Y Pray for Angelica Van Iperen’s friends, Paul
SERMON NOTES: PRAYER REQUESTS
MAY 8, 2011
Y Pray for Ben Simmer, a young man just
graduated from college and has MS with
worsening side effects. Pray for new
treatments to become available and a cure.
Y Pray for students as they complete their
studies and tests and graduate to a new
experience in their lives.
Y For Ellie Jo Schmidt, 3 years old, who is
recovering from heart surgery.
Y Pray for all who at Chain of Lakes who look for
jobs, in particular, Lee Bliss, Bill Fink and Gary
Wassam.
Y For Akosua Addo as she is leading a Learning
Abroad seminar in a week. Pray for the safely
of the students and her colleague who is
traveling with her.
Y For Nicholas LaMay, Angelica’s nephew, as he
transitions back with his mother and receives
mental health treatment.
Y Pray for health in the Sabah household. (on-
going)
Y For Joshua Dochniak’s brother, Isaac Escoto,
as he is having pain on his knees. For Josh,
his back is giving him problems.
Y For Stephen Muhia who had a polyp removed
on Monday, 5/2.
Y Pray for Frank & Heather Butterfield’s friend in
court-justice, and wisdom from God; mercy
too.
Y For God’s direction as He teaches new things
to Heather Butterfield; that the Holy Spirit
would teach truth.
Y Pray for Adrianne Alexander’s parents as they
face terminal illnesses.
Y For Family of Richard Berg, Cameron Berg’s
grandfather, who recently passed away. And
for family of Carol Johnson.
Y Jane Zech (Barb & Lee Bliss cousin), and her
family. Jane is suffering from brain cancer
and is in her final days of life.
Y Virginia Schober, Amy Moore’s Aunt, who is
recovering from a broken vertebra and needs
to wear a halo until mid-June.
Y Carole Lloyd as she recovers at home after
successful surgery.
and Ruben, and they struggle with infertility
and limited resources to treat it.
Y Jacob Mielke a 19 year old man who is
struggling with cancer. He is getting chemo at
the Mayo Clinic.
Y Peter Ralston, Faith Ralston’s son who is
struggling with addiction.
Y Donna Mc Cullen, Ken Mc Cullen's wife as she
goes through more intense chemotherapy
treatment.
Y Pray for continued courage on Dwight
Zvorak’s recovery from alcoholism.
DEVOTION
Monday, May 16
Read Luke 2:41-52
Some people have wondered how
Joseph and Mary could depart from
Jerusalem without knowing whether
Jesus was with them. Pastor Paul
shared in his sermon yesterday that
the two trusted the entourage of
people with whom they traveled.
Many people from Nazareth traveled
together to Jerusalem to attend the
festival of Passover. These people
knew each other and trusted each
other. Joseph and Mary trusted that
the entourage of people from
Nazareth was taking care of their son.
Yesterday Pastor Paul talked about the
congregation being a youth minister.
We don’t hire one person to do
ministry to kids and children; instead
we hire a person to connect the entire
congregation to children and youth.
We want to have an entourage of
people—a group whom adults will
trust with their children.
Hopefully every adult at Chain of
Lakes will take special interest in at
least one child and youth. Who is a
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child or youth about whom you could
take a special interest? Would you
consider writing a letter or note to that
child or youth today—or even making
a phone call? The important point is
to share that you care for this young
person. By doing this you can be part
of an entourage of adults at Chain of
Lakes who are invested in the lives of
kids and youth.
Today as you pray, pray specifically
for this child or youth. Pray for the
person’s family; pray that the person
will grow up to be the person God
desires the person to be; pray that we
at Chain of Lakes can be an entourage
to that child or youth.
Tuesday, May 17
Read 1 Samuel 3:1-21
We’ve read this story before in these
devotionals, but it’s a story worth
reading over and over and over again.
The young boy, Samuel, needed an
adult to help him discern what was
going on in his life. Samuel didn’t
know that God was calling him to a
ministry. Without Eli, Samuel might
not have ever known what was
happening to him.
All of us can be an Eli to a youth or
child in our congregation. We take
special attention to someone and then
help that young person discern what
God is doing in their lives.
What would have happened to the
faith life of Samuel if he hadn’t had
Samuel? It’s certain that he wouldn’t
have known that God was calling him.
Perhaps God would have done
something later on to ensure Samuel
knew about his call, but we don’t know
this for sure.
All kids and youth at Chain of Lakes
need an Eli. For whom can you be an
Eli? Yesterday you were asked to take
a special interest in at least one child
and youth. As you pray today, pray
that you can be an Eli to this child or
youth; pray that you can help the child
or youth discern what God is doing in
that young person’s life.
Wednesday, May 18
Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Many people might wonder about the
purpose of youth and children’s
ministry. This passage answers the
question. Recite these words to
yourself
“Hear O Israel: The Lord is our God,
the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with
all your soul, and with all your might.
Keep these words that I am
commanding you today in your heart.
Recite them to your children and talk
about them when you are at home and
when you are away, when you lie
down and when you rise.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-7
We want the kids and youth at Chain
of Lakes to be able to love God with all
of their heart, soul, and might. Today
as you pray, pray that this will take
place.
Thursday, May 19
Read Genesis 4:1-18
4
This is a story of the very first family
mentioned in the Bible. The story is
tragic. Cain became jealous of Abel
and killed him.
Many families in the north Metro have
these jealousies and rivalries exist
within them. This story of Cain and
Abel is not just a biblical story—it’s
one that describes people who live
near us or even describes us.
Can you think of some families like
this. Today as you pray, pray for
them. Pray also that the church can
reach out to them in ways that are
healthy and helpful.
Friday, May 20
Read Mark 10:23-27
It’s interesting and wonderful to see
how Jesus addressed the disciples in
this passage. Jesus had shared how
hard it would be for those who have
wealth to enter the kingdom of God.
The disciples were confused by these
words. Then Jesus addressed them by
using the word, “Children.”
Jesus wasn’t trying to share that he
was the adult and the disciples were
the children. He was sharing his
understanding that the disciples still
had a lot to learn. He empathized with
their pain.
We are like the disciples. There is a
lot that we don’t understand about
what happens in our lives and what
happens in the world. If Jesus came
into the room with us he might
address us by starting with the word,
2 3 4
“children.” He wouldn’t do this to lord
his authority over us. Instead he
would be saying this out of a sense of
empathy.

Today as you pray, give thanks to God

for the empathy that we receive.
Despite our lack of understanding God
still loves and cares for us very deeply.

Saturday, May 21
Luke 18:15-17
When Jesus was touching even the
infants he was blessing them. The
disciples were surprised as infants
weren’t seen as deserving a blessing.
In Jesus’ day they were viewed as
property.

His words in verses 16-17 are worth

memorizing.
“Let the little children come to me,
and do not stop them; for it is to such
as these that the kingdom of God
belongs.”

At Chain of Lakes Church we’ve

translated this teaching of Jesus into
the Core Value of “Investing in Future
Generations.” We understand this to
mean that our priority is to create an
atmosphere where children, youth,
and young adults grow in faith.”

Today as you pray that we at Chain of

Lakes Church can live into this value.