CANADA-WIDE CALL TO PRAYER
Everyone who has ever experienced the death of a loved one knows the feeling: the pain ebbs and flows, but the ache never goes away.
God Himself knows for He lost His own Son to the cruel clutches of death.
Though you have faith in the promise that one day “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,” it still hurts.
However, I have discovered something that hurts even more than death: watching a loved one walk away from God.
René and I receive one prayer request more than any other: “Please, pray for my children.” These parents are crushed.
Why are we losing so many of our children and grandchildren? What can we do to stem the tide of young people leaving our churches?
Since we have worked with youth for most of our careers, René and I know that only God can raise the dead. We are like Ezekiel standing in a valley of dry bones, which the LORD identifies as His people, who say, “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” (Ezekiel 37:11).
He replies, “O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, . . . Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, . . .Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it” (Ezekiel 37:12-14).
I think you will agree with us:
It’s now time for action.
It’s time for God’s people to unite in prayer, for He has promised: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
Jesus knows what we’re up against. “As the world’s Redeemer, Christ was constantly confronted with apparent failure. He, the messenger of mercy to our world, seemed to do little of the work He longed to do in uplifting and saving. Satanic influences were constantly working to oppose His way. But He would not be discouraged” (The Desire of Ages, pg. 679).
Do not be discouraged.
Jesus relentlessly pursues each one who is “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1), working to break the spell of the evil one and set the captives free.
Whether your children are 1 or 101 years old, they are still your children. René and I sense the LORD guiding us to facilitate a Canada-Wide Call to Prayer for our Children, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada has set aside September 30 – October 7, 2023, for this purpose.
We would like to ask you and your local church family to set aside this time to pray (and fast, if the LORD puts that on your heart) for our children who have given up on God, for He has NOT given up on them. He loves our children, and He promises us: “For I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children” (Isaiah 49:25).
If you would like to join us and pray for our children, please become one of our prayer warriors by emailing us your name and phone number to: [email protected]
We will connect with you, add your name to our prayer warrior team, and keep you up to date with the plans for this Canada-Wide Call to Prayer for our Children.
You can also visit calltoprayer.iiw.ca for more information.
Thank you for your ongoing support of It Is Written Canada, and may God continue to bless you with abundant faith in His faithfulness!
~ Mike Lemon
Upcoming Episodes
AUGUST 5
I Want More CONFIDENCE and RESILIENCE in My Life: Dr. Nadine Plummer shares some effective ways to get more CONFIDENCE and RESILIENCE in your life. She examines the powerful influence of positive relationships with peers, family members, and work associates along with strategies for how the Word of God and the church can help people grow their CONFIDENCE and RESILIENCE.
AUGUST 12
I Want More REST and RELAXATION in My Life: Dr. George Cho examines what the research tells us about the importance of getting enough rest and relaxation, and he shares some effective ways you can get more REST and RELAXATION in your life.
AUGUST 19
I Want More FREEDOM in My Life: Certain internal and external struggles keep us trapped and enslaved to debilitating habits and thought patterns. Dr. Daniel Saugh shares some effective ways to rise above these conflicts so you can experience more FREEDOM in your life. He examines the healing power of forgiveness and faith, controlling your thoughts, and other effective strategies.
AUGUST 26
I Want More JOY in My Life: Bailey Müller looks at ways we can fight the blues by reclaiming JOY in our lives so that we can experience a brighter state of mind.
UPCOMING IN-PERSON EVENTS
July 30 – August 5
BC Camp Meeting – Hope
August 12
Bluewater Camp Meeting –Elmwood Community Centre
August 16 – 20
GYC Canada: By Life or By Death – Barrie, ON
August 25 – 26
North Battleford SDA Church, SK – Prescription for Love
September 1 – 3
Heart Lake SDA Family Camp –Camp Frenda, ON
September 8 – 9
Pinehouse SDA Church – Saskatoon, SK
September 22 – 23
Henderson Highway SDA Church – Prescription for Love
Donate: Prescription for Love
It Is Written Canada’s Prescription for Love, featuring Mike and René Lemon partnering with Marlon and Doreen Cliffe, spotlights godly proven principles that work to enrich, heal, and restore relationships.
As an evangelistic tool, this Marriage and Family Wellness program brings hope and healing to relationships both within our churches and our communities, as so many marriages and families are experiencing major challenges.
THIS MONTH’S FREE OFFER – Living in the Sunlight by
Ellen G. White
Every storm is followed by sunshine. This booklet explains the ABCs for happiness and successful living that will enable you to reside in the sunshine even while walking in the storm.
Roasted Vegetable Couscous
Ingredients:
- 4 Roma tomatoes
- 2 zucchinis
- 1 bell pepper
- 1 red onion
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 pinches of salt
- 2 pinches of pepper (optional)
- 2 cups couscous
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1/4 bunch of fresh parsley
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400oF. Wash and chop the tomatoes, zucchinis, bell pepper, and red onion into 1 to 1.5-inch pieces. Peel four cloves of garlic but leave them whole.
- Toss the chopped vegetables and garlic with 2 Tbsp of olive oil. Spread them out on a baking sheet so they are in a single layer. Sprinkle a couple pinches of salt and pepper over the vegetables.
- Place the vegetables in the oven and roast at 400oF for about 45 minutes, stirring twice until the vegetables are wilted and browned on the edges.
- While the vegetables are roasting, cook the couscous. Add the vegetable broth to a saucepan, place a lid on top, and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, add the couscous, stir, turn off the heat, and cover the pot with the lid once again. Let the couscous sit, undisturbed, for ten minutes. Then, fluff with a fork.
- After the vegetables are finished roasting, collect the four garlic cloves, and chop them well. They will be quite soft. Also roughly chop the fresh parsley.
- Combine the couscous, roasted vegetables (including garlic), and parsley in a bowl, and stir to combine. Season with more salt and pepper if desired. Serve warm or cold!