Scripture and Prayer Focus for October 8, 2026

 October 8 -- John 11: 8-16 "The disciples said to him, 'Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?' Jesus answered, 'Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.' After saying these things, he said to them, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.' The disciples said to him, 'Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.' Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, 'Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may beleive. But let us go to him. So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'"

Prayer focus for today: In today's Scripture reading, Jesus teaches that those who walk in the day don't stumble because they have the light of day to see where they are going. He contrasts this with those who walk at night stumbling because they do not have light. These references are teaching us about His light -- if you've got it, you won't stumble through life. 

Pray today for wisdom and strength to follow the light of Jesus. Pray also that you will be the light that someone else needs to stop stumbling through life. In total darkness, even a small bit of light makes a HUGE difference. Pray for Jesus to help you be the light!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for October 7, 2026

 October 7 -- John 11: 1-7 "Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, 'Lord, he whom you love is ill.' But when Jesus heard it he said, 'This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.' Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, 'Let us go to Judea again.'"

Prayer focus for today: When reading today's Scriptures, were you struck, like me, with a seemingly odd disconnection of ideas?  It tells us Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but then it continues with, 'so, when he heard Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where He was.'  (We can suppose this wasn't just a common head cold or just feeling run down, but a pretty major illness, since the sisters went to the trouble of sending word to Jesus; they were looking for help.)  

When was the last time someone you knew was really ill, and you delayed two days before going to them?  Especially when you were within walking distance. A short distance usually means you would go to see the person, if possible.  To make sense of this seeming disconnect, we only have to look backward a few verses. Jesus' reply when receiving word of Lazarus' illness was, 'This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.'  Jesus knew Lazarus was ill before He even heard the words, and He already knew the outcome of that illness. 

Most of us can think of someone close to us who is facing a great health challenge right now. Chances are good that you have been praying for this person, but have you been anticipating the way in which God will be glorified through the situation from beginning to end?  Pray today for eyes to see the bigger picture. Absolutely keep praying for the ill person and all the details of their suffering, but truly pray that you and the ill person will be able to keep their eyes on the bigger picture. For some reason, God is allowing the suffering ... just wait to see how He is glorified through each step of the difficult journey. Pray that you can be the encouragement the person needs to recognize God's hand in each up and down of their struggle. Praise God that He always has a perfect plan in everything!

Scripture and Prayer Focus for October 6, 2026

 October 6 -- John 10: 37-42 "If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me, but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.' Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, 'John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.' And many believed in him there."

Prayer focus for today: Just a few days ago someone I was speaking with said, "I have been surprised at the provision (for a certain need he had)."  I looked at him and said, "Why are you surprised?  God promises to meet our every need. We've all prayed for this provision, knowing it is a need. Why are you surprised?"  :-) We both laughed knowing that this was just another time we simple humans forget who is in charge...... of everything. Our Heavenly Father loves each one of us, even if we've scorned, mocked, and rejected Him. His love has never changed. The truth of who He is has never changed. HE has never changed in one single way - and He never will. 

Pray today for the 'blinders' to be removed so you can clearly see the truth of who God is and who He has always been that you may believe and lead others to Him. Pray for true faith to build in you that you may find complete trust and rest in Him. Pray for those who just can't believe ... that each one would trust in the perfectly orchestrated plan of God. I'm praying with you and for you!  May all praise be to the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ as we go and grow for Him today!  Go make a difference in someone's life -- maybe you already did.

Scripture and Prayer Focus for October 5, 2026

 October 5 -- John 10: 31 - 36 "The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, 'I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?' The Jews answered him, 'It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.' Jesus answered, them, 'Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?' If he called them gods to whom the word of God came -- and Scripture cannot be broken -- do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?"

Prayer focus for today: How many times have you THOUGHT you knew  the truth about a person or a situation, but then found out you were wrong?  It's happened to all us....probably more often than we'd care to admit. Pray for humble hearts to submit yourself fully to Jesus Christ; allow Him to show you areas of misunderstanding that you need to correct in your life. Pray for the ability to lay down your pride and admit to those you have possibly hurt with your misunderstandings, if you shared that wrong notion with someone else. Pray for strength and courage to go to the person about whom you had the misconception and admit it to them, seeking forgiveness in order to restore a right relationship. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for October 4, 2026

 October 4 -- John 10: 22-30 "At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the colonnade of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.' Jesus answered them, 'I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.'"

Prayer focus for today:  **Please forgive the lapse of two days in sharing Scripture and prayers. We appreciate all of those who were praying for us as we returned to our home in Zambia. We have arrived and are working to get our home back in order, rest, and recover from a bit of jet lag. :-) **

Most of the time a familiar voice brings us comfort. We recognize the voices of our family members and trusted friends, even from an early age. Those we are frequently with are known to us. Jesus said that His sheep (followers) hear His voice, He knows them, and they follow Him.  Pray for a renewed commitment to spend time with Jesus through reading/studying the Bible and praying. Draw near to Jesus so you can both know each other well. Pray to hear (know) the voice of Jesus above all the other voices in your life so you can faithfully follow Him alone. 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for October 1, 2026

 October 1 -- John 10: 16-21 "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.' There was again a division among the Jews because of these words. Many of them said, 'He has a demon, and is insane; why listen to him?' Others said, 'These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?'"

Prayer focus for today:  There is so much division in the Church today -- pastors involved in great moral failures from adultery to embezzlement to murder, certainly don't help draw people to Christ. Pray today that you would be bold in your faith and lay down your apprehensions to KNOW what you believe and WHY. Pray for courage to discuss with Christian critics the Jesus is the only way. What have you got to lose? 

Scripture and Prayer Focus for September 30, 2026

 September 30 -- John 10: 7-15 "So Jesus again said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Prayer focus for today: Today, we're going a bit personal on the prayer focus. Jesus ends today's Scripture passage with some of the most beautiful words in the entire Bible - "I lay down my life for the sheep." While most of us like to think of ourselves more highly than sheep, that's exactly what we are in light of Christ's words. He is the one who guides, protects, and provides for each of us who can truly do nothing on our own. He is the one who does everything just so we can become all we were created to be. 

Today, let's pray that each of us would be the humble, obedient sheep that we were created to be. Pray that you and those you know would faithfully follow Jesus, that each of us would be all we were created to be. Pray for humble hearts to lay down all you THINK you are and all you THINK you know, and just humbly follow Jesus. And on a personal note, please pray for our family, as we once again return to our calling in Zambia where Christ has gone before us and prepared the field. Pray for strength and wisdom in the days and months ahead, that we would continue being obedient sheep in his pasture, following His perfect will and leading others to Him.