Fall 2024 Update

PRAY EXPECTANTLY

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3).

Last quarter we explored praying patiently, meaning we accept delays without being anxious. As we wait, we can also be expectant, having an excited feeling that God is about to answer. We can pray in faith!

Hebrews 11:1 tells us what faith is: “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” A prayer defined by faith is the act of taking our natural concerns to a supernatural God. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” A prayer without expectancy (faith) is really a prayer without power because we know that God hears and answers our prayers.

Expectancy opens our heart to hear and receive from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” The key to praying expectantly is faith.   Faith in what? In who Jesus is and what he’ll do. How? By following Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer” (by making the ask), “being watchful” (where to focus that ask), “and thankful” (in advance that God has heard our ask).

As we ask for answered prayer, do we wonder in whose best interest, pridefully mine or trusting in His? Currently, our nation is experiencing a lot of unrest, politically as well as environmentally. Florida has been devastated by storms. We may be experiencing personal “storms” and ask God why? It may not be the storm around me but the storm in me. We may be asking Him, “God, if you love me, you don’t want me to suffer.” Yet God’s will was to allow His own son to suffer. Even Jesus prayed expectantly, yet for God’s will to be done. He sees the big picture and the end result.

Prayer is our lifeline, our connection to the heart of God, guiding us through the challenges and opportunities ahead.  Remember Romans 15: “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (vss. 5-6,13).

We can have this hope in confidence, claiming Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. This gives us courage and the faith to rest in expecting Jesus to give us His best.

Perhaps in this crazy world our expectant prayer is “Come Lord Jesus, come!” Before that can happen, Jesus wants everyone to hear about Him and His Good News. That’s what Andrew and Wendy, the Palau team, and our Global Network of Evangelists (GNE) are doing, in person and digitally. Please join us in prayer on October 29th at 9am (Pacific Time) as we watch and wait for Jesus!

Expectant in Prayer,

Gail Stockamp

"I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for He has promised" (Psalm 130:5).

PRAYER REPORT

PRAYER CALL

Join us for a special time of prayer on October 29, at 9 a.m. (PT).

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89372415317

Note: this meeting doesn’t have a passcode but a waiting room is enabled – be patient when joining as the host has to manually allow each person access.

Come back here on Tuesday, October 29 at 9 a.m. (PT) and click the button below to easily join the Zoom meeting.

Summer 2024 Update

PATIENT IN PRAYER

“I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1).

I’ve heard it said, patience is a virtue that carries a lot of wait. Or is it carrying a lot of weight? Maybe it’s both, depending on the circumstance. No one likes to wait: waiting for an appointment, waiting in traffic, waiting for the right job opportunity—the list goes on. Having patience may involve carrying the “weight” of a burden as we wait. He tells us to “cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7) and to “be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Patience isn’t easy, but as Romans 12 says, be faithful in prayer.

As you pray, what if the Holy Spirit is saying no to your timing? We personally waited years for a baby, struggling with infertility and the desire to have a family. We prayed and were private about it for a long while until we finally opened up to our friends and family for their prayers too. Fast forward and shortly after that, He gave us not only 1 but 3 children to raise for Him. Looking back, we can see that His timing for the circumstances of our lives was far superior. Although painful, His choice and timing was much better than ours.

What are you waiting for? For a baby like we were? The right career opportunity? A better relationship with a family member or friend, or good medical test results in the battle of illness? Trust He has a beautiful plan and is turning to you and hearing your cries. He is there and close by. He’s not delaying, only waiting with you for the right circumstances and experiences to take place to make you ready for His best.

I’m also convicted that I keep Him waiting! Waiting to come to Him in quiet time, delaying in coming to Him in worship, devotion, prayer, and thanksgiving! It’s easy to get busy and mix up priorities and then cry out when things don’t go our way. God is so patient and in return, let’s patiently persevere in prayer back to Him. Let’s listen and wait for His plan and perfect timing to unfold. And as we wait, claim Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” There’s no need to struggle to find patience within ourselves. His Word says when we call upon God, He gives us the strength to be patient.

Be strong, yet rest in the waiting, rest as we are praying. Rest, trust, and continue to pray. We can rest in the fact that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. Rest and trust Him in the weight of those burdens in what appears to be a slow response.

