Building the Kingdom – Mission Trip Prayer Requests

The first picture is about midweek building and the second is the dedication of the church service by Friday night and people from the church and community. Tomorrow, a group of us leave for Brazil to help build a church in the coming week. Please pray for our group: Daniel Scott, Mindy Scott, Jonas Keim, Julie Keim, Kristen Smith, John Lucas, Ray Strauss, whose group we are going with this year, Ray was the church co-planter we moved out to AZ with and is now back in Oklahoma and planted another church as God led he and his family back there and so we are excited to join up again as a team to serve alongside one another again. prayer requests:

1. safe travels
2. safety in Brazil
   1. no injuries during the work we will be doing on site while building the church
   2. hearts to be open to hearing the gospel and lives to be changed.
   3. all those speaking, God will give them the words to speak and His presence all over them.
   4. Endurance as we deal with time changes, making sure we are eating enough to stay physically strong, and hydrated
   5. Please pray no one falls ill, gets plenty of sleep at night, wisdom of what places to walk into and aware of any danger that may be present.
   6. More than anything, please pray for lives to be reached and changed in Jesus’ Name! That many will come to know Him
   7. Pray God’s armor over us everyday as we are going into the spiritual battle zone daily and the enemy does not like this at all.
   8. Please pray His strength, power and protection daily as well.
   9. Pray for our families as they adjust without us and for my parents as they run my kids all over the place in the AZ heat.

Thank you all for your prayers and will do my best to keep updates posted as we have them each day. Thank you for your partnership in prayer all these years and continuing.

Post Brain Cancer and Conversing

Sometimes it is very hard for me to put my thoughts into words now. A woman wrote this on behalf of her husband who is a Brain Cancer survivor and so beautifully said.  I love this as it feels so good to have someone really understand and connect with how I feel so often. Many times I become overwhelmed with everything around me while trying to have a conversation and the thoughts and words just don’t want to make it out. I may turn and look elsewhere to get my bearings or may have to actually take a brain break to get my mind refocused back to the conversation. Thank you in advance for your patience and grace.

I wrote this on behalf of my husband I wonder how many of you can relate: Siobhan Marshall

My hand starts to shake and I feel very weak,
Can’t seem to think straight need to get off my feet
I don’t understand why I don’t feel the same,
I don’t really feel ill and don’t have any pain
I know you are talking just don’t want to talk back
Please do not take it as a personal attack
I just can’t form the words as quick as you do
So it’s easier to stay silent than talking to you
I know I should feel things I think that I might
But can’t quite comprehend things,
But I’m trying to fight
I know I’m still in here you just have to dig deep
And give me some time
Till I’m ready to speak 😢

 

8787

Armor Up Today

Ephesians 6:13; “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you WILL BE ABLE to Resist in the evil day, and having done everything to STAND FIRM.“

Again, one of those verses that I have read over and over but yesterday, the part promising me that if I take up the armor of God, I WILL be able to resist evil. We are not dealing with the word maybe or possibly. We are given the strength by God Himself to be able to resist evil. This does require you to put on the armor of the Lord each day. it is so easy to get caught up in my circumstances instead of making time to cover yourself in the armor of God. I pray today you stop where you are and put on ALL His armor if you have not yet:  the verses are below so please make time to read and pray this over yourself, your family, and anyone you know is in a battle today.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

      18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Ephesians 6:10-18

Father God, we know we are in a battle that is not always visible to our eyes. Per the scriptures above we are told it is not against flesh and blood yet so often we take it out on one another. May we be reminded today that we are to cry out to you and call on You for strength, help, and power to help us make wise decisions, think on holy thoughts, love one another, serve one another and encourage one another. We also understand that we are weak and it is by Your strength and power alone these battles can be won. So often, I have tried to do all of these things on my own but fail. Thank YOu, Father for not giving up on me but always remaining with me.

“The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 

May you be reminded that you are not alone in the fight. God is with you and so desires for you to know He is present and ready to help: David, talking with God says in Psalm 121:2, “My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” No matter what you are going through today, the Lord God is near you and desires to help you.  Call on His name and let Him help you. He will guide your steps if you allow Him to help you. HE does not want to harm you but has better plans than you could ever imagine.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.”

In Psalm 139: 16 we see where again, David is talking with God and recognizing His hand over his own life. David acknowledges God knows his days already.

