A Mother never stops praying

A Mother’s Prayers (author unknown)

(I read this article on the internet a few years ago)

Monica never stopped praying for her son. She had raised Augustine in the Christian faith in their small town in Algeria, but when he was a teenager the family moved to Carthage in North Africa. Possessed of a brilliant intellect and an even stronger will, Augustine rejected his mother’s faith and instead chose a life in pursuit of immorality. In his autobiographical book Confessions, Augustine spoke of his years of debauchery: “Years passed, in which I wallowed in the mire of that deep pit, and the darkness of falsehood . . . All which time that chaste, godly and sober widow . . . ceased not at all hours of her devotions to bewail my case unto You. And her prayers entered into Your presence.”

Three hundred years before the birth of Augustine, we can only imagine how another mother labored in prayer for her children. In addition to Jesus, her firstborn, Mary of Nazareth had several other children. And yet their family was spiritually divided. John’s Gospel clearly tells us that “even his own brothers did not believe in him” (John 7:5). The skepticism of her younger sons toward their elder half brother must have pierced Mary’s heart.

The black Friday when her oldest son hung on a Roman cross had to be the worst day of Mary’s life. And the Sunday when he rose again was the very best. Among those to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection was his brother James. We don’t need to know the words that passed between them. It’s enough to know that when the disciples and the women gathered to pray in the upper room following Jesus’ ascension into heaven, Mary was among them. And her other sons were with her! Praying. The One they had rejected in life was the One in whom they now placed their faith for eternity.

Monica’s prodigal son Augustine became one of the most famously devout fourth-century Christians: the Bishop of Hippo. The Confessions of St. Augustine is a classic of the Christian faith. Mary’s son James became leader of the church in Jerusalem and wrote the New Testament book that bears his name.

Denise’s Reflection:

Ezekiel 22:30 (NIV)  “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one.

Do you have children, grandchildren, whom you love, who have turned away from God? Years may pass without any apparent external change. Actually, at times, it seems that their hearts are getting harder, but the Holy Spirit in working behind the scenes.  Heaven hears your loving intercession on their behalf. Take heart! God hears your prayers for your children, their spouses and your grandchildren.

If you have a prodigal or prodigals, you are the one that needs to stand in the gap. As a mother, you need to too declare: “Lord, I will stand in the gap for my family”.

Daily, spend some time praying for those who have walked away from the Lord. Ask God to protect your “prodigals” with the blood of Jesus. Stand in the gap and declare that your children, their spouses and your grandchildren are saved and serving God. God hears your prayers and He will bring the straying children home.

Our prodigals are all coming home, one by one, but they are all coming home!

Get out of your tent !

Get out of your tent !

(Scriptures from New International Version)

In Genesis 15:5, the Lord took Abraham outside of his tent and said:

“Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.”

From inside his tent Abraham could not even imagine what the Lord had for him. By staying inside his tent, he got overwhelmed by the negative situations in his life. He got overwhelmed because the Lord had not given him and Sarah any children.

Often, the same is true for us. We look more at the problem than to the Lord. By doing that, we forget that we have a mighty and powerful God.

We should never look at the how big our problem is, 

but look at instead at how big the Lord is.

We need to stop starring at our circumstances and problems.  We all need to “get out of our tent” and believe that God is bigger than any of our situations or our problems.

We need more faith to trust Him completely! 

He has provided for us in the past and He will continue to provide for our “today” and for all of our “tomorrows.”

Have a day filled with blessings everyone!

Denise

Our testimony

OUR TESTIMONY

In August 1990, Roger and I left for the mission field of Tijuana, Mexico.  We were saved in a house group in September 1981. At the time Roger was a successful chartered accountant with his own firm in Ottawa. I was his office manager.

Success, permitted us to have a condo on the beach, expensive clothes, very nice cars, jewelry, many beautiful trips, basically anything we wanted……and it was fun for a while.

We attended an English-speaking church where the teaching was excellent. We also took several bible courses. The more we got to know the Lord, the more the things this world had to offer lost their attraction. After a while, it was just another pair of shoes, another trip, another car. It all became meaningless. By 1987, we had both become uncomfortable with the status quo.  One day as we talked about our lives, Roger told me he was getting fed up of pushing a pencil just to make another dollar.

So, we started to pray.  We asked the Lord to use us in His kingdom. In July 1989, we went on a trip to Tijuana to check up on our daughter. She had been there on a month-long mission trip. While we were there checking up on our daughter, the Lord checked up on us. On the plane coming home at 38,000 in the air, Roger told me that he felt the Lord was calling us to Tijuana. Actually, I was not surprised by his comment, no, on the contrary I was quite at peace with it.

A few days after returning home, the Lord gave Roger the scripture in Deuteronomy 11:8: “Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess…”

Then, on September 13^th. 1989 during our time of prayer, the Lord gave me the scripture in Genesis 12:1: "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.”