However, there may be times when He says no. When His will is not in alignment with our desires. In those times we need to trust Him for the outcome. Maybe it’s not about you as you wait for someone else; perhaps for a wayward child or loved one to return or come to Jesus? Or for a revival for our nation, our world?

Let’s continue to practice our patience through prayer and pray with our Palau team who are seeking revival and salvation for all as they proclaim Jesus to a hurting world. Pray with us on July 23 as we come together globally to hear the latest update from Andrew and Wendy and how we can be praying with and for them!

Patiently Praying,

Gail Stockamp

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His Word I put my hope” (Psalm 130:5).

PRAYER REPORT

PRAYER CALL

Join us for a special time of prayer on July 23, at 9 a.m. (PT).

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84349619102

Note: this meeting doesn’t have a passcode but a waiting room is enabled – be patient when joining as the host has to manually allow each person access.

Come back here on Tuesday, July 23 at 9 a.m. (PT) and click the button below to easily join the Zoom meeting.

Summer Prayer Call

Join us for a special time of prayer on July 23, at a NEW time: 9 a.m. (PT).

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84349619102

Note: this meeting doesn’t have a passcode but a waiting room is enabled – be patient when joining as the host has to manually allow each person access.

Come back here on Tuesday, July 23 at 9 a.m. (PT) and click the button below to easily join the Zoom meeting.

Spring 2024 Update

PRAY HUMBLY

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12). 

Luis loved God deeply and always pointed us to God’s Word. As we read through His Word, we know God is Love, but Scripture also tells us some of the things God hates and one of them is pride!

The opposite of pride is humility. Humility is defined as a modest or low view of one's own importance. Yet humility is not thinking less of oneself, but rather thinking of one’s self less often. It is not self-deprecating but living without arrogance or self-sufficiency. I love the acronym JOY: a priority of Jesus, Others, You! It’s serving the Lord first, as well as others. We are here for a greater purpose than just our own gain. Luis had JOY as one of the humblest men I’ve known and always pointed to Jesus. May I/we point to Thee, not me.

We all know the story from Luke 18:9-14 when Jesus shares the parable of the two men who prayed; the righteous Pharisee and the lowly tax collector. The Pharisee was there not to pray to God but to puff himself up before others within earshot, to allow others to hear how great he was and in doing so, was incapable of hearing/learning anything from God. Meanwhile, the tax collector with bowed head, begged God for mercy, which opened up his heart to forgiveness and justification from God.

It’s a heart check, isn’t it? Proverbs 16:5 says, “The Lord detests all the proud of heart.” And remember Isaiah 66:2, “This is the one I esteem; he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My Word.” Luis used to ask, “Do we tremble at God’s Word?’

Praying in humility allows us to listen to God from our hearts, that soft whisper of His voice in gentle love. This can lead us to pray compassionately for others. In praying for others, we lose ourselves. We are expressing our complete dependence on God. A humble prayer can be as simple as a heart’s cry “Help me, Lord.” We are humbling ourselves; remembering who we are and who God is. We can then expand our prayer life to within our circle of influence as well as our community, our nation, and even our world and its endless needs. This allows our soul to expand and embrace them all into the presence of God, which is a wonderful gift God gives us. It may seem impossible as we can’t embrace the world, but God can, and He does so through our prayers, leading us into His presence.

It's ironic that when we put others first and bless others; we bless ourselves as we choose to live by the Holy Spirit and to follow His lead. Our Lord modeled that so beautifully for us and we can do that in our prayer life as we pray intimately for the world through LPA. Our Palau team is reaching the world for the Gospel of Christ, in person and digitally, into the remotest and darkest regions of the earth.

Please join us April 23rd as we humbly come together before our Lord to lift up the efforts of LPA for Christ and exalt our Lord and King for His glory and the good of His people.

In Humble Prayer,

Gail Stockamp

“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4).

PRAYER REPORT

Did you miss the Winter 2024 Prayer Call?

Winter 2024 Update

PRAY SPECIFICALLY

“And stopping, Jesus called them and said, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him” (Matthew 20:32-34).

