RevRag for October 16

"... you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed." Joshua 23.14

"The Lord is gracious and compassionate. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast forever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness." Psalm 111:4,7,8, NIV

"Often times God demonstrates His faithfulness in adversity by providing for us what we need to survive. He does not change our painful circumstances. He sustains us through them."

-Charles Stanley


"When circumstances seem impossible, when all signs of grace in you seem at their lowest ebb, when temptation is fiercest, when love and joy and hope seem well-nigh extinguished in your heart, then rest, without feeling and without emotion, in the Father's faithfulness."

-D. Tryon

"I will sing of the Lord's great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your
faithfulness known
through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm
forever,
that you have established your
faithfulness in heaven itself."
Psalm 89:1-2

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Thank you very much to everyone for all of your hard work in making a beautiful celebration, for our 2 newly wed couples, Trevor & Hannah, and Michael & Scarlett, and congratulations to the new married couples! Thank you from the families of Trev & Hannah, Scarlett & Michael


PRAYER REQUESTS:

Christopher Ramsey, Jr., broke his leg in three places and had surgery to repair it. Please pray for healing and comfort for Christopher. He is in Weiss Hospital, no details yet on when he will be released. Thanks, Chris and Sandy Ramsey.

Please pray for my grandma. She has cirrhosis of the liver, along with some other health problems, &went into the hospital this weekend with breathing problems. The doctors ended up draining 2 liters of fluid off her lungs and stomach. Her medicine is making her have hallucinations and she's not herself. Please pray for her peace, and healing if that's the will of God. Also please pray for my aunt who's having a hard time handling the thought of losing my grandma. Please pray for her comfort and a sense of God's love and power. Lastly, please pray for wisdom for my husband & I, to know when the right time will be to visit, and that we can be good witnesses of God's love and comfort to our family. Thank you. Love, Kris Denlinger

ZEKE'S MOM WILL BE HAVING SURGERY FOR LUNG CANCER ON OCT 20TH, THURSDAY. THE CANCER IS IN THE UPPER-OUTTER PART OF THE LUNG SO THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIRST REMOVE THE TUMOR, BY USING A SCOPE. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, THEY WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOME INCISIONS, & SHE WILL BE IN INTENSIVE CARE FOR 4 TO 5 DAYS. ZEKE & BARB WILL BE GOING OUT TO PA. TO BE WITH HER. SO WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS. THANKS, ZEKE & BARB GAFFRON

Please be praying for Dylan. He has been working at Urban Seed, a homeless drop in center in Melbourne, Australia since January. His commitment has been cut short because of visa problems. Thanks!!!!!!!!!! The Spaniels

Oct 9 REV RAG

“Many rich people threw in large amounts of money. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth: but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." -Mark 12:41b-44.

“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.
It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.”
-Mother Teresa

Serving God In Your Place

/“For the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward Him, so that He can show His great power in helping them.…” /2 Chronicles 16:9 TLB

God has called each of us to serve Him in the place He has us. God knows you and He knows your heart desires to serve Him. You are someone that He will use to make a difference, to share His love, and to touch the hearts of others. God is always searching for those whose hearts are yielded to Him so that He can work mightily through them.


God is not looking for those who are clever,
but for those in whom He can be wise;
He is not looking for those who are talented,
but for those to whom He can be all sufficient;
He is not looking for those who are powerful,
but for those through whom He can be almighty.
---Roy Lessin

Faithful in Little Things, by John M. Drescher

God's question on the last day will not be, “How much were you noticed?” Or even, How much did you do?” Rather, His question will be, “Were you faithful in fulfilling your calling where I placed you?” The question with God is not how obsure or prominent a place we occupy, but how faithful we are.
We must strive to be more faithful one day at a time in taking time for others, in doing deeds of kindness, in performing the small everyday run of things faithfully. We must see such as our primary responsibility. Then, says Jesus, the big things will also be taken care of. By the faithfulness with which we fulfill the common daily duties, we make the character which we will have to spend in eternity.



'SEEDS', Lene, Carolyn and children, will be in Israel for 3 weeks. This is their final concert tour. Please pray for safety, that the Lord will use them in a mighty way, and that it will also be a blessing time for them and everyone they come in contact with.



