m2c 2011 prayer initiative

2011 Prayer Support for Mission V. 2; N. 03

POBLO-TX,
Our Redeemer, Dallas

People of the Book Lutheran Outreach (POBLO), is an LCMS mission society dedicated to reaching Muslims both domestically and internationally. It is our goal to raise up spiritual leaders among Muslims and establish Christ-worshiping communities within them.
website

Invocation

O Father, with Whom nothing in impossible, make possible the receiving of Your Word, Your grace, Your forgiveness in my heart this day and forever, to the glory of Your Son, by the power of Your Spirit. Amen.

Reading Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 118
Reflection

One of my memories as a small boy was of the church Christmas Program. I was given a very important part, I was to announce the birth of Jesus to the Shepherds. For weeks I rehearsed the line, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy."

Everyone seemed to get involved in making sure I remembered that line. Any time the family was together, I would be asked to say the line, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy." I would even get all dressed in my costume and practice saying the line. For weeks I would repeat the line over and over. I was confident that I would remember and say the line with all boldness. Well, I might even become the next great star on in Hollywood.

The great night came for the Christmas program and everybody was in place. All the parents, grandparents and extended family of all the kids were there. Visitors had come in and all of us were in costumes, complete with bathrobes for the three kings and fake wings and halos for the angels. All the mothers were excited and everyone was really into this thing.

As the program started, the excitement was electric around the room. The dramatic event in the first part was the announcement of the angel, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy." I walked to center chancel and there in the middle of all this excitement, my brain froze. Every grandparent, aunt, uncle and neighbor came to the edge of their seats, wanting to say it for me. You could see them in unison, mouthing, "Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy."

Still, my brain was frozen; I couldn't say it. I tried it, but it just wouldn't come. Finally, in a heroic moment I filled my lungs with breath and blurted out the words, "Have I got news for you!" Where that came from I will never know--but it came. And indeed, there is good news for us.

In the reading from Luke 1, I couldn't help but think about those words. "Have I got news for you!" While Mary may not have thought this was such "great news," she eventually acknowledged what God was doing-of course, with the power of the Holy Spirit.

I really like verse 27, "for nothing is impossible with God." That's what happened that night, blurting out, "Have I got news for you!" It was the push of the Spirit. Even in frightful times, I could belt out the "news."

We can each and every day say the words of Mary's praise:

"My heart praises the Lord; my soul is glad because of God my Savior, for he has remembered me, his lowly servant! From now on all people will call me happy, because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me. His name is holy; from one generation to another he shows mercy to those who honor him. He has stretched out his mighty arm and scattered the proud with all their plans. He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors, and has come to the help of his servant Israel. He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham and to all his descendants forever!" (Luke 1:46-55)

These words of Mary can be my words in expressing wonderment for what God has done, is doing, and will do. He is the one who leads and guides us throughout each an every journey that we are about. He is our strength and our fortress. To Him be glory and praise.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Have I got news for you!

Amen and Amen. God grant us wisdom to shout the words of the Good News! For in Him all is possible!

Dr. Lou Jander, MMF Emeritus, Texas District

Pray

(As you pray include . . . people who don't know Christ; people who will plant & witness; people who pray. )

Benediction
Go now, in confidence, knowing that nothing is impossible in the Name of Him who is, was, and is to come. Amen.

Pray for Missionaries and their Families -----

For the Preparation of new Church Planters who are ready to enter into this challenging and difficult ministry in Texas and throughout the nation

For the Center for Us Mission CPAC. Pray that men and their families are raised up for vital church planting in our church body.

For the unseen workers in neighborhoods and communities in Texas and around the world.

For Mr. John Seale, LINC North Texas Office Manager

For Rev. Walt Dube, LINC Houston Chaplain, M. D. Anderson Hospital

For your own pastor

For Irfan Mahomoud, Sabir Bashir, and Gian Din

For church planter coaches and those being coached

Pray for New Missions -----

For the Holy Spirit to guide the formation of Abiding Word Lutheran Church in Gonzales, Texas

For Hope Lutheran, Marble Falls, planted in connection with Genesis, Buchanan Dam

For Grace Community Church (Pakistani / Indian)

For Mission Marble Falls as it launches worship.

For Redeemer, Austin to strategize and implement childcare outreach.

For St. Paul, McAllen as they investigate a new start with SMP Vicar Mr. Andrew Perry

For the development of mission in Decatur and Candelaria

For St. John Cypress as they look for their next mission start.

For Epiphany, Pearland as they continue to develop their multi-site ministry.

For Mission Liberty Hill

Pray for Continuing and Key Events -----

For congregations to make bringing Christ to communities their top priority

For strong fellowship development among like minded witnesses

For Missional Worker Training in Area C

For the search for Director for LINC San Antonio

For Hope, Lubbock as they discern their next mission step

For Grace, Midland as they continue to work with immigrant groups in their area

For the Ten new church starts in Area B

For continued support for LINC

For POBLO and a new Ethnic Mission Plant in partnership with Our Savior, Rockwall.

St Paul, Ft Worth / The Summit at Aledo as they search for direction concerning their next Multi-Site Mission location

For 10% of the Baptized members of TxDistLCMS to pray for mission

For workers as they gather together that the Mission of God be foremost in their discussions and that such resides in the hearts and mind's of each participant.

For Jan 17-19 Circuit Counselors Retreat

For Jan 27-29 Early Childhood Educators Conference

For Congregations to grow in their discipleship response to the Gospel including their financial support for kingdom work.

Message to Partners -----

Thank you for your prayers. They are vital to the health and movement of the God's people. Of course God's kingdom comes on its own but in these petitions we pray that they come also to the heart of every man, woman, and child with whom we have contact. Don't be shy about inviting fellow disciples to be a partner in prayer!

To read more about the Texas District Prayer Initiative click here.

Blessings,

Rev. Steven Misch
Texas District LCMS
806-433-4536