Devot./Sermon/Petition

HI Folks,

I hope you had a super weekend.   Welcome to the first week of December!

 

I'm going to wrap up our Thanksgiving/gratefulness series this week.

 

My mom and I were watched  a sermon last Sunday (which I have included with this email)

where the pastor stated that as we move from the Thanksgiving season to the Christmas season,

it's easy to go from thankfulness to discontent.   Christmas always brings out the "I need this"  in us

as we look in catalogs and online for gifts,  instead of rejoicing and whole heartedly celebrating the birth of our Saviour!

 

This devot., once again, gives the reason behind why we should be grateful, why it's even good for us.

I have also included the sermon I was talking about by Andy Stanley (the devots. I send so frequently from https://www.intouch.org/    are from his dad-Dr. Charles Stanley's ministry.)   The sermon is about 20 minutes, but my and I thought it was very good.   Really shows how our hearts can become discontent with what we have, but also what we can do about fixing that.

 

Lastly, I have included a petition below for a Believer who has been imprisoned for their faith overseas.  I've mentioned them before, but it's the petitions signed, the prayers lifted up and the heat politically turned on toward the country holding them that makes a difference in their release or continued imprisonment.    Scripture begs us to not forget about them and think of ourselves as being bound in prison with them (Hebrews 13:3).

 

As you sign, pray and pass on, it's just another reason we can think of to be grateful-we are free to serve the Lord Jesus, but we are also free to be a voice for others who have risked their lives for faith in Him.

 

Pray you have a blessed, safe, and healthy week!

 

Devot. https://www.intouch.org/read/greatfl-hearts   (Used by permission.   Taken from https://www.intouch.org/)

Sermon: https://www.yourmove.is/episode/you-might-also-like/   (Taken from https://www.yourmove.is/)

Petition Below:

 

 

Christian Pastor John Cao – a U.S. permanent resident – has been wrongfully convicted and sentenced in China . . .

Take Action  |   Contribute   Share     f   Share this on Facebook     Christian Pastor John Cao - a U.S. permanent resident - has been wrongfully convicted and sentenced in China. After decades working in China and Burma (Myanmar), providing for the poor, sharing the love of Christ, and establishing schools for impoverished children, Pastor John was arrested and imprisoned by Chinese authorities as part of their increased crackdown on Christian pastors. Sign the Petition Now Pastor John's wife and 2 sons (all U.S. citizens from North Carolina) desperately want their father released and returned home to America. Pastor John has been unjustly targeted for his Christian faith and sentenced to seven years in prison. He's already been imprisoned for more than 20 months. His health is deteriorating, as he's lost over 50 pounds. He's forced to share a cell with a dozen inmates and only 1 bed. We're representing Pastor John's family, aggressively working internationally for his ultimate freedom. We've mobilized our resources across the globe and are urging China to release Pastor John and allow him to come home to the United States to be reunited with his wife and kids. Now he needs your voice. Sign our NEW Petition: Free Christian Pastor John Cao. Jay Sekulow ACLJ Chief Counsel