Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. 1 Corinthians 12:28 (NLT)

OBSERVATION: Note that after the gift of teaching come those who God uses to perform HIS miracles, HIS healing and HIS help to others. Drinking my coffee one morning a calmness flowed through me and the thought that I really did not need to be at work on time occurred. That day I left an hour later than normal. While stopped at an intersection my radio/pager went off. The 911 operator told our department to respond to an address where a 3 week old infant was not breathing. Looking up I realized the address was the house directly across the intersection. The mother, infant in hand, ran out of the house screaming, “God don’t let my baby die.” That morning a mother’s prayer was answered.

PRAYER: Merciful Father, You have answered the prayers of those in physical anguish and despair by placing Your servants – EMT’s and Paramedics at the right place and at the right time to heal those in desperate need. Good Samaritan Servants, sometimes at the risk of their own life, that step forward to aid both friend and stranger. Servants that give us a marvelous example of the great commandment – love one another. Father, send down Your blessings on these Your servants, who so generously devote themselves to helping others. Place Your hand of protection around them. Grant them courage when they are afraid, wisdom and ready recall of their skills when they must make quick decisions, strength when they are weary, and provide them with a strong, calming presence to those they encounter. We pray that You will overwhelm them with Your love and that you surround them with believers who will pray and encourage them. Father, thank you for these good Samaritan Servants that serve our community. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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“But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also…” Matthew 5:39 NRSV

OBSERVATION:  We often read these words of Jesus as a radical to passivity. In truth, His teaching calls for a much deeper confrontation than a reciprocal act of violence. In Jesus’ context, being struck on the cheek conjures up a social order that places masters over servants and the powerful over the powerless. By striking someone, the striker acts to put the recipient into his or her proper lower place, and expects the one who is struck to cower back to their appropriate behavior. When Jesus tells his listeners to stand and give the other cheek, he calls for them to stand against the oppression of violence by refusing to allow worldly power to take control of them. Jesus tells the crowd to resist worldly desire for power and stand as a pillar of the peace of God’s kingdom. The difficult calling of law enforcement asks something similar of the men and women who put on their uniforms. They stand in the face of violence and unjust claims of power in order to be the presence of peace in our communities. Their task demands more than retributive response, it demands an ability to hold fast in the presence of evil and be the light of peace and respect. They are icons of hope in a world that often feels hopeless, and they earn their status in the moments when our citizens are in greatest need of hope. I, for one, am grateful.

PRAYER:  Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our law enforcement. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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• Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13
• To grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit – Isaiah 61:3

OBSERVATION: Twenty-four hours a day every single day of the year there is a group of individuals that are always ready. That group is comprised of more than fifty men and women at the El Dorado Fire Department and thirteen different volunteer fire departments spread around our great county. When tragedy strikes, or threatens to strike, in the form of a fire, they are at their best. When everyone runs away, they are running toward one of the most powerful forces on earth to protect you, your family, and your property. They are willing to sacrifice all that they are, for all that you are. They are willing to lay down their life to give you a hope in some of the darkest times that can befall any of us. To give us beauty instead of ashes.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today we come humbly to you and give thanks for who You are and specifically give thanks for the calling that you have placed in the lives of the men and women who carry the mantle of “firefighter”. Father thank you for their willingness to serve us in our darkest times. Lord protect them from that which they seek to overcome, the dangers posed by fire. Bless and protect the firefighters in a way that only you can. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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“For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.” Proverbs 2:6-9

OBSERVATION: We know that the Lord gives blessings to the repentant who approach him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. He has promised to provide—and will provide—knowledge, understanding, and wisdom generously to the humble. We may desire full knowledge, understanding, and wisdom all at once, however most often it is revealed to us over time as we continue to walk uprightly before the Lord. Patiently follow his commandments and apply his grace and mercy in your life. As you do so, you will come to a knowledge that He once died for you and that He now lives for you; you will understand how much He loves and strengthens you; and you will gain the wisdom and ability to express charity, the pure love of Christ, with all whom you encounter.

PRAYER: “Heavenly Father, we thy children approach thee in humble prayer for those working in our courts. Instill in them the courage to seek and follow thy will. Give them wisdom and understanding to deal charitably and judge righteously with all. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

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“Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.”  -Acts 9:31

OBSERVATION:  The churches had been suffering persecution for which reason they experienced anguish and suffering, but God who has control reached one of the persecutors and saved him (Paul) by entering the church in time of peace free of conflict for the moment, the church grew multiplied, expanded, with a sense of deep reverence for God. Thanks to the Strength and presence of the Holy Spirit in the church and in the leadership.

