Bible Reading Marathon Log

Log Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Today we started our marathon and it was an awesome event. I began in prayer and the Spirit literally blew in. Wind gusts were blowing around 40 mph all day and temps never made it into the 40’s. As we were reading, God was allowing us to witness the scriptures by the people and circumstances around us. There was a protest sponsored by Rhode Island College & Brown University for the purpose of protesting against the lack of state support in regards to freezing tuition costs. They spoke of the struggle they and their parents are having paying for college with the struggling economy, parents have lost substantial amounts of money and these students are not sure how long they will be able to continue their education. As we were reading, numerous scriptures in Psalms and Proverbs were speaking about wisdom and knowledge. My heart went out to these students as they did not know they would greatly benefit talking to our Creator instead of carrying the fear and anxiety that is in them, I wanted so much to speak with them but they seemed so angry I did not sense they would be open to God’s love at that moment The TV media was there covering the protest and we were able to share what we were doing. They felt it did not warrant coverage but I shared with them about the National Day of Prayer 7x7 which includes praying for the media. If you do not know what the 7x7 is go to www.nationaldayofprayer.org . I was able to share what we are doing with a reporter from the Providence Journal. I share with him about NDP and what we do here as a state. We’ll see what he has to say as the story is slotted for tomorrow’s edition. We were reading scriptures about children, and families were there visiting our capitol and hearing what God’s word says about how precious our children are. I was also able to share what we are doing with the officer from the State Police that escorts the Governor, and he was so encouraged and touched that we pray for them. All the time slots were filled for Wednesday evening. I cannot wait to see what the Lord is going to do tomorrow.

Cheryl Russell
State Coordinator NDPTF
Rhode Island

Danger Points!

“If the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched.” Matthew 24:43

A friend sent me these this morning… praying for the Lord to show me how to walk right now in this dangerous place….

Much prayer needed!!!

Here are three danger points at which the enemy will attack you:

(1) Weariness. In Old Testament times the 'birthright' meant you inherited twice as much of your father's estate than your siblings. Normally Esau wouldn't have considered selling his birthright, but he did in a state of exhaustion. Weariness can cause you to lose perspective and make decisions based on what's convenient, rather than what's good for you in the long term. Remember the H.A.L.T. sign: when you're Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired you're vulnerable, and you'll make bad decisions.

(2) Excitement. King Herod was seduced by a dancing girl. He threw caution to the wind and said, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you" (Mark 6:23 NKJV). She asked for the head of John the Baptist. And since he was king, Herod couldn't go back on his word. That moment of indulgence cost Herod his kingdom and his life. Be careful where you go looking for excitement, and how you react when you find it. It can cost you the game!

(3) Discouragement. In a moment of discouragement Peter did what he swore he'd never do: deny his Lord. Discouragement can make you say things you don't mean and do things that are out of character. Jude writes, "Carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love" (Jude 1:20 TM). Esau's weariness, Herod's excitement, and Peter's discouragement are what Jesus had in mind when He said, "If the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched (Matthew 24:43).

Sarah Lowe
NAL- South Central Region (TN)

Writing to Praise God for His Faithfulness

I am writing to praise God for His faithfulness. After our last call I did not know if I was going to be able to attend this year due to the increasing costs. After our call I cried out to God asking for His provision and He is always faithful. I did not raise the funds I had expected this year and had some money set aside for this trip, my insulin pump short circuited and needed replacing asap. It was a choice between the pump or the conference. I had to choose the pump. After I hung up from the conference call I received a phone call from our homeowners insurance stating that a claim from 2002 was overpaid by almost the same amount as the airfare!! After I got off the phone from that call, Medtronic called me with the price of the pump, after I haggled over price with her I had enough to cover both the airline ticket and the hotel, which are the two most costly expenses relating to conference. I just wanted to share with you how Great our God is and hope to encourage others who are waiting in faith that God will provide the finances for them as well.

Cheryl Russell
Pray Rhode Island
National Day of Prayer

THE GIFT OF FREEDOM

This month we celebrated the 232th birthday of our nation. For all these years, America has stood as a beacon of freedom—never afraid to rise to challenges. Though new tests challenge our independence today, together we can preserve the dream called freedom for our children and future generations.

Freedom is a precious gift. Our gratitude should be deepened when we realize the great price our forefathers paid to establish freedom in our nation. Every day we enjoy many freedoms because someone took our place to make them possible.

The Declaration of Independence is our birth certificate. Fifty-six men signed this great document. Twenty-four of the signers were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners. They were men of means and well-educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

And, indeed, they gave their lives to give us the gift of freedom. Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and were tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army and another had two sons captured.

We take our liberties so much for granted when our hearts should overflow with gratefulness for what so many willingly gave to make it possible for us to live in this great land. Freedom is never free. The cost is immense.

Only the United States of America has succeeded these past two hundred and thirty-two years in bringing forth a “new order of the ages.” Many countries have fought revolutions. Many have proclaimed the rights of man. But America has from the beginning acknowledged her liberties as a gracious endowment from a loving God. Thomas Jefferson had put the Americans’ case well: “The God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?” It is a powerful acknowledgment that our liberties, our independence, and our very life as a people are dependent upon the power and might of the Lord.

Engraved on the Statue of Liberty are the words, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe “free.” May our nation always uphold the integrity, the courage, and the strength to remain a citadel of freedom and a beacon of hope to the world.


--Fern Nilson
National Honorary Leader
National Day of Prayer

I want to share an experience I had this past weekend with you.

I attended a church service in the Chapel of Camp Lejeune - Marine Military Base in NC. It touched me deeply and brought me to tears.

To be in a service with our troops in their uniforms praising God with hands held high and voice ringing our to worship the God of the Universe was overwhelming. Then one Marine had a prayer request for his fiancée and then asked prayer for himself and his walk with Christ and desire to go deeper with God. I was more than blessed to be there.

Then I went to lunch with the Chaplain and his family - he had done 2 tours in Iraq - he was one of the first that went in at the beginning of the war and then another time.

He shared with me that the troops are hungry for God and seeking Jesus and when they find Him that become not just saved but solded out for Christ. And he sees them come and go alot on the base but when they return to the states they keep walking with Christ. They are truly changed with a deep desire to follow Jesus.

He said you do not hear this in the media but this is real and this is what is happening with our men and women who live in harms way daily fighting not only for our freedoms and other nations' freedoms but they are also fighting against terrorism.

I want to encourage and challenge each of you - go to a military base in your area or near you(we have 8 bases in NC) and attend a church service. You will be changed and it will change the way you pray for our troops.

Our prayers for them are being answered daily - daily they are finding Jesus and they are being changed.

Tomorrow is the 232nd Birthday of our Beloved America - wear Red, White, and Blue, fly your flag, pray a prayer of thanksgiving for our nation and cover our troops and their families who make the ultimate sacrifice for you and I daily.

God bless you all and may all Americans and our nation bless and honor God for has truly blessed America,

Linda Stone NC State Coordinator - NDPTF
The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it I Thess 5:24