“You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

May you go in confidence today believing and understanding that you are greatly loved, adored and have a guide to help you. Go to God, (1)armor up (2)trust that His plans are so much greater than you could ever imagine (3)believe He hears you and will help you.

1 JOhn 5:14: “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.“

Pray with confidence and certainty today that God, our Father, hears your voice. May God make His face to shine upon you and bless you in all you do today that His Name will be magnified and glorified.

Blessings

Mindy

Work Unto The Lord

Last week, I started a new job at our local Elementary/Middle School as A Special education aide. I am assisting one of the two main SPED teachers with students. This was honestly a gift from God, as with teenagers, things are becoming more expensive from food, insurance, etc. I am enjoying the team in this department along with having a daily schedule and routine. I had some insecurities and anxieties, but, God has been so good to me through my bible readings in Exodus. Specifically in chapter 35-36 where God is giving Moses specific instructions for the Israelites and using their skills to build His Temple/Tabernacle. The last few mornings before school started,  I asked God, “how am I to prepare my heart, Your Temple as I walk in this new season so that it remains positive,  encouraging, and always focused on Christ?”

In Exodus 35:10“Let every skillful man among you come, and make all that the LORD has commanded.” from there He shares specifically what is being built.

Wednesday, July 24th, God had me in Exodus 36:1-2 “

“      1“Now Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the LORD has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded.”

      2Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it.

God is so gracious to remind me that HE alone has given me the skills to do the job before me. I also did a bible reading plan, from the bible app, with some of the teachers from our school called “Your Work Matters” which flows perfectly with what all God is growing in me currently: Confidence in Him and rebuilding my heart: His Temple, to refocus on God and His will for my life. I have to be before Him each morning with Thanksgiving or my mind/heart can easily become negative. I want to perform all the work in the reconstruction of His sanctuary, my heart, in accordance with His commands. It will not be easy, but by and through His power it can be done.

PRAYER: how I will communicate and hear from God.

SCRIPTURE: Reading from examples in the bible and learning what is pleasing and right to God.

ACCOUNTABILITY: This is huge as I publicly share things with you all and my close friends. If I am not holding to what I say, then I can be called out, corrected, challenged to turn back to God’s way. (just a thought, read Colossians 4:17 regarding the accountability we have before God regarding the completion of the ministries we have received in the Lord. Might be interesting to understand what God holds each of us accountable to)

What is your biggest challenge in working unto the Lord? In what ways do you need to change or pursue God so you can find Joy in the work with the skills He has given you?

Blessings and may His face shine upon you in all you do and may you glorify His name in all the work He has given you.

Ephesians 2:10 “¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“

GO work for the Lord today and be reminded He has already equipped you so be filled with confidence and Joy.

Before I go, I want to ask continued prayers for:

1. Larry Papizan, for healing, and peace/comfort for his wife, Faith,  their kids Cheree, Rebecca, Stephen, and grandkids walking this road with him.
2. Paul Jenkins as he has completed 3 rounds of his Chemo and has 3 to go. Please pray for his wife Linda as she walks this road with him.
3. Continue to pray for Olivia Streckfuss, her parents Joe & Rebecca as they try to comfort, support and encourage their daughter on her journey with her venous malformation. Pray for doctors to have insight in how to help her, comfort her and limit the pain. Still pray for full healing for this young girl.
4. Please pray for me to have strength each day as I work, to be an encouragement, get enough sleep each night and know when to stop or say no to excess that will take energy away from what God has called me to specifically in this job.
5.  Also, I ask for prayers not to use the hole in my head as an excuse not to serve in a certain capacity for fear of failing or taking too much of my energy. I don’t want to miss out on what God wants me to do or how He wants to use me. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for me each day.

PRAISE:

1. Many of you know early on I met a couple, Steve and Sara in radiation, he had to stop due to so many seizures continuing to happen but he finally finished. I texted with Sara yesterday and Mike has been seizure-free for one year and back at work. Please keep them in your prayers as they don’t want any tumors to come back.

Thank you all for your prayers, checking up on me and know I am doing very well and hope to post a live blog update soon. Each time I tried to record it just did not go how I wanted so I gave up on trying for now. One of these days it will happen. Have a wonderful week and will post again soon. “May the LORD bless you and keep you, may He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace” Numbers 6:24-26. I had a youth minister who prayed this every week after youth group and now, as a pastor, prays this over His congregation. What a prayer and may you know God is with you, for you and so loves you this day. Have a wonderful week.

Much thanks and love

Mindy