painting

By Pam Davis

For the last few months, Pat and I have been fixing up a house for an older gentleman. The house was in really bad shape so Pat and I have cleaned, painted and put in new floors. The floors are almost finished and since I can’t help with that I’ve been doing the other chores. The point of the exercise is to make the house livable not ready for the “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine, which is probably a good thing. The other day Pat comes to see what I’ve been doing and he says “You paint like your father!”. For which, I promptly said “Thank you!”.
You see, I am not going to ever consider taking up house painting as a second career. I don’t really enjoy it and the truth is, I probably would never get any one to PAY me to paint (at least not for a second time). I was pretty close to being covered head to toe in paint. Pat really hadn’t meant to compliment me either – but I took it as one.
You see, my dad didn’t really enjoy painting either, but he was known to help someone paint who needed it. He wasn’t the neatest painter either, but he was proud of the fact that he helped build (and paint) some of the buildings at Silver Spur Christian Camp.
I hope I can live up to that. I guess.. I would like to paint like my father.
When I was in high school, my dad took several promotions that took us away from their home here in Sacramento. We moved several times during my high school years. With each promotion and each move we’d paint the house as we were leaving it. I thought that was a rather dumb thing to do. So I said,
“Why do we paint a house when we leave it? Shouldn’t we paint when we move in, not when we move out?”
My parents, sensing a teaching moment, were quick to add their responses. My mom said, “You should always leave a house better than when you come to it. It can be a witness for Christ.”
My dad chuckled, “Yeah, besides paint is like love.” “How so?” I asked.
To which he replied;
“Because paint like love covers a multitude of sins!”

My prayer for all of you is, “May God’s paint cover you from head to toe! May you be willing to paint others with God’s love and in the process find yourself covered in it too.”

Nov. 30, 2005

Serve the LORD with fear
and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2:11,12 NIV

Father, you are the God of God’s. We can understand you because our minds and hearts are finite and you are almighty! But I understand that your word commands us to seek you and cherish you! Father we seek refuge in you.

Lord, thank you for the elders that you’ve given to SG for this time. Thank you for their lives and their hearts. You know that they want more than anything to walk in you refuge.

Provide that refuge that comes from dwelling and living in you. Provide a refuge at their work. Provide a refuge for their family. Help them to be a Godly example to their family. Bless them in their relationship with their wives and families. Teach them how to be a discerning parent.

Lord, I lift up Matt, Marc, Greg, John, Brett, and David. I ask that you might fill them with your peace and your wisdom. Teach them how to serve you with fear and to rejoice with trembling!

Give them wisdom as they conduct church business. Give them peace as they make hard decisions. Open the doors that they need to have open. Close doors that they need to have closed. Teach them wise discernment in all their activities.
In Jesus name,
amen

Nov. 29, 2005

Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You have taken hold of my right hand.
With Your counsel You will guide me,
And afterward receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

Psalm 73:23-5 NASB

Father, thank you for your counsel and your wisdom. I praise you for being the God of the universe. Your glory is unmatched. Your ways are not our ways. Your thoughts are beyond our understanding. We are little and weak and desperately in need of you. You are all we need.

Lord, I lift up John H and Danny M to you. Take their right hand and lead them is the way everlasting. Draw them to a place of your presence. Give them counsel. Build their faith. Surround them and protect them form harm. Teach them how to grow in their relationship with you and with those around them. Help them to love your word with all their heart. Protect their future and give them discernment in their relationships.

Lord, I lift up the youth of SG before you. You know each of their hearts. You know where they are in their journey. Call each one to you. Draw them to you. Be the hound of heaven and don’t let them turn their backs on you.

I ask that you give Danny and John wisdom to know how to reach the hurting and the lost youth for you. Give them wisdom in knowing how to build the faith of those that have a relationship with you. Teach them to challenge and encourage them to live a life that pleases you. Give them wisdom to reach those that are truly seeking you. Show them how to relay you to their heart needs.

Be with and in the programs that involve the youth. Use the programs to draw them to you and to each other. Help SG youth to build friendships that are deep that will last a lifetime.

Encourage the leaders and the youth leaders at SG. Give them wisdom in knowing how to build relationships that are profitable for your glory. Give them unity. Protect them from evil. Teach them how to love you. Take their hand and their hearts and draw them to your self.
In the holy name of Jesus,
amen

Nov. 28, 2005

And it shall come to pass,
that before they call, I will answer;
and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Isaiah 65:24 KJV


Father, I praise you because you know all things! I praise you because you know all about me. You made me and I’m fearfully and wonderfully made. You have searched me and you know me. Forgive us of our sins. You have removed them and put them in the deepest part of the sea. Help me to release them.

Thank you that you know our prayers – before we call to you. You hear our prayers while we are still speaking.

