Posted on Monday, November 10, 2014

5 Minutes Monday: P.U.S.H.

P.U.S.H. = Pray Until Something Happens.

I believe that you have heard, or read this abbreviation on any social media or blog posts. Many people use this term to encourage people to keep praying. Jesus is a perfect example of an intercessor. He teaches us how to pray in Matthew 9. He reminds us to pray in private for that’s what God sees in private, He will rewards him. Jesus evens reminds us that we have to pray according to God’s will and in His name, then the Father will answer for the Father knows what’s the best for His children.

There are many guides and books written regarding PRAY and HOW TO PRAY.

But after we read all of these, do we pray? what do we pray for?

Today I would like to encourage you, my friends, to come to the Father with all who you are. He sees your hearts and knows your needs even before you ask Him. He wants to have relationship with you through prayer time. He wants to hear you talking to Him, as His children.

I have 2 prayer points today that I would like to share with you. First, please take 5 minutes to pray for the people of Lampung Abung:

The Lampung Abung are a large group with a social structure that is strong and somewhat separate from other Lampung peoples. The Lampung Abung are made up of three groups: Abung, Seputih and Menggala or Tulang Bawang. Menggala has its own cultural structure called the Megow Pak Tulang Bawang (the Four Clans of Tulang Bawang). The Abung and the Seputih make up a larger group called the Abung Siwow Megow (Nine Clans of Abung). The Lampung Abung live in the regencies of North Lampung, East Lampung, Central Lampung and Tulang Bawang. The Abung are the only group among the Lampung peoples who speak the language Lampung Nyo. There are several registers (levels) of language used for special situations, such as cultural ceremonies. Most of the Abung can also speak Indonesian. Some of them can also use the languages of non-Sumatran peoples who have moved into the area, like Javanese and Sundanese. (source: Joshua Project)

The population of this people group is about 193,000 people. They are least-reached people group in the country and they do not have any Scriptures in their language. Please pray for these needs of God’s word to be available for the Lampung Abung people. And ask God to send His Church to reach out to them.

Second, I would like to invite you all to join all people in the whole word to pray together tomorrow, on November 11. It is Wycliffe World Day of Prayer. Plan to join all of us in all over the world to pray.

And would you please pray today for tomorrow when God’s people get together, He’ll be there, listen to our petitions and answers them to reveal His glory to all nations! Pray also for all of us, who will be praying that God will bless and encourage each of us to see there is hope in Christ Jesus.

Wycliffe’s World Day of Prayer is a global celebration of:

Thanksgiving— as we remember who God is and how He has done the seemingly impossible…again and again.

Joy— as we recognize how God continues to open doors and hearts to accomplish His mission.

Dependence— as we acknowledge that all that we have and are is because of God.

God is sovereign and almighty, yet He has invited us to participate with Him in his mission. Prayer is an essential facet of that participation and keeps us rooted in our relationship with Him.

There is a long tradition of Wycliffe staff and colleagues from partner organizations and churches praying together on behalf of Bible translation. Every day, around the world, people are praying for the Bible translation movements, for the impact of God’s Word on individuals and communities, and for language communities who don’t yet have His Word. But one day a year, November 11, we make a special effort to come together in prayer, united in hearts and minds in all our diverse contexts and locations.

CLICK HERE to learn about the history of this day and how you can participate, including ideas for devotions and videos.

DON’T FORGET TO SETUP YOUR REMINDER OR MARK YOUR CALENDAR TO PRAY: NOVEMBER 11!

Posted on Monday, November 3, 2014

5 Minutes Monday: Semendo People

The Semendo are also often called Semende or Jeme Semendo. The Semendo live in the Semendo Darat Laut, Semendo Darat and Semendo Ulu districts of the Muara Enim regency. They also live in the Buay Sandang Aji, Pulau Beringin and Banding Agung districts of the Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Selatan regency. There are also a few areas in Lampung province that are inhabited by the Semendo such as the Way Tenon and Sumber Jaya districts in the West Lampung regency; Wonosobo, Ulu Belu, Talang Padan and Pulau Panggung districts in the Tanggamus regency; Bukit Kemuning and Tanjung Raja districts in the North Lampung regency; and Banjit and Kasui districts in the Way Kanan regency. The Semendo language is similar to Besemah and Lintang dialects, except the Semende tend to use /e/ at the end of words.

The Semendo have been Muslims for generations. The teachings of Islam are firmly rooted and faithfully followed in their society but they are also tolerant of people of other religions and there have been no religious conflicts in this area. Places of worship, both large and small, as well as Islamic schools are seen everywhere. The Islamic schools have the specific purpose of teaching Semendo boys and girls to spread Islamic teachings in the area (source: Joshua Project)

There are about 246,000 people of Semendo live in this area. They are one of the least-reached people groups. Please pray for them to be able to hear the Good News through people passing through their area. Pray also God will provide any ways to reach these people.

