PRAYER PERSON OF THE WEEK: Ada Price

Compassion Prayer Child of the Week: Luana Lais Balbino Soares in Brazil sponsored by Chris Metcalfe.

Birthdays: 4/29, Vivian Baker, Keith Hart, Janet Shirk; 5/2, Carol Carlin; 5/3, Joyce Treible; 5/4, Chester Perry; 5/5, Austin Harris, Clay Johnson. 

Aprontree: Gambel Wilson, Raymond Rhine. Menno Haven: Margaret Metcalfe. Manorcare: Pauline & Crystal Strite. Forest Park in Carlisle: Joyce Treible. Homebound: Jim Campbell, Carl Magee, Floyd Baker, Leirwyn Montague, Tim Browning.

Those battling cancer: Max Miller, Lois Boozel, Rodney Peck, Naomi Piper, Grace Rowett, Carol Baker, Sue Snowden, Erick Lidholm, Patti Varner, Geraldine Shoop, Lucy Snyder, Sonny O’Donnell, Clarence Trump, Ralph (Scotty) North, Jody Dowler, Esther Saunders, Greg Rosenberry, Kevin Powell (relative of Eddie & Marie Hill), Mel Helm, Barbara Butler (Joyce & Wayne’s niece), Deb Adams, Bob McClure, Jenny O’Neil, Jennifer Barrick.

Prayers needed: Wally Brindle, Sharon Yeager, Kathy Jo (Irwin) Lapp, David Covert, Jane Miller, Lois & Isaac Frehn, Duane Frazier, Kitty Ingram, Libby Peck, Veronica Byler, Stephanie Shoemaker, Connie Bingham, Carolyn Shearer Taylor, Pat & Herb Plasterer, Edsel Eaton, Anne Stride, Margaret Yohn, Fred & Carolyn McCartney, Louise Johnson. Susan Brelsford (John Boozer’s cousin), Roxanne Sarber, Janet Shirk, Kathy Jean Flickinger, Pearl Hartmire, Sam Utzy, Crystal & Pauline Strite. Baby on the way: Mark & Jacki Cook. Upcoming weddings: Missy Ruby & Shane Boggs, 5/5; Natalie Shull & Douglas Boozer, 5/12; Chad Martin & Tana McGee, 6/30.

Preparation for Pastoral Ministry: Dennis & Jodi Dillman

Missionaries: Scott & Diane Karper (Honduras), Virginia Hoover

(East Asia), Juan & Shirley Ocasio (Republic of Georgia), Diane Pomroy (Child Evangelism Fellowship, PA), Zach Oyler, (Campus Outreach).

Serving the USA away from home: Nathan Parsons (Virginia), Alan Junkin, Colton Bair (Japan), Stephen Goshorn, Steven Morris, Jake Myers (Afghanistan), Justin Bannister, Dustin Karper, Jared Wagner, David Boyer, Caleb Price (deploying in May to Afghanistan), Chuck Murray (Jackie Best’s father).

Our College Students: Robbin McClure, Brooke Parson, Ashleigh Parsons (Ship.); Ben Walters & Matt Gaston (Lockhaven); Laurie Ruby (Messiah); Neil Hill (Waynesburg); Angie Ruby (Penn State Main Campus); Nick Parsons (Penn State Altoona); Andrew & Laura Thatcher (Penn State Mont Alto); Robin Coons (Wilson College); Nicole Parker (Purdue University); Kim Miller; Ashley Baker; Dalton Price (Pennsylvania College of Technology).

REFLECTIONS ON UNANSWERED PRAYER, Part 1 & 2

by Brenda Hart, prayer ministry coordinator

There are often times in our life where we feel God doesn’t answer our prayers. We feel that God is not listening to our requests and petitions. I think everyone has had this thought throughout their lifetime. Here are some of the reasons we think we have an unanswered prayer:

God’s Sovereignty

Unconfessed sin

Lack of faith

Lack of perseverance

Timing

Wrong motives

God’s will, not our will

Relationship with others


God’s Sovereignty-John 15:7-8 says “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to the Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. Are we in fellowship with Him and His Word? Will it bring Him the most glory?

