Monthly Archives: March 2015

Manila Udates, Prayer Requests

What is our Jerusalem? The battles rage but through Christ, we will persevere with INDEFATIGABLE resoluteness.

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As we look back over the past couple of weeks, we are amazed at the spiritual battles raging across our Region.  The urgent prayer requests from our field have been coming across my desk at an increasing rate (several are listed at the end of this post).   But…with those requests have also come multiple praise reports!  God is at work…we just need to continue walking towards Him with indefatigable resoluteness.

I wanted to take a moment to share a challenge that has been on my mind the past few days, inspired by scripture and thoughts from Lloyd John Olgilvie, “God’s Best for My Life.”

What is my Jerusalem?

What Christ has committed to us, plus our commitments to obey, equals our Jerusalem.  Luke 9:51-53

There is a Jerusalem for all of us for which we were born and to which our life is leading. Jesus set His face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51) knowing that there He would have to face the cross and die for the sins of the world.

There at the crossroads He had to make a commitment. One road led back to Nazareth, the other to the frowning fortress of His enemies who were plotting His demise. He could have returned home and lived a safe, secure life, instead, He set His face to Jerusalem and the cross for which He had come to earth.

What do you imagine His face looked like, set for Jerusalem? I imagine – Determination, faithfulness, trust, and INDEFATIGABLE commitment to do the will of God.  An unchangeable resoluteness to follow through with His mission.

We all have a Jerusalem. And then little Jerusalems along the way.

Our Jerusalem is whatever prayer has discerned is the Lord’s will for us. It is a symbolic city of reality rather than a wish-dream and easy religion. It is COMMITMENT instead of COMFORT. But we can set our faces to our purpose with joy and not grimness.

Because Christ has gone before us, and now goes with us, we have His victorious presence to give us raw courage. Once we have committed our lives completely to Him, then we are able because He is able. His strength flows through us as we attempt great things for Him and by His power. After He has control of the nerve center of our wills, He can use us to do the otherwise-impossible. Just as Jesus went to His Jerusalem believing in God’s vindication, so too we can live out our commitment knowing that He will have the final word.

What is your Jerusalem?

banner-prayer-web2Here are some major prayer concerns for our region at the moment:  (Links to the articles for more information)

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and partnership with us as together with you, we serve here on the Asia-Pacific Region.

Praises, Prayer Requests

Together, Kingdom impact is being made – Praise God! You are such a vital part. But don’t be fooled. Great victory comes at a great cost! Please…pause…reflect…pray!

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You’re not going to see this on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, as we want to avoid sensationalism.  We are directing it to those who have signed up for our blog and who have committed to partner with us, Pausing, Reflecting, and Praying.  If you have other prayer warriors, please share this with them and ask them to sign up to be part of our focused prayer team.

Our hearts are rejoicing tonight as several spiritual engagements across the Asia-Pacific Region have been won!  We are praising God that:

  • Praying and Praising God for His Attributes!
    Praising God for His Attributes!

    When on February 13th, the global call for prayer went out for one of our missionary’s fathers who had taken a fall, suffered major medical complications, and was sedated in ICU in the U.S., literally thousands of you paused, reflected, and prayed.  We saw the numbers on our web.  *** Yesterday (Ohio time) Jeff Myers’ father was discharged from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.  PRAISE GOD!

  • On February 27th, when another global prayer request was released asking for prayer for 20 church members and their pastors, hiding from forced conscription into fighting, well over 3,000 of you paused, reflected, and prayed for their safety.  *** They have been able to return to their homes.  PRAISE GOD!
  • There is a local family who had been trying to establish a Bible study in their community for years. Four weeks ago we had the privilege of being charter members of a small group that started a Bible study with this family’s daughter at a coffee shop. *** Last Saturday night we moved to their home, and the table was full with 13.  PRAISE GOD!
A celebration in the Philippines, complete with monsoonal rains blessing the occasion in the backdrop!
A celebration in the Philippines, complete with monsoonal rains blessing the occasion in the backdrop!
  • Some of you will remember a story that we shared with you while on Home Assignment, of how God was moving in incredible ways in our neighborhood.  *** We can’t share more in this forum, but God is continuing to move in tremendous ways! PRAISE GOD!
  • Today through the gentle ongoing compassion, witness, and love of one of the national team members, another professional man in his 30’s, made his very first eternal decision for Christ. PRAISE GOD!

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:9-11 NIV.

We who believe are assured of having life, and having it more abundantly.  Hope, Joy, Peace, Love, Richness and Fulfillment.  We are also assured of the fact that this race will not be easy!  Just a few chapters later in John 16;33 Jesus tells his disciples:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV). 

ScriptureAs I sit here tonight writing, in 80 degree (F) weather with intermittent chills, a headache, and fatigue, I realize that this is not our “first tropical-sickness rodeo.”  We can be assured of the battle getting fierce as such incredible victories are made.

We so need you to PAUSE, REFLECT, and PRAY!  These past two weeks we have seen the incredible power of prayer!  And the Spiritual Battle has been equally fierce. Please pray for:

  • Covering, protection, wisdom, revelation, and discernment for our children.
  • Spiritual wisdom to discern the battles that are from Satan, and those that God has allowed to build our character and faith!
  • For an incredible ministry couple, Sam and Faith.  They have literally “taken multiple hits for the team.”  But their faith remains strong.  Sam is the one who led this man to Christ today.  You can be assured that they will be under attack. Pray for their protection, marriage, spiritual wisdom; pray for their precious twin boys.
  • Pray for a cooperative spirit between the churches, leaders, pastors, and team members.  If Satan can drive in discontent and frustration, he will have a foothold!
  • Pray for our local churches, leaders, and members, in these countries that are facing trials for their faith.
  • PRAY – for the missionary in Nigeria who has now been abducted for more than one week.
  • Health and Protection for us.

Each day we thank God.  I will never forget a verse that a pilot who meant a lot to me shared more than 25 years ago, he has now gone on to meet the Lord after an accident doing what he loved best…

In the words of Paul:

“12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 1:12-14 (NIV). 

Thank you so much for being on our team, for PAUSING, REFLECTING, and PRAYING!  We can only be here because you are there, lifting us in prayer.

Todd and Connie Lou