Reflections for a New Year

Welcome to 2021—A brand new year is here! 
 
While New Year’s Day as a holiday has no biblical significance, this doesn’t mean Christians shouldn’t pause and reflect on the turning of the calendar.

A new year can remind us of new life, hope and opportunity. Every new season is a testimony of God’s grace. Creation itself reminds us of God’s great faithfulness as we witness renewal and rebirth. Things can be renewed. Even in a cursed, fallen world, hope for change can exist. In a sense, every day with Jesus is a chance to turn the page on an old way of life and embrace a new one. We are, after all, new creation people, and we serve a King who renews us daily by the Holy Spirit. 
 
A new year can remind us to be intentional. A new cycle of life can serve as a reminder to be present and intentional with the time we’ve been given. The writer of Ecclesiastes says, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them”’ (Ecclesiastes 12:1). As Gospel-centered people, we should be mindful of the fragility of human life. 2021 is young and the opportunities seem fresh. Every breath is a miracle, a gift given to us by our Creator. 
 
A new year is a great time to recalibrate. Last year was a mix of joys and sorrows, goals accomplished and goals missed, friendships gained and friendships lost, year of pandemic, new jobs and some lost—but now it’s behind us. Choose God first this year! The proper response to the past year, whether good or bad, is not “I made it through” or “Look what I achieved.” It should be “Thank you, Lord!” Purposefully remembering God’s goodness instead of our own performance is a great way to begin again. 
 
A new year is the perfect opportunity to pray and reflect. May this year be brighter as you push into Christ. Let’s spend time in prayer recounting what Christ did for us. Let’s repent and fully worship his Majesty. Let’s renew our minds and commitments to Jesus first, then marriage, family, and church. Let’s rest this year. Don’t let the whisper of the enemy say you have less worth because you blew your resolutions last year. Jesus loves us unconditionally, and He doesn’t need our perfect performance to call us home and empower us for His mission. 
 
So as we make plans for 2021, let’s remember that even in our failures, we serve the One who remembers our frame and knows we are dust (Psalm 103:14). Trust your future to the King who holds the world in his hands. 
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Promises & Prayers of Christmas

For the world, Christmas has become a commercialized frenzy of crazed shoppers who trample each other underfoot while trying to get a good deal on shoes, games, and clothing. It seems so many have forgotten the true significance of the birth of the Heaven-sent King on that very special night.

For the Christian, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of the Lord—the heavenly and yet humble entrance of Immanuel into our world. The verse below is a prophecy fulfilled in Jesus. It was Jesus who was born in a manger so that He might hang on a cross to rescue us from our sins. The birth of Christ heralds our redemption, our blessing, our cleansing, and all our hope.

This Christmas, share the Christmas story with your family before opening of gifts. You can listen to the Christmas story from Luke 2 here. And as you go about your busy day, enjoying family and food and festive traditions, here’s a simple, centering prayer for you to share at your dinner table:

Happy birthday, Jesus! We celebrate your birth and your life. Thank you for coming to earth as a baby, bringing life and hope to us all. May everyone at our dinner table surrender to you. May each day be a celebration of who You are in our lives and may we be reminded that you are our WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE. In your name, we pray, amen.


We hope that you find the Hope and Peace in Christ this Christmas season!
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Prayers of Thanksgiving

When you gather at the Thanksgiving table this year, gratitude will certainly be a theme on the minds of both you and your loved ones. From saying a blessing over your Thanksgiving meal to reflecting on all you have, Thanksgiving prayers can be a wonderful way to let God — and your family — know how blessed you feel.

As Thanksgiving draws near, let’s remember that gratitude is something we should pursue always, not just on any one particular day. Let’s be grateful for the things the Lord has given us, not just for Thanksgiving, but every day. If you haven’t begun praying together during a meal or at bedtime, now is the time to start. 

We are incredibly grateful and thankful for those involved in Feed the Need Missions. What are you thankful for this year? 

Here’s a prayer for you to pray, but also this is the prayer of our hearts at Feed the Need Missions to those we serve and our volunteers. Millions of people across the globe live in difficult and trying conditions. It’s easy to forget the lack of freedom that so many others face on a daily basis. This Thanksgiving prayer helps put the focus on the Heavenly Father who has given you and your family so much.
“Father, today we give thanks for all the blessings You have given us. We’re safe from harm, we have food to eat and despite the challenges in our lives, we know that we are blessed. One of the things we’re most grateful for is Christ’s finished work on the cross.”

