I will praise God's name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving. (Psalm 69:30 NLT)

Week 6 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL. Please pray!

Today's prayer topics:

• Troubles come and go, but the Lord is always beside us, and for that we give thanks.
• On this Lord's day as we ponder anew his great love for us, may our voices burst forth with songs of adoration.
• Offer thanks today for each gift we have received in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power. (Psalm 69:29 NLT)

Week 5 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL. Please pray!

Today's prayers:

• Lord Jesus, we are comforted knowing that through your suffering you understand our distress.
• Heavenly Father, rescue us and give us rock-solid faith until you do.
• May you use the campaign FOR EMMANUEL to show your saving power.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:12-13 NIV)

Week 5 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL. Please pray!

Today's prayer topics:

• Pray we want more of God than merely wanting more of the things he can give us.
• Pray we learn to live satisfied with the resources God provides and the timing in which he delivers them.
• Pray the campaign FOR EMMANUEL points people to Christ's mission and how he would lead them to support it.

Answered prayers:

• Thank God for contributions yesterday totaling $25,625.
• Thank God for a pledges received yesterday of $26,200. 

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

Week 5 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL. Please pray!

Today's prayers:

• O God, as we share our needs with you, may we rest from our worries, knowing you will help us now as you have helped us before.
• Lord, protect our minds from negativity, bitterness, cynicism and every emotion that disrupts your peace in us.
• Jesus, may your peace saturate us in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Answered prayers:

• Thank God for revealing that it's not as much about what we ask God to do with our problems as much as it is simply sharing our needs with Someone who knows what to do with them.

Never give up unless it's praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to him.

When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation. (Proverbs 10:25 NLT)

Week 5 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray we anchor to the foundation, who is Christ Jesus, our immovable rock of stability.
• Pray that after the raging storms, we stand – unscathed, on mission, advancing.
• In the campaign FOR EMMANUEL, pray that the efforts of the enemy collapse and fall away.

Thank you for praying.

But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!” My future is in your hands. (Psalm 31:14-15 NLT)

Week 5 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray we not just meditate on trusting God, but may we also proclaim it.
• If we believe our future is in God’s hands, then may we accept hard times as easily as we receive the good.
• Pray for our supporters to trust and obey God in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Thank you for praying.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He care for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. (Psalm 146:8-9 NLT)

Week 5 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayers:

• O Lord, when weighed down, may we embrace your love that lifts us above the reach of our adversaries.
• Dear God, you help the vulnerable and fragile. Help us.
• Jesus, please open the eyes of our supporters to see the possibilities in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Thank you for praying.

The Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! (Psalm 145:11-12 NLT)

Week 5 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray we give God delight through our childlike dependence as well as the praises we lift to him.
• Pray our hope is centered not in humans, but in the Lord’s constant and unfailing passion to be with us.
• Pray for those who give in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL to make their giving an act of worship and praise.

Thank you for praying.

Give us help against the adversary, for vain is the help of man. Through and with God we shall do valiantly. (Psalm 108:12-13 AMP)

Week 4 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray we go where God leads, even to the hottest battle, for through and with God we valiantly overcome.
• Pray for God’s supernatural intervention in renegotiating agreements with some vendors to save money and create greater efficiencies.
• In the campaign FOR EMMANUEL, pray for donors to respond to the letter we are sending requesting as many as possible to give by June 30, 2015.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thank God for a voicemail message from a supporter pledging $1000 per year for the next five years.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)

Week 4 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayers:

• Praise God. You are good.
• O Lord, we rejoice knowing you are working out our worst circumstances in ways that eventually make them beneficial to us.
• Father, may your purpose be accomplished in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thank God for an encouraging conversation yesterday with three dedicated donors and their commitment to support Emmanuel now and in the future.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT)

Week 4 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Praise God. He is life. He is power. He is powerful life in us.
• Pray we comprehend life’s challenges not as indicators of God’s diminished interest in us, but as opportunities for the mysteries of his boundless love to be revealed.
• Pray the love of Christ saturates the hearts of supporters to empower the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thank God today for the deep love for Emmanuel displayed in so many patient and generous acts of kindness by devoted alumni and friends.