Our Lord loves to hear us talk (pray) to Him. We can be confident that He hears us and will answer us. He knows us intimately, yet wants us to share our hearts, thoughts, and requests specifically… not vaguely. Matthew 20 illustrates this so beautifully, as the blind men cry out “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

Their persistence wasn’t enough as they “cried out all the more.” Even their faith wasn’t enough as they knew who Jesus was when they called out, “Lord have mercy on us, Son of David.” Jesus did not answer their prayer until they told Him specifically that they wanted to receive their sight. Then Jesus had compassion and immediately answered their request by healing their eyesight.

There is power that God wants us to understand when we spend time with Him in specific prayer. In fact, the Bible gives us many examples of people who prayed specifically:

1. Abraham’s servant, Eliezer: He was sent to find a wife for Isaac.  “Then he prayed, Lord, God of my master Abraham, make me successful today and show kindness to my master Abraham” (Genesis 24:12).

2. Isaac: When Isaac and Rebekah couldn’t have children. “Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was childless.  The Lord answered his prayer and his wife Rebekah became pregnant” (Genesis 25:21).

3. Elijah: When Elijah wanted the weather to be changed. “Elijah was as completely human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for the next three and a half years!  Then he prayed again, this time that it would rain, and down it poured, and the grass turned green and the gardens began to grow again” (James 5:17-18).

4. Jesus: He prayed specifically many times, even in His suffering. “Once more Jesus went away and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cup of suffering cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done’” (John 17:11).

We, too, must pray specifically! Even though Jesus knows our very thoughts, He doesn’t want us to be vague. Jesus is our Savior, yet also our friend. He wants us to speak to Him as directly and specifically as we would to a dear friend we confide in. He’s interested in every detail of our lives. 

He loves us unconditionally and we can trust Him as we open our hearts to Him. We can share our deepest secrets, hopes, and joys, as well as our pain, doubts, worries, and fears. It doesn’t mean we always get what we ask for, but we can trust Him, knowing He has our best interest at heart.  Knowing that draws us closer to Him, strengthens our relationship and faith in Him, and in turn helps us to grow spiritually and brings us peace, joy, and the freedom to shine His love to others.

Let us pray specifically like Jesus and these people of faith. Let’s pray specifically for the message of Christ to be shared and received for the salvation of all who hear! The Palau ministry does this beautifully as they proclaim the Gospel. Will you join me on January 23rd as we specifically pray for the work they are doing globally?

Praying Specifically,

Gail Stockamp

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

PRAYER REPORT

Did you miss the Fall 2023 Prayer Call?

Fall 2023 Update

PRAY BOLDLY

“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31, ESV).

In my last devotion, I shared many points or ways that we can pray to our Almighty God.  We can pray boldly, specifically, humbly, patiently, expectantly, continuously, in God’s will, selflessly for His glory, and in the power of Jesus' name.  I thought I’d expand individually on each of those points.  Let’s examine praying boldly.

What does it mean to be bold? Webster defines bold as a person, action, or idea showing an ability to take risks, be confident, and show courage. It can be described as daring, courageous, brave, valiant, fearless, and unafraid.

An example of courage in the Old Testament is when Gideon spoke with (prayed to) God. Judges 6:36-40 says Gideon boldly prayed (not only once but twice) for a sign from God that he would be used by God to save Israel.  The first time he asked for a sign that the dew would only be on the fleece while keeping the ground dry, and God answered his prayer and did just that. But then Gideon asked for a second sign, reversing it so that the fleece would be dry with the ground covered in dew instead. God did it again, answering Gideon’s prayer! 

Even more daring is in Genesis 18:22-33 when Abraham pleaded with God to save Sodom and Gomorrah for 50 men. He then continued to ask God—not just once—but 5 more times to save Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of 45, 40, 30, 20, and 10 righteous men. Now that’s courageous! Both Gideon’s prayer to reverse the sign and Abraham’s continued “negation” with our Almighty God were bold!

How can we be bold? Consider 2 Timothy 1:7… “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (NKJV). God fills us with the Holy Spirit, who is bold and courageous! When our hearts are aligned with God in faith, He tells us to pray with boldness, expecting that our prayers will be answered (1 John 5:14).

