Today we continue our partial fast, to focus our attention and prayers on behalf of the poor around the world. For more details on what we have invited the VRBC congregation to do, please see previous posts from this week. Check this blog each day this week for Scriptures and suggestions to help guide our prayers.

Is poverty our problem? Sometimes it is tempting to disassociate, to think about it as someone else's problem, especially if it's not right in front of our face every day. Consider the following Scriptures:

Jeremiah 22:15-16

“Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.

• Pray that God will take away your lust for "more and more."
• Remember that it is God who has provided you with food and drink. Pray that God will teach you "the secret of being content" (Philippians 4:12).
• Pray that God will show you what it means to truly know God, a knowledge not just of right belief but of right actions, to do what is right and just and to defend the cause of the poor and needy.

Luke 12:48b


From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

• Remember that "your" possessions are really gifts from God, and that God has chosen you to steward these gifts. Thank God for entrusting you with these gifts.
• Jesus spoke this verse to define what it meant to be a faithful and wise steward. Ask God to shape your identity as a steward, rather than an owner, of all that God has entrusted to you.
• Ask God what you are to do with what God has entrusted to you.

Luke 3:7-11
John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “...Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.... “What should we do then?” the crowd asked. John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”

• As we consider all that God has done for we who didn't deserve it, pray for a spirit of repentance and gratitude.
• Ask that God would shape your gratitude into generosity.
• Ask that God would teach us this kind of sacrificial sharing with those in need.

 

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Pray-ers :)

Thank you for continuing in our partial fast--minimal amounts of beans, rice and tap water--in order to focus our attention and prayers on behalf of the world's poor. Today's prayer suggestions will be a little different. John Robb of World Vision once wrote, "Wherever in the world there is significant development--people coming to Christ, health improvements, economic opporunities, adoption of kingdom values--it is the direct result of Christians praying." May that be true of us!! We want to build a habit of praying for the poor, so that we can say like Samuel, "As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23). Today we hope to give you some practical suggestions and habits for praying for the poor on a daily basis.

First, it is important that we ask God to give us a heart for the poor. The righteous Job, even in the midst of terrible hardships himself, could say, "Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?" (Job 30:25). Have you wept? Has your soul grieved? Ask that God would break your heart for the same things that break God's heart.

When you are ready to pray with a heart full of love and compassion for the poor, here are seven steps toward integrating prayer for the poor in your daily life (excerpted from The Hole in Our Gospel, pg 291-292). By the way, these are great habits to form with your kids as well!

1. When you take your morning shower, pray for families in poor countries who do not have access to clean water, forcing mothers to spend hours collecting inadequate water and causing children to suffer and even die from water-related diseases.
2. When you pack your lunch or your child's lunch, pray for the one billion people who are chronically hungry in the world today.
3. As you commute to your job, pray for the adults around the world who can't find consistent work to feed their families, or pray for the millions of children forced into harmful or exploitative labor.
4. When you drop off your child at school, pray for children around the world who cannot get an education because of poverty or discrimination.
5. As you take a vitamin, pray for the families without adequate health care, leaving them and especially their children vulnerable to preventable diseases.
6. When you arrive home after work, pray for the children and families who are homeless due to poverty, conflict, or natural disasters.
7. As you tuck your children into bed, guide them to pray for the millions of children who have lost their parents around the world--especially the fifteen million AIDS orphans around the world, many of whom must survive without guardians.

Today we continue our partial fast to focus our attention and prayers on behalf of the world's poor. For more information on our invitation to join us in the subsistence diet of minimal amounts of rice, beans and tap water, please check out previous posts from this week. Be sure to check this blog each day for Scriptures and prayer suggestions.

Prayers for Tuesday, September 25th:

Luke 4:18-19

He has sent me...to release the oppressed,

• Pray for those who have no voice, who are unable to speak out against their oppressors.
• Pray for those who are held captive in slavery, including those who are trafficked for sex or forced labor.

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

• Pray for Christians around the world to be united in love and charity, that those of us who have much would pour out blessings on those who have little.

This week we are inviting everyone to join us in putting ourselves in the shoes of the world's poor. We are committing to eat a subsistence diet--a minimal amount of rice, beans and tap water--in order that we might share the burden of those battling hunger and malnutrition around the globe. Decide with your family how you'd like to participate: one meal, one meal each day, one day this week, or even all week. Use this partial fast to focus your attention and prayers on behalf of those living in poverty around the world. Each day we will post Scripture and prayer prompts to help guide your prayers.

Prayers for Monday, September 24th:

Continuing from Luke 4:18

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
• Pray for those who languish in captivity but have committed no crime. Pray for those who are imprisoned for their faith in Christ and for those imprisoned due to injustice.

and recovery of sight for the blind,
• Pray for those with no access to health care.

• Pray for those who have been intentionally maimed due to malice, because of gender, race, or class.

• Pray that those hardships that blind people to the love and light of Christ might be removed.

Identifying with and praying for the poor

Scripture is replete with commands to love, serve and give generously to the poor. This year, VRBC's Global Missions Fair will center around Jesus' mission statement in Luke 4:18, "to preach good news to the poor." Most of us have never had to wonder where our next meal would come from, or where we would lay our head at night. Even those who grew up in poverty in the US had access to health care and a basic education. It is hard for us to identify with the poor around the world.

This week, we challenge you to eat a subsistence diet--a minimal amount of rice, beans and water. Decide with your family whether you will do this for one meal, one day, one meal/day, or even the entire week. Consider it a partial fast, a way to focus our attention and our prayers on behalf of the poor around the world. Each day, we will post some Scriptures and/or thoughts on this blog to help guide your prayers. At the end of the week, when we come back together for worship, Bible study, and the Global Missions Fair, we will have hearts and minds prepared for what God would like to teach us.

