Blessed Advent, everyone! As we again celebrate that God’s love has come down, my prayer for you is that you will experience His love for you in a greater way than ever before.
This morning in my studies I was “washed over” by God’s Spirit as I read Psalm 145:17. I looked it up in several versions but I love the way The Message says it:
Everything God does is right— the trademark on all his works is love.
So ask yourself this question…Is God’s love the “trademark” of all that I do and say in my community? The dictionary defines a “trademark” as: “a distinguishing characteristic or feature firmly associated with a person or thing.” We know that God’s “trademark” is always love. It was His love that sent His Son, Jesus, as a precious human baby into the world to rescue us from the depravity of sin and death. And the Spirit of God indwells those who are truly His disciples. So shouldn’t love be our “trademark” too? Take some time to pray about it this month. Merry Christmas! (yes, it is OK to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!)
Blessings, Gina
Oasis MInistry Board Member
Please pray for Oasis MInistry:
<><for our current fund-raising campaign for additional funds to provide Christmas for the OM kids; if you are interested in more details, please e-mail prayer4ce@aol.com <><for all financial needs to be met: esp $3500 for lumber bill; finances to buy parts to fix bus; extra support for the preschool; for more support for the Oasis kids living on the base <><for Cynthia and David; marriage has separated <>< for new Library Outreach to Duck Run <><for Sondra as she returns to live in Belize <><for Oasis Ministry staff; Pastor Ron & Linda, Andrew, Heather and Allison
|
Dear friends praying for Oasis Ministry and Belize:
Today I have the privelege of writing our prayer “blog” from Belize. There is something about being able to pray “onsite with insight!” We have a wonderful mission team assembled at Oasis Nation this week. We come from WY, VA, and NC. I have been blessed beyond measure to see how the Holy Spirit has brought these folks together for this 7 day “mountain top” experience in Belize.
God is doing amazing things here at Oasis Nation. Every time I come, I scratch my head and wonder how so much ministry can be happening with this small, devoted group of Christ-followers and then I have to remind myself that it is the Holy Spirit that empowers them for God’s work. I am challenged to higher heights each time I come, and for that I am grateful.
This morning, our missionary Bonnie, challenged us with a devotion that reminded each of us about how God uses even enemies, pain and hardship to make us more like Him. As I look around Oasis Nation, I know that life here is challenging. But I see God using even the hard places to bring glory to and through His servants. I’m so glad that I can pray today “onsight with insight!’ Won’t you take a few moments and pray with me:
For Oasis Ministry and Belize:
for OM staff and their families; please pray for health, provision, God’s wisdom, discernment and guidance
for Oasis School and all financial need to be met
for Mt. Hope Bible Church, our new church plant here at ON
for Stan as he works on plumbing problems here on base, he says it will take lots of prayer
for a young Belizean woman, M, who is facing much hardship right now; we are in prayer about how to help her
for the micro-businesses that Matthews’ Methodist sponsored here in Belize
for Eduardo as he opens a new shop in Unitedville
for yourself, your church, your community:
Oh, teach us to know you, our God, and enable us to do your will as we ought to do. Give us hearts to love You, to trust and delight in You. That no temtations may draw us, nor any tribulations drive us from you; but that all your dispensations to us, and all Your dealings with us, amy be the messengers of your love to our souls, to bring us still nearer to your blessed self, and to make us still fitter for your heavenly Kingdom.” –from “Prayers Across the Centuries” by Benjamin Jenks
l
Just one step back…
09/19/2011
Hi friends praying for Belize…I know it has been a long time since I’ve been to this blog and for that I apologize. Honestly, I’m glad that summer is over even if I will probably be seeing snow here in our town in the next week or two! But at least now I can slow down and take a breath!
In Psalm 46:10, God says, “Be still and know that I am God” What a comfort those words are for me, especially when I have been busy and torn and a bit “distant” from God. Everyone has those times when our prayer lives seem a bit “stale” or rushed or maybe even nonexistent. The Lord reminds me often that when I stray, all I have to do is to take one step back. When I am feeling flustered, frustrated and maybe just downright confused, God invites me to take just one step back to Him. He is waiting.