The Spirit of God emboldens us to proclaim the Gospel without fear (1 Thessalonians 2:2). Andrew, Wendy, and the Palau team do exactly that when they share the Gospel unashamedly around the globe!

Just recently, Andrew and Wendy were in Egypt proclaiming the Gospel to thousands of people. Read some of the report sent over from David Chigamba, Palau’s African Festival Director:

“Then came the evening big event, where Andrew shared powerfully the Word. Over 14,000 people came the last night. As the invitation was made, you could see fathers unashamedly standing in the presence of their families to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. That is not an easy thing to do in most cultures, because men are not supposed to show weakness. But as they heard the word of salvation, they couldn’t help it but stand, some with tears rolling down their faces. Some of them were fully aware of the repercussions that could follow as a result of the decision they had taken but they could not help but to stand.” Now that’s BOLD!

David also shared… “We rejoice at what God has done in Egypt through the team. But we want you to know that you are the very reason that made this happen. Many of you stood in the gap and prayed earnestly and that’s why we could witness great victory.”

Thank you for being on the Palau Prayer Team. We appreciate your prayers! As we head into the end of the year, let’s praise God together for the team’s recent work in Kenya, the latest opportunities to advance the Gospel in Iraq and Egypt, and the upcoming festival in Uruguay and beyond. “In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (Ephesians 3:12, NIV). 

Like Abraham and Gideon, join me in praying boldly for our Palau team.  Our quarterly prayer call is coming soon on October 17 at 1 pm Pacific time. Don’t miss out on approaching God’s throne courageously with me and other like-minded believers!

Persistent in Prayer,

Gail Stockamp

“And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.” (1 John 5:14, ESV).

PRAYER REPORT

Did you miss the Summer 2023 Prayer Call?

Summer 2023 Update

POINTS OF PRAYER

"Lord, teach us to pray!" (Luke 11:1).

Greetings fellow prayer warriors! I know you’re receiving this message because you love Jesus, love LPA, and love to pray! In Luke 11:1-13 our Lord taught His disciples how to pray and He teaches us too. He taught them what to say when He gave us the Lord’s prayer, but He also gave us many examples of how to pray!

1. PRAY BOLDLY! Luke 11:8 says, “Because of this man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.” Other translations say shameless audacity, annoyance, impudence, persistence, and importunity meaning insistence to the point of shamelessness, troublesomely urgent to even being rude. Persist in prayer!

2. PRAY SPECIFICALLY! Matthew 20:33 says, “Lord, we want our sight.” If you want your prayers answered, you must be specific in your request. Be clear about what you are asking for.

3. PRAY HUMBLY! Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility [including in prayer] count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” A humble heart will help us to put our lives in God's hands and allow him to have control.

4. PRAY PATIENTLY! Psalm 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry.” We get impatient and want our way now… pray in His perfect timing as His delay in answering has good reasons we don’t see.

5. PRAY EXPECTANTLY! Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Not motivated by my own interests, but in knowing God has my best interests in mind and He will answer!

6. PRAY CONTINUOUSLY!  1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.” Don’t stop! You can pray to Him anytime, anywhere, anyplace. Keep on praying as we grow in character, faith and hope.

7. PRAY IN GOD’S WILL! Matthew 6:10 says in our Lord’s prayer to ask for “your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Not my will but thine be done!

8. PRAY SELFLESSLY, FOR HIS GLORY! In John 17:1, Jesus is praying “Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” Will my prayer request glorify Him or is it for my own desires?

9. PRAY IN THE POWER OF JESUS NAME! Psalm 20:1 says, “He answers him from His holy heaven with the saving power of His right hand. We know and believe that Jesus’ name and His power are greater than any weapon or anything on this earth. Nothing is impossible!

He wants to not only hear but answer our prayers. Please pray boldly, specifically, humbly, patiently, expectantly, and continuously in His will, for His glory, and in the power of Jesus’ name for Kevin, Andrew, Wendy, and our entire Palau ministry as they (with shameless audacity) proclaim Jesus’ name and His Good News of salvation. Join us in praise and prayer July 25th!

