Wednesday, 3rd February, 2021 Hello Brothers and Sisters |
Prayer leaflet Br David Jardine 13 January 2021
Give thanks that in spite of serious difficulties we have been able to keep EfL running over the past year.
--- that 25 new people have offered themselves as Volunteer Tutors
--- for the gifts of email, telephone, letters and zoom calls allowing us to keep in touch with our Volunteers and supporters
--- for the imaginative ways the Lord gave us over the past months to continue serving the people of the Shankill
Priorities
Efforts we are making to renew contact with the children on the internet
Protection of children and their families
That we will get back into schools safely in the Lord's timing
The development of work in Ballyduff in partnership with Bryson House / our ongoing relationship with Bryson House - Chief Executive Shane Logan
Supporting the Food Bank in Shankill Methodist
Finding a Regional Manager - getting the right person and the funding
Expansion
Plans to open in Rostrevor, Warrenpoint, Downpatrick and East Belfast
Team of 11 people being trained to take the ministry into other parts of Northern Ireland / that other towns will welcome us
That the Lord will give us other imaginative ways to serve people in areas where we are working
That people will volunteer to be involved with EfL just through reading the literature.
Finding a Director of Sport and Health on the Shankill
Prayer for the ministry
- That this leaflet will be well used
- The prayer meetings in Argyle Centre on Tuesday and Wednesdays (when allowed again)
- Day of Prayer done at home January 15
- Week of Prayer done at home - February 15 - 19
- Prayer meetings on Zoom on Tuesdays (10am) and Fridays (11am)
Other topics
- Restoration of family life in areas we are involved with
- That there will be a new motivation amongst our people to take advantage of educational opportunities
- That we will be well prepared when the lockdown is lifted
- Trying to provide a wider selection of prayers to be used with children before we read with them
- The Lord's guidance as to how we use £4,000 given to us to buy books for children
- Finances - that the Lord will provide everything needed
Vision for the whole country
That people who have will be prepared to share with those who have not.
For many years I have been trying to practice the presence of God, to stay in touch with God all of my waking hours. The biggest difficulty is a wandering mind. But when I manage to keep focused on the Lord it is a wonderful experience. It gives me a peace and strength, and allows me to pray for a great number of people. Just recently I have been practising the presence in a slightly different way. When I think of someone I pray for them by just blessing them in the name of Jesus - ' Jean, I bless you in the name of Jesus. ‘I call these arrow prayers and they only take 5 seconds.
May I make some suggestions;
1. Turn thoughts into prayers, wherever you are. When someone's name comes into your mind throw up an arrow prayer on their behalf. When you think of EfL, or some part of the ministry, pray on the spot. It only takes a moment. If we do this we will be praying for possibly hundreds of people, situations, and aspects of the ministry in the course of the day. What a blessing this will be to those we are praying for, and also to ourselves as it helps keep our eyes focussed on the Lord. An additional bonus is that it takes our eyes off ourselves.
2. We can pray this way when we are with someone. I know a man who said to me, ' I could be talking to you and praying for you at the same time. '
3. In the middle of the night, if we cannot get back to sleep we can pray for all the people whose names come into our minds. I pray for a lot of people if I am struggling a bit to get back to sleep.
4. Don't be afraid to let people know you are praying for them.
Be strong and of good courage, be not afraid, for I the Lord your God am with you wherever you go.
David Jardine
Wednesday and Friday ( Working from Home)
8.00 am to 3.30 pm 07889572800 Please visit our website |
Tuesday, 5th January, 2021 Hello Brothers and Sisters I hope 2021 will be a good year for you and that you are managing to cope with the restrictions. May I begin by thanking you sincerely for the way you all rose to the task when we had a few different ventures in the last few months of last year, like giving donations to the Food Bank and cakes to school staff. You really did make a terrific contribution, and I appreciate that very much. As we move into a new year, with all its uncertainties, may I quote a man who through his writings has taught me a great deal. His name is Frank Laubach, an American minister who made it his big aim in life to stay as close to God as he could every minute of his waking hours. Needless to say practising this just transformed him completely. In his diary he recorded on 1st January, 1937 --'Heavenly Father, I want to give you every minute of this year. I shall try to keep you in mind every moment of my waking hours. I shall try to let my hand write what you direct. I shall try to let you be the speaker and direct every word. I shall try to let you direct my acts. I shall try to learn your language as it was taught by Jesus and by all others through whom you speak......' I can't speak for each of you, but this is a word for me, not just during the next year but for the rest of my life. What is it really? Inviting our best Friend to go with us wherever we go. What a peace, strength and sense of confidence that gives. As the famous old hymn says, ' Change and decay in all around I see, O Thou who changest not abide with me. ' |
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