Y Pray for the strength and courage

SERMON NOTES: PRAYER REQUESTS to face the challenges that face

Judith and Jonathan Tse and their
FEBRUARY 6, 2011 household.
Y Bill Fink as he looks for a job.
Y For Lloyd Wermuth, a friend of Y Continue to pray for Bill Fink’s dad
Diane Sontag. Lloyd’s daughter who is struggling with his health.
recently committed suicide. Y Pray for continued courage on
Y For Joyce Finch’s sister, Terese, Dwight Zvorak’s recovery from
and brother-in-law, Dan, who are alcoholism.
recently separated and working to
heal themselves and their
marriage.
Y For Jane Zeek who has an
DEVOTION
inoperable brain tumor. Suffering and pain can put a block in our
Y For Amy Moore’s friend, Judi view of God. It’s easy to become angry
Helmer, who is starting with God for the suffering and pain we
chemotherapy this week for experience. Isn’t God responsible for our
recurrence of cancer. suffering?
Y Pray for the Middle East.
Y For Ama Sabah’s dad, Alexandre The Scriptures talk about this question
quite often. The Scriptures don’t promise
Akakpo, as he has a second eye
us a life without suffering, but they do
surgery on February 21st. Pray for
promise wonderful relief to our suffering.
Alexandre’s anxiety.
This relief is powerful and worth
Y Gene Moore, Paul’s uncle, who’s
celebrating!
having trouble with his health.
Y Jacob Mielke a 19 year old man
This week in the devotion we have the
who is struggling with cancer. He is
opportunity to read six passages that talk
getting chemo
about suffering and how people in the
at the Mayo Clinic.
Bible understood it. Enjoy!
Y Peter Ralston, Faith Ralston’s son
who is struggling with addiction.
Comments about the devotion can be E-
Y For Steven Muhia’s family, sick
mailed to pastor@colpres.org
wife, and children’s & family
commitments, and their struggle
Monday, February 14
with finances.
Read Job 1:20-22, 42:1-10
Y Christina Glasgow and family as
In 1:21 Job was willing to put his complete
they celebrate the birth of their
trust in God. Even though he had just
daughter.
suffered terrible disasters, these disasters
Y Donna Mc Cullen, Ken Mc Cullen's
didn’t put a wedge between the
wife as she goes through more
relationship he had with God. This is
intense chemotherapy treatment.
remarkable trust!
Y The Pastor Nominating Committee
of Community Presbyterian Church
How would you describe your own trust in
in Plainview as they discern who
God? If terrible events happened to you,
God is calling to be their new
could you respond like Job? What are
pastor.
some steps you could take to deepen your
Y Gary Wassam as he looks for a job.
own trust in God?
2 3
At the end of the story God confronted
Job’s friends. They had not spoken rightly
in the thoughts they shared with Job as Job
suffered. This past Sunday, Pastor Paul
shared that the best words to share with
someone who is hurting is “I’m sorry” and
then not say anything more. It’s
important to do our best to give advice to
someone who is hurting. This is hard—
because even though our advice might be
the right advice, the timing of sharing this
advice is not helpful.
As you pray today, pray that you can grow
in trust of God and pray that you can
share compassion and not advice with
someone who is suffering.
Tuesday, February 15
Read John 16:33-17:11, 14-17
The word translated as persecution in
verse 33 is translated in other places as
“trouble.” This is a remarkable statement
that Jesus gave to his disciples. Jesus did
not promise them a life without trouble.
He didn’t promise them that they would
experience perfect relationships, or a
fulfilling job, or excellent health, or lots
money. He told them they would
experience trouble.
Sometimes when we experience trouble
we lash out at God. It’s easy to complain
that our expectations for life are not going
to be met. However where do our
expectations for what God promises
come? God did not promise us an easy
life.
God did promise us the divine presence.
No matter what happens God is always
with us. Remember the words of the 23rd
Psalm.
“Even though I go through the valley of
the shadow of death, thou art with me.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
How meaningful is it to you that God is
always present with you? Are your own
expectations of what God should give to
you satisfied with the promise of God that
God will always be present? Is this
enough? The answers to these questions
will determine our feelings about God
when we suffer. Take some time today to
reflect on these questions with God.
Wednesday, February 16
Read Romans 8:18-28
Paul suffered greatly in his ministry. Read
2 Corinthians 11:23-29 to receive a full
view of the tribulations that Paul
experienced. We looked at Paul’s
response to suffering in the recent joy
series. Despite being in jail awaiting
death he wrote the letter of Philippians—
which some people describe as the letter
of joy.
Paul knew that when he suffered God was
suffering with him. Look at verse 26
—“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our
weakness; for we do not know how to pray
as we ought, but that very Spirit
intercedes with sighs too deep for words.”
What does it mean to you that God suffers
with you? How does God’s suffering
impact your impression of God?
Today as you pray, give thanks for the
suffering of Jesus on the cross. Also give
thanks that when you suffer, God suffers
with you.
Thursday, February 17
Read Romans 8:31-39
This passage is often read at funerals. It’s
similar to Psalm 139—no matter what we
do, we cannot separate ourselves from
God’s love. God’s love is stronger than
anything. It’s stronger than any force on
earth.
4
How does Paul’s statement that nothing
can separate us from the love of God
impact your own view of God? How does
his statement impact your own view of
suffering?
Do you know of someone who is suffering
who could use these words of re-
assurance? Perhaps you could let that
person know that God loves him or her
deeply. Is there a way you could
communicate this message with someone
who needs it today?
Today as you pray, pray for people who
you know who are suffering. Ask that the
person/people would be comforted by the
presence of God’s love.
Friday, February 18
Read Zephaniah 3:14-20
The prophet Zephaniah is not well known
in the church. He lived at about the same
time of Jeremiah. When he wrote
Jerusalem was being threatened by
Babylon. Even though the people were in
crisis, Zephaniah could look beyond the
current crisis with hope. These verses are
full of hope.
The words, “do not fear” are frequently
shared with people from a divine
messenger to people who are in fear.
How easy is it for you to look beyond
current sufferings and see hope? This is
the message of God—we have nothing to
fear!
Two weeks ago Pastor Paul shared some
tips on dealing with anxieties and fears.
The tips he shared were:
1) ask yourself—what is the worst thing
that can happen
2) ask yourself—how likely is the worst
thing to happen
3) let go of your anxieties to God in
prayer.
2 3 4
Today, as you pray let go of your fears and
anxieties. Also look forward to hope. Our
hope rests in the promise of hope that God
always gives to us.

Saturday, February 19
Read Revelation 21:1-5
As in Zephaniah we read of a beautiful and
wonderful vision for the future. Pain does
exist, but pain does not have the final
word. Read carefully the message in
verses 3-5 and then rejoice!
“See, the home of God is among mortals.
He will dwell with them;
they will be his peoples,
And God himself will be with them;
he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
Mourning and crying and pain will be no
more,
for the first things have passed away.”