In the Power of Jesus’ name,

Gail Stockamp

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

PRAYER REPORT

Please enjoy opening the update below and keeping all the regions in your prayers:

Did you miss the Spring 2023 Prayer Call?

Spring 2023 Update

OBEY AND PRAY

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42).

Hallelujah! We recently celebrated Easter with our risen Lord! I thank Him every day for life and eternal life with Him. Thanking Him for His great love for us; but also for His obedience. In His humanness, He didn’t want to suffer; He went against His own will “[a]nd being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8)

Obey means to submit to authority; to follow orders. I love the Bible story after Jesus’ death and resurrection in John 21 when the disciples are doing something familiar (it was their profession)—catching fish! They’d been working hard, out all night and caught nothing. I’m sure they were praying while they waited with no results. Yet when Jesus told them to “[t]hrow your net on the right side of the boat and you’ll find some” (vs 6), they obeyed with great success! Personally, I’d be thinking: “What difference would throwing the net on the other side of the boat make? It’s the same area of water that didn’t have fish!” and “Why take the time and effort to throw these heavy nets over to the other side of the boat for what would seem to be for nothing?” Yet they obeyed and were unable to haul the net in since it was so full of fish! After they had fled and denied Jesus, in His death He gave them another chance in life. In their obedience, Jesus knew they’d be successful and was ready for them with fresh bread and hot coals burning, to cook some of that delicious fish for breakfast! He hears, answers, and blesses prayer!

The Bible is very clear on obedience bringing a blessing and ignoring His Word being foolish. I’m reminded of Matthew 7:24-25 on how to build a house. Will we obey and have a firm foundation or ignore His Word and foolishly build our lives on sinking sand?

I know that if you’re reading this, you love Jesus and are wisely building your life on Him. Most, if not all people, would want to build their homes—their lives—on a firm foundation and would not deliberately build on sand. They just don’t think about it or know the truth. That’s where we come in and take responsibility as believers to pray for our unbelieving friends and family, as well as for the broken world, all with pointing to the way of Jesus. It’s what Kevin, Andrew, Wendy, and our Palau team are obediently doing as they proclaim the Gospel and catch fish! Let’s pray with and for them as they cast a big net and then watch Jesus work and bless their (our) efforts.

Please join us April 25th at 1pm (PT) to catch the LPA vision and pray for their work globally, digitally, and collectively. As the children song goes: “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey!” AND PRAY!

In Obedience,

Gail Stockamp

“The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and laws written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul” (Deut. 30:20, NLT).

PRAYER REPORT

Please enjoy opening the update below and keeping all the regions in your prayers:

Winter 2023 Update

TIME TO PRAY

“For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

Happy New Year! As 2022 is behind us and we enter a new year, it’s easy to reflect on time’s past as well as what time will hold moving forward.  Time is a funny thing. It’s the one thing we all have the same amount of: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  But it is in how we spend that time in which each of us has a choice to make… working, sleeping, eating, playing, studying. Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.  Solomon shares with us that there’s a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.

Timing is important!  When I wake up in the morning, I pray that I’m in God’s will for that day.  As I pray this for my family too, God gives me peace knowing there’s no safer or better place to be.  It may not always be fun or easy, but my schedule and time are in God’s perfect timing and will. My (our) timing and will don’t always match up with God’s. Resenting his timing can lead to doubt and despair.  There have been days of impatience, wanting my way now, but He has graciously shown me His timing is best and to trust in Him. 

There may be days when we run out of time and ask God to stretch it. Or long days that seem to never end.  What about those days when we get distracted by the silly things in life and waste time? Or spend time worrying?  God says in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God!”

Philippians says “everything by prayer;” prayer is the key!  Now is the time to pray!  Pray for God’s favor over our lives, our families, our nation, and our world. We thank God for His timing when He sent His only Son to redeem the world.   Pray for the salvation of those who have not chosen Him as their Savior. Pray for Kevin, Andrew and Wendy, and the Palau ministry as they sacrificially spend their time proclaiming the Gospel globally. 