May you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. 
Let us know how we can pray for you. 
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Pray & Reflect With Us: A Season of Change

Autumn is a time for change. Weather changes, time changes, colors change, deadlines change, housework increases, sports have started and it’s a time to be thankful during all the changes. Let’s pray together for the month of October and ask God where you need to change. We will join you in prayer too.

O God of Creation, you have blessed us with the changing of the seasons. As we welcome the autumn months, may the earlier setting of the sun remind us to take time to rest.

May the brilliant colors of the leaves remind us of the wonder of your creation.
May the steam of our breath in the cool air remind us that it is you who give us the breath of life.

May the harvest from the fields remind us of the abundance we have been given and bounty we are to share with others.

May the dying of summer’s spirit remind us of your great promise that death is temporary and life is eternal. We praise you for your goodness forever and ever. Amen.

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Pray & Reflect With Us

Disaster Preparedness Month

September is Disaster Preparedness Month, and this year we are encountering two disasters in September: COVID-19 and Hurricane Laura. What an adventure we have been on and very grateful for the relationships we are building. Please pray with us, for us, those affected, and those who may be affected by this upcoming season.

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.” Psalm 130: 1-2

O Lord, you have surely heard the cry of those directly affected by these disasters. We also present to you our prayers for those wanting to assist, and those who are assisting in the relief. Lord, give them the strength to continue in adverse conditions.

Lord we pray for those who will provide clinical care and support to the wounded. Lord, give them the skills and fortitude to work long hours with limited resources.

For those who have and will bury the dead and comfort their loved ones. Lord, give them compassion and a heart for mercy.

For those who will organize acts to aide in relief. Lord, give them prudence and patience to understand needs. We also pray for those that have been invited to the journey to provide relief services, medical care, and hot meals. Give them all the gifts of compassion and charity in their coverage.

Hear us, merciful God that through this time of tragedy for those most affected, those who will be affected, and who have lost so much in previous disasters, that they will know of Your presence and learn of the Holy Spirit’s comfort. We ask that all Christians will remember their struggling brothers and sisters, and contribute the time to assist them in their continuing need. May our prayers rise up like incense for those affected by disaster, especially those who have lost their lives previously. For the families of the loved ones and for the lives who will be affected this season.

In Jesus Name we Pray, Amen.

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Pray & Reflect With Us: Back to School

After weeks of splashing in the sun, and going on vacations, educators and children are heading back to school. As we enter into a new school year, we ask that you join us in prayer. For some students, school is a safe place away from home, and for others it’s filled with fear. This year as we move forward with COVID, school may look a little different for students and teachers. We ask for the 2020-2021 school year that all students and educators (including parents) are covered in prayer throughout the world.

We are blessed to have educators to pour into our students. To teach them, to love them, to show compassion and mercy. But now we also have parents who are being educators at home because of COVID. We thank you all for the time spent investing in your/our children.

Here’s a few bible verses to help guide you in prayer:

1. Pray for Peace (Isaiah 26:3; Philippians 4:6-7; Romans 5:1).
2. Pray for Protection (2 Thessalonians 3:3; Psalm 46:1; John 17:15; Psalm 91)
3. Prayers for Perspective (Galatians 2:20; Matthew 28:18-20; Philippians 1:21; Colossians 3:1-2; Ephesians 3:17-20)
4. Pray that the students and educators will develop an eternal perspective and purpose, not an earthly one. Help them to see life–and every challenge–through His eyes.

Thank you for joining us in prayer.

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Pray & Reflect With Us: Summertime Prayer

Pray with us this summer as our staff and volunteers continue serving.

Loving God, Creator of all times and places, we thank you for the gift of summertime,
the days of light, warmth and leisure.

As we open our eyes and ears to the landscape of nature and people, open our hearts to receive all as a gift. Give us that insight to see you as the Divine Artist. Help us to realize and appreciate that you are laboring to keep all in existence.

And warm our souls with the awareness of your presence. Let all the gifts we enjoy this summer
deepen our awareness of your love so that we may share this with others and enjoy
a summertime of re-creation and building your kingdom.

This is our prayer for everyone we serve with, donors, guests, and prayer warriors. And for our cities. states, and countries.

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Black Lives Matter

“Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Feed the Need Missions has always strived to love unconditionally. Our ministry was started to serve ALL who come, no matter what. Our hearts want to echo 1 John 4:19, “We love because He first loved us.” In fact, this is not just a calling to us as a ministry, it is a calling to all Christians.

