To all prayer warriors and members at Riverside,
Below is some e-mails I have recently recieved from Philip in Uganda. As you can see from these, he is under constant and strong attack. The enemy does not want us to be successful in God's plan with these children. My response of encouragement to Philip and a prayer for him follows after the his emails. Please read these and enter into this battle in whatever way the Lord leads.
God Bless
John

Fw: please pray for usHello everyone: dear friends, helpers and partners in heart!

Sunday, January 18 I have been watching God at work in us today. I listened to a sermon last night by Matt Chandler called Divine Love. It is a message based on Luke's account of the sermon on the mount. We all know that we are to love our enemies. Most of us, however, don't have any real enemies in the flesh. We have imagined ones like our siblings or spouses and maybe a boss or irritating coworker. But - we usually don't have anyone set on hurting us or destroying our work. Here in Uganda life is different. I have compared it in the past to the old west. The law and authority can be and usually is bought or at times engages in extortion. It is often not the rule of law but the rule of money. This morning I preached about radical love. I made reference to our experience last Sunday night with the village security man. (I continue to learn more about that issue which centers around the fact that our children are not from here and everyone thinks I am a walking bank.) We all have struggled with how to respond to this challenge (the kids told me today about 3 more random visits this week). Our last memory verse was Romans 8:28. One of the kids, came up to me the other night after all the verses were quoted and repeated that verse to me personally. It was like I was watching God put His hand on a child and direct them to me. I asked what that was for and she shrugged her shoulders as if to say, “I don't know, but you do”. I ate breakfast with the kids (consisting of porridge made with corn flour and small 2” diameter fried cakes). I watched them help each other get ready for church and give me extra fried cakes. While they continued the random quoting of scripture, God woke me up. Ephesians 6! Satan had been trying to derail this ingestion of God's word. As long as we are just doing the social thing – there is not much opposition. Don't get me wrong, the feeding and general welfare of orphans is part of the scriptural mandate – but not the focus. The opposition comes when we do spiritual feeding and training. This is humbling. To be personally responsible for the spiritual well-being of a hundred children. Wow! I have to die and let Him direct me carefully or I lose attention to the real issue.

Thursday, January 22 The challenges have exhausted all of us – so glad our strength is in Him! Financial struggles this week and now our own health. Today, Susan (our director and my right hand helper) was rushed to the hospital in severe abdominal pain. After spending the day on IV's and several injections she went to her mothers' to rest. I arrived at home about 8pm with the girls in the truck and started having pain in my lower back on the right. In only 10 min. I was on the floor and the girls were in tears praying. Susan and her mother came with the car and Ibra helped me get in. On the way I started having pain like I have never known. I was in tears, hoping to die. When we got to the clinic, the doctor gave me two shots and started testing my blood. No malaria or anything else was apparent. After an hour – I felt ok, just very tired. I am home now and Ibra is staying the night across from me. Jessica is watching over Susan. Pray for all our strength and courage. Jessica, our cook and caretaker for the girls; Mohammed and Falida our security man and his wife who cooks as well; Moses, my security man; Ibra, indispensable helper to me and Susan; Esther, my house keeper and helper with the girls; and Susan, our organizer, buyer, and my right hand. God is our provider and healer – Praise His Name! Right now - we need help - it is January and Christmas always takes a toll on giving. Thanks so much for your help in the past and - as God directs - even now.Blessings to all Phil

My response and prayer for Philip:

Philip,
Brother, You are walking on the straight and narrow path of the Kingdom. Our prayers are more and more feverent for your welfare and the battles that are raging around you. Know that you are loved and that we are aware of your struggles. How true is it that so many of Jesus' Words are not relevant to us, because we do not live in places where the enemy's attacks are so unrestrained in physical realm. Philip, know that I am posting this email on the Riverside website and sending out the clarion call of response to our entire community. God Bless.
Sincerely
John


