Day 53 Flood Warning!

Malachi 3:10 says, "Test me...and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing you can't contain it."

Give Sarah the courage to see how much of your blessing it takes until it just can't help but spill all over everyone around her!

Day 52 Friendship

Bring Sarah together this week with people with whom she can begin to build healthy relationships and who can become trusted friends.

Day 51 Shakin' and Movin'

"Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you
will not be shaken,
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:10

Day 50 The World on it's Ear

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst
after righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called the children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted
because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 3-10

Day 48 What Hope Looks Like

What does hope look like? Help Sarah to discern more and more the justice that is built from hope when it becomes visible in work boots, sweat, and calloused hands.

"We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perserverence; perseverence, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us....you see, at just the right time--when we were powerless, oppressed, and poor--Christ died for us, and now we have peace with God."

Romans 5:5-6 paraphrased

Day 47 Rich and Poor

Help Sarah to discover this year what real poverty is--and what true riches are--surrounding her and within.

"The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high;
he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.
He will be a sure foundation for your times,
a rich storehouse of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure."

Isaiah 33: 2, 5-6

Day 46 Called to Great Love

This week, Sarah prepares to start the tasks of her internship--deciding which community she will work with in trafficking, helping community leaders practice group facilitation techniques, and teaching English as a Second Language classes. Help her discern your leading in these tasks, help her to perform them with great love and discipline--and thank you that the "espace bar" on her computer has miraculously fixed itself just in time!

Day 45 A People the Lord has Blessed

For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.

Isaiah 61:8-9

Day 44 Psalm 93

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,

the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.

the sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;
for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.

Psalm 95:1-7

Day 38-44 Matagalpa Week

Sarah is spending the week of August 15-21 in Matagalpa, about 60 miles north of Managua. The weather is cooler there as it's in the mountains and good for growing crops like coffee, fruit and a number of vegetables. She is working on a farm similar to the one above, sharing the daily tasks and living with the farm family. Her supplies are: a pair of good boots. :) Pray that this is a good learning experience for her, for safety, and for good health this week--especially her neck, as she is still recovering from a couple of car accidents this past spring and a few hours "on the road" in a developing country like Nicaragua can be aerobic exercise!

"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;
love and faithfulness go before you.
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,
who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord.
They rejoice in your name all day long;
they exult in your righteousness.
For you are their glory and strength,
and by your favor you exalt our horn.
Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,
the holy one of Israel."
Psalm 89:14-18

Day 37 Delight

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure and righteous altogether.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned; in keeping them is great reward.

Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19: 7-14

Day 34 I'm Walking Here!

Fill Sarah with the knowledge of your will this year, so that she can walk in ways that are pleasing to you.

"We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. We pray this so that you will live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way..."
Colossians 1:15

Day 33 We're Full Up!

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23

Fill Sarah's heart with good things from You, so that there is little room or effect for things that not Life-giving. From a heart full of God's goodness, goodness bubbles up!

Day 32 -isms

Guide Sarah as she experiences racism from a minority viewpoint and machismo from a Latin American viewpoint.

"Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set free the oppressed
and break every yoke?

"Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and provide the poor wanderer with shelter--
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not turn away from your own flesh and blood?

"Then your light will break forth like the dawn...
and you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings."
Isaiah 58, selected

Day 30 Follow Him Well

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow his percepts have good understanding.

To him belongs eternal praise!"

Psalm 111:10

Day 29 Stand your Ground

"Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

"Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all of the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

"And pray in the Spirit continuously, cover everything with prayers and requests--and be alert always."

Ephesians 5:10-18 selected

Day 27 Fire!

"I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as day and night I constantly remember you in my prayers....I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of hands."

2 Timothy 1:3-5





Day 26 Unsightly Gifts

"God has composed the body so that greater dignity is given to the parts which were without it, and so that there may not be disagreements inside the body but that each part may be equally concerned for all the others." 1 Corinthians 12:24-25

We often think of the gift of salvation or the gifts of the Spirit when we think of "gifts" as Jesus followers--and these are unparalled gifts! Seeing people who are poor as the "gifts" of a personal call from You is a spiritual journey....Help Sarah step out further into discovering her "gifts" this year.

Day 25 Revolution

It's time for change.
I am not be gripped by the world's warped mindset.
I am being transformed by Jesus Christ
and my thoughts and actions are subject to
a higher standard.
I can't change the past,
but I will make a difference today.
In God's power I will
be a revolution.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave us the minstry of reconciliation."
 2 Corinthians 5:17

Day 24 Transition Week

On Thursday, Sarah travels eight hours by bus from Leon to Managua. Pray for safety and for her health as she's had a cold for a week and now also has the flu--pray that she will be well recovered and healthy beforehand. Next week her daily work will turn to her task for the next year. God, give Sarah your power as she moves forward this week.

May God bless you with discomfort
at easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships
so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people
so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears
to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
to turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference in the world
so that you can do what others claim cannot be done
to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. Amen.