The past couple of weeks here at Living Hope, there have been more and more prayer requests coming in for friends that have no belief in Jesus.  All believers desire their friends and family to know Jesus Christ.  But, there needs to be more than desire…there needs to be action.

We all need to be actively sharing with those around us.  Pastor Jason has been sharing every week an easy method on how to share the Gospel.   It is called the Story.  You can find it online. Prayer is needed.  The Holy Spirit is the one who changes a life, but it is up to you to help share the word.

Recently, I was in a very spiritually dark place in Africa.  I was part of a teaching group that was equipping a small group of believers.  As the African men shared their testimonies, I was amazed at how they came to Christ.  It wasn’t at a Crusade or Revival.  It wasn’t at a church.  A pastor did not share with them even.  Most of them heard about Christ from a person passing through their country for work.  These transient people left these men a Gospel track or a Bible cassette and had a conversation with them about Christ.  The Holy Spirit took these brief conversations and used them in great ways.

All believers need to be sharing Christ with others.  So, as you pray for those in your life that don’t know Christ…pray that God will also empower you to be bold and courageous in your conversations for Christ with them.

The day after one of the most important Christian holidays.  How do you feel?  Have you celebrated Easter well?  The day that as believers our relationship was made right with God.  Are you thinking more about the left over chocolate sitting in your kitchen or the saving Grace that was given to you?

It is so easy for believers to get surprised by how fast the Holy holidays come and go.  Satan wants us to be surprised.  He wants us to get pulled into the busyness of life and forget about the impact His son made for us.  I want to challenge you all to savor this holiday and the meaning that comes with it.

Currently, after a dietician visit, I am closely watching how many calories and carbs I intake.  I have been doing this for about a month.  I miss normal, yummy food so much. So, when I have a good week, I will partake of a ever so small sweet as a reward:)  I have learned not to gobble down this treat like a hungry animal, but to savor this ever so small, luscious, smooth morsel of goodness.  So much pleasure comes from this time.

This is the type of “savor” I want for Easter.  I desire to spend time in thought about the purpose of Easter and how this impacts me.  Today, don’t think the holiday is over, take time to remember it and thank God for it.

Happy New Year!!!

During 2012 Pastor Jason will be taking time each service to pray for a people group, missionary, mission trip or ministry.  This Sundays people group is the Czech in France.  Please read over this information and take some time to pray for these people.

The prayer blog, for the rest of the year, is going on vacation:)  That doesn’t mean you stop praying, but there won’t be any new blogs to engage you until the new year.  Living Hope has seen God work in great ways this year.  Please continue praying for us to have His blessing upon us.  See you next year…Jeff:)

Lord, I pray you rain down your Holy Spirit today.  Upon Pastor Jason as he continues to preach your word from Romans.  And, for the people of the church as they give an offering to Gift for Christ today.  This offering allows your church the ability to go into all the world and share the Gospel.

I would like to request all the viewers to pray for Living Hope’s Gift for Christ Offering this Sunday.  The goal is $175,000.  This amount is large, but it is a good representation of our goal for missions in 2012.  We have 22 trips that are stretched throughout the world with the sole goal of sharing the Gospel.  Begin praying that we can glorify God with this offering and be good stewards of what we receive.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/32104409]

This is another testimony from our Central Asian team.  This speaker gives a great testimony about what he noticed…the lack of joy.  Be in prayer for Central Asia that they can learn about the joy of Christ.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/32169481]

This is a “Testibyte” of one of the members from the Central Asia team, which was recently sent out.  I cannot share the name of the country nor post the name of the person sharing due to security.  Please be in prayer for this Central Asian country with no missionaries or established evangelical churches.

Also, be in prayer for the Gift Christ Offering this Sunday.  Our goal is $175,000 and it goes to help our church share the Gospel all over the world.

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/32091207]

All be in prayer for the Holy Spirit to rain down during Pastor Jason’s message today.  May his words touch our hearts and inspire our minds.

Please be in prayer for these requests:

John M. is having surgery this week.

Hope House is in need of supplies and volunteers.

Stacy and Tommy need to sell their house.

Salvation for Kristen, Kyle, Drew, Charles, Anastasia, Bob, Steve, Ron, Tyler, Joe, Meadow, Missy, BJ, Matt, Lenny, Frank, Joseph, and Josh

Vicky is having throat issues, pray for healing.

Pray that God will comfort Megan and her family with the loss of her grandfather.

Pray for North Warren Elementary

Pray for Doug as he goes through radiation and chemo for his brain cancer.

Pray for Sharon, a lump was found in her breast.

Pray that Harry can get a job.

Two families are dealing with cancer.

An elderly father is going through memory loss.