Dear Father God,
We call out for deliverance and protection from the attacks of the enemy against your plans for these children in Uganda. We call down blessing from heaven upon Philip and his team (your team) who are doing your will. Bless them with comfort. Bless them with peace. Bless them with your presence. Bless them with the joy of your Love. Bless them with the continuous filling of your Holy Spirit. Bless them with divine protection. Place a hedge of angels encamped around them, that even their enemies will know that there are more with you than they are against you. Bless Philip with the knowledge that he is not alone, but that all of the saints stand with him and pray for the manifestation of God's will to be done. We call down blessings upon all of these children who you have chosen to be your children. Bless Philip with a taste of the portion of heaven that his faithfulness is bringing not only to these children, not only to Uganda, but to the entire world! May the Truth of your purpose and your plan be as sweet as the sweetest honey on Philip's lips as he speaks your Word. May the fullest of the life which flows from these Words find deep root in their hearts. We know that generations and generations to come are being set free from death by Philip's obedience to your heart. Thank you Jesus for only you bring true life. Amen. Amen

Open Our Hearts to the Ten Commandments

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Holy Lord, we come to you with a spirit of thanksgiving and a desire for renewal in our obedience. We know that we are not perfect, as a community or as individuals, but that we can be made perfect in You, only through the gift of your grace. We thank you that the leadership of this community is dedicated to being real and to stepping out in faith when you ask. As we begin to refresh ourselves with the guidance you gave us through your Holy Commandments, help to open our hearts and our ears to you. We ask that we would not hear and memorize the words, Lord, but also your heart for us through them. We beg that you would pour out your Holy Spirit to show the freedom that comes in obedience to you. Please, Father, convict us in your love so that we might grow closer to the people and the community you created us to be.

Amen

~ Anonymous

 

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8

Community Prayer 1/16 "Flowing Milk"

We gathered at the Crossroads and lifted up area

churches, schools and people in the community that

God placed on our hearts.

We prayed specifically for those in need of healing

from mental illness & physical illness.

We lifted up Pastors and leaders for increased anointing,

wisdom and discernment; for them not to grow weary

and to receive supernatural strength. We prayed covering

over them and their families that no weapon formed

against them would prosper.

We lifted up the body of the church to have God's

heart for one another and encourage one another.

We specifically prayed for Smithson Valley High School

and for revival to begin among the young; for it to have a retroactive

effect; for there to be an outpouring of the Spirit and for the faith of the

young believers, teachers and administration to be "activated" so that they will rise up in courage and boldness against darkness and the ways of the world that lead to death. We prayed protection over all the kids; that they would all feel the love of God envelope their hearts and for signs, wonders and miracles to occur revealing Jesus to them that He might be known.

One person saw a pitcher pouring out milk and was reminded later of a scripture

about flowing water and it was the Joel scripture below...we all felt like this was God's heart today.

Please come join us on Friday's at 10 a.m. at the Crossroads building.

      And it will come to pass in that day 
      That the mountains shall drip with new wine, 
      The hills shall flow with milk, 
      And all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; 
      A fountain shall flow from the house of the LORD 
      And water the Valley of Acacias.

Joel 3:18 NKJV

An Evening Prayer

If I have wounded any soul today,

If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own willful way,
Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I myself shall suffer through the strain,
Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have been perverse or hard, or cold,
If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold,
When Thou hast given me some fort to hold,
Dear Lord, forgive!

Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee;
Forgive the secret sins I do not see;
O guide me, love me and my keeper be,
Dear Lord, Amen.

~ Unknown

Far from Perfection...Close to His Mercy

I've been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction 

that I had nowhere else to go.

Abraham Lincoln

Thank you Father that You let me fall...in front of You, in front of all.                                                         

Thank You Lord for leaving me there...when I was down and clothed in shame.  For it was there that I saw my brothers and sisters...and there that I felt their pain.                                                                               

Thank you Jesus that it was there you humbled me...Once again, I will never be the same. Your blood so close, it was on my hands. In my own deep wounds, I could feel Your pain.                                                 

Thank you Jesus that now I understand...that however far I fall, I cannot hide. For at the lowest, with the lowly, amongst the lost and hurting...You do reside.                                                                                     

Thank you Father that You allowed me to see...temptation and sin be not far from me.                               

Thank you Father that You have revealed...the pain and darkness I could not conceal.                             