I loved this quote that I read today: “What if God does not demand prayer as much as gives prayer? What if God wants prayer in order to satisfy us? What if prayer is a means of God nourishing, restoring, healing, converting us? Suppose prayer is primarily allowing ourselves to be loved, addressed and claimed by God. What if praying means opening ourselves to the gift of God’s own self and presence? What if our part in prayer is primarily letting God be giver? Suppose prayer is not a duty but the opportunity to experience healing and transforming love?” ~”God is a Conversation” by MARTIN SMITH
If you feel far away from God today…why not take just one step back?
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER…Do you see prayer as a joy or a burden? Is there one step you need to take back to God today?
PRAY:
Take time today to pray for Oasis Ministry in Belize…
ask God to bless our OM Staff and their families
thank God for Pastor Ron’s safe travels this past month to be with his family at his mom’s celebration of life service
praise God that Heather and Allison are now husband and wife
ask God to bless our new church, Mt. Carmel Bible Church in Unitedville, Belize
ask God to provide all needs of OM, financially,spiritually, emotionally
Take time to pray for yourself and your church:
ask God to help you to take the one step back to Him that you may need to take today
ask God to bring revival to your church so that many in your town will come to know Jesus as Lord
Many blessings to each of you…need prayer? I encourage you to send your personal prayer requests to our prayer coordinator: mrs57shivy@yahoo.com
Gina
OM Board Member and Lighthouse Ministries of Laramie, WY
Watch for God’s Glory “Signposts”
06/23/2011
“Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.”
~Psalm 119:18 NIV
I don’t know about you, but I find it remarkable that the writer of Psalm 119 (we are not exactly sure who the author is) wrote the words “Open my eyes…” Have you ever prayed a prayer like this? Have you even thought that God would open your eyes to show you His wonders? I want to go through life with my eyes “open” to God’s wonders found in His Word and in His world. I don’t want to walk around with blinders on and miss the great things that God is doing in the world today. But face it, the world and its ways have a way of trying to put blinders on our spiritual eyes so that we cannot see the wonders of God. We can become apathetic and complacent Christians if we are not walking through life with our spiritual eyes open.
This week the Lord opened my spiritual eyes and showed me His glory “signposts” in Laramie, WY. I have been praying for revival for Laramie for a very long time and sometimes I think I have missed the glory “signposts” and become discouraged. Last week, when I was in Belize with Stan, God showed me many glory “signposts” there as well. His glory is all around us, folks, but we have to have our spiritual eyes open to see His glory.
So I’d challenge you to take some practical steps this week to walk with your spiritual eyes open:
1. Put aside some of the things that may be blinding you to God’s glory. Instead of listening to all the bad news in the world, take some intentional time to be in the “Good News.”
2. Pray and ask the Lord, as the Psalmist did, to open your eyes to His glory around you. When He shows you a glory “signpost” be sure to be thankful!
3. When God wants to show His glory through you and your life, be sure to obey. You won’t regret obedience and the blessings far outweigh the personal cost.
This week please take time to pray for Oasis Ministry in Belize:
for daily provision for all our missionaries, including physical, emotional, spiritual
for unity among the churches and ministries of Belize for God’s glory
for wisdom regarding each child and youth on the Oasis Base
for the Oasis Ministry Summer School
for the short-term summer teams ministering with Oasis Ministry; please pray for effective ministry and much fruit
for spiritual revival for Belize
Blessings from WY,
Gina
“I am the Lord…”
04/28/2011
Exodus 10:1,2
“Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the LORD.”
Has it ever seemed that when you pray about a particularly difficult situation that things get worse before they get better? There are days when I feel like my prayers are fruitless and the situation I find myself in seems to intensify.
When I read this scripture this week, it was as if God was saying, “Gina, sometimes I allow things to get harder because I want to show Myself to you and others. When it seems like I harden ‘Pharoah’s” heart, it is because I desire to do a miracle on your behalf.”
When things are tough, we need to keep a “God perspective.” We need to listen carefully for His voice and watch for His Hand. When Moses saw Pharoah harden his heart again and again, it would have been easy to give up. And yet, because God was speaking to him, he wasn’t moved by how things “appeared” but he knew that God had a greater plan all along.
Are you discouraged today? Lean on the Lord and let Him lead you to the “promised land.”
