Wednesday 21st April 2021

Beside The Burn
This week we begin a new series “How do we cope with James?” This week we ask “How do we cope with ... Trials?” We all face difficulties in life and James has some great advice.

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Songs From The Book Of James
The Gospel Coalition have produced a playlist of 100 songs inspired by the book of James, and I intend to share some of those songs each day on the Blog, but you can listen to the full playlist during the next few weeks as we continue our studies in this book. I have benefited greatly from listening to these songs over and over again as I have asked God to speak from His word.
You can stream the playlist on Spotify or on Apple Music right now.

Here are the songs for today with a little thought about their subject matter.

• “Lord, from Sorrows Deep I Call (Psalm 42),” Matt Boswell and Matt Papa. A beautiful version of Psalm 42 on how we can call to God in the midst of the most difficult circumstances.
• “Sweet Comfort,” Sandra McCracken - Another song by Sandra McCracken who brings a subtle country vibe to a song reminding us of the comfort of God during trials.
• “Sovereign Over Us,” Aaron Keyes - A cover of the Michael W. Smith song which reminds us that God is Sovereign and in control of all things in our lives.
• “Shepherd,” John Tibbs and Sandra McCracken - God is our Shepherd through the Valley Of The Shadow.
• “Always Good,” Andrew Peterson - Reminding us that no matter what we go through God is always Good

Youtube Playlist https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLq2dO6q3VUIbGS7l8qyXDSrTrU3iXS_-y
I’ll add the songs to this playlist each day.

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Let’s Pray For St Petersburg Christian University, Russia
Give thanks for the mission trip by students and staff from the university to South Africa and pray that the students on the trip will have new vision and perspectives. Pray that God will bless all the work of the university and multiply it in the ministry of its former students.


Nepal
Pray for United Mission to Nepal as it works hard to conclude its new General Agreement with the government of Nepal, including obtaining all necessary work permits for both expats and Nepali employees.

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Glen Scrivener
“Reading Between The Lines” a series working through the bible looking at the well known phrases.
Unclean, Unclean

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Answers to Prayer  (3 hour Audio)
A Free Audiobook on Youtube by George Muller 

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Open Doors - World Watch List
Open Doors has released the World Watch List. The list of countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian in 2021. 
The full list can be found here
https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/world-watch-list/


This week the focus is on Saudi Arabia the 14th most dangerous country in the world to be a Christian. Read about it here 


https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/world-watch-list/saudi-arabia/

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Christian Unions Ireland
The prayer points for this week.
15 – 21 April
–        Praise God for the opportunity UCDCU have to host an interview–style talk with John Lennox online on the 15 April. Pray for the various science societies that have been invited along as they hear what John has to say and engage during the Q&A afterwards, and that God would use this event for his glory.
–        Pray for the CUI prayer evening. Praise God for how technology has provided the means to unite with others from around the island and abroad this year, both students and supporters of CUI. May our prayers to him today and this evening be set before him like incense, pleasing and honouring to the Lord as we join together.

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NEWS Moderator's thanks for over 1/3 million pound raised

The Moderator, Right Reverend Dr David Bruce, has thanked Presbyterian congregations across the island for their ‘prayerful and sacrificial generosity of spirit in some of the hardest of times’ for raising £337,147 to date to provide support to people in fragile, vulnerable countries, suffering due to the ongoing effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic. 

Launched in December last year, the Moderator’s Special Christmas Appeal, which replaced the annual World Development Appeal for 2020, has to date raised £337,147 (€388,393). That money has now be distributed between PCI’s relief and development partners, Christian Aid and Tearfund, who are already engaged on the ground in longer term sustainable development work amongst those most affected by Covid-19. 

The final third has also gone to churches with which PCI partners directly to support relief efforts in seven countries on three continents - South Sudan, Malawi, Indonesia, Nepal, Lebanon, Syria and Romania.

Read more here:
https://www.presbyterianireland.org/News/April-2021/Moderator-s-thanks-for-over-1-3-million-raised.aspx​

Moderator Requests Prayer For Timor and Indonesia

At this particular time can I encourage you and your congregations to pray for our partner churches in the region, the Evangelical Christian Church of Timor and the Christian Church of Sumba.
Our Mission Department has provided the following prayer points:

• Pray for those still searching for missing family, especially when communications are difficult and roads and bridges have been washed away
• Give thanks for the swift action of local church partners in helping to provide food and shelter, as they assist in locating the missing, and help with the distribution of aid
• Pray for those who have lost loved ones, those who have been injured, and for everyone whose homes have been destroyed. Many have also seen their land and crops washed away - pray for support for replanting and the replacement of vital irrigation channels
• Give thanks for our partners in the region, pray for their leadership teams and local ministers on the ground, and for their strong and growing church fellowships that have a track record of reaching out to their communities with both practical and spiritual care.​

Conversion Therapy
Following today’s debate in @niassembly on conversion therapy @PCIModerator welcomed the opportunity for local MLAs to discuss/debate an issue that is important to many, including people of faith, highlighting the need for clarity and balance: Read more here :
https://t.co/bd7pYvq9u4

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Jigsaw
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw

​Eddie 2:53
Jean 3:29

Play the "Keswick Wednesday" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=39c3b08d2d8d