Thank You for Prayers

 

Anti-government protesters in Nairobi

Thank you for your prayers. Neil was feeling better and was able to continue visiting the churches in the Mombasa area. He is teaching from our book, Navigating Life: A Mentoring Tool Box. Today the lesson included the story about little Johnny, illustrating what happens if we sin after giving our life to Jesus. in the scenario Johnny confesses his sins and gives his heart to Jesus. But the next day, a big semi truck driver fails to see little Johnny walking on the road. Just before the truck hits him, Johnny yells, "Jesus Christ!" But instead of using Jesus' name as a prayer, he used it as a curse word. Did Johnny go to heaven when he died?

Most Kenyans put Johnny in hell after hearing that story, and some rather adamantly. But the good news of the gospel is that although sin has formed habits in our flesh, Jesus' covenant of forgiveness still stands when we have given our hearts to him.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

The part we play in salvation is confessing our sins and putting our trust in Jesus' death on the cross as full payment of everything we have done, said, or will do that displeases God. An exchange of ownership takes place as a covenant is established between us and God when we give our lives to Him. Jesus' part is forgiving us and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. We all have a lot of cleaning up to do when we give our lives to Jesus, but praise God, Jesus clothes us in his righteousness. When we become His, the Holy Spirit goes to work convicting us of sin, and directing our paths to become more and more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit continues to sanctify us as he teaches us from God's Word until the day we die. 

Isaiah 61:10  I delight greatly in the Lord;

    my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation

    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,

    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels

Thank you, also, for your prayers for peace in Kenya. Although peace has not come, the protests that the youth were staging to be "the mother of all riots," were subdued by the police today in Nairobi. Neil is in the city of Mombasa today, where there is no rioting. When the opposition forces were offered seats in government, they were willing to bring their differences to the discussion tables within the President's cabinet. However, the unrest they stirred up has continued on the streets among the youth who now feel disenfranchised. Kenya needs continuing prayer for the Prince of Peace to bring reconciliation, not only with each other, but with God. We need peace to reign in our hearts here in our country as well. Let it begin with those of us who identify as Christians.

Prayer Requests

• Continued healing for Neil
• Peace in Kenya
• Peace in the USA
• Hearts open to reconciliation 
• Safe travels for those attending next week's pastor's conference in Nairobi
• Holy Spirit's anointing for Neil and the others who will speak at the conference