Invitation to Prayer

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Romans 8:31-39

"So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing God’s self to the worst by sending God’s own Son, is there anything else God wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

    They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
    We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."
The Message Remix: The Bible in Contemporary Language, by Eugene H. Peterson

A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children

Greetings, Faces of Children Intercessor,

It’s been a number of years since I challenged myself and the fifth and sixth graders I was teaching to memorize parts of this passage from Romans 8. Their quick minds were able to remember the verses with ease. However, my adult brain took a little longer to semi-permanently acquire them.

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39, New Revised Standard Version

These days (even though I probably wouldn’t be able to quote the verse verbatim), I can still recall the gist of this message Paul had for the church in Rome and for each of us: No one or no thing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. Nothing or nobody can get between us and God’s love for us.

Like most everyone else, I’ve had some challenging stretches along this journey through life. Remembering these particular verses (even in my less-than-correct grammatical style) has helped me navigate those difficult periods, secure in the knowledge that God is near and will never abandon me.

I give God grateful thanks that this promise is offered and available to each of us, especially to the vulnerable and abused children of our local and global communities. Will you pray with me that “the least of these” might know the life changing, life sustaining love of Jesus Christ? Would you pray with me that children who have no one to love them or pray for them will know God’s unshakeable, unwavering love?

The Faces of Children Midland/Odessa prayer group will meet on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, at 11:30 a.m. in the Bride's room at First Presbyterian Church-Midland. Please join us for this time of prayer, and afterward for lunch ($5) and a time of fellowship.

If you have requests about children, those who care for them, those who have authority over them, or those who harm them (the really hard prayers to say sometimes), please send them to me at at claufer@facesofchildren.net, or give me a call.

Thank you for your compassionate heart for children!

Chris