PRAY WITHOUT CEASING

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)

Dear Friends of InFaith: Northwest Oregon,                                                                                            

I pray this note finds you rejoicing, praying and giving thanks to God for his work in your lives and ministries, as the Apostle Paul encouraged the church at Thessalonica to do long ago.  For some of us, that second admonition, to “pray without ceasing” can seem a little daunting.  Whether we believe it means we should always be in active prayer, always be in an attitude of prayer, or simply that we should never cease our habitual practice of prayer, it is sometimes a difficult standard to keep.  With the pace of life and ministry seeming to speed up each new day, setting aside an hour or so to talk with the Lord requires commitment, preparation and sacrifice.  So I commend those of you who make it a regular practice to join us at the monthly InFaith Portland Pastors Prayer gathering.  The most consistent in this intercession for the churches in our Northwest Oregon mission area are Pastors Brad Gentry, Steven Boyle, and Steve Roth, along with Steve’s partner in ministry and our partner in prayer, Carol Roth.  I also appreciate those of you who stop in occasionally as the Lord leads you to join in these sacred sessions, and to share the joy of lifting one another up before the Throne.  You are certainly invited to do that this Thursday, August 14 at 10 AM at Woodland Park Chapel, 1914 NE 102nd Ave, Portland.  Your presence will be a blessing to all of us.

 You are also invited the InFaith Sandy Area Fellowship Breakfast, August 20 at 9 AM at Tollgate Inn in Sandy.  Please mark it down on your calendar today.  Then join us for an hour or so of informal, informative and inspiring fellowship with other shepherds of the flock.

 I also thank those of you who have been praying for my health recently, and for the cards and phone calls.  The Lord has stabilized the blood pressure problem that sent me to the ER twice in the span of about a month.  In the big scheme of things, it was a minor inconvenience compared to what many of you are going through right now.  Please know I pray for all of you, too.  I am not sure I have mastered the “without ceasing” part, even after six decades of following Jesus…but I am still growing, as I trust are all of you.

 God bless you this week and always,

 Tom Hiscox, NW Oregon Area Missionary thiscox@infaith.org