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. (Psalm 34:19 NLT)

Week 4 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Praise God. He is our hope of rescue.
• Pray the campaign FOR EMMANUEL brings us the funding we need for this summer.
• May we persist in hopeful expectation that our troubles are momentary and that the Lord’s promise of rescue is certain.

Thank you for praying.

Answered prayers:

• Thank God today for two alums who called yesterday, one pledging $18,000 and the other pledging $5000 in the campaign.

You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of danger. (Psalm 31:3 NLT)

Week 4 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayers:

• Praise God. You are our fortress.
• O Lord, use the campaign FOR EMMANUEL to lead us out of danger.
• For the honor of your name, Emmanuel, stay close to us – through good times and bad.

Thank you for praying.

Summon your might, O God. Display your power, O God, as you have in the past. (Psalm 68:28 NLT)

Week 4 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Praise God. He is mighty.
• Pray for a release of God’s power that moves the unmovable in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.
• Pray for triumph in the present fueled by our memory of the past when God’s power obliterated our helplessness.

Thank you for praying.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. (Colossians 3:16 NLT)

Week 4 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Praise God. He is wise.
• In our worship today, may our hearts overflow today with joyful singing, sincere prayers, and lavish thanks.
• May God’s wisdom fill our minds today.

Thank you for praying.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3:14-15 NLT)

Week 3 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayers:

• Praise God. He is our peace.
• O Lord, help us to so fill our lives with love, peace, and harmony, there is no room left for fear.
• O God, I will express my thanks to you throughout each day, for your gracious gifts are visible everywhere I go.

Thank you for praying.

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. (Hebrews 4:16 NLT)

Week 3 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Praise God. He is full of mercy and grace.
• Pray for bold prayers to be offered for Emmanuel that dare to ask for the improbable and even the impossible.
• Grace when we need it most is often later than we think so pray with boldness and be patient.

Thank you for praying.

I look up to the mountains – does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:1-2 NLT)

Week 3 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s prayers:

• Praise God. He is our help.
• O Lord, help us to acknowledge you as the one who made everything, the one who can move heaven and earth to help us.
• O God, please remove any obstacle inhibiting the mission of Emmanuel College.

Thank you for praying.

Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. (Psalm 146:1 NLT)

Week 3 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Never give up unless its praise we give up to God; never give in except to give in to Him.

Today’s praises:

• Praise God. He is love.
• Praise God. He is wise.
• Praise God. He is sovereign.

Thank you for praising.

Answered prayers:

·         Thank God for a $5000 pledge yesterday in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

·         Thank God for more than $33,000 in contributions deposited yesterday.

Praise Report:

Last week God spoke two phrases into me that I thought were very strange: Give up and give in.  I’ve pondered them since, and yesterday he made sense of these. He arranged two very important meetings for me yesterday with Dr. Charles Mully and then with Dr. Charles Stanley. The first meeting was planned. The second was not.  It is clear to me that God orchestrated the day with precision. You cannot find two ministries more different yet more alike. Both men spoke words of encouragement and hope, and both prayed for us. And both used the words “trust in God” and “surrender to God.” It was clear that God was speaking words of wisdom and hope into us. This morning the phrases from last week became clear in the light of trust and surrender. Never give up unless its praise we give up to God. Praise precedes trust. And surrender? Never give in except to give in to God. Surrender to God is the behavior that demonstrates our trust in God. I’m so thankful for these powerful words and thoughts emanating from my encounters with Dr. Mully and Dr. Stanley. 

If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him! That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. (Romans 8:17-18 MSG)

Week 3 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray the campaign FOR EMMANUEL opens the door to a better day.
• Pray we keep discouragement at bay during the hard times by embracing the vision of where God is leading us.
• Although we tend to yearn for the easier path, teach us, O Lord, the value of faithfully living through hardship.

Thank you for praying.

