Pray for Marty

Please be praying for Marty - This man did a one-man play, "John, The Apostle" for the Countryside congregation about 4 years ago.

He recently went into surgery because he was having trouble with his pacemaker. The doctors found that an atrium in his heart wasn't doing anything. It wasn't reacting to the electrical impulse of the pacemaker and just wasn't beating. The other ventricle is doing all the work. Marty now has been taken to the Intensive Care Unit at a local hospital. The doctors are determining what action they will now take.

Pray that the doctors have the wisdom and boldness to do the things that need to be done
Pray for healing in the atrium that is not working
Pray that they would know the Lord's presence in this time

Tuning in to Things Above

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2

Watch out. . . Good things are happening in the Body at Countryside as the Lord guides us to set our hearts and minds on things above.

Not ONLY here . . ., but His leading in this way continues to overflow to others in the Body of Christ through the Things Above Audio Ministry. Stretching to those who may never step foot inside the Countryside church building, this ministry allows listeners to hear teachings of the Word by tuning in, ordering tapes, and/or listening online from all over the world. As we know, the reminder is clear: to have minds that are set on Things Above.

• Pray that Pastor Terry Dawson would hear clearly from the Lord as he teaches from the Word
• Pray for Pastor Graham Carmichael and the audio staff as they prepare the teachings for the listeners to hear
• Pray that the Lord would bless those listening with a deeper understanding of His great love for them (Ephesians 3:14-19)

Compelled by Christ's Love. . .to Africa!

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corintians 5:14-15

A calling to Africa:
Anxious to live their lives for the one who died and was raised for them, Maxel and Amanda Colonia have responded to the Lord's call to minister in Africa. It is evident that Christ's love has compelled these two as they have testified to the way He has guided them to be a part of a short term mission trip to Abuja, Nigeria from January 10th - 20th.

What they will do:

Maxel and Amanda will be partnering with a team from Word of Restoration Ministries and will be serving the people of Nigeria in a variety of ways. Their ministry to share the Lord's love will include leading a college-age conference with two Nigerian colleges, building a church, teaching at some local village schools, and working at a medical clinic there.

How you can pray for Maxel and Amanda:

• Pray that they would be empty vessels who are prepared for God's leading
• Pray for increased faith
• Pray that preparations (including VISA's, financial support, and supplies) would go smoothly
• Pray for the health of their team as the dates approach
• Pray for those in Nigeria who they will share Christ's love with
• Pray that the grace and love of God would be shown to the Muslims they come in contact with
• Pray that after they leave, the seeds of the Word that are planted in the people of Nigeria would grow
• Pray that they would keep their eyes on Jesus and not be distracted by the enemy

The Cost was High - Watch and Pray

"Prayer is easy to us because of what it cost God to enable us to pray. It is the redemption of God, the agony of our Lord, that has made our salvation so easy and prayer so simple. When we emphasize the cost of prayer to us, we are wrong. The cost to us is nothing; it is a supreme and superb privilege marked by supernatural ease because of what it cost God."
-Oswald Chambers

What great a cost Jesus paid for us to have access to the Father!

As our Thursday nights, Thru the Bible Study recently brought us to Mark 14:32-42, Pastor Terry highlighted the agony Jesus experienced and yet His obedience to the Father's will. He was fully obedient to lay down His life. With this price paid, we now have the privilege to take part, as the disciples were instructed in this passage, to "watch and pray"(Colossians 4:2).

Remember this week, by His power, to be watchful of God working, prayful about His work, and then full of praise because of it. Unlike the disciples were found in Mark 14, don't be caught asleep! Instead watch and pray.

Coming to Worship

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. Psalm 95:1-3

Remember to pray for the Worship Team and Pastor Graham Carmichael, who oversees this ministry, as they lead the Body in worship with music . . .

• Pray that the Body would praise the Lord with not only their mouths, but in spirit and truth
• Pray that the Worship Team would be aware of the Lord's direction as they lead in worship
• Pray that God would be glorified in our worship of Him

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6