Day 29

It is also tradition to ask forgiveness from friends, coworkers, and neighbors for wrongs in thought and deed committed against them. He alone offers forgiveness. Ask that this truth be planted in the hearts of Musl.m s.

Story of His Work

Hello -
Just got back from visiting the "durgah" (similar to a graveyard where M's pray through and intercess for the deceased/saints buried in those graves). What an awesome experience! I met five descendants of the founder of this particular durgah (the founder originally came from the M. East). The first lady I spoke with was an older woman who didn't speak English, but spoke Urdu (yay!), so I was able to ask her some simple questions about her family, about Ramzan (going on right now), and about her faith. Thankfully she was really patient with me and spoke very clearly. Then I met an 18-year old girl and her older sister who happen to be the grandchildren of the first lady (I didn't realize this family connection right until the end when the older lady popped back into the picture). These younger girls spoke excellent English, which was kind of a detriment to me practicing language, but a huge help in understanding their faith and the history of the durgah. Their two uncles were there as well and they gave me a tour of the durgah, explaining how all the deceased were related and how their family members are now the caretakers of this particular durgah. They actually live at the durgah which was new to me. I've never seen anyone actually living at the durgah. This is sort of like if your home was in your ch urch building.

Before leaving, I wanted to give them some kind of gift and leave some word of Truth. None of them read Urdu or any of the other local languages (scratch giving them any literature). I asked them (in Urdu - woohoo) if they had a VCD player and they said yes, so I gave them this cool new JFilm specifically for women. Please be pr.ying for this extended family as they watch this film. Pr. that they would be able to watch it together and that it would cause a lot of discussion and prompt them to go back to the "Before books" to learn more about the Main Guy in the film. Pr. that I could go back sometime after Ramzan to visit them again. They were so friendly and very open about sharing their faith.

Thanks for thinking of me today!

-C

Tomorrow

Hi friends -
I'm headed out tomorrow to share with some M ladies at their place of prayer. Pray that my language would be top notch tomorrow. Pray for opportunities to share with at least one woman. Pr. that I would say as much or as little as I'm supposed to according to how He leads.

Thank you!

C

Day 28

It is tradition as Ramadan comes to an end that children return to the home of their parents, asking forgiveness for wrongs which have been committed against them. Pray that as they seek to honor their earthly fathers they will see the Living God as their Father and desire His forgiveness.

Day 27

Because many expect visions, dreams, signs, wonders and proper interpretations during this season and particularly during the Night of Power, ask that people will experience these and be led to seek I AM.

Day 26

It is believed that on the "Night of Power" angels and spirits descend and carry out the commands of Allah. Musl.m s are often encouraged to stay awake during the entire night, and pray for blessings and forgiveness Ask that families and communities will testify of Him visiting them and calling them to follow Him.

Day 25

Ask that the power of I AM override the Night of Power so that people will be freed from the darkness that consumes them.

Day 24

This week those fasting anticipate the 27th night of this month, commonly referred to as the "Night of Power". They ask forgiveness for their shortcomings firmly believing that Allah accepts their prayers more readily this night. Ask that God in His mercy would reveal that forgiveness is found only in Him.

Day 23

Musl.m s believe there is a Day of Judgement for all people. Ask that the Lord would provide someone to tell them the truth about this coming day and that He is the Judge!

Day 22

Musl.m s believe the Holy Trinity implies a belief in three gods. Many Musl.m s believe the Trinity to be made up of the Father, Mary and the Son. Ask that this month God's Spirit would break through false concepts about the Trinity, replacing them with truth.

Day 21

Musl.m s all over the world pray memorized ritual prayers five times a day. They must also ritually wash before these prayer times. Ask that they pray God will reveal that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and that no man can come to the Father except through the Son.

Day 20

According to the Word, the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the Light. Seek the Father asking that HIS LIGHT penetrate the darkness of those fasting this month

Day 19

Musl.m s believe He was conceived miraculously by God in the womb of Mary. They believe He is only a prophet and that He did not die on the cross. Ask that those fasting would be confronted by the Truth of the Word which became flesh.

Day 18

Musl.m s often believe that the Book has been altered and corrupted. They will deny its authority because they cannot see it as being authentic. Ask that many would be drawn to read portions of the Book and would be unable to forget the truth of its precious Promises.

Day 17

Musl.m s very often associate followers of I AM completely with Western culture, materialism, lack of spirituality and moral failure. Musl.m s often believe Followers are being deceived. Ask that the Father would provide true followers of I AM for them to see.

Day 16

Ask that He would seek those who are not even looking for Him. Ask that He would reveal Himself to many who are not even asking for Him. Rejoice that we serve an amazing Redeemer.

Day 15

Ask that the dark veil which covers the ears of those without I AM be removed and many would experience new freedom found in Him.

Day 14

Ask that the simplicity of the Good News would draw many to I AM during this fasting month. "By grace you have been saved." Ask that He would give grace to many in need of His great mercy.

Urgent Requests

Hello Friends,
Many of you may have been reading in the news about persecutions and bombings that have been taking place in South Asia recently. This has really started to hit close to home over the past few days.

Delhi-
one of the markets that was bombed is one that I and many of my colleagues have frequented in the past. Pr. for peace in this city and especially for the families that were directly affected by the blasts.

In my neck of the woods -

Last week, a local past.r friend's chur ch was attacked, he was severely beaten, had his mobile stolen, and all the congregations' Bi bles were taken. Praise Him that this Past.r is doing okay physically and there was no permanent damage to his body. Pr. for His ch.rch and the members to have courage and continue to Trust Him in this difficult time.

