Sent Out

So after they fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on Barnabas and Saul and sent them out.  (Acts 13:3 NCV)

Today's meditation:

• Jesus came to save people from their sins, and we are blessed to be able to partner with him in evangelism, renewal, and service.

Pray today:

• For the personnel who lead and manage Student Outreach ministries: the Emmanuel Singers, the Emmanuel Players, and Revive Dance Team. 
• For them to be successful in planning, preparing, and implementing ministry outreach programs, for abundant financial and human resources to maintain and expand our ministries.
• For EC Serve to continue to grow and expand in providing service opportunities for students and employees, for those who lead and participate the EC Serve program, for our actions to speak louder than our words.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Declare

My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.  (Psalm 71:7-8 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Obeying the Lord and allowing him to work in us opens the floodgate of his power and protection, making us a testimony of his great love and glory.

Pray today:

• For the personnel who manage and assist in the Public Relations department of the College, for clear and vibrant communications that reveal the work of the Lord through Emmanuel College.
• For Forward magazine and other publications to inform and inspire our constituents and supporters.
• For the work of public relations to assist the many departments and people of the College to tell their stories, to draw thousands into our circle of influence, to engage them in telling others about Emmanuel, in giving time and money for our support, and in praying for our many needs.

Pray First! Pray Through!

The Lord Has Spoken

In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 40:3-5 NIV)

Advent meditation:

• We praise God for sending Jesus over 2000 years ago, and the world celebrates still.

Pray today:

• For the glory of the Lord to be revealed through his work at Emmanuel College that people may know our God who loves endlessly and works wonderfully among his children.
• For us at Emmanuel College to prepare our hearts and minds for the day rough ground and rugged places are smoothed out, a day when God's power dramatically changes everything..
• For a clear pathway through barren landscape, for the elimination of valleys of despair and mountains of debt along the way.

Pray First. Pray Through.

Give Me Strength

Give me strength, as you promised, and I shall live; don't let me be disappointed in my hope! Hold me, and I will be safe, and I will always pay attention to your commands. (Psalm 119:116-117 GNB)

Today's meditation:

• When God promises, he delivers, even when our energy is depleted and our faith is small - especially then.

Pray today:

• For the personnel in Campus Operations: for the Facilities Management staff to be effective and to find strength to keep up with repairs and improvements, for the Auxiliary Operations staff to efficiently manage events and services that provide community service and draw additional revenues to the College, for the Food Services staff to provide nutritious and abundant meal options for the campus.
• For the personnel in Campus Information Systems and Technology to have wisdom and understanding in managing complex IT systems and in maintaining and improving services, for financial resources to keep up with advancements in technology and with increasing demands.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Sustain Me

You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope. Get out of my life, you evil-minded people, for I intend to obey the commands of my God. Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed. (Psalm 119:114-116 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• Like a dry sponge, may we soak up the Word of God until hope abounds in us to drive away all despair and dread, leaving the promises of God in their place.

Pray today:

• For the College's employees to find favor and be blessed, for them to receive financial increase, for Human Resources to be guided by the Holy Spirit and able to provide care and services to meet needs, for all job searches to end with the right people hired. 
• For the personnel in Accounting Services to manage the College's money well, to find more ways to save on expenses and to increase revenues, to guide the improvement of its financial statements and position. 
• For the College's students and employees to be safe on and off campus, for Campus Safety to provide personnel and systems that provide protection, for evil to be thwarted and repelled, for God to be our refuge.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Serve

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. (1 Peter 4:10 NLT)

Today's meditation:

• The gifts of God are not limited to preaching, teaching, healing (the ministry gifts as we tend to think of them), but he gives all gifts, including the less visible and sometimes routine, for which we are grateful, especially when we need the services of people who possess these gifts.

Pray today:

• For the Finance Division of the College to be efficient and productive, for its people and systems to work well.
• For each department within Finance: Accounting Services, Human Resources, Technology, Campus Safety, and Campus Operations.
• For the services they provide to students and employees to be exceptional, for abundant resources to meet needs and advance the mission of the College, for gifted employees who serve the Emmanuel family well.

Pray First! Pray Through!

Ask

[Jesus said,] I tell you the truth, my Father will give you anything you ask for in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy. (John 16:23-24 NCV)

Today's meditation:

• Thrilling to read that the Father responds to the requests of Jesus' disciples. Even more thrilling to realize that we, too, are his disciples and have the privilege of asking in Jesus' name with the same promise to receive.

Pray today:

• For the new fundraising campaign that launches this spring, for people to be receptive and open to the Holy Spirit's guidance and to obey his directives.
• For the vision of Emmanuel College to be underwritten by the contributions of alumni and friends who desire to partner with us in the Christian higher education mission.
• For transformational gifts from faithful supporters as well as from new donors, for deep and abiding faith in the asking, for the fullest joy possible in the receiving, for God's incomparable glory in the outcomes.

Pray First! Pray Through!