THANK YOU for praying!

Posted on Monday, October 27, 2014

5 Minutes Monday: Lintang People

The Lintang, or as they are more commonly known, Lintang Empat Lawang, which is a mixture of the Lintang and Empat Lawang people. The Lintang are also often called the Musi Ulu people and sometimes the abbreviation L4L, from Lintang Empat (four) Lawang, is used. The Lintang live along the left and right forks of the Lintang River in the Lahat regency of South Sumatra province. They primarily live in the Muara Pinang, Lintang Kanan, Pendopo, Tebing Tinggi and Ulu Musi districts. The Lintang can easily understand the Besemah and Semende dialects. They also understand the Lematang, Kikim and Enim dialects. They can understand Palembang Indonesian well. Some characteristic language features include the use of the words nedo, which means ‘no’ or ‘not yet’, ngapo (What is it?) and kelo (wait a minute). The Lintang can communicate well with the Kikim, Besemah and Lematang people but do not understand the Lembak or Saling people. (Source: Joshua Project)

There are about 203,000 people of Lintang population. They are one of those least-reached people groups, has less than 1 % of believers. Please pray that God will send more people to share the Good News with this people in this area. Thank You so much!

Posted on Monday, October 20, 2014

5 Minutes Monday: Kikim People

The Kikim people group live in the Eastern Kikim, Central Kikim, Western Kikim, Tebing Tinggi and Lahat districts in the Lahat regency in South Sumatra province. The Kikim are generally the only people group in the Eastern, Central and Western Kikim districts but there are a few areas with a small number of Javanese as well. In Tebing Tinggi, the Kikim live alongside the Lintang people, Javanese, Sundanese and Saling (Lembak) people. In Lahat, the Kikim live alongside the Lematan people, Javanese and Sundanese. The Kikim can easily understand the Lintang Empat Lawang, Besemah and Semendo dialects, but do not understand the Saling or Lembak dialects. One characteristic of the Kikim dialect is the word ‘lede’, which means “no.” The Kikim are also able to understand the Lematang, Ogan, Enim, Palembang and Belide dialects, among others. However, the Kikim are not able to understand the Komering, Ranau, Daya, Kayu Agung and Aji dialects. (Source: Joshua Project)

Please set aside 5 minutes today to pray for 86,000 people of Kikim. They are least-reached people group. So far they have audio recording of Bible Stories and Jesus Film. Pray for that God’s word will be available for them to read in their heart language. Pray for God is preparing their hearts and sending them His messengers to share the Good News with them.

THANK YOU for praying today!

Posted on Monday, October 13, 2014

5 Minutes Monday: Pray In Private

There are many ways we can pray to our Father in heaven. We can pray in a group, or we also can pray in private. What does come in your mind when you read or hear this, “Pray in private?”

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!” (Matthew 6:5-8, NLT)

The scripture says that when we want to pray, it is the best way to talk to the Father in heave in private place. To pray is a communication with the Father personally. When we have a close relationship with someone, we rather spend special time with them and have some private time with them to share what’s in our hearts. Just like when we pray to our Father in heaven. It is a special private time to talk with Him and share what’s in our hearts with Him.

And YES He knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him. But as His children and He is our Father, asking a request is a way of communication and building relationship. As parents, my husband and I know what our daughters need before they ask for it. But sometimes, we also need to know from them what they need. We want them to communicate with us what’s in their hearts and minds, what they need or want. And it is the beauty of relationship.

Today, as you come to the Father with thanksgiving, would you also spend 5 extra minutes to pray for the people of Daya?

They live in the Barisan Mountains in the southern part of South Sumatra province. They speak a dialect of the Lampung Api language. Although the Daya can understand Lampung Pesisir and Komering, they do not identify ethnically with the Komering. Instead they identify with the Lampung Pesisir and Ranau people who live to their South. The Daya are spread throughout the two subdistricts of Simpang and Muara Dua in South Ogan Komering Ulu regency in South Sumatra. (source: Joshua Project. Click on that link to read more about Daya people).

source: Joshua Project

There are about 85,000 people of Daya live without hearing the Good News. They do not have 1 single word of God in their heart language, Lampung Api.

Please pray for them that God will make a way for them to have access to His Good News for them in language they understand the best in their hearts.

Please pray God will send his messengers to share the Good New with them, to share His love for them, to make His name known among this people of Daya.

Thank you for praying!