Please take the time to join us in prayer on Tuesday, January 24th.  You’ll receive a great update on LPA’s past, present, and future, as well as time to PRAY! Like Andrew says “The best is yet to come!”  God says in 1 John 2:17 “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

Praying in Jesus’ Name and Will,

Gail Stockamp

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

PRAYER REPORT

Please enjoy opening the update below and keeping all the regions in your prayers:

Did you miss the Fall 2022 Prayer Call?

Fall 2022 Update

BEING PREPARED

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:44)

We prepare for a lot of things in life, don’t we? Little things, like getting dressed and ready for the day, preparing meals, and getting ready for bed. How about that office presentation, a social gathering, a new school year, or seasonal decorations as we prepare for the holidays? What about for the big events in our lives? We have young adult children and our family has recently had wonderful, major plans happening! Our youngest son got married last summer and now our daughter and son-in-law have moved and are expecting a baby boy (our second grandchild) any day now!

The Bible also speaks of being prepared. Noah built the ark in preparation for the flood. King David prepared the building materials so that his son Solomon would be ready to build God’s temple. John the Baptist prepared the way of our Lord. Jesus illustrated the kingdom of heaven is like 10 virgins with their lamps, waiting to meet the bridegroom—5 wise and prepared while the other 5 were not ready and foolish. Jesus also prepared His disciples for His death and resurrection, as well as for His return (that includes us).

We may not know when He will return but we can be ready. Here are a few ways we can get ready:

1. In praise and worship, by edifying ourselves in God’s Word. That can be every Sunday together with other believers or individually in our daily quiet time and Bible study. Psalm 100:4 states, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

2. Through acts of service in helping others by giving our time and talents. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

3. Preparing our hearts by Kingdom building and investing in heaven. We do this by giving generously with our treasure. Matthew 6:19-21 warns us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

4. In this fallen world that appears hopeless, we can prepare by bringing the hope of God in sharing the Good News of salvation with others. 1 Peter 3:15 encourages us, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

5. Staying in communication with our heavenly Father through prayer. Ephesians 6:18 tells us, “… pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Let’s prepare together this Tuesday, October 18th by praying in unison for Kevin, Andrew, Wendy, and our Palau team as they are globally reaching the lost with the Gospel, preparing hearts and minds for our Lord’s second coming and fighting the spiritual battles so that salvation is known to all who hear God’s message of hope, truth, grace, and eternal life.

In Preparation through Prayer,

Gail Stockamp

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

PRAYER REPORT

Please enjoy opening the update below and keeping all the regions in your prayers:

Did you miss the Summer 2022 Prayer Call?

Summer 2022 Update

PRAYING IN THE NAME OF JESUS

His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

What’s in a name?  Names have meaning!  I like my name, Gail.  It means “My Father’s Joy.” I’d like to believe that’s true!  Names and nicknames can give us an identity or may describe who we are.

Many people in the Bible had names that they identified with, described who they were, or even had their name changed to reflect God’s work in their life. Abram/Abraham (“father of a multitude”) in Genesis 17:5. Jacob (“heel-catcher” or “deceiver”) becomes Israel (“one who wrestles with God”) in Genesis 32:28.  Simon/Peter (“rock”) in John 1:40-42.  Saul/Paul (“humble”) in Acts 13:9.

Jesus’ name has meaning, and it reveals who He is. In the Old Testament His name is Messiah (“anointed one”), in the New Testament He is the Christ. Jesus also means Savior, because He came to save us from the penalty of our sins.   Jesus is known as "I Am" in the Gospel of John.  "I am the light of the world; I am the bread of life; I am the way, the truth, and the life; I am the gate; I am the Good Shepherd, I am the true vine; I am the Resurrection."  

There are almost 200 different names/titles for Jesus in the Bible.  Jehovah is one of the ways of saying YHWY; the true, personal name of God. Jehovah is also one of several names found for Jesus as Lord in Scripture, such as Adonai and Yahweh. Each name exemplifies His distinctiveness and power:

• Jehovah-Nissi: God Is My Refuge – After a victory, “Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-Nissi,” which is translated to either the “Lord is my refuge” or the “Lord is my banner” (Exodus 17:16).

• Jehovah-Jireh: God Will Provide – “I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). See also: Genesis 22:13-14.

