July 24
Monday

 Today’s Tentative Plan:
Breakfast 7:30,
Attend Hope Chest Staff meeting,
Arrive at Bhalekane care point around 11:00,
home visits 3:30,
Dinner at 6

Please Read Psalm 143.
So much of this Psalm is a prayer. As you read it pray. Please underline or highlight any part of the Psalm that could be an ongoing prayer for you.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.
3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
11 For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.

As I read this Psalm I could hear the desperation in David’s voice as he called out to the One who was and is His strength. We will be going to do ministry today with Staff and Disciplers who daily face disease, death of community members, children without parents, financial scarcity, and all of this while trying to balance their own lives. You will see much joy and lots of smiles even in the face of such challenges. Pray for those we will be serving with. Pray for their families. Pray we will have words of life for them this week. Pray we will be sensitive to their needs and speak words of encouragement and strength to them. Pray that God shows you how to stir the up to love and good works.

Focal Passage for Today
Hebrews 10:24: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,”

Theme: Stir One Another Up to Love and Good Works
Today’s visit to the care point will be a treasured memory for a long time. Get ready to have children hanging from both hands. They have seen our group a couple of years now and they know that each child is deeply loved. Even those of you who have never come to the care point before you will be immediately loved. Don’t be afraid to show them the love of The Father. Keep your eyes open today as we visit the care point and visit homes. Look for children that show leadership skills and affirm and encourage them.