Missions helps for kiddos

From Missions Mandate

Solid, biblical education of our children must be a priority of local churches, and this includes missions exposure.

The “Stand 4 Kids” organization has several lists of missions resources geared toward children. Items on the lists include:

• Preschool Materials
• Missionary Biographies Stories and Chapter Books
• Resources for Raising a Mission-Minded Family

View these and more at the “Stand 4 Kids” resources page and the “Stand 4 Kids” blogsthat highlight important aspects of ministry to children.

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Good teens aren’t excited about the gospel

“My work with teenagers has convinced me that one of the main reasons teenagers are not excited by the gospel is that they do not think they need it.  Many parents have successfully raised self-righteous little Pharisees.  When they look at themselves, they do not see a sinner in desperate need, so they are not grateful for a Savior.  Sadly, the same is true of many of their parents.”  – Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp, How People Change, p. 5

(HT: Z)

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Praying for China

As you hear or read the news from countries around the world, it can be a way in which God prompts you to pray for those in the news–not just maybe for the need presented but also for the spiritual needs of that land.  Case in point: China which is experiencing some of its worst flooding in decades.  Around China, the flooding has destroyed 875,000 homes, caused the evacuation of 9.6 million people, and ruined 22 million acres of crops, according to the state flood control office.

Here’s more of the story on what’s happening there.

Please pray for all of the needs represented by such a disaster as this, but most importantly pray for the hearts of those affected to be open and receptive to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray for Christians who minister and offer relief to those in these affected areas as well.

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Forgive us our debts

Philip Ryken writes for Tabletalk:

We need daily pardon and daily protection as well as daily provision. So after Jesus taught us to pray, “give us today our daily bread,” He also taught us to pray, “and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:12–13).

These petitions are for fallen sinners — for people who are often tempted to sin, and sometimes give in. Even before we face these temptations, we should ask God to keep us safe from what John Calvin called in his Institutes “the violent assaults of Satan.” In asking not to be led into temptation, we are not requesting that we will never be tempted at all, but that when we are tempted God will deliver us from Satan’s deadly attacks.

But what about the times when we do sin and fall into spiritual debt? How should we pray then?

Keep reading here (includes two great illustrations–one from Wesley’s life and another from the imprisonment of Richard Wumbrand).

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