As you pray - 13 December 2008

13 December 2008

My dear friends

Didier Schott's heart is overflowing with gratitude for the wonderful Christmas with the Eurochor in Paris last Sunday. In it all he sees God's hand.

Onkel Friedel flew over to Europe for last weekend's Christmas concert. I am sure that I am not the only one whose heart was warmed when he shared at the KwaSizabantu Youth Conference yesterday about how God used the Eurochor's singing to move people.

Our prayers are with the Eurochor as they perform in Germany this weekend. May God's name be glorified further.

CFT and other Christians in the Netherlands are disgusted that the authorities are hosting a 'pink Christmas' from 18-28 December. The move is clearly aimed at promoting the homosexual agenda. At the manger scene they will be displaying two Josephs, two Marys and a baby in pink napkins.

CFT have registered their objection publicly. To this effect they have been invited for a discussion on the national radio. Let us join them in prayer.

Greetings from Lidia Veciunca in Romania. It is a blessing to see how she and other young people are availing themselves to be used of God to reach out to others. They minister in town halls, courts, schools, hospitals and other institutions. Remember them.

Mientjie Reimer and her family in Paraguay are thankful that her father, Dr Jan Pienaar, is visiting them and taking services. This weekend, Jan and Herbert Reimer are preaching in Rio Verde, We pray on.

When Chris came by to assist me with the computer he mentioned to me that his parents, Dr Peet and Andra Botha, are due to fly to the USA this week for services. They will appreciate your prayer support.

As we come to the end of the Youth Conference, once again we lift our voices in thankfulness and praise to God.

These conferences started in 1974 and they remain a miracle for me. Thousands of young people are transported and hosted for a week, twice a year, free of charge. Much prayer goes up to plead for God's provision.

Amongst others, we thank the Lord for granting us favourable weather.

This week young people had a golden opportunity to hear the message of salvation and to make wise decisions that could change the direction of their lives in this world, and the next.

Let us remember the many who came forward to surrender their lives to the Lord. They received prayer and counselling.

Let us pray further for God's lasting work in their hearts and lives.

Bruno Hlongwane is co-ordinating CFT's Christmas action in Durban on Monday. The message of Christ the Saviour will be shared with the shopping crowds through song, devotions and Christian literature. We shall value your prayers.

Here is another striking story from eSermons,

'What Are You Looking For?

Chaim Potok was an intensely religious man; a Jew who explored the dimensions of faith in our lives. From an early age, Potok knew he wanted to be a writer. But his mother wasn't so sure. When he went away to college she said, "Son, now I know you want to be a writer. But I want you to think about brain surgery. You'll keep a lot of people from dying. And you'll make a lot of money." To which Potok responded, "No, Mama, I want to be a writer."

But, "No," is not what Mama wanted to hear. So, every vacation break for four years she would repeat her comments about his becoming a brain surgeon and keeping people from dying and making a lot of money, and always his response was the same. Finally the son had enough, and, when the same mantra began, he cut off his mother with exasperation, and with great passion he told his mother, "Mama, I don't want to keep people from dying, I want to show them how to live." '

Have a blessed weekend.

Pressing on!

In His love

Fano Sibisi

As you pray -13 December 2008