• Jehovah Rapha: God Heals – “God that heals” (Exodus 15:26), as He promised not to “bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.”

• Jehovah-Shalom: God Our Peace – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).  

• Jehovah-Raah: God Our Way and Shepherd – “God our Way and Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1). Jesus calls Himself “the Good Shepherd” as He “lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

• Jehovah Tsidkenu: God of Righteousness – “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).  “For Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).

• Jehovah-Shammah: God Is There/Ever-Present – God is the “Ever Present Light” as Jesus is the “Light of the World.” “He said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12).

God’s light today is shown through His people who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid” (Matthew 5:14).

We are to be His light and shine for Him!  One way we do that is in prayer!  Jesus’ name has power and so we pray in Jesus’ name in humble submission to His authority!  To acknowledge His will is sovereign and know that nothing is impossible for Him as ruler over heaven and earth.  We are comforted that He uses all things for good and He will come again to conquer death and the devil.

Kevin, Andrew, Wendy, and the entire Palau ministry want to proclaim His name to the world so that others can believe and enjoy the love, peace, and hope that only Jesus, our Savior, can provide.  Please join our “Palau Prayer Team” as we come together in the power of Jesus’ name on July 19th at 1 pm Pacific time!

In the first half of our call, we will praise God as we get an update about the recent, exciting festival in Manchester, England!  We will praise Jesus for many of His glorious names and break out in prayer as the Palau team continues to travel and reach individuals around the globe for salvation, physically and digitally!

In the Power of Jesus’ Name,

Gail Stockamp

"I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father." John 14:13, NIV

PRAYER REPORT

Please enjoy opening the update below and keeping all the regions in your prayers:

Did you miss the Spring 2022 Prayer Call?

Spring 2022 Update

JOYFUL IN PRAYER

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.  John 16:22

We’re living in crazy times, aren’t we?  I’m sure every generation has said that but we are witnessing things like never before.  The world appears out of control and its values seem to be the opposite of God’s values.  Life is hard and sometimes we can feel like aliens because we don’t belong here, where good is bad and bad is good.

That’s the bad news!  But the good news is we have the Good News, God’s Word, and His promises!  That gives us joy!

Joy is a funny thing!  It’s different than happiness.  Happiness is something we pursue, it’s temporary, based on external circumstances.  But joy?  Joy is deeper than happiness!  We can experience joy when we are hurting and in trouble because joy is based on God’s presence within us!  The gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit!  He gives us His power, wisdom, guidance, and joy!

It’s easy to get discouraged. Even when life is difficult now, one day we will rejoice.  In fact, we can rejoice now!  We can’t live in the past, fight with others, or be negative when we rejoice always!  In celebrating Easter, we know Jesus conquers sin and death, God is for us and He comes through! We don’t need to fret or worry about what’s happening in our world but look forward in confidence to Jesus’ coming to reign forever.  The apostle Paul was content and full of joy, even in prison, because no matter what happened to him, Jesus was with him.  We can reflect the same inner attitude in spite of outward circumstances because we have Jesus too! Thank God!  That’s the key to immeasurable joy: a thankful heart and living in intimate contact with Christ!  That’s something no one can take away from us!

One way to have that intimate connection with Jesus is through prayer.  John 16:24 says “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.  Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”  It is by Jesus’ authority that we have the privilege of asking and receiving in prayer.  When we pray in His name, and in His will; we will receive, and our joy will be made full.  We can thank God and rest in His promises.  We can rejoice and celebrate all day long, regardless of life’s circumstances; past, present, and future!

It is our joy to bring Andrew, Kevin, and our entire Palau team to Jesus in prayer. Be prepared to be amazed as we see how God answers them!  Our Palau team sacrificially brings the Good News of Jesus to a hurting world so that others can have the gift of salvation and joy for today and always.

Mark your calendars for April 26th, 1pm Pacific Time, 2pm Mountain Time, 3pm Central Time, and 4pm Eastern Time as we pray for LPA in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Please join us and share in our joy?

Praying in the joyful power of Jesus’ name,

Gail Stockamp

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4).

PRAYER REPORT

Please enjoy opening the update below and keeping all the regions in your prayers:

Did you miss the Winter 2022 Prayer Call?