Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
1.Collecting: People can change the tenor of their words. The thief on the cross started out as one who ridiculed Jesus, but came to a realization and belief in the fact that Jesus was innocent. His words and attitude changed as a result, and Jesus took notice. Pray for someone living in your region of the country who has long ridiculed Truth to be likewise gloriously redeemed.
2.Writing Fiction: Jesus used the genre of fiction when He told parables to illustrate spiritual truths by placing them in easily understood daily life settings. (The way to distinguish a parable from His references to actual events is that parables do not contain names of specific individuals.) One such parable is Matthew 13’s story of the farmer and the types of ground that received seed. Pray for someone who has heard the gospel but not yet believed to have a heart like the good ground Jesus described.
3.Your Choice: Please pray for a request you remember from one of the other locations featured this week:
Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Zagreb.
1. Pictured above is a dental practice. Pray for the patients who will go there today to know the peace of God in their lives.
2. Nearby is a sports complex called the “Magic Well.” Pray for the athletes who train/compete there to understand Who gives the highest accolade for living, and to trust and live for Him.
3. Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, and is also a major transport hub for Central Europe, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Europe (Wikipedia). Pray for the gospel to pass through the city and into other countries with travelers.
Revelation 5:9-10
This post was originally published on May 28, 2021.
Photo from walmart.com. This particular type of collection was chosen because one of our New York TGP team members has a state quarter collection.
The hobby of collecting items can be as varied as the individuals who enjoy it. Postage stamps, patches (of state / national parks visited, for example), vintage books, buttons, varied China teacup patterns, antique guns, movies of a particular actor – these are just a few examples of what people collect. Even among a category like coin collections there are many sub-categories: military coins, ancient coins, state quarters, coins from international travels, etc.
Did you know that God Himself is a Collector? Malachi 3:17 records this declaration: “And they shall be Mine, saith the LORD of Hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels (literally, “special treasure”)…”
What is the “they” of His collection? Verse 16 answers this question: “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.”
To get the full impact of why the people described in verse 16 were viewed by God as a special treasure, we need to notice the setting of verses 13 to 15. Most people’s words were stout against the Lord, and yet they claimed innocence. This is like a black velvet cloth on which a jeweler places jewels. The colors and sheen of the jewels are more obvious to the observer because of the contrast of the background fabric. The same contrast is highlighted in Malachi 3:13-18.
1. Pray that Christians who are currently living out the same actions of verse 16 (fearing the LORD, thinking about Him, and speaking often to other believers about Him) will be deeply encouraged by the fact that God Himself pays attention to, listens, records, and remembers their words.
2. People can change the tenor of their words. The thief on the cross started out as one who ridiculed Jesus, but came to a realization and belief in the fact that Jesus was innocent. His words and attitude changed as a result, and Jesus took notice. Pray for someone living in your region of the country who has long ridiculed Truth to be likewise gloriously redeemed.
3. David prayed the following in Psalm 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my Strength, and my Redeemer.” Pray for this to be true in the lives of all TGP team members today.
Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Damascus.
Photo from Google Earth
Damascus is perhaps the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. Pray for the people that have known Jesus longest in Damascus, for God to remind them how good it is to have a Savior.
The above memorial statue is of Yusuf al-Azma, who died in battle at the age of thirty-six while defending his fellow Syrians against the French. Pray for all the thirty-six year olds of the city to follow the Captain Who died to defend them from the ravages of sin.
Pray for the Lord to raise up a people who know Him, are strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32 will be fulfilled in the tribulation, but we can pray that God raises up this kind of people for this generation.)
Hebrews 13:3
This post was originally published on August 27, 2021.
Thank you to a Vermont TGP team member for submitting today’s featured hobby!
