PRAYER MATTERS
1 John 3.16-18 By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Isaiah 55.3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
I hope you had a chance to hear Garth Gustafson preach on Sunday, December 21. (You can listen/watch on our website – YakimaGrace.com/series-archives) Garth spoke about God’s love, and he encouraged us to be people of Love (Christ’s love) in action. As we receive love and give love, we realize more and more how important it is to be connected to our Lord and Savior. God wants to increase our capacity to receive and give. He wants His people to share the gift of His love to all we encounter. This is a commandment that may be asked of us (by the Lord) in a variety of ways – He asks us to forgive, to sacrifice, to serve… He asks us to love others. Do you see the action in this commandment?
Garth used the Hebrew word Shama which means to hear, listen to, obey. Shama, listen with the intent of obeying. Isn’t that a beautiful word! An action, we are all capable of doing…as we are connected to the Lord.
Last week, a name kept coming to my mind. Most of the time I try to stop and offer a prayer when someone comes to mind. After I thought of this person a few times over a couple of days, I thought perhaps the Holy Spirit was prompting me to do something. So, I called her. At that moment she was in the hospital with her husband. We prayed, not knowing the fullness of the situation. It was a quick call, a simple prayer. God knew the timing, He knew the peace He would bring to this person in this moment, and He brought discernment to the medical team. I offer this example as encouragement as we strive to love in action, connecting to God.
Is the Lord bringing someone to your mind that you want to call or send a text? Perhaps someone He wants to see you reconcile with, or someone in your life that needs something special done for them – a meal or a driveway shoveled. Is God asking you to pray daily for a friend, a group of people or a country in severe trauma? Prayer matters, and how grateful I am, our church family is, for your prayers. Thank you for lifting up our weekly prayer letter requests. Thank you for taking time to talk with God. And thank you for listening to our Father in Heaven with the intent of obeying. He is love.
Merry Christmas,
Ericka
1 John 3.16-18 By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
Isaiah 55.3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
I hope you had a chance to hear Garth Gustafson preach on Sunday, December 21. (You can listen/watch on our website – YakimaGrace.com/series-archives) Garth spoke about God’s love, and he encouraged us to be people of Love (Christ’s love) in action. As we receive love and give love, we realize more and more how important it is to be connected to our Lord and Savior. God wants to increase our capacity to receive and give. He wants His people to share the gift of His love to all we encounter. This is a commandment that may be asked of us (by the Lord) in a variety of ways – He asks us to forgive, to sacrifice, to serve… He asks us to love others. Do you see the action in this commandment?
Garth used the Hebrew word Shama which means to hear, listen to, obey. Shama, listen with the intent of obeying. Isn’t that a beautiful word! An action, we are all capable of doing…as we are connected to the Lord.
Last week, a name kept coming to my mind. Most of the time I try to stop and offer a prayer when someone comes to mind. After I thought of this person a few times over a couple of days, I thought perhaps the Holy Spirit was prompting me to do something. So, I called her. At that moment she was in the hospital with her husband. We prayed, not knowing the fullness of the situation. It was a quick call, a simple prayer. God knew the timing, He knew the peace He would bring to this person in this moment, and He brought discernment to the medical team. I offer this example as encouragement as we strive to love in action, connecting to God.
Is the Lord bringing someone to your mind that you want to call or send a text? Perhaps someone He wants to see you reconcile with, or someone in your life that needs something special done for them – a meal or a driveway shoveled. Is God asking you to pray daily for a friend, a group of people or a country in severe trauma? Prayer matters, and how grateful I am, our church family is, for your prayers. Thank you for lifting up our weekly prayer letter requests. Thank you for taking time to talk with God. And thank you for listening to our Father in Heaven with the intent of obeying. He is love.
Merry Christmas,
Ericka
from the week of December 22
Praises
- Praise the Lord for family – they are a tremendous help to me.
- God always gives us a song; we just need to sing it! Amen
- Merry Christmas! Christ is born!
- Dear Lord, our family all praise You and thank You.
- Praise God for the gift of Your son. Thank You Lord for Your many blessings.
- Thank you all for praying for the continued healing of my knee.
- We praise You, our Lord. You hear our prayers and lift us out of the miry pit of pain and warry, of ill health and needs, of fret and sorrow. You put a new song in our hearts!
- Great to see and hear from Garth and Caroline. Such a wonderful ministry in Cambodia.
- Thanks to Jesus for healing our colds!
- Praise God, He has made this the most stress-free Christmas season I have had in years.
- The choir, the children's program this morning and Garth Gustafson's real narrative of Jesus's conception, the arduous journey to Jesus's birth; how blessed I am to be able to see it online!
- We are so grateful for the love shown us.
- God provides for us – we see it daily!
- Truly getting it, the gospel of Jesus and finally and happily surrendering my life to him is the most precious thing Il could ever hope for.
- Praise God for all our blessings.
Prayers
- Please pray for God’s comfort and peace for the families of Ann Faley and Pat Drollinger; they passed away this week.
- Prayers for safe travels for all family and friends as they travel this week.
- Lord, as I looked around the sanctuary this morning I see people who have been a part of the GoC community in the past. We pray for You to draw them to Yourself through the love You have put in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
- Please pray for B’s continued healing of her knee, for upcoming appointments for other medical issues and for God’s direction as to a possible plan of healing.