New PRAYER REQUESTS:

Bruce Johnson, former long-time member of JPUSA, has recently been diagnosed with an as of yet undetermined form of cancer. He, his wife Micki, and their family would deeply appreciate our prayers for peace, healing, and comfort as they face this challenging situation. Bruce is currently being diagnosed further at Mayo Clinic so a good plan for battling the cancer can be devised. Pray for the doctors as they weigh their options.

Please pray for Annika, who recently had a still birth, before her baby was supposed to be born. She and her husband were trying for a very long time to have a baby. They are desperate and crushed over the loss of their baby. Annika's sister who was pregnant for the second time at the same time,just had a healthy boy. Even though she is happy for her sister, it reminds her of her own pain and sadness. Please keep them in your prayers if you think about it! Thank you -Chrissi

October 2 REV RAG

“And no one can be my disciple who does not carry his own cross and follow me.”
-Luke 14:27 TLB


“Some people become better disciplemakers
as they get older, not because they have learned
more techniques, but because they know them-
selves better.”
Randy Raysbrook, in “Cookie-Cutter Discipleship?”
'Discipleship Journal', '90


“Treating each person we disciple with God's
caring, tender love is the key to life changing
discipleship. By God's grace, those we're helping
won't see themselves as our “projects” but as
precious “buildings of God” being built for His glory”.
Discipleship Journal


“Often what we are to people,
our being with them, proves
more of an encouragement
than what we say”.
Sinclair B. Ferguson


“As you live for the next world,
you get this one in the deal;
but if you live only for this world,
you lose them both.” -C.S. Lewis


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Please be praying for the wedding couples, Trevor and Hannah; Michael and Scarlett. Their wedding is fast approaching, Oct 15th. Please help in any way that you can. Thanks.

REVRAG for September 11

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”, and “Love your neighbor as yourself”. Luke 10:27

“Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first”.
--Matthew 19:29,30.

“A good many are kept out of the service of Christ,
deprived of the luxury of working for God,
because they are trying to do some great thing.
Let us be willing to do little things. And let us remember
that nothing is small in which God is.”
-- D.L. Moody

“Only one life, will soon be past,
only what's done for Christ will last.”
-C.T. Studd

“I see Jesus in every human being.
I say to my myself, this is hungry Jesus,
I must feed him. This is sick Jesus, This
one has leprosy or gangrene; I must
wash him and tend to him.
I serve Jesus because I love Jesus.”
-Mother Teresa

"Do all the good you can,
by all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as you ever can.”
--John Wesley

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Moms in Touch is starting again on Tuesday, September 13^th , in the 7^th east living room. New time is 7:00 pm. Come join us for a sweet hour of prayer once a week, for our children and their school.

HALLWAY COMMUNITY HOUSECLEAN this Monday, September 12 at 6:00 pm.
Let's work together to clear our hallways, vacuum, wash walls, clean our living rooms and kitchens.
'Many hands make light work'.

Phil Haycock would like to say a special happy “1st” anniversary for his lovely wife Eve, who he cherishes so. Happy Anniversary !

Disciple Ministry is happening again. Come join us on Thursday, September 8 at 7 PM in the card room.

SPECIAL NEEDS---
Dear Family, This summer has been a little rough with trying to take care of the various needs of our ministry--cooking, senior serving,dishes,phones, shelter--to name a few. If you have a job with flexible hours or if you don't have flexible hours but are willing to help out a little more it would be appreciated. Even if you cannot make a regular commitment, a couple of hours is always a blessing. If you are able to help out in any way please let a men or women's coordinator know. Thanks!

Fall class schedule are new member classes, Community Gatherings, and a film class/discussion group by Mike Hertenstein.
NEW MEMBER CLASSES: JPUSA History and Accountability class ARE REQUIRED for new members. Roll will be taken.
JPUSA History, taught by John Herrin, is a three part class and is held on three consecutive days from 7PM-8:15PM Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, September 19-21, 2005. Seniors' Dining Room.
Accountability Class, taught by Tom Cameron, is a six part class that includes small group discussion. It will be held Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday October 3,4,and 5 and the following week, October 10,11, and 12. 7PM-8:15PM in Seniors' Dining Room.
COMMUNITY GATHERING will meet Wednesday, September 14. Katherine Williams with devotional. We will meet in the Wilson Abbey from 8:15PM-9:15PM and it is BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair).
FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE MOVIES with Mike Hertenstein: Fridays, September 9- October 7, 7PM in the Card Room on first Floor. Description follows:

