Prayer Requests for December 31 2008 - January 6 2009

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(31) Wednesday – Pray for the financial year end need for all of Capital District Youth for Christ and Praise God for all you give throughout the year.

(1) Thursday – Praise God that we have new beginnings in Christ everyday.

(2) Friday – Pray for our volunteers who minister to teens and for those who work behind the scenes in multiple ways.

(3) Saturday – Pray for our ministry in Averill Park and New Lebanon.

(4) Sunday – Pray for the churches throughout the Capital Region.

(5) Monday – Pray for our efforts to begin ministry in East Greenbush, Troy and Bethlehem.

(6) Tuesday – Pray for YFC’s Excel Conference (Jan 16-19) and for all the church youth groups that will be attending this year.

Merry Christmas

An assignment was given to group of elementary students to write about Christmas. One child wrote that Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus' birthday. Then this child wrote, Jesus grew up to become Santa and give presents to everyone.

My prayer is that we do not behave like Jesus is our Santa.

Merry Christmas to all.

Kevin

Prayer and Praise Requests

Praise and Prayer Requests for December 24-30, 2008

(24) Wednesday – Praise for a great week of ministry last week and through the weekend, even with all the snow.

(25) Thursday – Praise God for His Son’s birth and the gift it is for all of us. Merry Christmas!

(26) Friday – Continue to pray for $125,000 in donations to come in each month for the overall ministry of Capital District Youth for Christ. Pray for us to put our total trust in God during uncertain economic times.

Pray for December giving to exceed what was given last year (We typically get about 25% of our yearly donations in this month).

(27) Saturday – Pray for the staff of YFC as we get a few days off this week.

(28) Sunday – Pray for those in our lives who need to know Jesus as Lord and Savior and to give Him control of their lives.

(29) Monday – Pray for our volunteers who give of their time, talent and love to teens throughout the Capital Region.

(30) Tuesday – Pray for the staff and volunteers who have key roles in the upcoming Excel high school conference (Jan 16-19).

Waiting

It always seems to happen so quickly. First a new school year begins and then we hit the holiday season. With Thanksgiving now celebrated (hopefully we stay thankful throughout the year) and as we prepare for the celebration of Christ's birth, I wonder how it happens so fast.

Some have told me that as we get older that time goes by faster. There are times when I wish time moved faster for some of the teens we encounter through our ministry.

Last week we received news that a 16 year old took her own life. She had been involved with us since childhood. When we look at her family situation and her own struggles with her health, I wonder if she would be alive if time moved a little faster for her. Would she have been more hopeful and turned to God at that moment of desperation instead of turning into her pain.

I wonder about the teens that say they can't believe in God due to the abuse they have suffered and how they can't trust a God they can't see and who seems powerless to them anyway. Living in fear, does that cause time to stand still?

I know that God keeps His promises and most of the time there is significant waiting on those promises.

During this season of Advent, this time of waiting for a birth, this time of wonder, I learn again about keeping my thoughts, my eyes and my hopes on Jesus.

He will come again just as He has come to save. To bring hope, to bring the promise.

Waiting while rejoicing in hope.