“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life..” What a comfort it is to know that whether in good times or bad, we can be assured that the Good Shepherd shall take care of our daily as well as long-term needs. May we have this in mind as we pray for this week’s concerns.
I. CHURCH CONCERNS
1. Let us give thanks to God for the word streamed to us last Sunday. In our Sunday School we were called to appreciate the clearer light of God’s glory in the gospel compared to Old Covenant types and shadows. We were also called to walk by faith since the fullest manifestation of that glory only takes place when Jesus returns. In our First Service, we were given six Biblical suggestions as to how to address frustration that arises from many of the circumstances of life including this pandemic. May we take those exhortations to heart. In our Second Service, we were given a picture of the weeping King and the reasons for His weeping over Jerusalem. May we too weep for those who show ignorance of Christ and the coming judgment when He returns.
2. Let us pray for our preachers this Sunday.
- Pas Clyde will take the Sunday School;
- Pas Rolly will take the first service;
- Pas Mike will take the second service.
Pray for Pas. Mike’s sprained wrist, that it would heal soonest. Pray for help in preparation and power in preaching. Pray for good internet speed and minimal distractions. Pray that even in this extraordinary time, there would be a delighting in the Lord and in His day.
3. Let us give thanks and pray for our continued relief efforts. Through the donations that we have received, we were able to help seven pastors and their families in Morong, Rizal who were in dire need of relief. We have also engaged in a fifth wave of relief to members and attenders whose sources of income have been greatly affected by the lockdown. Pray for wisdom and guidance with respect to continued planning and implementation of relief operations.
4. Let us pray for the Children’s Sunday School and Youth Bible Study. This week, sister Kemi, Elot and Kayla, will take Levels 1,2 and 3 respectively and brother Simon will continue to be the Youth Bible Study leader.
5. Let us pray for the resumption of our corporate prayer meeting next Thursday, Lord willing at 7:00pm. The elders are currently in the process of putting in place systems so as to best conduct the prayer meeting online.
II. PERSONAL CONCERNS
1. Let us give thanks to God for life and breath and all things (Acts 17:25). May He continue to shower us with His love, care, and compassion during these difficult times.
2. Let us continue praying for our frontliners (see our full list here). Some updates:
- Pray for Susana Balina RN, Ana’s sister who tested positive for covid19. She is under medication and home-quarantined. May the Lord be pleased to grant recovery.
- Thanksgiving for the recovery of Bang Crisostomo LPN, sister of Dr. Bing. Pray for her brother Ogi as he takes care of a ward where 200 covid patients are admitted.
3. Let us not grow weary praying for the sick among us, especially our members and friends who have critical illnesses, to name a few: Annie, Acel, Johnny, Louie, Delia, Mel, Tina, Conrad, Joven, Jun, Randy, and others.
- Also, thanks be to God for Nanay Belen, member of our sister church in Makati (Pas Tony), whose condition has greatly improved and is due to be transferred to a regular room.
- Pray for Dr. Abagon, Acel’s dad, who cannot move his left leg and is due for MRI.
- Pray for Dan Dairo who is experiencing fever off and on that the Lord would be pleased to heal and strengthen.
4. Let us pray that our members would not be laid off from employment due to the negative economic effect of the extended lockdown. Let us also pray for those who are presently called to work as part of skeleton labor forces in essential businesses that they would be kept from sickness. Please also pray for those who are presently out of work that the Lord would provide gainful employment for them after quarantine.
5. Let us continue to pray for wisdom for our president and his advisers as they decide on what will happen after May 15. Let us pray for our nation that we would be able to recover gradually from the debilitating effects on our economy by the pandemic. Let us pray that the virus would die down soon and there would be no second wave of infections in the future. Let us also pray for great restraint both from the authorities and from the people as the frustration at what is taking place has resulted in unwanted violent incidents.
6. Let us pray for conversions in our homes and even among our front line health workers. May they see in this covid19 pandemic that life is frail and uncertain and our only true hope for security in this life and for eternity is none other than Jesus Christ.
III. KINGDOM CONCERNS
From Bro Mario (Gensan City):
1. Sana bigyan pa ako ng wisdom ng Dios sa pag-aaral ng Kanyang salita at sa pakikipag-usap na may kababaang loob.
2. Sana maunawaan din ng aking mga kinakausap ang Biblical na pamamaraan ng kaligtasan.
3. Sana makita talaga ang tunay na pagsisisi sa isang kasamahan namin dito na noon ay nahulog sa kasalanang pangangaliwa sa asawa.
4. Sana ma provide pa rin yung pangbayad ng renta namin dito sa building dahil simula noong nag lockdown wala na kaming offering hindi kasi namin napaghandaan na kausapin ang mga kasamahan patungkol sa offering para may maitulong sa mga bayarin. Pero kahapon nagsimula kaming umikot ni brother Dexter para kausapin sila pero wala pang sagot dahil di pa namin na ubos lahat kausapin. Sana maunawaan nila kami.