It is clear that evil is present. We can see it in the form of racial oppression, political divides, and using patriotism and religion as license to take action out of anger or personal gain. This is the chaos that Satan creates, thrives in, and conquers all who allow it to enter. This is not the time for the Church to be silent. This is the time to show the love of Jesus, not the judgement of men, to all people.

Do not confuse Black Lives Matter with putting one race over another. This isn’t the point. The point is that Black Americans are hurting and need support right now. If you have multiple children and one of them tells you “I love you,” you don’t respond with “well I love all my children, not just you!” Even though this is true, this is not what our brothers and sisters need to hear in this moment. They need to hear that we love them, and that we’re here to stand in the gap for them and be the voice that needs to be heard in solidarity alongside of them.

What can I do? This is often the first question we ask. Many times we don’t get the answer we want or it is too hard to find out, it’s easier to try to ignore it and sit idle and return to things that feel comfortable.

But when you are comfortable there is no progress, there is no fight, there is no battle. The only thing defeated in comfort is the spirit of love that lives inside you. It’s time for that spirit to stay alive. Not just for a short time, but until Jesus comes back.

Start getting uncomfortable. Here are two things you can begin to do today.

    1. PRAY. Time and time again, Jesus shows up when we ask. Pray for our Black friends and neighbors. Pray our eyes would be open to the injustices happening, big and small. Pray that your heart would be empathetic and broken for the pain that people have experienced. Pray for direction in what steps you can take to make a difference.
    2. LEARN. There are so many great resources out there – books, voices, etc. Here is a great place to start. Listen to your Black friends. Talk with others about what you are learning. Have uncomfortable conversations. Read books that make you rethink about what you were taught about race. Try to truly understand what the changes and policies people are fighting for, not just what you hear from sensational news headlines. And approach all of this with a humble heart. It is okay if you were wrong, and it is okay to change.

When you start diving in and really focus on these two things, the actions you need to take will come to light. Don’t be idle, this is important.

In this time of racial injustice, we need to let God’s love show through and guide all of us to unity. The worst thing that can happen is that when the uproar has quieted, we go right back into the comfortable lives we were living before. Don’t let that happen, love is difficult, love is often awkward, love is uncomfortable. Do the hard thing. Love.

To our Black brothers and sisters, we love you and we want to support you. We want to learn and listen. We ask for your forgiveness in places we have failed, and we are willing to do the work to make things better.

There is nothing special about Feed the Need Missions. We just try to instill doing small things well again and again. God doesn’t need superstars, he needs ordinary people that He can do extraordinary acts through.

We hope you join us in praying and learning. We can’t wait to see where God leads us to love others.

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Pray & Reflect With Us: Summer with COVID-19

Summer is here so swap out those winter boots for a pair of comfy flip flops. Winter feels like a distant memory at this point, so it’s time to dust off your picnic blankets, pack a snack and head to the park with your family. Even the nights are warmer, so this is the perfect season for stargazing.

But wait, are you wondering whether the Spring and Summer months will bring some kind of break from the COVID-19 coronavirus? Well, if transmission of this virus does go down after early June, it’s not just the heat, it’s the humidity that could make a difference. And that may include not only the humidity outdoors but also the humidity in indoor locations like the grocery store, the hospital, and your home.

Whatever your summer plans are, Feed the Need Missions will continue to serve and be there for you. Our prayer is your family stays safe and healthy this summer.

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PRAY & REFLECT WITH US: MOTHER’S DAY

It’s an uncertain time for so many of us. Illness, social distancing, job loss, new school protocols, pay cuts, lost loved ones … this list goes on. Now, more than ever is the time to hit our knees in prayer. Prayers are needed for our kids, our schools, our healthcare system, our families, our government, our country, our world…and moms. As we get closer to Mother’s Day let’s pray specifically for our moms.

Heavenly Father, Our moms are tired. You see the demands of their days. You know the demands of their family and of their work. And Jesus, You hear the cry of their heart. You know the exhaustion of mind, body, and spirit’s more intimately than even they know.

Jesus, I ask that you revive them right now. We know you give power to the faint, and increase strength to those who have no might.

Give them rest, Father — physical, emotional, and spiritual — so they can serve and love more abundantly. Your Word says to come to you, all who are weary and you will give them rest. Give them your yoke and wrap your loving arms around their soul, for their burden is light.

Help the lovely moms to learn from you, Jesus – you know the need to be alone and rest. Now Lord, help the moms to make time for this and recognize the opportunities you’ve provided.

Father, I thank you for your love and understanding and I put my trust in you right now. I thank you for your promises and praise you for your goodness!

In the peaceful name of Jesus, Amen.

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