Prayers and Scripture for Sunday, September 23rd:

Luke 4:18

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

• Pray that the Spirit of the Lord would lead you in the path of Jesus. Ask that the Spirit would guide you, teach you, and give you a heart of compassion for the poor.
• Pray that God's Spirit would make clear your "anointing"--your calling--to the poor.
• Pray that God would reveal to you what truly constitutes "good news" to the poor. Be assured that the gospel is good news, but it is good news to the whole person, not just to the soul. 

Responding to Hurricane Isaac

We praise God that Hurricane Isaac has not wreaked havoc to the same degree as Hurricane Katrina seven years ago. Nevertheless, as the storm camped out on the Gulf Coast it brought flooding and winds that caused many to seek shelter from the storm. These families may return to find their homes flooded and treasured possessions damaged. Check out the following opportunities to give, pray and serve:

From the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship:
While volunteer opportunities are expected to emerge in the coming weeks, the best way to help now is to give online to CBF's disaster relief fund. Stay up-to-date with the latest response news at CBF's disaster response online community. Specifically check out the network for responses to Hurricane Isaac. Currently, CBF disaster response personnel are reconnecting with hurricane response partners and encouraging Fellowship Baptists in affected areas to prepare their homes and churches for Isaac's landfall.  

From the Southern Baptist Convention:
For information on the SBC's physical response coordinated through the North American Mission Board, read this article. Southern Baptists and others who want to donate to the disaster relief operations can contact their state conventions or contribute to NAMB's disaster relief fund via namb.net/disaster-relief-donations. Other ways to donate are to call 1-866-407-NAMB (6262) or mail checks to NAMB, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA 30368-6543.

Shelters:

Volunteers with the American Red Cross were ready Tuesday at a shelter at Faith Baptist Church in DeSoto. American Red Cross spokeswoman Anita Foster says shelters also have been set up at St. Louis Baptist Church in Tyler and Williams Memorial United Methodist Church in Texarkana, Texas. Each shelter can accommodate about 150 people. (Source:

http://www.wbrz.com/news/3-texas-shelters-open-for-isaac-evacuees/)

Disaster Relief Opportunities

One of VRBC's denominational partners is making a big difference in areas that have been hard-hit by fires. Read on about opportunities to serve with the Baptist General Convention of Texas in the coming weeks.

 

Texas Baptist Disaster Recovery 

 

Bastrop County - One Year Later

 

September 4th marks the one year anniversary of the Bastrop County Complex Fire, a massive wildfire that struck Bastrop County, TX. The fire destroyed 1691 homes, 38 businesses, burned over 34,000 acres. Two people lost their lives. This was the largest fire in Texas history, the third largest in US history. Approximately 276 of the homes destroyed had no insurance, 52% of all homes destroyed were underinsured. Over 700 of these homes are considered low income.

 

This event opened up a huge ministry field for Texas Baptists Disaster Recovery. Many churches and BSM groups have volunteered. More volunteers are needed. Meals, lodging and volunteer opportunities are available at the Faith Village Volunteer Center located at FBC Smithville. Go to www.texasbaptists.org/disaster for more information and to find out how you can help.

• Pastor, Harold Welch, of Primera Baptist Church in Bastrop has discovered a few fire survivors who don't fit the traditional mold for assistance. If it were not for Pastor Welch and his loving heart and commitment these folks would not be getting any kind of help at all. Find out how to help Pastor Welch and "the least of these" by contacting Marla Bearden at 214-537-7358.

• The Bastrop County Fire Relief Center, 201 Childers, suite 107, A non-profit organization continuing to serve the fire survivors with donated goods, furniture and appliances. Many of our churches and BSM Groups have volunteered in this center. Their Annual Fundraising event is Saturday, September 8th located on the parking lot of the center. There will be live music, silent auction, moonwalk, BBQ and much more. For more information contact Ruth Rogers at 512-629-9504.
   
• The Bastrop County Longer Term Recovery Team will commemorate this anniversary with a "Night Of Hope" at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa on Tuesday, September 4th. They will look at the past year and see how far they have come in recovery. Keynote speaker will be Juddy Maggio, anchor at KEYE, a local TV station in Austin. Tickets are $75 each. Contact Marla on how to get tickets.

 

Need for Volunteers in Mannford, Oklahoma

 

The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Disaster Relief Director, has asked Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief to assist them by deploying ash-out and chainsaw teams. He is asking for 7 teams of 8-10 volunteers to work in Mannford, Oklahoma (near Tulsa). He reports that there is ample work for experienced ash-out teams.

 

In addition, this is a GREAT opportunity to get volunteers some ash-out experience. He says that he will pair inexperienced volunteers with experienced ash-out volunteers.

• Housing will be in local Baptist churches 
• OK Baptist Men feeding volunteers are providing meals 

His hope is for a quick response in light of the fact that the heart of hurricane season is upon us. Teams are needed beginning Thursday, August 16. We hope to complete all work by August 31.

 

 

 

Texas Baptist Men has asked that if any Church Groups and BSM Groups would like to go and work with the TBM trained volunteers, contact TBMDR's Volunteer Coordinator, Cookie Slate. The cost will be your transportation expense. Lodging and meals will be provided.

 

If you are available to respond in any of the expected time frame, please email VolunteerDR@texasbaptistmen.org or call Cookie Slate, 972-754-4734.