Friday, April 29, 2011

Do Something World

About a month ago we received an email from a dear friend encouraging us to enter a video contest for the Do Something World ministry with The Rock Church in San Diego. The grand prize is $5,000 with the top 50 videos all receiving a cash prize. The video entries should be designed to encourage church, business and government leaders to harness the power of volunteerism, by mobilizing individuals to do something to transform their communities. After viewing a few videos already submitted, we quickly grew intimidated and dismissed the idea. 

Last night our friends emailed us again to remind us that the deadline is Saturday, April 30th. They pointed out that the Lord's work at Grace Babies' Home perfectly captures the spirit of the Do Something World ministry and encouraged us to pull something together. 

So here it is, a bit last minute and homespun. To God be the glory.


YUGO Ministries, Grace Babies' Home from Juan Strutton on Vimeo.
Posted by Juan Strutton at 10:17 PM

Monday, April 25, 2011

Prayer & Fasting Prayer Requests


Below are the prayer requests we emailed out everyday for our 40 days of prayer and fasting:

Day 1

Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. 
Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Psalm 127:1
Pray that the Lord would continue to be the Master Builder of Grace Babies’ Home and that He would continue to watch over the home.
Day 2

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Pray that the Lord would raise up consistent, monthly financial partners to support the ongoing, daily operations of the home. That GBH would be blessed abundantly, so that in all things and at all times we have all that we need.
Day 3
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1
Pray that the Lord would continue to give GBH favor with the Mexican government and Social Services.
Day 4

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.
2 Timothy 2:15-16
Pray for workers who are approved by God. Pray that the Lord would call his hard workers to GBH and direct their paths to get here. Pray that they would be good workers who are mature in their faith and are able to rightly divide the word of truth.

Day 5

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3
Pray for humility, gentleness and patience among the staff and missionaries at GBH. Pray for unity of the Spirit and a bond of peace.
Day 6

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. 1Chronicles 4:10
Pray that the God of Israel would bless Grace Babies’ Home. There is a piece of land next to the home that would be extremely beneficial to the functionality of the ministry. Pray that the Lord would enlarge our territory to include that land. Pray that God's hand would be with us, and that GBH would be kept from evil.
Day 7

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4
Pray for the babies that the Lord has already chosen to come to GBH. Pray that the Lord would cover them with his feathers and shelter them with his wings. Pray that the babies’ armor and protection would be the faithful promises of our God.
Day 8

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:2
Pray that the Lord would ordain strength out of the mouths of the babies at GBH, silencing enemies and all who oppose Him.
Day 9

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:5
Pray that the Lord in his holy dwelling would be a father to the fatherless that come live at GBH and a defender of widows.
Day 10

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:29
Pray that the Lord would give power and strength to the babies He brings to Grace Babies’ Home.
Day 11

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
Pray for the babies, that though weeping may endure for a night, that joy will come in the morning.
Day 12

He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10:18
Pray that the Lord ensures that our babies receive justice and that He would show love to the foreigners living among them.
Day 13

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52
Just as Jesus grew and matured while He lived on Earth, pray that our babies also grow physically in stature, mentally in wisdom, and spiritually in favor with God and man.
Day 14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, and that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14
Pray that our babies would know the security that comes with understanding that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. Pray that what their soul knows very well causes them to live a life of praise.
Day 15

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Pray that all staff and volunteers at Grace Babies' Home would diligently teach God’s words in the home, on walks, at bedtime and in the morning. Pray that volunteers and staff would live out His words as an example for the babies. Pray that His words be written on the doorposts and gates to GBH.
Day 16

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1John 4:18
Pray for our babies that the perfect love of Jesus Christ would cast out all their fears.
Day 17

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. Ephesians 3:18
Pray that our babies have the power to understand the width, length, height and depth of God’s love for them.
Day 18

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
Pray that our babies would grow to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.
Day 19

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17
Pray that as we dress our babies physically everyday, we would be careful to dress them spiritually as well. That they would be dressed with the waist belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. All of this so that our babies may be able to stand their ground when the day of evil comes.
Day 20

I am the Lord, who heals you. Exodus 15:26
Ask the Lord who heals for his divine healing for any babies coming with emotional or physical health issues.
Day 21

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Please pray that our babies would accept Christ as their savior at an early age and live their lives to glorify Him.
Day 22

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11
Pray that the Word of God would be hidden in our babies’ hearts, that they might not sin against Him.
Day 23

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26
Pray that any sinful patterns of anger and wrath would be broken in the lives of our babies, and that through the power of the cross they would not sin in anger.
Day 24

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
Pray that our babies would be clothed daily with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Day 25

