I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel …  You foolish Galatians!  Who has bewitched you?    (Galatians 1:6, 3:1)
 
To them, you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.       (Ezekiel 33:32)
 
As I have reflected on God’s Word this summer, I have been thinking about the human feelings of the men God called to be His spokesman.  Paul’s language suggests he was exasperated and disappointed with the Galatian people to whom he had preached the gospel.  I wonder if Ezekiel, God’s spokesman to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, was discouraged when God delivered His blunt assessment of Ezekiel’s listeners.  These thoughts have led me to consider before the Lord my response to our pastors’ teaching and leadership.  Are my choices and actions an encouragement – or a discouragement – to them?  And what about my words?  Do I offer positive, appreciative comments at least as often as critical ones?  Consider joining me in asking yourself these questions in the Lord’s presence this week, alert to His evaluation.
 
Here are other suggestions for topics of prayer this week:
 
1.  I received a suggestion that we pray for Christians in the Middle East – in Iraq and Syria, in particular – even before John Tebay’s sermon yesterday about evil.  It is easy for us in America to bless the name of the Lord.  We live where streams of abundance flow and the world’s all as it should be.  Pray that our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters will be able to bless His name as they walk a road marked with suffering, even thoughthere’s pain in the offering.  Pray that God will use the evil our brethren are experiencing for His ultimate purposes and glory.
 
2.  A newsletter I recently received from Bob and Rose Palfenier is a great reminder to be praying for our retired missionaries.  The Palfeniers served the Lord in South America for over 20 years before returning to the U.S. and planting churches in Juarez, Mexico, from their home base of El Paso, Texas.  Calvary’s other retired missionary couples are Dick and Saundra Watson in North Carolina and Al and Pat Pence in Colorado.  Thank the Lord for their faithful service on the field and their testimony for Him.  Pray for good health and for fruitfulness as they continue to minister within the body of Christ and their extended families.

3.  Be faithful in prayer for members of our body who face long-term health challenges.  Shelley Hendrickson, for example, is in the midst of chemo treatment and would appreciate prayers that it will be effective and shrink the cancer.  Others I am aware of include Karen Marvel, Greg Hodgson, Annette Dee, Janet Whitson, and Mark Charles.
 
4.  Also continue to lift up those who are grieving, including the Melendez family, the Timoti family, Vicki Charles, and the Castro family.  Ask the Lord to comfort them and provide the help they need, whatever it may be.
 
5.  Pray for our college students as they prepare to return to the classroom in the next several weeks, especially for those who are just entering college.  Pray that they will grow in their devotion to the Lord and seek Him above all.
 
6.  Take some time to thank the Lord for specific blessings He has poured out on you in the last week.  This is especially important to do if you have been experiencing trials and disappointments lately.  No matter what, there is always something to thank God for.


In Christ,
Carol Gilbert, Prayer Chair
Calvary Community Church of Brea