8/6/2019 Devotion Week of May 15 2011

1/3

SERMON NOTES:PRAYERREQUESTSMAY8, 2011

Y Pray for Ben Simmer, a young man justgraduated from college and has MS withworsening side effects. Pray for newtreatments to become available and a cure.

Y Pray for students as they complete theirstudies and tests and graduate to a newexperience in their lives.

Y For Ellie Jo Schmidt, 3 years old, who isrecovering from heart surgery.

Y Pray for all who at Chain of Lakes who look forjobs, in particular, Lee Bliss, Bill Fink and GaryWassam.

Y For Akosua Addo as she is leading a LearningAbroad seminar in a week. Pray for the safelyof the students and her colleague who istraveling with her.

Y For Nicholas LaMay, Angelicas nephew, as he

transitions back with his mother and receivesmental health treatment.Y Pray for health in the Sabah household. (on-

going)Y For Joshua Dochniaks brother, Isaac Escoto,

as he is having pain on his knees. For Josh,his back is giving him problems.

Y For Stephen Muhia who had a polyp removedon Monday, 5/2.

Y Pray for Frank & Heather Butterfields friend incourt-justice, and wisdom from God; mercytoo.

Y For Gods direction as He teaches new thingsto Heather Butterfield; that the Holy Spiritwould teach truth.

Y Pray for Adrianne Alexanders parents as theyface terminal illnesses.

Y For Family of Richard Berg, Cameron Bergsgrandfather, who recently passed away. Andfor family of Carol Johnson.

Y Jane Zech (Barb & Lee Bliss cousin), and herfamily. Jane is suffering from brain cancerand is in her final days of life.

Y Virginia Schober, Amy Moores Aunt, who isrecovering from a broken vertebra and needsto wear a halo until mid-June.

Y Carole Lloyd as she recovers at home after

successful surgery.

Y Pray for Angelica Van Iperens friends, Pauland Ruben, and they struggle with infertilityand limited resources to treat it.

Y Jacob Mielke a 19 year old man who isstruggling with cancer. He is getting chemo atthe Mayo Clinic.

Y Peter Ralston, Faith Ralstons son who isstruggling with addiction.

Y Donna Mc Cullen, Ken Mc Cullen's wife as she

goes through more intense chemotherapytreatment.Y Pray for continued courage on Dwight

Zvoraks recovery from alcoholism.

DEVOTIONMonday, May 16Read Luke 2:41-52Some people have wondered howJoseph and Mary could depart fromJerusalem without knowing whetherJesus was with them. Pastor Paul

shared in his sermon yesterday thatthe two trusted the entourage ofpeople with whom they traveled.Many people from Nazareth traveledtogether to Jerusalem to attend thefestival of Passover. These peopleknew each other and trusted eachother. Joseph and Mary trusted thatthe entourage of people fromNazareth was taking care of their son.

Yesterday Pastor Paul talked about thecongregation being a youth minister.We dont hire one person to doministry to kids and children; insteadwe hire a person to connect the entirecongregation to children and youth.We want to have an entourage ofpeoplea group whom adults willtrust with their children.

Hopefully every adult at Chain of

Lakes will take special interest in atleast one child and youth. Who is a

8/6/2019 Devotion Week of May 15 2011

2/3

2 3 4child or youth about whom you couldtake a special interest? Would youconsider writing a letter or note to thatchild or youth todayor even makinga phone call? The important point isto share that you care for this young

person. By doing this you can be partof an entourage of adults at Chain ofLakes who are invested in the lives ofkids and youth.

Today as you pray, pray specificallyfor this child or youth. Pray for thepersons family; pray that the personwill grow up to be the person Goddesires the person to be; pray that weat Chain of Lakes can be an entourage

to that child or youth.

Tuesday, May 17Read 1 Samuel 3:1-21Weve read this story before in thesedevotionals, but its a story worthreading over and over and over again.The young boy, Samuel, needed anadult to help him discern what wasgoing on in his life. Samuel didntknow that God was calling him to a

ministry. Without Eli, Samuel mightnot have ever known what washappening to him.

All of us can be an Eli to a youth orchild in our congregation. We takespecial attention to someone and thenhelp that young person discern whatGod is doing in their lives.

What would have happened to the

faith life of Samuel if he hadnt hadSamuel? Its certain that he wouldnthave known that God was calling him.

Perhaps God would have donesomething later on to ensure Samuelknew about his call, but we dont knowthis for sure.

All kids and youth at Chain of Lakes

need an Eli. For whom can you be anEli? Yesterday you were asked to takea special interest in at least one childand youth. As you pray today, praythat you can be an Eli to this child oryouth; pray that you can help the childor youth discern what God is doing inthat young persons life.

Wednesday, May 18Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Many people might wonder about thepurpose of youth and childrensministry. This passage answers thequestion. Recite these words toyourselfHear O Israel: The Lord is our God,the Lord alone. You shall love the Lordyour God with all your heart, and withall your soul, and with all your might.Keep these words that I amcommanding you today in your heart.

Recite them to your children and talkabout them when you are at home andwhen you are away, when you liedown and when you rise.Deuteronomy 6:4-7

We want the kids and youth at Chainof Lakes to be able to love God with allof their heart, soul, and might. Todayas you pray, pray that this will takeplace.

Thursday, May 19Read Genesis 4:1-18

This is a story of the very first familymentioned in the Bible. The story istragic. Cain became jealous of Abeland killed him.

Many families in the north Metro have

these jealousies and rivalries existwithin them. This story of Cain andAbel is not just a biblical storyitsone that describes people who livenear us or even describes us.

Can you think of some families likethis. Today as you pray, pray forthem. Pray also that the church canreach out to them in ways that arehealthy and helpful.

Friday, May 20Read Mark 10:23-27Its interesting and wonderful to seehow Jesus addressed the disciples inthis passage. Jesus had shared howhard it would be for those who havewealth to enter the kingdom of God.The disciples were confused by thesewords. Then Jesus addressed them byusing the word, Children.

Jesus wasnt trying to share that hewas the adult and the disciples werethe children. He was sharing hisunderstanding that the disciples stillhad a lot to learn. He empathized withtheir pain.

We are like the disciples. There is alot that we dont understand aboutwhat happens in our lives and what

happens in the world. If Jesus cameinto the room with us he mightaddress us by starting with the word,

8/6/2019 Devotion Week of May 15 2011

3/3

2 3 4children. He wouldnt do this to lordhis authority over us. Instead hewould be saying this out of a sense ofempathy.

Today as you pray, give thanks to Godfor the empathy that we receive.Despite our lack of understanding Godstill loves and cares for us very deeply.

Saturday, May 21Luke 18:15-17When Jesus was touching even theinfants he was blessing them. Thedisciples were surprised as infantswerent seen as deserving a blessing.In Jesus day they were viewed as

property.

His words in verses 16-17 are worthmemorizing.Let the little children come to me,and do not stop them; for it is to suchas these that the kingdom of Godbelongs.

At Chain of Lakes Church wevetranslated this teaching of Jesus into

the Core Value of Investing in FutureGenerations. We understand this tomean that our priority is to create anatmosphere where children, youth,and young adults grow in faith.

Today as you pray that we at Chain ofLakes Church can live into this value.