Prayer ”Starter”: Lord, there are times that life is difficult down here on planet earth. Because you walked among us for a season, You understand better than anyone the trials that we face. When circumstances seem unbearable, help us to continue to look to You as our deliverer. Empower us to see beyond what the circumstances “say” and to listen to what You say. We don’t always understand, but even in our lack of understanding, help us to trust You. We desire to bring honor and glory to You. AMEN
Prayer points for our missionaries and Oasis Ministry:
<><for daily provision; spiritual, financial, health
<><for Pastor Ron as he travels in May; travel protection, favor, good fellowship with family members in the States, protection for Belizean family
<><for God’s wisdom for caring for each child at OM
<><for Heather and Allison, engaged to be married; for Andrew who is helping a sick friend in the States
<><for God’s strength and wisdom in difficulty
Just a reminder…Thurs. May 5th is the 60th National Day of Prayer in the USA. Please take some time to pray for our Nation and our leaders. To find an NDP observance in your area, go to www.nationaldayofprayer.org
Blessings,
Gina in Wyoming
Courage…One Day at a Time!
03/24/2011
1 Corinthians 13:12 (New International Version, ©2011)
12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
This past week, I was thinking about “uncertainty.” As I look to the west out my home office window, I see the majestic Snowy Range 30 miles from Laramie. But that is as far as my vision allows. From here, I cannot see the small towns nestled in those hills.
Our spiritual life is like that, too. The Lord only allows us to only see a portion of what He sees at any particular time. I believe that He does that for our protection. Perhaps knowing too much would be overwhelming and hindering to our walk. Or perhaps, we’d become “big-headed” and prideful. In any case, the Lord shows us what we need to know when we need to know it. He sees what is around that next bend and He says, “Follow Me, Trust Me.”
This week I was visiting a little shop in Laramie when my eyes spotted a beautiful, little wall plaque. It read very simply, “Courage…One Day at a Time.” I’m thinking about returning and purchasing that plaque for my office as a reminder that the Lord knows what is around the next corner for me. Walking with Him takes courage daily, but I love walking with Him, even in the uncertain times.
You may be feeling uncertain about your circumstances or even about the world we live in. Everyday we are bombarded by news reports about the uncertain times. But followers of the Lord Jesus Christ have many things in our lives of which we can be certain. Here are just a few…
Psalm 145:13 – “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.”
Psalm 119:89: “Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Keep your eyes on Him, Saints! He knows what is around the next corner!
Prayer Starter: Lord, You are good and Your love endures forever! Thank you for the promises that You give us to keep our hearts in uncertain times. May our light shine before men that they may see our good deeds and bring glory to You! Empower us to wait, to trust, to proclaim Your goodness to those around us today. Prepare our hearts to receive the great outpouring of Your Holy Spirit that is coming to the earth! Jesus…it’s in Your Name that we come! AMEN
Prayer Points: Lord, we love our missionaries at OM and pray for Your best blessings for them.
|
– Financial needs for Pastor Ron and Linda and family – 4 kids in high school and 2 in primary school
– Peace in the household with all the different situations and issues involved.
– Health
– For the Men’s Bible study that Andrew and Allison are leading on Thursday nights at the OM preschool. They are seeing some real breakthroughs with some of the men.
Pray for: David, Michael and Kaylon especially.
– Direction and wisdom for Ron with the church
–a car for Linda
–repairs and additions for the house
–playground for the school
–for the Lord to fill each person reading this blog with a greater trust in HIM!
|
Closing Thought:
God has wisely kept us in the dark concerning future events and reserved for himself the knowledge of them, that he may train us up in a dependence upon himself and a continued readiness for every event. ~Matthew Henry Biography
Our real “family”
03/13/2011
Matthew 12:46-50
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
The main line of the Union Pacific Railroad is only a few hundred feet from my kitchen window. While I’m cooking or doing the dishes, I enjoy being able to watch the trains rolling past. My favorite times are when two trains travel schedules intersect one another and they meet going in opposite directions. It’s fun listening to them blowing their air horns extra long as if to say “I’m so glad to see you today.”