The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? 
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
Pray that the Lord would be light and salvation to our babies. Pray that they fear no one, as the Lord is the stronghold of their lives.
Day 26

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3
Pray that our babies never walk with the wicked, stand with sinners or sit with mockers. Pray that our babies grow to delight in the law of the Lord and that they learn to meditate on it day and night. Pray that they grow like trees planted by streams of water which yield fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither. Pray that whatever they do prospers.
Day 27

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6
Pray that God, who began a good work within our babies, will continue his work until it is finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Day 28

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12
Pray that the Lord teaches our babies to number their days in order that they would gain a heart of wisdom.
Day 29

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Philippians 4:8
Pray that as our babies grow, they would learn to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.
Day 30

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Pray that the Lord's plans for our babies would be to prosper them, to give them a hope and a future and to not allow them to be harmed.

Day 31

You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5
Pray that the Lord would hedge all of Grace Babies’ home behind and before, and that He would lay His hand upon the home, the staff, and the babies.

Day 32

My sons, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Proverbs 3:1-2

Pray that our babies would not forget God’s law, but that their hearts would keep His commands so that they will experience long, peaceful lives.

Day 33

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13
Pray that our babies would never conceal their sins. Pray that they learn at an early age to confess their sins to their Savior and turn from them so that they can receive mercy and prosper.

Day 34

Open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Acts 26:18
Pray that the Lord would open our babies’ eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, so that they will receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Him. 

Day 35

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16
Pray that our babies would never be ashamed of the gospel, and that they would understand that it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.

Day 36

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16
Pray that our babies live very carefully; that they would be wise and make the most of every opportunity.

Day 37

I will set nothing wicked before my eyes… A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. Psalm 101:3-4
Pray that our babies will set nothing wicked before their eyes. Pray that a perverse heart departs from them and that they know no wickedness.

Day 38

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3
Pray that our babies will consider Him who endured the cross and scorned its shame so that they will not grow weary or lose heart.

Day 39

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
Pray that GBH would be a light on a hill that cannot be hidden. Pray that it would give light to everyone in the house. Pray that the light of GBH would shine before others that they would see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

Day 40

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” Luke 24:5
We can’t thank you enough for the prayers you’ve offered on behalf of our future babies and the ministry of Grace Babies’ Home over the last 40 days. We trust that your prayers have been heard and that in His perfect time, they will be answered.
Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:34
It is a comfort to know that our Risen Lord, seated at God’s right hand, continues to plead and make intercession for us.
Have a blessed Easter!
Posted by Juan Strutton at 10:24 AM

Monday, April 11, 2011

Pressing On

This week we made a great deal of progress on several fronts. First, thanks to faithful GCH volunteer, Jerry Canning, we were able to finish the septic system by installing the last of the drain fields. Also, we had our dear friend and electrician, Chris Mellor, here to connect the building to the main power coming from the street and activate a few circuits upstairs. Tim Whitcomb from the Horizon team that was here last week returned to finish painting the kitchen cabinet doors for the upstairs residence. Lastly, we were blessed by the return of Denny Foster and friends from Huntington Beach who spent the weekend building and painting the railing for the second floor patio and helping with various kitchen and bathroom projects.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Pray that the Lord would continue to send workers to keep things going.

SHARE - Many faithful servants who have volunteered here have taken their experience at GBH and shared it with their home church. Would you be willing to do that?

GIVE - Rather than give financially, please take a moment or two and read through the daily prayer requests from our 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting and pray them to our Lord.
Posted by Juan Strutton at 7:57 AM

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Answered Prayers

The last few weeks have been busy and many prayers have been answered with regard to Grace Babies’ Home. The stucco phase of the project is finished and the building is now fully protected from the elements. We were visited yesterday by Horizon Christian Fellowship who kept busy painting, drywalling, cleaning, organizing, and fixing. They also installed vanities, toilets and ceiling fans in the upstairs residence as well as helped a dear friend and helper Marvin Weiss. Marvin and his family were here for 5 days and he built all the drawers and cabinet doors for the upstairs kitchen. Marvin is an accomplished wood worker and was invaluable in helping move the kitchen a giant step closer to completion.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - That God would send more teams to come and work on the Baby Home and fill the empty spaces in May on our team calendar.

SHARE - Would you consider organizing a trip with your friends and family to come and serve at Grace Babies’ Home. E-mail juan@josh2415.org for more details.

GIVE - Have you considered giving up something and donating the cost to Grace Babies’ Home? Click here. to learn more about our 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for GBH.






Posted by Juan Strutton at 7:47 AM
 

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