In a class on spiritual disciplines, the instructor challenged us to journal for a week and then report back the results.  I dutifully journaled.  The next week, I half jokingly reported, “I want my money back; it didn’t work.”  As the instructor probed my response, I realized that I had approached journaling like a chore and forced myself to journal every day.  I had expected some special reward for my work.  None was forthcoming.

 I had the wrong attitude.  My instructor encouraged me to see journaling as a means to an end, not an end in itself.  My goal should have been to grow in a relationship with God instead of journaling as a good work.

 I think we need to see prayer in a similar light.  Instead of praying as a “duty,” I think we need to view prayer as a special time to listen and talk with our God in order to know Him better.

For some of us, it as not as easy as it appears to be for others.  In a Sunday school word association exercise, we were asked to give a word association with “prayer.”  Everyone else had religious sounding answers but my first association was “hard work.”  One lady in the class was shocked that I considered prayer to be work.  I think part of my problem was my approach to prayer, but part is my maleness and personality style.  As a male, it takes a lot of mental energy to put my deepest thoughts into words.  For the lady that confronted me, words of praise and petition seemed to flow from her like water flows from a spring.  For me to make the waters flow out, I must pump the water like an old fashioned farm pump.  Does this mean that she was more spiritual than I?  Possibly, but could the difference be a gender difference?  Words come more easily for a woman than a man.  Our brains are hardwired differently.  Could it be a personality style difference?  She was an extrovert; I tend to be more introverted.

Whether prayer comes easy for you or is something that is more difficult, I would encourage you to keep praying so that you may come to know our God even more fully. 

We need your prayers for the Oblong Children’s Christian Home.  The kids in care are fighting spiritual battles and we know that spiritual battles are most often won on our knees.

Prayer Requests from the last Prayer Needs letter and updates in blue ink.

1. The Christmas season is a difficult time for the children.  Many expectations—many disappointments.  After Christmas home visits, the adjustment back to the Children’s Home’s structure is also difficult.  Please keep the kids and these adjustments in your prayers. The kids had an amazingly good Christmas.  No one had to come back early.  The adjustment back has gone smoothly. Thanks for your prayers.
2. Please pray for spiritual growth.  Pray especially for one girl who is struggling with the decision to accept Christ as Savior. Please keep praying.  No decision yet.
3. Please pray that God will direct the future growth of the home.  We are currently testing the waters with several grant applications to see if God desires us to build a multipurpose building.  There will be more information about these plans in the next issue of the Builder.  The Board is also seeking God’s direction and timing regarding a grandparents’ home and another group home. We have not gotten any positive grant responses yet.  God’s answer to construction plans may be “not now.”  We are focusing instead on improving our program.  We praise him for his answers.
4. Please pray for the protection of the staff.  Accusations of abuse are an occupational hazard of working with youth in these times.  We thank God that there are no current accusations and ask for His continued protection.  God continues to be faithful in protecting our staff.

Current prayer Needs

1. Please continue to pray for the spiritual growth of our young people.  Specifically, pray that the kids who have not accepted Christ will make that decision. There are several kids who we believe are ready but are hesitating to make the decision.  Please also pray for our spiritual growth as staff.  We have found that our growth and the growth of our kids are intertwined. 

2. Please pray for two children who are returning home and one who plans to go to Bible college.  Also, pray that the three girls who will be leaving next year will finish strong and will maintain their good relationship with our staff during the leaving process.

3. Please pray for a child who has recently entered the program and that God will send the right boys (our girls house is full) who will benefit from our program.

4. Please pray for wisdom for our counselor, Brad, as he helps kids deal with past issues.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 In Christian Love,

Arvin L. Moden

Administrator