- Pray for our daughter who needs intensive surgery for upper airway issue.
- Prayers for my dear friend J who lost both parents in just a short time apart.
- Prayer for a friend’s salvation and for our friendship to be restored.
- Prayers for safety in travel for all during this winter, especially traveling the mountain passes.
- Prayers for peace in Cambodia and Thailand.
- Please pray for my daughter R – her health is deteriorating and she doesn't know the Lord. Please pray for her salvation and her healing. She is such a sweet person. Also please pray for my granddaughter - she is so very depressed and also isn't healthy. Please pray that Jesus would draw her near to him.
- Please pray for N’s healing and for G.
- Please pray my son M finds You, Jesus, so that we may find him. Please keep him safe and warm.
- God bless the memories of my dear departed mother and my late wife as our family celebrates their birthdays.
- Prayers for A’s family as she nears the end of her life. Peace and comfort, Lord be with her husband D and give him renewed hope in You and life.
- Prayers for a friend whose son has stage 4 cancer and isn’t doing well. Comfort and peace.
- Praying for the S family as they grieve and for so many others who are experiencing Christmas for the first time without their loved one.
- I pray that things of people will find their way to Jesus. It is life-changing in the best way.
- Please pray for R who had a stroke and is in critical condition – he needs a miracle. Pray, too, for his family during this very stressful time. May we bless the Lord and praise Him.
- Pray for continued recovery from a fall, safe travel for family members flying and driving.
- Praying for positive leadership – unity and support of all. Praying for families and for our Reverand and his family.
- Please pray for A who lost their job this month. Pray for a new job that is just right and for health insurance that the family can afford in the new year. Above all, pray for their salvation!
- Please pray for V a very lost 16-year-old who desperately needs God’s intervention in his life. Pray satan is bound and V finds the light and love of Jesus.
- Praying for my sister D to have a good Christmas and for me as I get to see other family, and for nephew A’s appointment on Thursday.
- Thank you for praying for my brother. He is still with us!
- Please pray for L’s son who has a leak in his spinal cord.
- Prayers for TK and the final days of his mom’s life. She is excited to see Jesus!
- Please continue to pray for a job for our daughter.
- Pray for health issues for N & P and for those who need God’s healing and comfort.
- Praying my husband J will have endurance and courage enough to come to church. He is working hard to get stronger.
- Prayers for those who do not know the Lord to have a joyful encounter.
- Prayers for the homeless and persecuted.
- Prayers for my sister and her husband as he heals from recent amputation. Pray for my sister-in-law’s hip.
- Please pray for all my needs and wants as I joined this church six years agon on Christmas eve!
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH AND CAMP STAFF:
STAFF: (Pastor) Gregory Wagenfuhr; (Family & Children’s Ministry) Sarah Huck; (Student Ministries) Kara Brown and Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa; (Preschool Director) Becca Mailand; (Preschool Teachers) Amber Miller and Amiya Aparicio; (Childcare) Gracie Miller, Maddie Miller, Jennifer Brice, and Grace Johnson; (Media/IT) Deb Meyers; (Business Manager) Tammy Nunley; (Building/Grounds/Custodial) John Yolo, Stephen Dalton, Monte Schilperoort, and Ryan Albertson; (Administrative Assistant) Ericka Clark; (Worship Leaders) Jason Wickson, Nathan Gross, and Anne Schilperoort; (Intern Director) Larissa Belknap; (Interns) Belen Damian-Vasquez, Eli Westfall, and Jasmine Barriga. (Congrats graduates Linda & Alex!)
GHORMLEY STAFF: Joel Whitehead, Richard Hayland, David Killings, Taylor Miller, Jeff Sansburn, Kaden and Alicia Schmidt.
CAMP GHORMLEY BOARD: Jeff Arkills, Mark Baldwin, Rob Culp, Tony Klein, Suzanne Marinace, Amae Merrill, Rich Milhorn, Jeff Scott, and Joel Whitehead.
STAFF: (Pastor) Gregory Wagenfuhr; (Family & Children’s Ministry) Sarah Huck; (Student Ministries) Kara Brown and Jahzeel Garcia-Figueroa; (Preschool Director) Becca Mailand; (Preschool Teachers) Amber Miller and Amiya Aparicio; (Childcare) Gracie Miller, Maddie Miller, Jennifer Brice, and Grace Johnson; (Media/IT) Deb Meyers; (Business Manager) Tammy Nunley; (Building/Grounds/Custodial) John Yolo, Stephen Dalton, Monte Schilperoort, and Ryan Albertson; (Administrative Assistant) Ericka Clark; (Worship Leaders) Jason Wickson, Nathan Gross, and Anne Schilperoort; (Intern Director) Larissa Belknap; (Interns) Belen Damian-Vasquez, Eli Westfall, and Jasmine Barriga. (Congrats graduates Linda & Alex!)
GHORMLEY STAFF: Joel Whitehead, Richard Hayland, David Killings, Taylor Miller, Jeff Sansburn, Kaden and Alicia Schmidt.
CAMP GHORMLEY BOARD: Jeff Arkills, Mark Baldwin, Rob Culp, Tony Klein, Suzanne Marinace, Amae Merrill, Rich Milhorn, Jeff Scott, and Joel Whitehead.
1 Corinthians 15.57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”