Thank you Father that You have taught...that to think I'm so far removed from a sinner's walk, is to think more highly of myself, than I ought.                                                                                                          

Thank you Father for showing me...I am never so far from you as when I was sure, "It can't happen to me! For I've grasped so much infinite knowledge, my faith is strong, my reputation secure...my walk so close to perfection and my heart so close to pure!"                                                                                                 

Thank you Father that Your Word says...it's not the healthy that need a doctor, and it's the sick that You came to make well. Thank you Jesus that you have now blessed me...with a truer knowledge of where You dwell.                                                 

Thank you Jesus that now I see You...in eyes of blue, brown, green and hazel...in faces young and old, weathered and worn...in lives not pretty, not at all perfect; but lives broken, shattered and torn.        

Thank You Jesus for reminding me of who You are and why You came...So that in my need for Your mercy and forgiveness, around my story You could put the frame. A tale of blood, at my own hands, shed by Your Son to give me life...My hopeless state now cleansed by the power of redemption, thy "Crown of Glory" shining bright.

 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,  so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions from us.                                 Psalm 103:11-12

Gina Higgins

Set up a Standard, LORD

flickr.com/photos/ roxym/234029734/

So shall they fear 
      The name of the LORD from the west, 
      And His glory from the rising of the sun; 
      When the enemy comes in like a flood, 
      The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.

Isaiah 59:19

Thus says the Lord GOD: 

     “ Behold, I will lift My hand in an oath to the nations, 
      And set up My standard for the peoples; 
      They shall bring your sons in their arms, 

      And your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders; . 

Isaiah 49:22

Father God,

Convict us if we think being a Christian is easy...because it is often very difficult actually, when we are trying to walk out Your word.  Help us see that our reactions versus Spirit-led obedience are never justified...show us where we've gone wrong and turned from You. Remind us that it is never too late to make something right. Heal us from our backslidings LORD, and set up a standard LORD in every area of generational sin and the cyles and habits that go on repeating themselves to our detriment. Force us to look at the things our pride would rather deny than bring to the foot of the cross. May we see that our own denial, avoidance and superficial tending to things requiring deeper attention are the very things that keep our healing "slight" and the circular pattern locked.

We are betrayed...and we betray.

We are wounded...and we wound.

We are treated insensitively...and we are insensitive.

We are judged...and we judge.

We are rejected...and we reject.

We are gossiped about...and we gossip.

We are excluded...and we exclude.

We are treated unkindly...and we are unkind.

We are taken advantage of...and we take advantage.

We are slandered...and we slander.

We are treated with impatience...and we are impatient.

We are served bitterness...and we serve bitterness.

We are ignored...and we ignore.

May we not deny our feelings but acknowledge them and come to You for truth, healing and comfort so that we can break free of the cycles that enslave us.  May we see that the key that unlocks our chains and interrupts the pattern is Your unchained Word. May we be willing to admit and bring our pain to You.

Set up a standard LORD so that we do not continue in and lead others into captivity based on our own wounded-ness, but so that we will able to respond in ways that the chains that go 'round and 'round our feet, hands and neck - are broken, and we are able to move out of vicious cycles of pain and forward freely into Your places of promise.  

 

 Rise from the dust, O Jerusalem.
      Sit in a place of honor.
   Remove the chains of slavery from your neck,
      O captive daughter of Zion.

Isaiah 52:2

So that,

when we are betrayed...we choose to be loyal.

when we are wounded...we comfort and heal.

when we are treated insensitively...we ooze compassion.

when we are judged...we love without condemnation.

when we are rejected...we live with open doors and open hearts.

when we are gossiped about...we protect each other's reputations.

when we are excluded...we become thankful and even more secure in You.

when we are treated unkindly...we lavish love.

when we are taken advantage of...we become known for our integrity.

when we are slandered...we edify and encourage.

when we are rushed...we are careful to be patient.

when we are served bitterness...we serve joy to overflowing.

when we are ignored...acknowledge another's significance and worth.

What a difference it makes to look into Your face LORD, when in looking to

one another's we can only see our own pain reflected back...but when we

look to You, we see peace and a better, higher way...a way that has already been

paved and wrought with the precious blood, sweat and tears of Jesus...a way that

leads us into the everlasting...healing our wounds and calming our fears.

Thank you for setting up a standard LORD and thank you for the gift of salvation.

Open our eyes to see how often we break Your heart when all You want to do is heal ours.

"Stop! In the name of love...

Before you break my heart...

Think it over."

Lyrics from The Supremes