This week, the passage from Matthew 12 listed above struck me. I brought it to our weekly prayer group and we prayed biblical prayers that all in the Body of Christ would understand where their true “family” lies and that our lives would intersect with one another. The times we live in are perilous and the word tells us to keep meeting together with our “family” to build one another up and to encourage one another. (Heb. 10:25)
Why not consider allowing your life to intersect with the life of a brother or sister in the Lord this week? You may think you are too busy, but the rewards of intersecting with our true “family” are richer than we can imagine!
Prayer points:
Pastor Ron and Linda are safely home in Belize after attending a missions conference. Please continue to pray for their daily provision, health, God’s wisdom. Also, pray for the staff, Andrew, Heather, Tiffany, Alison at Oasis Nation.
for missions teams who are planning trips to Belize this spring and summer. Pray for provision and godly decisions and that all who are called will respond.
for the Belizean people to understand where true “family” exists…in the Body of Christ!Many of them have no good model in their own families, so please pray that they will see the need to come to Christ and to be established in His family.
for Holy Spirit zeal to fill Step of Faith church and its leaders. May they worship God in spirit and in truth.
for Oasis School as the staff minister to many children each day! May these children see God’s true family through the loving words and actions of the Oasis School staff.
Prayer: Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit…You are so wonderful! Thank You for giving us a true family! Jesus, what You did on the cross for us is beyond our understanding. But we see the outcome…a personal relationship with You and Your Father and the Holy Spirit. Our hearts leap for joy that we have been adopted into a family that will last forever. Please touch and abundantly bless our friends, Pastor Ron and Linda and their staff as they minister to the people of Belize. Empower each one to share the good news that You invite us to Your family! In the Name of the One who gave His all for us…Jesus Christ! AMEN!
Prayer Challenge: Ask the Lord to bring to mind someone who needs prayer. Allow your life to intersect with theirs by following the lead of the Holy Spirit as you pray, and then send them a note or e-mail of encouragement. You’ll be amazed at how good YOU will feel!
Need prayer? If you have need for prayer, please send your request to our prayer team coordinator, mrs57shivy@yahoo.com
Closing thought…
Christ behind and before me,
Christ behind and above me,
Christ with me and in me,
Christ around and about me,
Christ on my right and on my left,
Christ when I lie down at night,
Christ when I rise in the morning,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone that speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me. ~ St. Patrick
Blessings,Gina Lighthouse Ministries of Laramie, WY
Dear ones, It is actually 43 degrees in Laramie, WY so I’m experiencing a bit of “spring fever” as I write this latest prayer blog. Sounds funny, eh? 43…warm? Well, it’s all in your perspective and just a little over a week ago it was -45 here!
Today, I read this quote, “”Faith in a prayer-hearing God will make a prayer-loving Christian.”
~Andrew Murray
I believe the strength of your prayer life is all in your perspective.
Why not take a “prayer-life” inventory by asking yourself these questions?
Do I see prayer as a religious “duty” or do I find it a privelege to spend time with God in prayer?
When I pray, do I believe that God hears me and is answering?
Do I truly have a desire to become a “prayer-loving” Christian?
After evaluating your answers, take any concerns to the Lord and ask for His help.
My prayer for you today:
Lord, I ask you to bless all of my friends reading this blog and to help them to become “prayer-loving” Christians. Your Word tells us: “I will sing unto the Lord, because He hath dealt bountifully with me.” (Ps. 13:6) I pray that You would put a new song in the hearts of my friends! If they feel that they have failed in prayer, help them to know that You long for them. Deal with them bountifully, Lord, and pour out Your Spirit upon them so that their prayer lives becomes richer and richer as the days go by!” In the Name of the One Who gave His all for us..JESUS! AMEN!
Please continue praying this month for Oasis Ministry:
<>< for all of our Oasis staff to experience the bountiful love of God and His presence in their daily lives
<>< for the financial need for $2500 for a new vehicle engine to be met
<>< for Oasis School as registrations are happening for 2011-2012 school year
<>< for the ministry of the Mobile Library to grow and be blessed in bountiful ways by the Lord
Do you need prayer? Personal prayer requests can be sent to the Lighthouse of Prayer Network by e-mailing mrs57shivy@gmail.com. We have many prayer warriors who would be happy to pray for you!
