We interrupt this program to bring you this special news bulletin

I'm sorry.  I feel very burdened tonight to interrupt our prayers for SFCV to ask you to pray for ALL the NGO/foster care situations in China, specifically Henan province and any NGO that has children from Henan (which includes SFCV!).  The situation there continues to deteriorate.  

I posted a link earlier to a story about the LWB Healing Home in Henan.  The short version is that a Chinese woman was housing 18 children/youth.  She left to take some of the children to school.  While she was gone, a fire broke out and 7 children were killed.  The government has asked officials to make inspections of foster care homes.  It seems that even though these homes were given excellent reviews, the provincial government has ordered all the children to be returned to their original orphanage.  These are all special needs orphans.  This fire had NOTHING to do with NGOs.... totally separate.

As I posted in Wednesday's prayers, the Chinese culture (on a whole, not individually) has a different take on persons with disabilities and special needs.  

Please pray for these children that are being sent back to their orphanages.  Pray for their safety.  Pray for their hearts, this is another break in their attachment story.... each break makes it harder for future attachments.  Pray that their medical needs are met.  Pray that no more children will be ordered back to their original orphanage.  (As far as I know, SF has not had to return any children to their orphanage.)  And please pray that this is only temporary that they will soon be returned to their loving homes and reunited with their caretakers.  

Continue to pray for a hedge of protection around SFCV.  Pray for eyes to be opened, hearts to be changed and made new, and for the believers to stand firm in unity.

God bless!

Charlene

Prayer and fasting for SFCV--Wednesday

Spirit of unity  Pray for a spirit of unity among everyone at SFCV as they work together and with other ministry partners.

Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another according to Christ Jesus (Romans 15:5).

Resist temptation  Pray for missionaries to be quick to take the escape God provides when temptation sneaks up on them.  

God is faithful and He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation He will also provide a way of escape, so that you are able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13b).

As we pray, we need to be aware of some of the factors that oppose missionaries and can lead to their discouragement and make doing their calling challengine.  Here are 3  areas we can pray for SFCV.

1. Living in an alien culture.
2. Working among an unresponsive or hostile people. 
3. Shortage of personnel leading to work overload.

Chinese culture, in general, view children, especially those with special needs differently than we would.  Pray that the Chinese staff will be responsive to hearing any changes that need to be made, that they would see every child as deserving of their best love and care, that there would be an abundance of God honoring and loving workers to carry on this work.

Thanks for sticking with us.  Be sure to share any encouragement or word you receive as your praying.  

God bless!

Charlene

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Prayer and fasting for SFCV--Tuesday

Thanks for joining us in praying for SFCV this week.  I love that we have believers around the world joined together in prayer for the orphan.  What a blessing to be surrounded by all the amazing friends I have met through SFCV that share our Lord's heart for the orphan.  Thank you!  

Don't forget to share any revelation or inspiration you receive throughout the week. 

Purity Pray for the leaders, staff, and volunteers to be so renewed by God’s Word that no sin will have dominion over them.

Make my steps steady through Your promise; don’t let sin dominate me (Psalm 119:133)

Give glory to God Ask God to empower them to point people to Jesus and not seek undue recognition for themselves.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

Dependence on God  Pray for SFCV to model a life of dependence on God.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and he will guide you on the right paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Prayer and Fasting for SFCV--Monday (a little long, I promise they won't all be like this!)

As many of you know, SFCV needs our prayers.  I believe any place that cares for orphans needs our prayer.  There is a spiritual battle going on for the least of these.   Caring for orphans is God's heart.  Satan will do all he can to sabotage those who want what God wants and care for what God cares for.  

I had an interesting and timely vision this week.  As I was preregistering at the hospital on Thursday (as all this was going on on the internet), on the wall behind the worker was a poster of the Great Wall of China.   It read "Teamwork:  Many hands.  Many minds.  One goal."   I just sat there reading it over and over and felt God speaking to me.  We need to stand together for the orphan and those who care for them.  "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

With that in mind, I tried to think of what we could do to help from around the world.  

...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Philippians 4:6-8

Prayer (and fasting) and thanksgiving and thinking on what is lovely!

On prayer and fasting:

I researched and came across a prayer list for missionaries.  A few didn't seem to quite fit, so I went through them and picked the ones that seemed appropriate.  I plan on fasting and praying on Monday, then continuing my prayers over the week.  Each day I will post a few more items to pray over.  Some will be more general and scriptural, some may be more practical.  I would love for all of you to come along side of us and pray for SFCV--the Bakers, the staff, the volunteers, adoptive families, and most importantly the children--those still there and those who have been adopted and need healing.  

Please use this however the Lord is leading you.  If He is leading you to fast, great!  Don't feel that you need to fast on the same day as me.  I think having people fasting throughout the week is awesome too.  I know some of you may be new to fasting and may be fearful of it.  A few thoughts (and I am not a pro!)--it can be food, but it does not have to be food!  Is there some other area God is asking you to fast?  Internet?  Shopping?  TV?  If you do choose a food fast, there are different kinds--liquid, Daniel, partial, full... I tend to do a combination.  I usually do liquids throughout the day and then around 6-7 pm I will have a small, plain meal.  Sort of a liquid/Daniel mix (no meat or sweets, nothing fancy).   The real goal isn't to be legalistic about it.  The goal is to replace that item/time with prayer time, that's what's important.  Don't get caught up in the how to, get caught up in the who--God!

On thinking on what it lovely:  lets share success stories! 

Ok, now that that's out of the way let's get to the praying!  Here are a few that I thought would be a good start to the week:

1.  Focus on God Pray for the leadership of SFCV to stay focused on God and His plans above all else.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you (Matthew 6:33).

2.  Confession and repentance Pray for them to regularly seek examination by God and to repent from any errors that have crept into their lives. 

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23-24).

3.  Humility Pray for them to have a spirit of humility and to willingly ask God for wisdom in carrying out their assignment.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).

Thanks for joining us in this time of prayer and fasting.  I can't wait to hear the victory stories!

(This is my first time organizing a prayer and fasting.  I am new to some of this, so if you see an area I am incorrect or unscriptural/theologically off, please message me and let me know.  And I'm open to suggestions.)

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