Dear friends,
It is with great joy that we announce the birth of Timothy Ryan Frank, the first child of our son, Ryan, and his wife, Heidi. Timothy was born in Montreal on August 11th and is a precious gift from God. Our prayer is that he will trust in Christ at an early age and serve Him all of his life. Karen and I are grateful for your prayers for our family and we ask that you uphold this young family in your prayers.
A couple of months ago I began using the book “Operation World” as a source of information to pray for people around the world. Today, the country is Denmark. When you know people from a certain country, it makes it much easier to pray for that country. When I saw that today’s country was Denmark, I immediately thought about friends who recently returned to Quebec after visiting family in Denmark, their native land. I can imagine how hard it must have been for them to say goodbye.
The apostle Paul experienced similar emotions, as he travelled thorough Asia Minor, planting churches in many places and then having to leave the young congregations. Karen and I read his epistles to Timothy the day after our grandson was born. The apostle Paul shares his heart with his protégé and gives a perspective that experience had provided him, in addition to the wisdom that the Lord gave Paul. At the beginning of his first letter to Timothy, Paul wrote about certain men in Ephesus teaching strange doctrines. Two thousand years later, this is still a challenge for pastors as they shepherd the flock of God. To listen to a sermon by Pastor Paul Hudson, entitled “No Different Doctrine,” based on the first epistle to Timothy, please go to: http://www.sermonaudio.com/saplayer/playpopup.asp?SID=81171028460
This week, two brothers in Christ phoned our radio follow-up office and asked for prayer: J.P., who is in a facility in Montreal for people with mental health challenges, is struggling with depression and Jimmy in Montreal-North has been having some health concerns. Please join me in praying that the Lord will heal these men.
Scripture for the weekend: “For the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5 (NASB)
Thought for the weekend: “Intercession is truly universal work for the Christian. No place is closed to intercessory prayer. No continent – no nation – no organization – no city – no office. There is no power on earth that can keep intercession out.” – Richard Halverson (quoted in “Operation World” by Jason Mandryk)
By His grace,
Steve