Encouragement During Suffering (Gen. 21:17)

Read Genesis 21:17.

What you expect to read is "And God heard her voice."  Yes, He did, but that's not what the verse says.  It says, "And God heard the boy's voice."  (To my knowledge this is the only record of Ishmael's praying.  He probably did pray at other times, since Abraham would've modeled and encouraged that.)

1.  God hears the prayer of the one who suffers.
2.  God hears the prayer of the one who comes alongside the one who suffers.
3.  God not only hears your prayers but He responds to them.  He is full of compassion.

Apollo On My Mind (03/10/17)

Route 56,  just above Apollo, PA
Shot taken March 10, 2017 at 9:12 A.M.

Apollo is down the hill beyond the red State Farm sign.  Apollo is a quaint borough comprised of hard-working people.  However, it is drug-laden.  It is affected by a poverty mindset.  Full-time, good-paying jobs are scarce.  Hope is in short supply for too many.

Please pray for my quaint, sleepy town.

• Pray for good-paying, full-time jobs to come to Apollo.
• Pray for success of law enforcement personnel as they battle the drug problem.  (Apollo is in Armstrong County, which ranks number two in Pennsylvania for overdoses per capita.) 
• Pray that drug dealers get caught, that citizens become more confident and skilled in reporting drug deals, and that police are in the right place at the right time to discourage drug activity.
• Pray for deliverance from a poverty mindset.  (There is nothing wrong with not having a lot. That is different from a debilitating, down-spiraling mindset which sucks life and hope.)
• Pray for increased resources so churches can help with ever-growing requests for assistance.
• Pray for wholesome, family-friendly recreation and entertainment outlets in Apollo.  (Students need weekend and after-school opportunities that are low cost or now cost.)
• Pray that people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Pray for genuine repentance, with its accompanying results.

How to Pray for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

1.) That the violence will be stopped against the Palestinians in Gaza and against the Israelis in Israel.
2.) That the Holy Spirit will interfere mightily so that in the midst of what is happening people will seek the truth and find Jesus the Prince of Peace.
3.) This land needs a revival. The devil is sending a revival of violence to kill people. He doesn’t care what nationality they are. We need to pray that Jesus, the might God, will send a revival to save souls...
4.) Pray that we as a church will be strengthened and supported by the Holy Spirit to do our responsibility as salt and light in the midst of darkness. We need His power now.

Read the full article at http://www.glocal.net/blog/comments/in-their-own-words/.  The source might surprise you. 

Please Pray for Max

Here are the details:

Max is 6-months-old.  He has a Vein of Galen malformation in the brain which is causing high blood pressure in the veins and protruded veins in his head. This can also cause heart failure in some children because of the undue strain on the heart. It has also caused hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). The doctor thinks the hydrocephalus is not extreme yet and the main issue that needs to be addressed is the vein malformation which can be fatal. 

Please pray for Max and for his parents.  It's hard to imagine what they're facing.

Prayer Request

My father was in a car accident earlier this morning.  He is okay.  Thank You, Jesus!  Please pray for a full recovery from all injuries.  Thank you, my friends.