Invitation to Prayer from Faces of Children ... TODAY

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).

Invitation to Prayer, TODAY

Hi Friends,

Thank you for joining me in prayer for the children of the world. If you can, we'd love to have you pray together with us this Wednesday - TODAY -  at 11:30 a.m., in the gym conference room at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas, followed by lunch together.

Also, Faces of Children is now on Facebook ! I invite you to like our page so that you can see regular stories, prayer needs, and updates from partner ministries.

All the best,

Carrie

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Dear Intercessors,

No matter how you voted or who you think should have been elected, this contentious election has left most of us feeling a little battered and beaten... a little raw. And now, we must be about the business of moving forward together.

This week, I thought we'd take a moment to appreciate the wisdom of children and praise God for their ability to see strangers as friends.

This week in your prayer time, I encourage you to lift up whatever tragedies, injustices, calamities, or conflicts are on your heart. But I'd also ask that you spend time simply thanking God for the gift of children to this world, and ask Him to empower us to love them well, serve them whole-heartedly, and train them up in ways that builds unity in this fractured world.

First, a video from Kid President, teaching us a thing or two about how to disagree with people ...

And next, this little girl realizes that just because someone speaks a different language from you, doesn't mean they can't be your friend. "The fifth-grader at Paloma Elementary School in Temecula, California, noticed how lonely Rafael seemed and decided to keep him company. But when she tried to introduce herself, she realized the boy didn't speak her language. Instead of shrugging her shoulders and walking away, Amanda turned to Google Translate. After a few attempts, she crafted a letter written completely in Spanish."     • Read more here ...

CBS News Photo

And finally, even a 4-year-old knows that someone can look and act very differently than you, and still be your friend. They also instinctively understand that most of the time, strangers are simply friends we haven't made yet.

Just take this sweet story involving a little girl named Norah and an older gentleman she met in the grocery store.

"As Mr. Dan walked by, she (Norah) smiled and waved. 'Hi old person! It's my birthday!'" said Wood. "He stopped in his tracks, smiled, and said, 'Well hello, little lady! How old are you today?' They chatted for a couple of minutes, and we went our separate ways." But a few minutes later, Norah decided she really wanted a picture with him, so Wood tracked him down. "I just walked away, and then I was coming up the bread aisle," said Mr. Dan. "And I said, 'OK this is almost my last aisle before I get out of here, and then here is this little girl again.' "And so they posed together, and then they hugged each other like they were long lost friends," Wood said. They thanked him for his time. "He teared up and said 'No, thank you. This has been the best day I've had in a long time. You've made me so happy, Ms. Norah,'" Wood said.

The touching story doesn't end there!     • Read more here ...

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
- Isaiah 11:6

If it's possible for wolves and lambs, leopards and goats, calves and lions and yearlings, it must also be true for elephants and donkeys. :) Blessings to you this week. May you be filled with peace, hope, and joyful expectation, and may you encounter children leading us towards a gentler and more compassionate world. Praise God for them

Praying with you,

Carrie

Carrie J. McKean
Faces of Children Director
First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas
(432) 684-7821 x153

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If you have prayer 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 info@facesofchildren.net