Prayer During Trials

As we studied Daniel 2 this past Sunday morning and looked at how to face a crisis, it is worth  look to study the prayer of Daniel more closely to see how we should also pray during a trial.

In the face of their trial, Daniel and his three companions give us an excellent model of how to pray. Let’s look at Daniel 2:18-23:

Daniel 2:17-23 (ESV) 
¹⁷ Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, ¹⁸ and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. ¹⁹ Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
²⁰ Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. ²¹ He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; ²² he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. ²³ To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter."

1.   They Prayed in Unity (v. 18).

2.   They Prayed Specifically (v. 19).

3.   They Prayed Effectively (v. 19).

4.   They Prayed Thankfully (vv. 20–24).

Are you facing trials? Join or start a prayer group; pray in unity. Pray specifically and effectively for the situation, and remember to always give thanks! You can join with us this Wednesday night and pray with others for your trial.

May God bless us with victory in our trials!

-          Bro. Dave

Expansion Committee Update:

While much has been progressing on our land to get things ready for expansion, there is still much to be done. For the next few weeks, the expansion committee will be gathering information from the church to help in the development of a master plan for our new property. The Expansion Committee has prepared a survey that will be available this Sunday to allow everyone to share their ideas and concerns. This survey will be available for three weeks and will need to be turned in by Sunday, August 14, in order to be tabulated into a report that will be delivered to the church on Sunday Evening, August 21.


The survey will be available in the Church Sunday School office and will also be placed on the church website for anyone who is out of town. All who attend Sunday School and the church services for the next three weeks will be encouraged to fill out the survey. Instructions will be sent out on the church one-call system to instruct out of town members of how to participate in the survey.


As we are nearing discussions for the use of the new property, I ask that you join me in praying for our church. Pray for God to bless us with direction and vision for the future. Pray for unity and patience for the process ahead. Pray for wisdom and blessing as we will have many decisions to make as a church body.  Pray for the faith to trust God for great things for our church and our community.


Pray for the members of our Expansion Committee: James Moeller, Harriette Coyle, Donald Logue, Scarla Hahn, Keith Tyler, Earl Camic, and Mark Edwards.  


May God bless us with a campaign that will impact our church and community with a light for the Gospel!


- Bro. Dave

Mission Trip Focus: Haiti

On January 12, 2010, an earthquake measuring 7.0 struck the nation of Haiti affecting more than three million people. More than 316,000 people were killed, 300,000 more were injured, and more than 1 million people were made homeless. 


Southern Baptists responded instantly pouring in aid and buckets of food, seeing an amazing response to the Gospel. With so many coming to Christ, there has been a need for training and discipleship of the Haitian believers. 

Phil Yates, pastor of Little Zion Baptist Church will be leading two mission teams from our association into Haiti to conduct a number of needed ministries. Phil has been to Haiti countless times and has been establishing a long term ministry in this nation with the local baptists. Joining the teams will be doctors from Louisville who will help conduct medical clinics for about four hours each morning.  After lunch, American pastors will be training the Haitian pastors in areas of ministry for three hours. After supper, everyone will join together for an evening worship service that will reach out to the Haitian people. 

There will be opportunities for evangelism throughout each day through the medical clinics and services. Volunteers are needed to assist with the clinics, teach personal hygiene, teach english, train the pastors and local Christians, and share Jesus.   

If you are interested in joining in with this mission trip, there will be a meeting this Saturday morning at Little Zion Baptist Church at 11AM. 

Here are the details of this trip:

Dates: There are two teams going during two different weeks - November 7-14 and 14-21. 

Cost: $1400

Team Leader: Bro. Phil Yates

Would you pray for Haiti and ask God if He is leading you to join this trip? With 40 spots open for the teams, this trip is expected to fill up soon. 

May God bess the spread of the Gospel in Haiti, Mercer County, and the world!

- Bro. Dave

How the Lord’s Prayer changes us:

We have been working through the Lord’s Prayer on Sunday Mornings and I have been personally challenged as I have been using this prayer as a model. I have found the Lord’s Prayer to be very helpful in my prayer life, and it has strengthened my walk with God. I found the following during my research and I would like to share it with you today:

How the Lord’s Prayer changes us:

How can we say our unless we make room for others in our fellowship?
How can we say Father unless we have been born from above through Christ Jesus?
How can we say who art in Heaven unless we grasp the awesome majesty and vast love of God?
How can we say hallowed be Thy name unless we who are called by His name dedicate ourselves to holy living?
How can we say Thy Kingdom come unless we always commit ourselves to obey the King of kings in extending His loving rule to all who will receive it?
How can we say Thy will be done unless we release the demand to have it our way?
How can we say on earth as it is in Heaven unless we proclaim and demonstrate the gospel of Christ to the privileged and underprivileged somewhere, everywhere?
How can we say give us this day our daily bread unless we give food and job training and hope to the hungry and homeless?
How can we say forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us unless we make every effort to resolve conflicts quickly by talking to the ones who hurt us instead of talking about them?
How can we say lead us not into temptation unless we adopt biblical standards of integrity and morality for our church, our children, and ourselves?
How can we say deliver us from evil unless we put on the whole armor of God and pray against the adversary?
How can we say for Thine is the Kingdom unless we yield our rights to the Lordship of King Jesus?
How can we say Thine is the power unless we rely on the supernatural energy of Christ?
How can we say Thine is the glory unless we serve humbly without seeking praise from people around us?
How can we say forever unless we keep one eye on the final judgment and rewards of eternity?

Let’s pray earnestly for God to bless and guide us!

- Bro. Dave