Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Prayer Request 3/25 - 3/31

TuesdayAmerica's first lady traveling to China with her mother and daughters--three generations of women all traveling together--is a subtle gesture to support Chinese values and the family bond. Officials are calling this visit a "people to people" trip without a political agenda. Most of the churches in China find it difficult to minister to more than one generation in their churches. Often either the older or the younger generation is neglected. We pray there will always be a strong sense of family in the churches and that believers of all ages will know they are loved unconditionally there.
Wednesday
Michelle Obama is a natural leader who spends a lot of time with her two daughters. In China there is a generally hushed regret about having a daughter, let alone two. To have a good relationship between mothers and daughters is rare and very positive for people there. Ladies in China who have only daughters are often regarded as incomplete because there is no male heir. We pray specifically for Christian families with only girls. May the Lord bless them with a special purpose and wisdom, knowing they will raise godly women and that the Lord has a special purpose for their daughters.
Thursday
The significance of three generations of the first family of the United States traveling together is not lost on the Chinese people and definitely appreciated by most of them. The First Lady will be addressing young students as well as older people. It is our prayer that many young Christian girls in China will be inspired by this special visit. We pray that every young believer will know God can use her no matter where she comes from whether a village or a city, a poor or a rich family, if she has or has not graduated from college, and whether she is beautiful or only average looking.
Friday
One of China's controversial "baby rescue station" has been shut down at least temporarily. The facility in Guangzhou has been receiving five abandoned babies daily until now it has no capability to take more. It was meant to take babies who would likely die by being abandoned on the street. Guangzhou is also the capital for adopting babies to foreign countries. We pray especially for the tens of thousands of Chinese babies who have been adopted and are now living abroad, many with Christian families. May the Lord reward those families and raise up some of these adopted children to have a powerful testimony of God's grace and love.
Saturday
While abandoning infants in China is illegal, the practice is relatively widespread, especially in poorer areas. All 262 babies received suffer from disabilities or diseases such as cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome and congenital heart disease. Many young mothers go to “rescue center” to abandon their unwanted infants hoping they will be adopted abroad and have a better life. We pray for all Christian parents who live in regret of being a poor or irresponsible parent. May they know the Lord's forgiveness, and His comfort and joy.
Sunday
The staggering number of infants who have been abandoned in the cities of China has meant that the baby rescue center's operator has not been able to keep up with the volume. Guangzhou has only eleven hundred beds to care for handicapped children and they are already full. Let us lift up all the churches and Christians in China who are involved in caring for abandoned children, orphans, and those who are severely handicapped. May the Lord greatly reward them for caring for and showing the love of Jesus for "the least of these".
Monday
In China many young mothers take their sick babies to big cities in the hope of having them cured but then they simply end up abandoning them because of the huge costs of medical care. We know how sad it is for a human being to be abandoned by parents so we want to pray for Christians who are "abandoned" by their families because of their persistent faith in Jesus Christ. We know they will have a great reward in heaven and we know God will comfort them.

星期二
美國第一夫人帶著她的母親和女兒,三代女人一起造訪中國,這是對中國傳統價值和家庭關係的微妙肯定。官方宣稱這次訪問是純粹的「人民對人民」之旅,沒有任何政治議程。 許多中國教會發現他們無法做到多代的關懷,照顧到老一代,就遺失了年輕信徒。 教會是屬靈的家,我們為每個信徒來到教會,都學習彼此配搭,共建神家禱告,好使教會中每位成員能明白主無條件的愛。
星期三
美國第一夫人是天生的領袖,也是花許多時間在女兒身上的母親。反之,許多中國有女兒的夫妻,心中卻常有說不出的遺憾。一個女人能與母親和女兒都有美好的關係,的確是很美的榜樣。中國對傳宗接代仍然十分重視,我們為只有女兒的信徒家庭禱告,求主特別恩待他們,又加添智慧,幫助他們養育出敬虔的婦女,也深知神在她們一生有美好及特別的計劃。
星期四
美國第一家庭三代一起旅行,對中國人而言是非常特別及有意義的事。美國第一夫人是次訪華會向中國學生演說,相信會帶給年輕人跟年長者一樣許多啟發與勉勵。但願許多年輕信徒,尤其是女生會因著這次訪問得到鼓舞。我們相信神使用每一個年輕信徒,求主幫助他們,無論是來自農村或城市,貧窮或富有的家境,教育程度如何,外貌如何,都在主裡認識到自己的珍貴價值。
星期五
為了及時發現和救助棄嬰,部分中國城市試辦福利院「嬰兒安全島」以收容棄嬰。廣州市試辦以來,竟然每天平均接收五個棄嬰,超出福利院的極限,目前宣告暫停接受棄嬰。 廣州是中國嬰兒領養的首都。數以萬計的寶寶被外國家庭領養,其中不少是會在基督教的家庭長大。我們為她們感恩,求主賞賜這些愛心家庭,也使用這些孩子來為神的恩典大愛作有力的見證。
星期六
雖然拋棄嬰兒是違法的,但在中國的貧困地區仍然普遍。廣州市接受的262個棄嬰都有殘疾,如腦癱、唐氏綜合症和先天性心臟病等。許多年輕媽媽放棄殘障嬰兒,是盼望他們被外國人收養,能受到良好醫療照顧。不少基督徒父母,因著貧困、錯誤或種種理由而無法履行親職,求主減輕他們的內疚,知道神的赦免,安慰及喜樂。
星期日
棄嬰數目之多令人驚訝,造成當局無法適當照顧。廣州市社福院設有床位1千1,目前收留撫養的孤殘兒童和青年遠遠超過這個限額,已達2,395人。我們特別為那些參與照顧殘障,被遺棄或是孤兒事工的教會和基督徒禱告,願神更多賜他們憐憫和愛心,他們作在最小的身上,就是做在主身上,求主賞賜他們的勞苦。
星期一
年輕媽媽把有病的嬰兒帶到大城市尋求治療,一旦知道沒有改善的可能,就選擇拋棄,因為她們無法支付傾家蕩產的醫療費用。被親生父母拋棄是何等悲哀!我們在禱告中紀念所有因著信主耶穌而被家人「拋棄」的基督徒。他們為了跟隨主付上極大代價。雖然地上不蒙記念,但在天上的生命冊裡已記錄他們的名字,必有冠冕為這些在難處中仍堅守主道的信徒存留。

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