Unconfessed sin-In 1 Peter 3:12, Peter writes: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Ask the Lord to reveal your unconfessed sin to you – then confess your sins and ask Jesus to forgive you. He will! Sin separates us from God. Isaiah 59:1,2 states: “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, not his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

Lack of faith-Matthew 21: 22, “ If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” In our prayers we must have the faith and believe in the finished results of our prayers. Our faith must not waiver. Ask the Lord to give you more faith! James 1:6 tells us that: “ But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

Lack of Perseverance-Be persistent in asking with our prayers. Sometimes we give up praying because we feel God will not answer. Keep believing and don’t quit, no matter how long it takes. Remember that parable that Jesus told his disciples of the widow in Luke 18:1-8 who was persistent in coming to the judge to grant her mercy against her adversary. Eventually the judge saw that she got justice because of her persistence in not giving up. Matthew 7:7,8: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Timing- Psalm 40:1 tells us: "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and head my cry." We as humans want things done our way and in our timing, usually right away. We must be patient and learn to trust in the Lord. Isaiah 55:8 says "for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways."

Wrong motives- Are our prayers for our own desires and worldly pleasrues? Are we praying for the wrong things? So often our prayers are self-centered. We pray for things that we desire. James 4:3 states "when you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." We must humble ourselves before God and desire His approval. We may pray with good intentions, only to have God deny our prayers. This is a way of directing us to a greater purpose in our life.

God's will, not our will- The apostle John writes in 1 John 5:14-15: "this confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us whatever we ask we know that we have what we asked of Him." We often demand what we want, when we need to pray what He wants for us. When we pray according to His will, we can be confident that He will honor our requests and petitions.

Relationship with others- If we have a problem with others we should resolve it as soon as possible. Our attitude and hatred with others affect our relationship with God. "So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23-24. Our prayers will be hindered if our relationship with others is not right. Our relationship with God suffers also.

In closing, the Lord desires an intimate relationship with us. He does answer our prayers with His grace and mercy and not by our good works and deeds. Hold tight to His command: "Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:12. As Garth Brooks' song goes: "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."

WHAT IS PRAYERWALKING?
by Brenda Hart, Prayer Ministry Coordinator

“PRAYING ON SITE WITH INSIGHT”

WHAT?
Prayerwalking is a form of intercession. It is praying at a strategic area of location while walking. It is just another way of joining Him in what He is doing. 2 Corinthians 5:20: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

WHO?
ANYONE! Jesus says, “Where two or three are gathered together in My Name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20. You can also do it alone or go in groups.

WHY?
Prayerwalking is time set aside to walk and pray, praising God and interceding for others. What a powerful tool to claim God’s promises on behalf of the people in that area! It opens the eyes and hearts of those who are praying. It bears fruit that lasts. “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-4.

HOW?
-Simply walk & pray.
-Keep your eyes open and observe what the Holy Spirit may be showing you. (You’ll also want them opened to
see where you are going!)
-Pray out loud, it keeps you focused, and it also allows others in the group to hear and come into an agreement.
-Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. It’s okay to be silent from time to time and just listen to the Spirit.-“We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Romans 8:26.
-Pray using scripture that may come to mind. Meditate on the Word!
-Always give praise and thanksgiving to our Lord. “Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” Psalm 113:2-3.

WHEN?
Prayerwalking can be done anytime. Pray while walking throughout our daily schedule whether we are at work, school, or home.

WHERE?
Places to do prayerwalking: Neighborhoods, parks, churches, schools, government agencies, businesses, our workplace, places where there are strongholds of satan such as where drug deals take place, places that create a spiritual blindness and bondage on people, keeping them from seeing “The Truth”. Micah 4:5 tells us “All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.”