PRAYER:  Blessed God and our Father, we thank you for the presence of your Holy Spirit who flows with his power in the church to fulfill your purpose of bringing harmony, unity, growth, strength, courage and multiplication of the church so that everyone knows your name and be glorified.

Glory to your Holy Spirit we pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

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“He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor.” -Psalms 72:4 NKJV

OBSERVATION:  Today we are mindful of the children who find themselves in foster care, the families they are taken from, the families that take them in, and the organizations/agencies that help children and families navigate the process.

PRAYER:  Father, I thank you for your constant watch and care of your children. Today, we lift up foster children who have been displaced, removed or who are in need of a new environment for whatever reason. We ask that you would grant your peace that surpasses all understanding to these children and also to the households that will receive them. We ask that you would anoint the foster parents with wisdom, grace, and an overwhelming sense of your love so that the children entrusted in their care would feel safe and loved. Thanking you in advance in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” – Matthew 25:35-36 (NIV)

OBSERVATION: There are many non-profits in our community who are serving in numerous areas. We are greatly blessed to have so many caring people in our community who are ministering to the needs of others.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for all the many non-profit organizations, their staff and volunteers who give willingly of their time in service to others daily. I ask Jehovah God that you bless each one as they are ministering to the children, youth, adults and senior citizens by providing food, finances, lodging, and other needed support meeting emotional, physical and spiritual needs. We ask that you provide the financial means for them to continue operating in their individual ministries. In the precious name of Jesus, amen!

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There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:28

OBSERVATION:  Our community has so many things to be thankful for and so many things going for it but there is still much work that can and must be done for true unity to take place.

PRAYER:  Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that you give us a heart like yours. One that is open to love one another without restrictions or boundaries. We pray that you give us the ability to look beyond our differences and see that you created each of us in your image to do your will. You blessed us with gifts and talents to make us individually unique, but when we work together they are enhanced! May we develop the pure sense of brotherly love for one another, regardless of race, that will allow us to live as one family and function as one body of Christ! This prayer is not only for our city, county and state, but for our country! May El Dorado serve as the blueprint of what a city can be when race is not a factor and the love of Christ abounds! In the precious name of Jesus, we pray! Amen!!!

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(Fields of Faith will be hosted at Memorial Stadium by the Southeast Arkansas Fellowship of Christian Athletes for high school youth this evening)

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9

OBSERVATION: Our students face many influences from the world that take them away from God daily. It doesn’t take long on an area campus to day to see evil is everywhere. The good news is there are students, coaches, teachers, and administrators that are doing good and love their students. The battle is real. The challenge is great. Please pray for our student leaders, teachers, administrators, and coaches who are striving to be the positive, good influence on their campuses to many students who aren’t exposed to the goodness and love of God anywhere else. Fellowship of Christian Athletes is hosting Fields of Faith tonight at 7 PM at Memorial Stadium. Tonight, students and coaches from our area campuses will share their stories of how God has impacted their lives and how they strive to be positive leaders and examples on their campuses. Please come tonight to hear how God is working in our schools!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, our students face many challenges and negative influences daily. I pray that you help me be a positive influence and example for our youth. Help me to steer them away from evil and towards the good. Help them to see what is good and have the wisdom to cling to it with all their strength. Give me a servant’s heart so they know they are loved. I pray that every breath I take brings honor and glory to You. We ask your blessings on Fields of Faith and that many will hear your Word and come to know You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”  – I Corinthians 12:12-13

OBSERVATION:  Within our culture we tend to talk about, sometimes with great passion, what divides us. We have debates, discussions, and many Facebook wars with people about these divisive issues. Some of these issues are important, but if we are not careful, this culture can carry over into our church congregations and cause division. In 1 Corinthians, Paul address the church in Corinth and the division that was happening. Specifically, in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Paul talks about unity within the Body of Christ, and how our churches can suffer if we aren’t unified. In context, Paul is addressing the local church and urging people to be united and serve together using their gifts. I think we can apply this scripture to not just the local church, but the universal Church (All followers of Christ) as well. Paul is clear in verse 12 that even though we are many parts, we are one body. For our body to function properly, we have to work together and be united. For our churches to change the world, as the Body of Christ, we need to be united. What unites us is Christ, and His sacrifice. What unites us is the love of the Father and His forgiveness. Instead of focusing on the issues that divides us, lets focus on the solution that unites us: This world needs Jesus. We need Jesus. If we want unity in our congregations and in this world, we will only find it when we are united with Christ.

PRAYER:  Father, today we pray that our local church bodies would be a place of unity, not division. We pray that our churches focus would be building His kingdom, not our own. We ask pray for our local churches to be united together across denominations. Through unity in our local churches, do something amazing here in El Dorado.  In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

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