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. (Romans 8:16-17 NLT)

Week 3 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray for relief, but when there’s suffering instead, may we rest in the Father’s gentle touch of assurance.
• Pray the campaign FOR EMMANUEL brings release from financial distresses.
• Pray for an unusually large enrollment in summer school beginning with the May term.

Thank you for praying.

I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. (Psalm 145:1 NLT)

Week 3 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayers:

• Our hearts and our ministries are not our kingdoms to rule, but yours, O God.
• We. Submit. Honor. Praise. Exalt. You. Our God and King. Forever.
• The campaign FOR EMMANUEL is yours, O Lord. We submit it to your purposes.

Thank you for praying.

Originally posted May 9, 2015.

You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. (Psalm 65:11 NLT)

Week 2 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray for a bountiful harvest of support in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.
• Pray for commencement activities today and for our graduates who are Emmanuel’s bountiful harvest after years of growing and preparation. May today be the beginning of amazing careers that make the world a better place.
• Shout with joy remembering that hard times often produce remarkable and unimagined abundance.

Thank you for praying.

Originally posted May 8, 2015

Give your worries to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will never let good people down. (Psalm 55:22 NCV)

Week 2 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray we silence worry by relentlessly declaring the promise of God to take care of us.
• In the campaign FOR EMMANUEL, pray for our supporters to respond in their role as part of God’s promise of provision.
• Pray for safe travels for our underclassmen, many of whom are traveling home today.

Thank you for praying.

Originally posted May 7, 2015.

You should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. (2 Timothy 4:5 NLT)

Week 2 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray we think clearly in the implementation of the campaign FOR EMMANUEL, allowing only actions that advance the work of God.
• Pray we work to relieve suffering, but when it’s our turn to suffer, overwhelm us with comfort and hope to bear it well.
• Pray for our students and faculty planning mission trips this summer to have their needs met and their hearts made full for service.

Thank you for praying.

Originally posted on May 6, 2015.

He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshipfully fear him. He also will hear their cry and will save them. (Psalm 145:19 AMP)

Week 2 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayer topics:

• May our cries to the Lord for help be surpassed by our expressions of worship and awe.
• Pray for an unusually high volume of financial gifts during the month of May in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.
• Pray for reasonable and manageable responses from decision-makers with whom Emmanuel must work including accreditors, governmental agencies, associations and other partners.

Thank you for praying.

The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him sincerely and in truth. (Psalm 145:18 AMP)

Week 2 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayer topics:

• May we pray more, and God will draw in close, making our troubles less important and his presence paramount.
• In the campaign FOR EMMANUEL, pray for thousands of our supporters to offer an increasing volume of prayers.
• Pray for our bondholders as they consider their response to the recovery plan to grant mercy in our time of need.

Thank you for praying.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT)

Week 2 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayer topics:

• When circumstances are frightful, pray for fearlessness and calm as we follow our Lord leading the way.
• Pray for confidence in our ever-present God during the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.
• Pray for our students and faculty who begin exam week today.

Thank you for praying.

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth. Now rescue your beloved people. Answer and save us by your power. (Psalm 108:5-6 NLT)

Week 2 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL beings today.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray for the people of God around the world on this Lord’s day to exalt him, basking in his glory.
• In the campaign FOR EMMANUEL, pray for people to answer the call generously.
• Pray for the release of God’s power over our distress and for remarkable rescue.

Thank you for praying.

I will thank you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. (Psalm 108:3-4 NLT)

Week 1 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayers:

• O Holy Spirit, speak to many who will respond quickly with gifts and pledges in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.
• In the heat of battle, O God, remind us of your unfailing love and your unending faithfulness to us.
• When our energy is spent, thank you, Jesus, for tenderly holding us and making our spirits sing.

Thank you for praying.

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. (Colossians 4:2 NLT)

Week 1 in the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.

Today’s prayer topics:

• Pray for more prayers and for more pray-ers to support the campaign FOR EMMANUEL.
• Pray for wisdom to engage both mind and spirit in a daily discipline of prayer.
• Pray for mental alertness as we move through today, offering thanks and making petition as easily as drawing the next breath.

Thank you for praying.