Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray that America has nothing to do with a 'peace plan' that attempts to give Israel's land away. Pray that the eyes of the American public become open to the violent nature of other religions and that we have nothing to do with them. We here at the ministry have been receiving reports from the brethren overseas who have seen an increase in violent behavior toward Christians. Please come in agreement with us for their protection. These situations are serious. We are so thankful that none that we have prayed for have lost their lives. This is why we keep the identity of those of you in dangerous countries hidden, many times not even mentioning the country by name. Know that we are praying for you. Please keep your prayer requests coming. Even during my writing hiatus we prayed as a church and ministry for your needs.

Sometime after the first of the year the Lord asked us at the church to pray for the safety of Americans on our own soil and for our troops worldwide. He has also asked us to pray for a de-escalation of hostilities overseas. The prayer request this month is simple. Pray for our troops and the people who love freedom and life. Pray for those who would rather function in love and communication to have success and those who would commit violent acts to be exposed and their plans to be thwarted. Pray as the Holy Spirit leads you. You can always email your prayer requests to us.

Not too long ago we had a man that we had been witnessing to for ten years pass away. He was one of the most difficult individuals I personally have ever had to share Jesus with. I wish I could tell you exactly where he made his eternal home, but I cannot. Some have said that he told them he had accepted Jesus. Whether this is true or not, I cannot say, since he would tell me the same thing, but then turn around and just be plain old evil the next day. I had watched God's dealings with this man over the years. Honestly, I never questioned God, but I did wonder what on earth He was up to sometimes. It was after the man's death that the Lord said to me, "If you were dying, would you still love me?" It stopped me in my tracks and I had to really think. After all, most of us love life and truly love living. To be told, as this man had been, that death was going to be immediate and imminent, how would I really feel? Suppose I did not have that great a relationship with the Lord to begin with, as I felt was the case with this person, wouldn't I be mad? Never mind if I had smoked and drank myself to an early grave, I'd still be a little ticked at what I felt was injustice. Now, maybe you're more rational, but I have met people that really feel this way and talking to them about Jesus can be a little unnerving. You know when the Lord said that to me I had totally forgotten that I had been wondering about His dealings with this man and the former Prime Minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon. And I got to wondering, God does everything in His power for us as people to go around our own anger and musings against Him to get us more pliable into accepting His gracious salvation. The man we had been talking to had been told on more than one occasion that he was dying. Each time the doctors would come back and tell him they were wrong and he would live. This last and most recent time I even thought it was over until I heard the news that he wasn't dying after all, and that they weren't exactly sure what was wrong with him. I got to thinking that the way in which the Lord dealt with this man was perfect for his own personality. He happened to be stubborn, difficult, not given to truth telling and frankly, if he could get away with something, he would. It didn't make it any easier that he was an old man who was hard of hearing---or at least he used that problem effectively, as he once told me himself that he did. Bless his heart, what a character this guy was. He had caused us much trouble and difficulty over the years, and yet I would watch God intervene to woo and draw him to Christ. Many would come and share the Gospel with him. It mattered little what I thought of him, God loved even him. I got to thinking how, in some small way it is similar with Sharon of Israel. Many love him, yet there are many that consider him their enemy. Yet God does not care one way or the other. We have no idea how much he can hear in whatever coma he is in and how Jesus can draw him to Himself. He is being given a short time here on earth in the invalid state that he is in for a purpose. We may not always see that purpose, but God is doing a work before his death. For those of you that are witnessing to difficult people in your lives, keep up the good work. You may never see the purpose, but God knows the answer. We're praying for you this month and the folks you are ministering to. You can always email us your prayer requests. Be encouraged in Christ that the word of the Lord you are sowing will not return to God void, but accomplish the task it was set out to do.