On Saturday, my national partner, Past.r Sudeep* had to cancel an important training because of the tension in his city. Pr. for safety for P. Sudeep* as he travels several hundred kilometers each week to share the G.spel. Pr. that He will protect P. Sudeep's ch.rch and his family when he is out-of-town. Pr. that he will be able to conduct this training sometime this week.

All of my national partners are very much afraid to work at this time. Pr. that we as a team would be obedient to go where He leads and walk in the way He commands. Pr. for discernment as to how we can reach locals in the midst of these tense times.

Pray for the Setter Family* who are evacuating their city today because of extreme persecution and civil unrest. They tried to leave their city by bus this morning, but we're turned around because of riots. When they arrived back at the bus station, the city had shut all the buses down. They are now evacuating via taxi. Pr. for their safety as they travel with their children today. The trip to their destination is over 10 hours.

Pr. for His glory to be shown through all this. In the Word, after times of intense persecution amazing things began to happen and the Word began to spread. It's sometimes hard to see the good in the midst of all that is happening, but pr. that we as believers would be obedient through the good and the bad.

Coming back for more...

Thanks to the faithful 12.7% who have visited my blog more than 10 times. You rock!

Day 13

Ask that He will use the Seeds planted during this season to bear His fruit in the fullness of time. Praise Him that His Word never returns void.

Day 12

Lift up believers asking they would hold firm and true to I AM in the face of opposition and pressure they face in this season and all year long.

Day 11

Ask for new believers to see how they can remain in their culture, being salt and light and obedient to the commands of Christ.

Day 10

Ask that believers would be bold and take every opportunity to share His Story. The season provides wonderful occasions for believers to visit in the homes of friends and break the fast with them.

Day 9

Ask that believers would respond with passion and compassion, demonstrating the love of Christ in very tangible, life changing ways. Ask that in addition to helping meet physical needs they would also work to meet spiritual needs.

Some Praises

This morning I looked at my online bank statement and noticed that over $800 was missing from my account. What happened? I remembered that I had used an ATM last week and tried to withdraw money twice, but the machine gave me an error message both times...well, the ATM debited the funds from my account for money which I never received. Panic.

After realizing what happened, I immediately left what I was doing and headed to the bank where I used that ATM. After sitting down with the manager and explaining what had happened several times he finally told me there was nothing he could do. I would have to contact my bank that issued my debit card and then they would have to settle this problem with the bank here in India. Of course, after breaking the bad news he asked me the usual, "What country are you from?" "What are you doing here?" "I'm a student," I said. "I'm a poor student and I've just lost over $800. I will never see that money again. Gone. Forever." "Oh, no. You'll get it back," he assured me, but something in his eyes told me he wasn't so sure. I know I definitely wasn't sure at all about ever seeing that money again anytime soon, but somehow I was filled with a peace about it. Why worry about these things and stress out about something that's pretty much out of my control anyway?

I went home. I had a chocolate chip cookie. I wrote my bank an email explaining everything that just happened. I decided that I would never see that money again, but if I did see it, it would be in like three years after all was said and done. Fine. No problemo. It's out of my hands.

Fast forward five hours. I'm back in my wonderful apartment checking my email and this is what I find in my inbox:

Ms. D, The ATM caught the errors and issued two credits. Our Accounting Department will post the credits to your checking account in the next day or two. Thank you for inquiring about this. Not all ATMs issue credit for such malfunctions. You are a valued member of your credit union. It is a pleasure to serve you. If I may be of further assistance, please let me know.


Man, does He look out for us or what? Praise God is all I can say. Praise God.

Here are some other praises from today:

-Just found out there are 100 NT in Urdu that one lady was storing in her home and she wants to donate them to my project. This is what you were praying for :)

-My auto driver went for a fair price and one nice shop keeper on the side of the road gave me ten 10 rupee notes in exchange for a 100 rupee note when the auto didn't have any change. Ok, this probably doesn't seem that great to you, but let me tell ya, this does not happen everyday. I mean, maybe once in a blue moon do both of these things happen, let alone within five minutes of each other. Amazing. Plus I have so much change now. Change is quite the commodity here.

-I had drank some Starbucks coffee that a friend brought into the office. Pretty amazing.


Thanks for your prayers. Rejoice with me today in how good He is and how He always looks out for us!

Day 8

Ask that they eyes and hearts of believers would be opened and they will diligently and faithfully pursue the seekers encouraging them along the path to Him. Ask that the spirit of fear and apathy in their lives and hearts would be defeated.

Day 7

Ask that those fasting will be blessed with a deep thirst for Truth and will not cease endeavoring to satisfy this thirst until they partake of the Living Water.

Day 6

Giving to the poor is emphasized during this month. Those who have more are expected to give and those who consider themselves poor anticipate receiving from others. Ask that each of these, both the giver and the receiver will consider and understand the poverty of their spiritual lives without the Giver of All Good Things!

Day 5

Children are encouraged to fast and participate in Ramadan activities. Many do so to gain approval from their parents, their community and their peers. May God create unrest in their hearts, replacing it with a longing to be accepted by Him!

Day 4

Women must rise early each day to prepare a meal which her family will eat before the sun rises. As women tire because of this schedule ask that in their weariness they would encounter True Rest in I AM.

Day 3

Ask that those fasting will be blessed with a thirsting and hungering after Truth and not cease endeavoring to satisfy this hunger until they partake of the Bread of Life.

Day 2

This month there is a greater emphasis on good works, hoping and endeavoring to please Allah. Ask that those fasting would be faced with the startling realization that all their good works will not gain them access to Heaven.

Day 1

Musl.m s anticipate the beginning of Ramadan with great expectation. It is a time when great emphasis is placed on spiritual matters. Ask the Father that those who truly desire to know Him will begin to see their need for a Redeemer.

(Images courtesy SA Region. Pr. Req courtesy SA Region and www.30-days.net)