So "does anybody really know what time it is?" 

We celebrated Mother's Day last week (or maybe it was the week before). Periodically I visit snopes.com to check out the stories behind certain e-mails I receive. Imagine my surprise when I came across this great article, especially in light of the recent death of my maternal grandmother. (You'll want some time with this article, believe me.)

Last week I met with a tour group from Alabama whose leader is hoping to make visits to the Prayer Center a regular occurrence. Several days before meeting with this group I had requested a visit with the architect who has designed a layout of the Garden the following day. That morning I read the following during part of my Quiet time.

"And He . . . wondered that there was no intercessor." Isaiah 59:16

The reason many of us leave off praying and become hard towards God is because we have only a sentimental interest in prayer. It sounds right to say that we pray; we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial, that our minds are quieted and our souls uplifted when we pray; but Isaiah implies that God is amazed at such thoughts of prayer.

Worship and intercession must go together, the one is impossible without the other. Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray. Too often instead of worshipping God, we construct statements as to how prayer works. Are we worshipping or are we in dispute with God - "I don't see how You are going to do it." This is a sure sign that we are not worshipping. When we lose sight of God we become hard and dogmatic. We hurl our own petitions at God's throne and dictate to Him as to what we wish Him to do. We do not worship God, nor do we seek to form the mind of Christ. If we are hard towards God, we will become hard towards other people.

Are we so worshipping God that we rouse ourselves up to lay hold on Him so that we may be brought into contact with His mind about the ones for whom we pray? Are we living in a holy relationship to God, or are we hard and dogmatic?

"But there is no one interceding properly" - then be that one yourself, be the one who worships God and who lives in holy relationship to Him. Get into the real work of intercession, and remember it is a work, a work that taxes every power; but a work which has no snare. Preaching the gospel has a snare; intercessory prayer has none.

God seemed to add to that with the "Experiencing God" journal devotional from March 30:

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. MARK 14:26

"Praise is greatly honoring to God! In the Old Testament account of King Jehoshaphat, God's people faced a seemingly insurmountable enemy who was determined to destroy them. Yet God assured them that they would ""stand still and see the salvation of the Lord"" (2 Chron. 20:17). The people of Judah believed God. Their army was led by singers, offering praises to the Lord for their promised victory, and the victory came. When King David led the procession bringing the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem, he praised God with all of his strength (2 Sam. 6:12-23). David's praise was pleasing to God, and God's powerful presence remained in David's kingdom to give him victory against every enemy.

Jesus was about to go to Gethsemane and to the cross, where God's greatest victory would be accomplished. He led His disciples to sing a hymn. The disciples were all about to fail Him, and Jesus was about to be cruelly executed, yet Jesus insisted that they praise God. Their praise looked beyond the cross to God's ultimate victory. Praise is rooted not in circumstances of the moment but in the nature and trustworthiness of God.

You ought to rejoice when God asks you to proceed in the work of His kingdom because you know the victory is already secured. Don't focus on the problems and failures of others. Focus on God's assurance of victory. If you have trouble praising God with a song in your heart as you serve Him, it may be that your focus is not on God, but on your circumstances."

Along those lines, gee, a Baptist Press article hit on 75% of the focus of the IPCJ :-) (Yes, you'd even think www.actsone8.com would catch on <g>.)

JERUSALEM-- Israeli election may turn spotlight on parts of biblical Judea & Samaria. 

Another great Baptist Press article this week was related to pastors who "do it all." Pastors who ‘do it all’ in small churches get how-to’s. 

+ Scott hoped to meet with the Prayer Garden architect to see what it would take to get a 3D model of the Garden, so you joined him in praying for this reality to happen to the point that His potential could be seen and understood...the meeting went well and I may be on the lookout for miniature trees when we get to the US this summer. My prayer is that the potential of the Garden can be seen once a model is on display. I haven't bought any hobby stuff in a long time anyway <g>. Continue to pray with me as mentioned above.

+ You joined Shirin in praying that there would be a positive response to the gospel on her visits last week... Shirin writes, "We were finally able to visit with the new mother in the Old City. We wrote Jeremiah 1:5 in the card. During our visit we had a short but good discussion about what that verse meant. Jasmine and I went to the Girls Home to distribute gifts that a church from Virginia sent to them. I was able to share scripture with the girls and another co-laborer had a group act out the prodigal son story for the girls."

+ Jasmine wanted you to join her in praying that she and her classmates would do well with their Mother's Day performance... Jasmine writes, "I could tell people were praying for me. We did a great on our dance performance."

<T H I S  W E E K><

<>< Scott asks you to join him in praying for a 'great turnout' for this year's Day of Prayer & Fasting to be held at the International Prayer Center of Jerusalem. If you're in the neighborhood, drop by :-) Be sure to check http://ime.imb.org/dayofprayer/default.asp for more information and to order your free material.

<>< Shirin and a co-worker will be involved in two outreach opportunities. Please join them in praying that God will guide them in knowing where He is at work and how they can join Him in reaching the lost in our area.

<>< Jasmine asks that she will make a quick recovery from a cold she has been struggling with for a days.

<* Pray for the Sinhalese, Singhalese of Sri Lanka.><

CALENDAR UPDATES

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29, Pray that plans for Stateside Assignment will come together.

* Wow, are things coming so fast! Your intercession is *deeply* appreciated!

30, Pray for Jasmine's friends to know Jesus.

* They had their Mother's Day performance at school, and it was a joy to smile into their eyes asking God to speak to their hearts.

31, Pray for our neighbors to know Jesus.

* One of the little girls upstairs came down the steps proudly (and loudly) reciting the opening surah/chapter of the Qur'an in the same fashion and conviction we used to say the Pledge of Allegiance in school when we were her age. Hearing her voice reminded me of the ongoing need of intercessory prayer to prepare the hearts of her parents to receive the Truth. Thank you for praying with us.

1, Pray that our focus would stay on the Main Thing

* What a joy it is to share the Good News with those who haven't heard clearly. It's humbling to be the one to explain it to those who have a warped understanding of His forgiveness. Wow...

2, Pray for our spiritual growth as a family.

* More and more do I realize how I need to defend the 'home team' from certain demands.

3, Ask God for traveling safety as we daily cover about 18 miles in an hour and a half.

* I seem to have an extra sense of caution thanks to your intercession!

4, Pray that the cooking class will lead to fruit for the Kingdom.

* Shirin writes, "Thank you for your prayers. We had to postpone the class since my co-teacher had to go out of the country."