Blessings to you and yours, Gina
“In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch…” ~Psalm 5:3
Several days ago, I had to rise very early in the morning to attend a prayer meeting. I am not an “early bird”, but there was a strange sort of pleasure in those early hours this week as I prepared to meet God. There was an anticipation there that followed me all through the day.
I believe that the Lord wants us to be ready to speak to Him and anticipate Him every day, all day long. But if you haven’t recently awakened early to pray and meet with the Lord, why not consider setting your alarm just a little earlier in the next few days, with the express purpose of seeking the Lord? Our days are busy and it gets easy for Him to get sqeezed out! I really believe that the “sacrifice” of giving up a little sleep is a small one, when you consider the benefits received from fellowship with our God.
Please take some time this month to pray for Oasis Ministry in Belize…
for the ministry of the Mobile Library as it visits schools. Pray for Linda and her helper Annalise as they minister to the kids. Pray for these children and their families to receive Christ as their Lord and Savior.
for the children and teens who are currently living at Oasis Nation. Pray for Pastor Ron and Linda and staff as they minister to these kids in their daily spiritual, emotional and physical needs. Pray for real life-changing decisions for the kids, that each of them will develop their own relationship with the Lord.
Pray for Pastor Ron as he pastors at Step of Faith Church. Pray for God’s wisdom for all decisions and that there will be spiritual growth for God’s people.
Pray for Candice and Ben and family as they travel to Belize on Feb. 12th to help with the school sponsorships for the 2011-2012 school year. Pray for traveling mercies and for some great family time with Ron and Linda
Pray for Ron and Linda as they participate in a Missions event at Matthews United Methodist in March. Pray for good, spirit-filled connections to happen as people hear the story of the Belize ministry.
Pray for the team from Matthews United Methodist Church, led by Ben and Linda Icard as they will travel to Belize in late March for ministry. Pray for funds and for all of God’s plans for them to be revealed.
Pray for Pastor Ron as he will be ministering at a Missions Conference at Brooklyn Tabernacle in May,spending some time with his daughter’s family and then ministering at another missions event at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle on Long Island. (his home church)
As always, please pray for the financial, spiritual and emotional needs of Ron and Linda and their staff, Heather, Andrew and Allison as they continue to minister to the people of Belize.
Hope you are warm where you live! We are at -16 degrees currently in Laramie, WY!
Blessings from the high city of the plains…
Gina
Exercise those prayer “muscles” in 2011!
01/04/2011
Dear praying friends,
Have you wondered about prayer? Does it work? Why pray? This last year or so of my life, as I have studied prayer, I am more convinced than ever that John Wesley had it right. He said, “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.” John Wesley (Famous evangelist who spent 2 hours daily in prayer)
Now you might be saying, “It is hard for me to spend 2 minutes a day in prayer, let alone 2 hours!” You are not alone in that thought. But I guarantee that John Wesley and others who have learned to spend time in extended prayer probably didn’t do so overnight! Prayer is like a “muscle” and it needs to be exercised a little at a time until it is built up to full strength.
I don’t know what your goals are for 2011, but mine include more prayer. I want to take the scripture “Pray without ceasing.”—1 Thessalonians 5:17 to heart this year. I want my life to become a prayer! So…will you join me in exercising those prayer muscles for yourself, your family, your church, your nation, and Oasis Ministry in 2011? If you haven’t been to the “throne of grace” lately, just take a step in today. I think that you will find that our Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit are waiting with open arms!
Here are some prayer points for January:
<>< January 8th; an older couple who have many years of children’s ministry experience will arrive for two weeks.There will be outreach in many schools and Oasis school and Step of Faith church.
<><The third week of January, team from Mathews to build a home for a family who is literally living under tarps on land the government just gave them.
<><Also pray for funding for a staff house in Unitedville for Andrew and maybe Allison to live in. Construction of a basketball court and multi purpose room on the Unitedville property so that OM can have an outreach to the young men in the village.
<>< Building of a home for Eduardo and Lovenia’s family in April by Tom Braaten and “A” team of builders. They will build two houses in a week.
<><for all the children living at OM; for emotional, physical, spiritual needs to be met
<><for financing for ongoing vehicle repairs
<><for health,strength, wisdom and provision for Ron and Linda and staff
Blessings to all in 2011,
Gina Gibson ~Lighthouse Ministries of Laramie