CONGRATULATIONS to Sandy Ahearn, and former members Matt and Sarah,(Sandy's daughter)who recently had a baby boy! Matthew Joel Mackivitch

Please help the JPUSA school out, first by buying treats, etc. in Gut Level, and second, if you have any of these items to donate. Thanks!“If anyone has ANY craft or art items they don't use anymore or maybe you have a lot and can spare one or two please drop them in my room #638 for the school!!!” (clearly marked box)
LOOKING FOR: OLD MAGAZINES especially NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC S
rubber stamps
card stock
beads
buttons
stickers
paper of any kind
ribbon, string, etc.
anything else you want to give us

PRAY! [Sorry, prayer list is much shorter here than in the printed version, as it is updated week to week and these are only the NEW prayers! Soon, we will manage to get the entire list in here! Patience appreciated...]

Please keep the victims of “Katrina” in your prayers, and pray if there is anything that the Lord would have us do as individuals or as a community. Pray for Christians to be a strong witness,and for the government and law enforcement to help the victims and not be overwhelmed themselves.

Dear family and friends of Hugo, Hugo has an appointment at the embassy to see about renewing his visa. This will enable him to come back to Chicago. Please pray for everything to go well. Thanks.

Please pray for Christopher & Trevor Wiitala's cousin Tammi Dryden, who is a missionary in Russia. She very recently had a 4^th child, but was diagnosed with a very serious form of arthritic disease in her hands and back.Please pray for wisdom for the doctor's and for healing for Tammi. Thanks!

REVRAG: for Sunday, August 28, '05

REV RAG for August 28, '05

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.
Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV)

-=-

LOVE CAN CONQUER HATE, by Martin Luther King, Jr.

"The oceans of history are made turbulent by the ever-rising tides of revenge. Man has never risen above the injunction of the lex taluibus - 'Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.' In spite of the fact that the law of revenge solves no social problems, men continue to follow its disastrous leading. History is cluttered with the wreckage of nations and individuals that pursued this self-defeating path.

"Jesus eloquently affirmed from the cross a higher law. He knew that the old eye-for eye-for-an-eye philosophy would leave everyone blind. He did not come to overcome evil with evil. He overcame evil with good. Although crucified by hate, He responded with aggressive love.

"What a magnificent lesson! Generations will rise and fall; men will continue to worship the god of revenge and bow before the altar of retaliation; but ever and again this noble lesson of Calvary will be a nagging reminder that only goodness can drive out evil and only love can conquer hate."

-=-

“Hallowed be Thy name,
not mine,
Thy kingdom come,
not mine,
Thy will be done,
not mine,
Give us peace with Thee
Peace with men
Peace with ourselves,
And free us from all fear."

-Dag Hammarskold

-=-

“INSTRUMENT OF HIS PEACE”, by St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt,faith;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

-=-

'Peace Is....', by Benedict Spinoza
Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.

-=-

“God has called us to peace”. 1 Cor. 7:15

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful”. Colossians 3:15

-=-

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

*Blog A Lot!*
Do you enjoy reading blogs? Or maybe you don't even know what they are... Here are a few blogs, online journals, done by JPUSAs:
*CCOLife.blogspot.com* - a team of CCO staffers post on life at our homeless shelters.
*Cornerstonemag.blogspot.com* - Links to most of the JPUSA blogs.

Got your own blog? Email the url to j o n @ j p u s a [dot] o r g.

-=-

*TeamCCO Charity Marathoners Need Support!*

TeamCCO isa group of marathoners dedicated to doing The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon this year, raising donations for Cornerstone Community Outreach Shelters. If you would like to contribute to the cause -- and we sure hope you will! -- log on to http://www.teamcco.org and click the "donate" button for making online contributions!

Team CCO t-shirts available for $10.00. See Jon Trott.

[Unfortunately, only NEW prayers are listed on this site for now... we'll try to get a complete list in the next few weeks so we more accurately mirror the printed version handed out on Sunday!]

Glenn and GKB want to thank everyone for your prayer support! Spiritually, for safe travel, just everything has been so smooth, in all of our tours, stateside and overseas. Praise God, and thank you!

Please pray for Laura Crozier and her family, for Laura's grandmother just passed away.

Please pray for Tina and Scarlett Herrin, who both have had surgeries this past week. Pray for a quick recovery for them both. Thanks!