Imparting the Value

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Ephesians 4:29-5:2 (NIV)


In the spirit of desiring to honor God and each other will you please pray for our team Ephesians 4:29-5:2?

We are under no false ideas that we will be the first team in history to spend 24/7 together and ride on planes for a combined 42 hours without some frustration presenting itself! We know challenges with one another will come up and so we have been talking a lot about it at team meetings. We have been clearly instructed by Isam, who gave us instruction straight from the word of God. This is the dynamic of the trip that I have been feeling some pressure from the one who seeks to devour. (1 Peter 5:7-9) So far I have stayed alert, aware and am doing okay. If a challenge with a relationship presents itself will you please pray that any one of us would walk according to God's word in resolution of the challenge? We want to make sure that we are imparting to each other the value of who each of us is even in the midst of a challenge or frustration. For each of us has amazing value because of Christ.

Not only have we decided that Ephesians 4:29-5:2 needs to be the scriptures that we ask people to pray for us but we have also talked through other relationship portions of scripture. As God leads would you please pray for our team in this dynamic? We have talked through Matthew 18:15-16 (NIV), "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." And this morning in my quiet time the Lord had me read Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV), "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

My greatest desire is to honor God first and then honor my brothers and sisters in Christ. Your prayers will help to lift our arms when we are weary! (Exodus 17:11-12)

Our team members are:
Isam Itson, Kenny Vaughn, Robert Gray, Kevin Messmer, Rachel Reynolds, Sara Pfaff, Melissa Lemke, Nick and Penny Taylor, Hillary Nicolls, Beth Peninger