Good morning, Lord

Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, "Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath." 3 He answered, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread--which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven't you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

Good morning, Lord, please help us understand how to have mercy on others, and to understand that it truly is more important than sacrifice. Please forgive us for the hardness in our hearts, please help us to do your will, in your way, for your reasons.

Lord, we pray for the persecuted church in Turkmenistan (here is a story about one brother who is suffering for his faith:

Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev of the Light to the World Protestant Church in Mary, Turkmenistan, is serving a four-year prison sentence on charges his church members say were fabricated to punish him for his religious activity. Pastor Nurliev had tried to register his church before his arrest in August 2010. His wife, Maya, told Forum 18 News, “The court ruled that Ilmurad is a drug addict and ordered forced treatment for this in prison.”

In December, Pastor Nurliev was transferred to Seydi Labor Camp, where authorities are thought to use psychotropic drugs against prisoners. Thankfully, friends report that he has not been forced to undergo “treatment.” But he has been denied care for his diabetes and is very weak. Prison officials have allowed the pastor to practice his trade as a barber for camp staff and fellow prisoners instead of forcing him to work in the camp’s brick factory.

Pastor Nurliev had hoped to be included in a general prisoner amnesty in February, but he was not given amnesty. “The camp chief at Seydi told him he would be freed under amnesty if he acknowledged his guilt,” said one Protestant Christian. “But he refused.” Also that month, Pastor Nurliev’s wife was denied permission to see him or give him any food at his allotted monthly visit. She told Forum 18 that her husband is not allowed to have a copy of the Bible. She said she treasures his personal Bible at home as something she can hold in his absence.”

We pray specifically for Pastor Nurliev and his wife, we pray they would see grand purposes in the ordinary events of their lives, we pray they would be encouraged and strengthened, no matter what the persecutors do to them, we pray they would stand tall and true to you. Please help us not forget them and the many, many other brothers and sisters we have in this world who suffer for their faith.

We pray for the unreached people of the day, the Rakhine, Arakanese of Myanmar (Burma), (1,880,000 souls, of whom “…the devout, animistic/Buddhist traditions of this people have made them unreceptive to the Gospel in the past.”) We pray this people group would experience freedom in Christ, we pray you would give them a hunger for truth and righteousness, we pray you would set the captives free in this land. We pray for those who love you and serve you in Christ in this land, please bless their efforts, please help all of us see the time is short, the task is great in this world.

We pray for ICR, we pray the libraries they have planted around the world would be sources of true spiritual nourishment for all who are hungry for truth and righteousness, we pray for the curious who have seen these libraries in their cities, we pray they would be drawn to your word and your resources in these libraries.

(Updates to Prayer List from cards turned in to Linda)

Barbara Barger: My friend, Jack Gabbert – his liver cancer is growing rapidly. Please pray for his family, for comfort and peace; my brother, Ed Thomas, in the Philippines is very ill. Lord, we pray for Jack and his family to feel a powerful sense of your presence, even as this cancer continues to grow, we pray they would know you are still sovereign and still in control. We pray for healing for Ed, we pray whatever the illness that it would pass soon and he would be on the road to recovery.

Mary Cook: Please pray for my sister, Betty Oliver – she is in terrible pain but doctors cannot find the cause; pray her pain will be easier and doctors will find the cause. Praise – after our car accident in December, both Chloe and I are ok and financial needs working out. Lord, we pray for Betty and her doctors, we pray they would figure out what is going on, we thank you that things are turning out favorably for Mary and Chloe.

Ingrid Ewing: Continued prayer for Chris – he goes to court on Jan. 10th; pray for a good outcome. Lord, we pray for Chris and his trial today, we pray he would find peace and rest in you and you alone, please help Ingrid love her son in healthy ways.

David Hinkle: Continue to pray for Margie (going thru chemo) and my mother, Thelma Hinkle; please lift up Mary Pritz (Margie’s older sister) as she is being kept on morphine and not expected to live through today or tomorrow; pray for peace for her family and friends. Lord, we pray for Mary and her family, we pray their faith in you will guide them through this passing, this change, we know precious in your eyes are the deaths of your saints, we pray for Mary to know peace and serenity in this time. Please help Margie and David bring hope and healing to their family members.

Jan Pride: Please pray for Mike as back surgery is planned; also my sister, Teri Schiera, will be having back surgery; and continue to pray for operating funds for Happy Hands. Lord, we pray you would help Mike find the right time to have this surgery. We pray for a successful surgery for both Mike and Teri. We pray for Happy Hands to find the sources of funding that you have prepared for them, we believe you brought this organization into existence, we pray you would help them grow and thrive.

Linda Richmond: Praise – my sister-in-law, Darla McPherson, is responding well to her treatments; she is still having chemo treatments, but the doctors are impressed with how well she is doing – the Power of Prayer! Lord, thank you that Darla is doing better, thank you that her body is responding, please help Linda and the rest of Darla’s family continue to lift her up often and to encourage her through this challenging time.

Ms. Sys: Prayer for his continued guidance moment by moment. Lord, we pray for Ms. Sys to find the guidance she needs each and every day.

Jan Weathers: Jeff & Heather relocate to Dallas on the 18th and Jeff starts his new job on the 30th. Lord, thank you for Jeff and Heather and their desire to follow your lead, wherever it takes them, please help them grow and thrive in their new role, we pray for progress for Chloe so their family might be able to return to the mission field soon.

Julie Wilson: Please pray for our cousin in ICU on her 2nd surgery; out of induced coma and breathing on her own but still unsure of outcome. Lord, we pray for Julie’s cousin, please help them see you working and moving in this situation as it unfolds, we pray her cousin would continue to improve in her health situation.

Phyllis Wilson: Thank you so much for your prayers for my sweet brother, Chip. The prayers were definitely felt all along, especially this last week. He is now home with our Lord, and when we all reach the other side, you can get to know him too. Lord, we pray for Chip’s family, please help them see how you were moving in mighty ways in Chip’s life, please help them know you always do what is best for us, especially when we don’t understand what you are doing, thank you that we can trust you.

Alta Yahola: Pray for Tim & Mariah to get back in church. Lord, we pray for Tim and Mariah, please help them grow in their faith, please help them take the tiniest of steps they need to take to grow in grace and truth in their lives. Please help Alta be an example for them.

We pray all these things in your name, Jesus, Amen.