Philippians 1:3-6

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I especially like to use this verse when praying for the missionaries we partner with at our church. Speaking of church... I just want to welcome those who took some our cards with our blog on it at church this past weekend! We are thrilled you desire to be a part of what God is doing not only through our lives this summer, but those youth whom we'll be working with. We are so blessed to be a part of this church family at Rochester Christian Church.... really, you have no idea. Thank you to all of you who are praying for us and so this verse is our "thanks" to our church family and faithful friends and family!




Speaking of praying... we just learned today that there are 180 children from the ages of 6-13 who arrived at ProEm's first week of camp yesterday! They are typically "full" at 140, so you can only imagine what it's like with 180!

• Pray for the counselors as they need to focus on developing relationships with about 16 campers they are responsible for.
  
• Pray for the staff as they deal with the "logistical" issues that come with having such a grand number!
• Pray for the team from Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. They are helping at the camp this week.

I'm posting a picture of our Polish friend, Adam, who works with ProEm Ministries and has been staying with us the last 4 days. We took him to St. Louis and to Union Station. I think one of his highlights of his first visit to the US is being a part of the Rochester Parade. He was on the church's float throwing out candy... it was a lot of fun! That night he experienced his first American grill-out at our friend's house (Emily Bivens, thanks for inviting us Emily!).

Crazy busy weekend, but having been able to host Adam's visit has been so enjoyable. He now will network with Christians at the Cornerstone Festival (www.cornerstonefestival.com) and try and recruit them to come speak/play over in Poland!

Have a great day!

Psalm 89:2

We have arrived back from our family vacation. The same day we got back, our friend, Adam from Poland arrived in Chicago. He's staying with us until Monday when Josh will take him over to the Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, IL. This is his first time to the US and it's been such a joy having him here and introducing him to some American cultural items. It may be a whirlwind weekend, but it's been fun! That being said, that's why it's taken me a few days to get back to posting our daily scriptures. We had a very relaxing vacation and many memories made!

But let's get to the Scripture for today! Psalm 89:2 reads:

I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

This verse always helped "calm" me when things in life didn't make sense. God is true to His Word, whether we accept it or not...that's the beautiful thing I believe. Despite my insecurities, or where I may be doubting my faith or God's goodness... HE IS and WAS and WILL BE. I thus fall back on the truth of Scripture and of His promises. I pray you are able to do the same today.

Side note: We take off for a much needed family vacation after work today. We've packed the van with the bikes, golf clubs and leaving the laptop behind! I highly doubt I'll get to post the daily scriptures here until after the 26th. Maybe I'll miss the computer and do it at my parent's house...but please don't feel neglected. You can let me know you miss it. I hope people are encouraged as I've been from the daily Scriptures!

Psalm 84:1,2

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.


The English booklet and lessons are done!!!

Matthew 28:16-20

Most everyone is familiar with this passage... known as the "Great Commission." After Jesus died on the cross, He appeared to many. He instructed the disciples to go to a mountain in Galilee. Before He ascended back into heaven, He left them with these words found in Matthew 28. "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Because we love God and worship Him, our natural outflow is to share and show that with/to others. Because Christ left us "instructions" of what His plan was (which included "all nations"), we are doing what we are doing! The really cool thing about this whole process in "going" is that it takes everyone involved to make it happen. All of us are involved in fulfilling the Great Commission! Have a wonderful day!

John 15:5-8 & Galatians 5:22-26

We were swamped with activities yesterday...that I didn't even have time to write our Scriptures for the day... and boy, did I feel the lack of being in the Word!

John 15:5-8 (Saturday's): "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

Galatians 5:22-26 (Today's): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Have a blessed day!

Matthew 7:7-11

This is another well-known passage!

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks find; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or it he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him?"

Jeremiah 29:11

Now that our paper route ended this morning ( a bit of a break before we head out, plus we're going on vacation- up north to the fam in Wisconsin- after work next week), no matter how late I stay up... 6:09 am jars my body awake!! Then the flood of "to-do's" comes rolling in. So... I figured jump starting my day in the Word would be the best and here I am typing up the Scripture of the Day!

This particular Scripture has always been special to me. When I became serious about my walk of faith, this Scripture was written in a card to me by a family I really didn't know that well. Their daughter and I were on the gymnastics team together and I had qualified for State. They had given me a card to congratulate me, and it was the first time I was introduced to this Scripture verse. Something about Jeremiah 29:11 gave me great hope for my life even at the age of 16 (was I 16, 17? I can't remember!). Even after all these years of following Him, I've had to cling to this passage. Our journey to Poland is an expression of God's "plans for us". :)

I sit here and I think about all the people in Poland that have struggled with "hope" and having a purpose or plan for their life... just the history of their country alone, and I know why we are drawn to do what we are going to do. They need to hear this Scripture spoken in their life... give them a sense of hope as well. So as you read this verse, pray with us as we pray for all those we'll be serving this summer in Poland. May this verse touch them as it's touched me...and may this verse touch you as it's touched me.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. "

1 John 4:7-12

Today's scripture reads: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God: but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

This is our prayer today for you as well.

24 Days To Go!

JUNE 10th:
24 days and we'll be flying out. We've finished our prayer calendars (if you see this and have not received one and would like one, drop a comment and we'll send one) and we'll try and post the Scripture listed in our prayer calendar for each day on here as well.

Today's Scripture is Titus 3: 3-8:
" At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out onus generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone."

We're so thankful for God's mercy. What an honor to be a part of God's global mission... and thank YOU for being a part of it as well! I (Ann) have made a lot of headway on the English lessons for the August week of camp. In fact, I'm almost finished and will then just have to create the handouts and supply list! A big sigh of relief!!!! Have a great day!