Newsletter & Prayer Directive 11-6-07
Greetings church! It is so good to be back on American soil. We are awaiting the last leg of our flight back to Austin and are rehearsing the goodness of God with regards to our trip to Bangkok. There are so many testimonies to tell and pictures to share. We are forever changed by the love, the pureness, the joy and the hunger of the Thai people.Bangkok is a city with over 16 million people and 95% of the population is Buddhist. The other 5% is Hindu, Muslim, or Christian. Of the Christian sect, fewer still are Pentecostal and those that are, feel isolated and overwhelmed. I truly believe that God will use our friend, Dr. Lao (a native Thai) to go back home and reach his people with the fire of God.
On Monday, we were invited to go to the Grand Palace. It is the primary shrine for Buddhist worship in the nation. It is also the King of Thailand’s second home. Many American presidents have visited and stayed on the grounds. In visiting this site, we discovered that there are over 200,000 Buddhist Temples in the country of Thailand alone. The temples are guarded by 12 demon statues used for idol worship. They are considered “good demons” that provide protection for the temples. Atop every shrine, and on the corners of the buildings are serpents that are there to again protect the temples from “evil spirits”. Isn’t the devil a liar?
We will be sharing more this coming weekend in the services but the one thing we noticed, with the Thai people’s strong belief in the supernatural, they have no trouble embracing the supernatural power of God when they are witnesses of His power! Praise be to God for His indescribable goodness!
As we stated earlier, we want to share more from our trip and hope you will be in attendance this weekend. God has divinely connected us to this beautiful land and we are believing God to return next year with those of you who might be interested in going on a missionary journey!
Our thanks to Ps Jay and the entire team who covered services in our absence. We heard God was in the house and for that, we are grateful.
2Cor. 9:10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
2Cor. 9:11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2Cor. 9:12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
2Cor. 9:13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
2Cor. 9:14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
2Cor. 9:15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Regarding prayer this week, we will be focusing on prayer from a grateful heart. Church, we have so much to be thankful for. As we turn our attention toward our Thanks for Giving Revival, we are going to be expressing our gratefulness to the Lord for the many areas we find His blessing!
1. We are grateful for our families
2. We are grateful for our church and the ministries of CWC
3. We are grateful for God’s blessing in our lives
4. We are grateful for God’s power in our lives
5. We are grateful for God’s protection
6. We are grateful for our country
7. We are grateful for our leaders
8. We are grateful for our church families and friends
9. We are asking the Lord to increase our borders
10. We are asking the Lord to make our future clear, both personally and corporately.
We hope to see all of you this week. Come and join us - we have much to thank Him for!
Blessings,
Ps Joe and Becky and the team