tours of biblical sites.

3. Pray for the Lord to soften hearts in this region where there is so much history of suspicion and conflict.