Greetings Family,

Ponder these encouraging thoughts from Pastor E. that are penned is his book, “Falling in Love with God, Reflections on Prayer”

“Continue steadfastly in being faithful in your promises to God. Continue steadfastly in being firm in God’s purposes. Continue steadfastly in being fearless in God’s principles, and continue steadfastly in being fervent in your prayers.“ (Page 96); Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. (ATBC Pastor Emeritus)

For this week (November 12 through November 18), we beseech you to ‘pray’ and meditate on these scriptures. If possible, let's pray together during the 7am morning hour, 7pm evening hour or 12:00 noon time-frame.

Prayer Themes and Scriptures

  • Believe, God has the answers
    • Psalm 127:1a (NASB): Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it
    • Ephesians 1:22-23 (GNT): 22 God put all things under Christ's feet and gave him to the church as supreme Lord over all things. 23 The church is Christ's body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere.
    • Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV): 20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
  • Believe, God has the answers
    • 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV): For we walk by faith, not by sight
  • Believe, God has the answers
    • Ephesians 6:18 (NLT): Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
  • Believe, God has the answers
    • Proverbs 3:5 (KJV): Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
  • Believe, God has the answers
    • Hebrews 10:23-24 (NLT): 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
  • Sunday School Lesson (11/18) – Jacob Forms a Relationship with God
    • Genesis 28:10-22 (NIV): 10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.” 18 Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. 19 He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.

Please come join us, as we wrestle with and discuss this week’s Sunday school lesson

As we continue seeking the will of God and His discernment through the processes of prayer and meditation, we invite you to not only incorporate our Scripture & Meditation Focus into your daily life via the weekly newsletter insert, but also the entire archive on the Church website (Allen-Temple.org; click Pastoral Transition on the top blue bar of the home page), but to also join us at our Thursday Pastoral Transition Prayer Hours in the Sanctuary. The Prayer Hour will be followed by Thursday Evening Bible Study taught by Pastor Smith and Reverend Olu Bereola. Dates and times are:

Pastoral Transition Prayer Hour Schedule
Thursday, November 15 – 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Thursday, November 29 – 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Thursday, December 13 – 6:30pm to 7:30pm

God Bless!!!