Genesis 6:9 – 7:24
 
The writer of Genesis calls Noah righteous and blameless. Noah’s righteousness was not sinlessness but rather obedience to God’s commands. Pastor Dave asserted that we, who know we are saved by grace not works, often fail to take God’s commands seriously. We “hide behind the grace card,” as he said, to excuse our lack of obedience. Take time before the Lord to confess specific areas of disobedience in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to shine His bright light of conviction on you.
 
Ask the Lord to help you develop the muscle of obedience. Begin, perhaps, with one specific command you come across in your private Bible reading or your small group study. Perhaps the Holy Spirit will bring a Scripture passage to mind that includes a command. Ask for circumstances that confront you with the choice to obey that command (or not) and for the strength to obey. Affirm before the Lord that what He calls you to do, He equips you to do; we cannot say, “Lord, obeying is impossible!” Consider asking your small group or a friend to pray with you and for you as you seek to obey. 
 
Speaking of obedience, how are you doing with respect to Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:19 to go and make disciples? My (our?) tendency to turn away from evil and downplay sin might explain my reticence to share the gospel. The good news is not compelling until the bad news is absorbed. The bad news is this: Humans – all humans – have chosen the way of evil; God sees our evil and has promised to judge; and God does what He says He will do. If we don’t deeply feel the bad news, how can we share the good news with people who wonder about the possibility of a good God in an evil world? The good news is this: Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of sinners, the Conqueror of evil, and the Creator of a new heaven and a new earth. Ask the Lord to empower all of us to understand and share the full gospel message.
 
Calvary Family
 
Mark Martelle asks for prayer for his 95-year-old mother, Doris, who has declined rapidly in recent months. Join Mark in praying that God will take her peacefully and give him wisdom to deal with all her affairs.
 
Please continue to pray for the Lord’s guidance as our leadership explores ways to build a permanent worship center in the face of increased costs. Pray that our leaders will have ears to hear what He has to say.
 
Pray for Calvary’s Chinese congregation. Pray for those who are recent immigrants, struggling to learn a new language, a new culture, and a new societal structure. Pray for new believers as they build a foundation of biblical knowledge and as they face tests of their new faith.
 
Vacation Bible School is four months away, but active planning is already underway. Lift up the VBS team, asking the Lord to keep their attention constantly focused on what is most important.

Chandler Dixon, an ultrasound technician, is leaving Thursday for a two-week medical missions trip to Iraq.  Pray for safety for Chandler and the team, for success in their medical work, and for spiritual fruit from the testimony of the team.

In Christ,
Carol Gilbert
Calvary Community Church of Brea

P.S.  There will be no prayer blog next week, February 26, because I will be out of town.