2011 m2c texas prayer initiative

Click here to become a Prayer Partner 2011 Prayer Support for Mission V. 2; N. 05

WEEKLY MISSION HIGHLIGHT

LINC - North Texas

The Vision and Mission of LINC North Texas is "To empower followers of Jesus to transform their communities by launching faith communities where families are transformed through spiritual, educational, and economic development."
To read more visit their web site by clicking here.

Invocation

O Lord, the house of my heart is cold and removed from that to which you have called me. Repair the house of my soul, cleanse it through your promise and order it by the work of Your Son, that the Spirit would dwell therein that the world, my community, and those around me would see You and You alone. Amen.

Reading Luke 2:1-20; Psalm 9

Reflection: "Bethlehem - the Bakery"

One of my favorite childhood memories was our weekly visit to my uncle's bakery in Mexico. It always had the most amazing aromas of fresh bread and of course we had free reign to take as much sweet Mexican bread home as we wanted. It's a miracle I was such a skinny kid (too bad the miracle expired). Bread can have special meaning to you for similar memories too. But for the believer, bread has so much meaning.

The narrative of Luke 2 moves quickly through the story. Joseph takes Mary to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus. This popular gospel account is read in our churches on Christmas Eve. In four brief verses we get the storyline, Luke left out so much detail and we are left to wonder how all this happened.

I want to focus on the location mentioned by Luke that most ignore, 'Bethlehem". Bethlehem has significance for at least two reasons. One reason is that Bethlehem is a royal city. It was prophesied that the Messiah, son of David was to come from Bethlehem. It was also called the "City of David". The royal line came from Bethlehem and it was important that Jesus was born there.

Another significant issue is that Bethlehem means, "house of bread". Bethlehem was in a grain producing area and was named as the source of bread. Jesus said several things about bread, "Man shall not live by bread alone", "I am the bread of life", "this (bread) is my body". Its not by accident that Jesus, the "bread of life" came from Bethlehem (house of bread). Everything is by God's design to get our attention and prove to us again, how marvelous is our God.

I'm not sure where you are at with the bread of life lately but I constantly need Him. No earthly food satisfies for very long. Our souls hunger for this bread of life yet many times we reject it. What is it that we really need? We don't need more people to convince us that we have worth. We don't need a bigger salary to prove that we are significant or to bring us more comfort or peace. We don't need more relationships to fill the quietness that comes from time alone with Jesus.

Now that you have recovered from the "craziness" of the Christmas holiday, have you eaten of the bread of life? Have you rested in Him?

I pray that you can take some alone time this week to eat of the bread of life, the only one that satisfies.

Rev. Oscar Benavides

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

Benediction

May God's spirit dwell richly in your heart and mind this day and always through Jesus. Amen.

Note: Those items that are bold italic are newly added items to the prayer page

Pray that the members of the Texas District embrace the mission.

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 Rev. Carlos Boerger, San Antonio, LINC

For Rev. Ed Weber, Port Isabel, RioMAC Port Isabel Ministry

For your own pastor

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 the northeast corner of Area A 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 the Circuit Four Convocation in March, focusing on college ministries at the many campus' in West Texas.

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