Here’s how we’re praying this month. Along with our monthly prayer focus, visit www.everydayfaith.ca for encouragement in the disciplines of Bible reading, prayer, generosity and sharing our faith in word and deed.

Thank you for your continued participation in Every Day Faith.

 

May – Missional Vitality – Read

Key Everyday Thought:

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6)

 

This month, our leaders will gather in Victoria, B.C., for our General Conference 2018, where we will launch centenary celebrations to honour God’s faithfulness to our Fellowship over the last 100 years. On an individual level, the Christian journey often begins full of joy and faith, and with plentiful stories of God’s miraculous intervention and provision. But often, over time, obstacles come which can bring disappointment, fatigue, or even bitterness and the temptation to abandon one’s faith in God’s plans and promises. Similarly, we can trace God’s mighty hand at work from the inception of our Fellowship right to the present time. Though difficulties in our society are on the increase, let’s pray this month that God will give us all continued vision and strength for His purposes in our lives, and for continued Spirit empowerment for the work He still wants to accomplish in the world through our Fellowship.

 

 

PASSAGES TO PONDER

1 Chronicles 16:34

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

 

Luke 8:11-15

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.”

 

Romans 12:12

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”

 

Ephesians 3:8-20

“Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.

God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

 

 

Ask and it will be granted…

• That we would maintain hearts of gratitude for all God has already done
• That we would recognize and overcome spiritual obstacles to growth
• That our leaders and congregations would be people of prayer
• That God will deliver us from evil and grant us His peace
• That our confidence in God’s power and promises would increase

 

 

• Be sure to visit www.paoc.org and the live stream, and follow social media sites Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @thepaoc to stay abreast of our week-long celebration during General Conference 2018 of God’s faithfulness to our Fellowship.
• Our centenary gift book Picture This will be released at General Conference 2018 to conference attendees in Victoria. If you are a credential holder, a copy will also be mailed to you during conference week. Additional orders will be welcome for anyone desiring extra copies.
• An email highlighting resources for use in preparation for Pentecost Sunday, May 20, 2018, will also be coming soon.

 

 

Next month’s key thought: Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings” (John 8:31).

 

To sign up for weekly, general PAOC prayer updates, click here.

 

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