Hope

"To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

in you I trust, O my God.
  Do not let me be put to shame,
  nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one whose hope is in you
  will ever be put to shame,
  but they will be put to shame
  who are treacherous without excuse.

Show me your ways, O LORD,
  teach me your paths;

guide me in your truth and teach me,
  for you are God my Savior,
  and my hope is in you all day long. " - Psalm 25:1-5

The painting below is of the Sack of Rome in the year 410AD.  The Roman Empire had become a Christian-friendly nation, yet the capital was taken over by Visigoth invaders, looted and devastated.  The Pagans blamed the Christians for causing this because their gods weren't worshipped.  Augustine wrote The City of God, initially as a rebuttal, but then going on to produce a great apologetic work for our faith in Jesus Christ which remains one of the most important Christian works outside of the Bible.  This event wasn't the end, but rather the beginning. On the surface, the above Psalm doesn't seem to fit this, but in a more important way, it does provide comfort.  When our hope is in God, our hope cannot be taken away.

The news today is full of many scary things ranging from terrorism to debts running out of control and threatening to bring down economic systems, and the threats of natural or man-made disasters always in our mind.  Christians have been through this before, and by God's power and grace, we will be brought through again.  We have a hope in Jesus Christ, and may this be with us always.

PRAY FOR OUR CONGREGATION

Praise God that we have our core leadership team/pastoral search committee in place--Paul, Elaine, Douglas, Angela.  Pray for team unity, wisdom and vision for the upcoming year.

Please pray for our small groups.  Pray that for the growth of our adults small group -- that more church members will join and for outreach.  Pray also for our youth group that the youth will be able to reach out to more of their non-Christian friends.

Pray for our SF mission trip that we will finalize our youth team soon.

HOC Taiwan Mission trip will be from 07/20 to 08/04, a training will start to be provided in April, please contact brother Elder Chang for registrations. We now have 4 registrations, pray to God that He will provide more people for the team. This year's focus will be help establish summer VBS at ChuDong Church and training on How to do individual Gospel preaching;

PRAY FOR THE REST OF OUR CHURCH

Prayer: The new format for the Wednesday prayer meeting works smoothly, give thanks to the Lord. Pray for God's continue guidance.

 

Worship: Give thanks to the Lord that we now have over 10 brothers and sisters joining the prayer team. We need to pray for the choir pianist needs.  Pray for 5/22 Praise Night meeting.  Pray for each team members to prepare their heart and delegation to serve him.

Praise the Lord that we now have a core team to serve the Cantonese ministry. May God continue to provide strength and faith to the co-workers

PRAY ABOUT HOW GOD IS LEADING YOU ON HIS MISSION
PRAY FOR THREE(3) OF YOUR UNCHURCHED FRIENDS/FAMILY
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Amen