• Integration into our new ministry - We have been at our new church work (Ramada Baptist Church) for 1 month now. The Lord is blessing our transition into this new church family. Please continue to pray that we would be faithful servants of Christ and begin to build solid relationships with the people.
• Pregnancy update - Jenny continues to enjoy the blessing of a smooth and healthy pregnancy. Please pray that God might sustain and give good health both to Jenny and baby Elisabeth. We rejoice in God's goodness to our family, and we can't wait until early October!
• Specific ministry request - Recently, a group of six siblings began attending our church. They come from a very challenging home life--basically they are "street kids." The stark truth is: these children have been left to themselves their entire lives. Their behavior, lack of self-control, and disregard for authority is painfully evident.  God has given us an opportunity to minister to them and share the love of Christ, and so please pray that we (meaning the entire church body) would faithfully do so. Pray also that we would have great wisdom in dealing with the host of behavior and heart issues that are surfacing.
  

Here is a sampling of what you might pray for as the Lord leads:

Sunday:  Our Spiritual Lives
--Ever-deepening times of prayer. Oh, how we must continue to seek his face!
--God's Word to be our daily food, hidden in our hearts, saturating our minds, always on our lips.
--God's power, through the Holy Spirit, to be evident and sustaining in our daily lives.
--For God to do whatever necessary to keep us from weak, lukewarm, "nice," safe, nominal Christianity.
--That Christ would increasingly be our greatest joy and treasure. More love for him!

Monday:  Language Learning
--Courage, determination to practice and speak!
--Continued grasp and comprehension.
--God's help in overcoming seasons of discouragement.
--Humble and teachable spirits for all that God is showing us through this process.
--For our children to be increasingly eager to learn Portuguese, and for creative learning opportunities.

Tuesday:  Our Marriage
--Giving preference to one another in honor (Rom. 12:10).
--Faithful and joyful fulfilling of our God-given roles.
--Quick to repent, confess sin, and seek forgiveness.
--Consistent and meaningful times of prayer and devotions together.
--God's supply of joyful, willing sitters so we can enjoy regular dates!

Wednesday:  Portugal
--For God to raise up future pastors/church leaders. There is an alarming deficiency of called, gifted men.
--For God to break through false religion, materialism, secularism, postmodernism, and all other "-isms" that capture and blind the hearts of so many.
--For God to send more laborers to the country of Portugal.
--That more theologically-solid resources (books, DVDs, etc.) would be translated into Portuguese.
--That the hope of Christ and the gospel would answer the hopelessness and pessimism of the Portuguese.

Thursday:  Our Parenting & Children (Noah-9, Ellie-7, Maddie-5)
--For God's grace to faithfully bring up our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).
--That God would save them, and that they would walk with Christ all their days.
--Developing good friendships with neighbor kids, and church kids.
--Learning joyful submission and obedience to the Lord, their parents, and those in authority.
--The maintaining of close and meaningful relationships with family stateside.
--That our children would develop a genuine hunger and thirst for God, not giving in to the "status-quo" of Christian living.

Friday:  Our Physical Needs
--God's protection as we serve him.
--Good health and endurance so we can be as productive and fruitful as possible.
--Consistency in exercise and eating well (taking care of the temple of the Holy Spirit).
--Joyful submission to God's will whether in sickness or health.

Saturday:  Our Ministry
--God-given opportunities to impact lives for Christ; boldness and readiness to share the gospel.
--God's direction and wisdom to serve in the ways/areas that he would desire.
--Grace to be given while teaching/preaching in a different language.
--Developing of solid and meaningful relationships.