Lord, I lift up Becky N. You know her heart and her needs. You know her love for you and her determination to live according to your will. Teach her to hear you. Open her eyes to see the answers to her prayers. Lord, surround her and her family. Supply their needs. Give her wisdom in her relationships. Draw her children close to you.

Thank you, Lord, the rest of the office staff. Thank you for their lives and their families. Surround them and protect them. Strengthen them and build their health. Give them directions on how best to live you before others at the office. Give them peace knowing that they are in your hands.

Thank you for the new office space. Let the office staff realize what a blessing that you’ve given them. Let them rejoice in the SPACE. Give them peace knowing that your hand is there.

Give them prayers for the office and for the people that come into the office. Let your presence descend on the office building. Let people who come there feel you. Thank you for the way that the SG office staff touches peoples lives.

Encourage them and let them see how they are being used of you.
Because of the blood of Jesus and his faithfulness in going to the cross, I ask this:
Amen

Nov. 27, 2005

Romans 8:26-28
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Father, you are in control. You made the universe and set the stars in motion. You are holy and awesome.
You search us and know us. You spirit intercedes for us. Forgive our weaknesses and heal our frailty. Teach us to trust you in all things.

Lord, thank you for Patty Wright. Thank you for you dedication to you. Thank you for her leadership in the women’s ministry. Surround Patty and her family. Protect them and draw them close to you.

Lord, thank you for Jon Schrader. Surround him and his family. Protect them. Thank you for the men’s ministry.

I ask that you give them wisdom as they lead the men’s and women’s ministries. Give them wisdom to know how to draw people to grow closer to you. Give them wisdom to know how to provide ‘safe’ places to explore you and their faith.

Lord, I ask that you cause the women and men at SG to be reflective of you in this fast paced world. Teach them how to take the time to look to you and to learn your word. Teach them to love your ‘laws’ and teachings. Teach them to love honor and mercy. Give them life experiences that speak of you. Give Patty and Jon wisdom to know how to draw on those experiences to explain you.

I ask in your precious name,
amen

Nov. 26, 2005

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone
who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did
from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so
that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:9-11 NIV

Father, thank you for the rest that comes from complete trust in you. Thank you for the example that you gave us with the Sabbeth – as a time when people were supposed to stop and take stock in where they are. Forgive us for wanting our own way, striving to work our own works. Forgive us for caring for our petty lives and acting in disobedience to you. Teach us to rest from our own works and worship you instead. Teach us to live, to work, to sacrifice not in our own power – but by giving ourselves totally to you and accepting your sweet rest.

Lord, I lift up Marty before you. Thank you for his love for you and his love for the people of SG. Thank you for his dedication to spiritual communion and growth. Encourage him. Teach him how to enter your rest. Open his eyes to your working around him. Give him patience to wait until you’d have him speak. Fill him with wonder for the good things that you are doing in peoples lives. Give him strength and wisdom needed to guide others closer to you.

Lord, I lift up Kerri before you. Thank you for her love for the people of SG and the children of SG. Give her strength and direction. Provide her with wisdom in the children’s ministry. Encourage her and build her up.

I lift up their family. Surround their family. Strengthen their marriage – teach them how to delight in each other. Strengthen their family. Teach Kerri and Marty how to disciple their children. Call their children to you. Make the children fall in love with your and build their faith. Protect them from the world and its influence. Teach the children discernment and how to walk in your love.
In Jesus name,
amen

Nov. 25, 2005

Matthew 25:36-40.
`For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
"Then the righteous will answer Him, `Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?
`And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
`When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
"The King will answer and say to them, `Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'

Thank you, Father, for the opportunities that you bring into our lives to minister to others as we would minister to you. Thank you the times when we are in need and you bring people to minister to us. You care for all people – even sending rain on the just and the unjust. You have called us to a ministry of restoration. Teach us to be obedient to you and bring restoration to those around us.

Lord, I especially lift up the various restoration projects that SG people have volunteered for. Bless the hands that weld hammers and paint brushes. Bless the people that volunteer to scrub and pull weeds. Those that have volunteered for these SG projects in particular, Lord, I ask that you encourage them. Give them peace knowing that what they are doing is right and good. Give those involved in SG related projects a special peace knowing that they are being used to care for the sick, the needy, the hungry.

Provide the materials needed for the projects. Provide lumber and lawn mowers. Provide paint and brushes. Multiply the gifts of the volunteers a hundred times over.

Call more of your people to be involved in theses projects so the burden is less on the ones already doing the work.

Lord, I ask you that you be with all the projects, but especially be with the “Meadows Depot” project. Touch the lives of the women and children that live there. Give them direction and discernment. Encourage them and use the workers to show how very much you love them.

In Jesus name,
amen