Many genres of literature are written and enjoyed throughout the world. Today’s focus is on the area of fiction, which includes many sub-categories. Historical fiction is a unique intertwining of actual events / people with created characters / sub-plots. Science fiction is often futuristic, involving imagined inventions. Mystery / adventure, romance, fantasy, allegory, and literary fiction are also popular forms. From Winnie the Pooh to the works of Charles Dickens, children and adults alike enjoy reading fiction. Fictional pieces can range in length from short stories (such as those of O’Henry) to the longest novel ever published: In Search of Lost Time, a 7-volume book containing 1.3 million words.
1. Jesus used the genre of fiction when He told parables to illustrate spiritual truths by placing them in easily understood daily life settings. (The way to distinguish a parable from His references to actual events is that parables do not contain names of specific individuals.) One such parable is Matthew 13’s story of the farmer and the types of ground that received seed. Pray for someone who has heard the gospel but not yet believed to have a heart like the good ground Jesus described.
2. Pilgrim’s Progress, an allegory written by John Bunyan in 1678, has often been described as a book second only to the Bible. One part of the story depicts Christian and Hopeful locked in the dungeon of Giant Despair. They forget that they have the Key of Promise (indicative of the promises of Scripture). When they remember they have it three nights later, they are able to escape. Pray that Christians throughout the world today will remember, be strengthened by, and avail themselves of the hope that God’s promises give.
3. Pray for Christian students in secular universities not to be deceived by the false idea that the Bible is fictional. Pray for them instead to be wholeheartedly convinced of its complete historical veracity and inerrancy.
Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Ostersund.
The cheese stand above is part of an outdoor cultural history museum, which depicts the region’s thousand year history. Pray that Christians visiting the museum will strike up conversations with local artisans, and thus share the gospel.
Ostersund is adjacent to Lake Storsjon. Pray that people who see the sky’s reflection in the water today will also see the true condition of their hearts in God’s Word, and His remedy.
Pray that a dozen Viking descendants will come to be at peace with God before the end of this year.
John 3:16
This post was originally published on July 29, 2021.
Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Yeniseysk.
Photo from Google Earth
Pray that, whoever these two people are, they will one day walk beside the river of life in heaven, having gained citizenship there through trusting Jesus Christ for salvation.
Pray for believers across Russia to truly meet with God when they go to church today.
Pray for the Word of God to change a life in Yeniseysk today.
Hebrews 13:3, 2 Timothy 2:9
This post was originally published on July 31, 2022. It’s been three years since we first prayed for the two people pictured to be saved. Pray that if they did not accept Christ in 2022, that they will now.
Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of San Jose.
When Jesus saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion because they were as sheep without a shepherd. Pray for the people who live within this picture to be introduced to the Good Shepherd.
Pray that actors/actresses in the city’s theaters will come before God without pretense, freely admitting their need for Him.
Named by Christopher Columbus, Costa Rica means “rich coast.” Pray for God to bless the efforts of His churches there, that many people may be rich in the things of the Lord.
John 3:16
This post was originally published on July 31, 2021.
Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Niutoua.
Sometimes referred to as the “Stonehenge of the Pacific,” the above monument was built by King Tu’itatui in honor of his two sons during the 13th century (Wikipedia). Pray that Niutoua will have many sons of glory, built up as living stones, to the praise of the Most High God.
In 2016, Niutoua’s population was 671, with a Mormon and Catholic church in the village. Pray for the clear way of salvation (John 14:6) to be available for every family to hear.
Pray for a tourist visiting the above trilithon to see it as an object lesson of the Trinity.
2 Corinthians 4:5-7
This post was originally published on October 21, 2021.
Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the harvestfield of Rawe.
1. Block houses similar to this one are common all over the world. Notice the bamboo in the windows. Pray for the family living here to build their lives on The Rock, that they may successfully withstand the storms of life.
2. Sdi Dhereisa is a school in Rawe. Pray for both a teacher and a student there to be born again.
3. Pray for any Christians in Rawe to grow in their knowledge of the Lord, that they may abide in Him and accurately reflect His image.
John 3:36
This post was originally published on July 28, 2023.
