"How to Pray in Times Like These"

1. "Lord, do something that will show people Your glory over all the earth."  This is a moment for God to do something that no diplomat, no world leader, no army could possibly do - so all will know that "the Lord He is God."
2. "Lord, use these anxious and uncertain times to bring many to Christ."  God can use this fearful time to reach the hearts of many - in Iraq, in America, across the Middle East, among the young men and women of the military.
3. "Lord, guide our leaders to be instruments of Your will on earth."  "I urge ... that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority." (I Timothy 2:1-2)
4. "Lord, protect the innocent."
5. "Pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27)Jesus has charged us to represent even our enemies before His Throne of Grace.
6. "Lord, help Your people model peace in these troubled times, pointing the people around them to Jesus - at a time when hearts are soft."  This uncertain time is a life-saving moment - when those who belong to Jesus have an unusual window to introduce Him to those who don't. But the window may not be open for long.
7. "Lord, bring peace out of all that's happening."  God has told us that the result He desires in answer to our prayers for our leaders is a climate where peace and righteousness can flourish. (I Tim. 2:2). 

* NOTE: This was edited from an article originally entitled "10 Ways to Pray in Times Like These” written by Ron Hutchcraft

Fellowship is Wonderful!!

We FINALLY were able to meet together again! Things went almost without a hitch for each week. There were a few hiccups, one of them being the electronics did not work well due to a lightning surge. 

 

People who were cautious about Covid stayed away and others who said they wouldn’t come, changed their minds. It was wonderful seeing my brothers and sisters in Christ. But I’ll be so glad to be rid of these masks and this protocol that makes us all feel like a colony of lepers who could each contract the disease for the first time. Eddie Sexton seems to think that the masks are helpful (at least where I’m concerned). Oh well, can’t win them all.

 

The early church met in some of the most horrid conditions thinkable and still loved being together due to the love and encouragement. I’ve been inside some of the catacombs where they met, and the darkness pressed into you like a heavy fabric. 

I still shudder when I think of the darkness and the smell inside. But even this was nicer than not meeting at all. I didn’t know how much I would miss it or take it for granted until I could not meet with my family.

 

This world is like a vampire that sucks life instead of blood out of a person. It takes and gives little in return. We live in it and are still commanded by God to not be a part of it. That’s hard! Although there is a component in coming to church that is a matter of “ought,” I’ve found that my “want to,” has increased dramatically. When you pray again next, make a point of thanking Him for this family we are part of … so much better than apart from!

 

“…And sometimes we laugh together, sometimes we cry; 

Sometimes we share together, heartaches and sighs; 

Sometimes we dream together of how it will be

When we all get to Heaven, God’s family.” 

 

… John Fields 

Hillsboro Seniors - 2020

We are excited for our young people as they begin a new journey, but so sorry that they have to anxiously endure these highly painful and unusual circumstances. We know what should have been such a wonderful and celebratory time has been deeply impacted by this.

We are also saddened because we know they will likely be leaving us as they make their own way in this world. Your family at Hillsboro would like for you to know that we love you, and we will be praying for God to guide and protect you on your journey. You are not alone and never will be as long as God remains within our midst. Keep in touch and may your roads be safe ones.

Molly Housdan – Parkers Chapel High School
She is the daughter of Wink and KayAnn Housdan.
Member of FBLA for three years. She went to state competition her freshman year.
Member of Beta Club for four years.
Molly participated in the high school band for five years. She made All-Region for three years and was Band Major her senior year. Molly was a member of the tennis team all four years. District Champion for two years and went to the state tennis tournament her senior year.

She is an Honor Graduate. She will receive scholarships from the Parkers Chapel Education Foundation, Arkansas Academic Challenge, and the UACCB Arkansas Distinction Award.

Camden Micheal Jones – El Dorado High School

He is the son of Kasey Jones and Brian Jones. He is an AP Scholar with Honor 2019, EHS Oratorio – 2017-2020

Member of All Region Choir 2019 & 2020, Arkansas Governor School 2019, Teenage Republicans-2018-2020, Chairman 2020.

In 2019 Camden performed in the title role “Peter and the Starcatcher,” at South Arkansas Arts Center and was a cast member for “Les Miserables” at Commonwealth Artists Summer Theater in 201.  He has participated in Lads to Leaders, on the Debate team, and Bible Bowl.
He enjoys reading, cooking, history and politics.

Camden will graduate in the top 5% of his class and plans to attend college in the fall and major in Engineering.

Mackenzie Alexis Novick – El Dorado High School

She is the daughter of Johnny & Sarah Novick.  
Member of EHS Swim team freshman year. Will receive the El Dorado Promise and Achievement Scholarship with SAU.

Mackenzie loves Art—drawing and painting. Loves hanging out with her sisters.

She plans to attend SAU in Magnolia in the fall and major in Psychology.

I'm Already Cured!

It is now in the news that there are a number of different existing drugs that are effective against the Corona Virus. Some of these are anti-malarial drugs being re-purposed after testing showed them effective against Corona Virus and others are being re-purposed from their normal use for HIV patients.

As well, others are touting a "cure" for the virus in a medicine that was recently developed in record time. It is only the second time in history that they have declared a cure for ANY virus.

But I'm here to tell you that any person who is in Christ has no real concern for the long-term. What can Corona Virus do to you that death cannot? We are taught in scripture NOT to fear death anymore. Why? It is because Jesus conquered Death in a first-round knockout! There is nothing that Death can do to us, that man can do to us or that Corona Virus can do to us that Jesus has not already taken care of!

“It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:12b-13

Jesus is the Doctor who never lost a patient when they stayed with Him as prescribed! You and I have no fear, we have no worries ... provided we believe God and don't think Him a liar.

"Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, 'For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35-39

Let There Be Peace in the People of God

Do people see a person at peace or one who is fearful when they see you?

There are certain things I have great difficulty imagining. I can't imagine a believer being tortured by communists for years straight in the most cruel and unimaginable ways and them only ever having a prayer or blessing on their lips for them.

I can't imagine having to face the choice that some believers have had to face. I'm mindful of a Romanian believer whose son was being tortured in front of him and threatened with his son's death if he would not deny Christ. They BOTH died when the son told him, "Don't do it father!"

I can't imagine the inner feelings of the reality that a pride of starving lions are about to be released because you are Nero's scapegoat as a Christian. Many of the Christians who died did so with songs and prayers of praise.

And the world can't imagine a person looking straight into the eyes of a disease with peace and serenity in their eyes and their demeanor. Is that what they are seeing in each of us?

Let's be responsible and prepare for the good or the bad. But remember that there have been Christians stand firmly and with strength against far worse than we are facing. If we remember God in the midst of all of this we are in the midst of how can we not overcome our struggles with peace in our hearts?

"Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground." Hebrews 11:35-38 by John Fields