Within one year, we sold our business, house and condo and on August 2^nd. 1990, we left for the mission field.  That day is permanently engraved in my mind. I remember driving out of the driveway of our beautiful home in Carp, in our van and pulling a small travel trailer. Standing together in the driveway waving us goodbye, were our three adult children. Although we both knew in our hearts this was the calling of God on our lives, this it was a most difficult goodbye.

We had the privilege to be on the mission field on a full-time basis for 15 years. We experienced many challenges and some major adjustments, but we were happy. To every calling there is a cost. Ours was not the drastic change of lifestyle, the long hours or often the feeling of isolation. No, for both of us, the cost of our calling was the physical separation from our children. Nevertheless, those 15 years were the best years of our lives.

In 1992, we founded Tender Loving Care Children ministry and concentrated our efforts in feeding the poor children in the shantytowns of Tijuana. After we fed their bellies, we fed them Jesus. Over the years we fed thousands and thousands of beautiful children. We taught them the Word of God. We gave clothes and shoes. Every year, we paid the school registrations for hundreds of kids so they could go to school. We also sent three to University and one to Teacher’s College, paying all of their expenses. One is now a psychologist, one a teacher, one obtained a degree in administration and one in only one year away from becoming an engineer.

  

I will always remember these wonderful years and my heart is overwhelmed in gratitude. 

I am certainly most grateful for my wonderful husband. He was a quiet man, but a man of integrity and a man of great faith. He was the best of the best. He went to be with Jesus in March 2008.

I am grateful for my precious children, Chantal, Alain & Eric. During the 15 years we were away all of them at one time or the other, had to walk some rough roads without mom and dad being able to be physically here to help and encourage them. 

I am always so very grateful for seven wonderful grandchildren. I can remember how very difficult it was to be so far away when most of them were born. Every time we came for a visit it was always so very difficult to leave them all behind. They are my pride and joy.

I am grateful for other wonderful family members, great friends, my pastors and home church family and faithful ministry partners that stood by us then and are still standing with me now.

I am grateful for an amazing team of faithful leaders and workers in Tijuana who daily take tender loving care of our precious TLCCM children. I am grateful for their love, patience, dedication and understanding. All of them are all very special to me and I love and greatly appreciate each one of them.

From 1994 to 2004, Roger & I wrote a Spanish children’s curriculum of bible studies and Sunday school lessons. Not only are these lessons, still being used in our TLCCM program in Tijuana. Through our TLCCM website, they are being used by children’s leaders in many Hispanic countries, including Cuba. The spiritual material on our website can be downloaded free of charge. I also have some adult Spanish teaching on our website. In October 2017, I also started a BLOG called: “From my heart to yours.”  

I am very grateful for the calling of God on my life. It is a great privilege for me to continue the work in Mexico, and also to help leaders, adults and teachers in various Hispanic countries. I am grateful to the Lord for giving me the privilege to continue be His hand extended, that at this stage of my life, He continues to give me a purpose driven life-experience.  

I thank the Lord for His salvation power, for His grace and mercy. I thank Him for opening for us both, doors of ministry that permitted us to go where we had never gone before, do things we never thought we could do and serve Him in a country that adopted us as their own.

The Lord is my strength, the calling on my life keeps me busy and 

the hope of my reward keeps me going.

My advice: Life is short, so make your best to make memories that will last forever!

May the Lord bless and keep you all in the palm of His precious Hand.

Denise xxx  

Our TLCCM website: www.tlccm.net  My BLOG: www.ddeschampsblog.blogspot.ca

You say...God says

God supplies all our needs

Devotion for the day by Pastor Joseph Prince

“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

According to this verse, you are rich. You are not trying to be rich. It does not matter how much you are earning or how much you have in your bank account. You are rich because as your need arises, God’s supply will be there for you.

In John 2:1-10, we read about a couple who had a big need on their wedding day. They had ran out of wine. Now, you would expect wedding couples to know how many guests to expect on their big day and to plan accordingly. But perhaps this couple did not have the money to buy enough wine. Whatever the reason was, Jesus saved them from embarrassment and shame. He saved the day when He supplied their need by miraculously turning six pots of water into top-quality wine. Our Lord Jesus abundantly supplied the need of that couple.

Beloved, whatever needs you have, God wants you to know that His supply will be there for you. You have His Word for it. He promises that He will supply all your needs, not just some. And He will supply all your needs according to and not out of His riches. This means that He lines up from A to Z all of His resources for your every need!

My friend, rejoice that you are rich “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. This is far greater and more dependable than the temporal riches that you might have from any earthly source!

Have a great day everyone! 

Denise

Please note that I added these graphics to Pastor Prince's short devotional.

From Glory to Glory

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:18

Important: We need to understand that what you see or how others see you

is not as important as how God sees you. 

(Pastor Joseph Prince)

This devotional has been a real blessing to me. These are my personal notes that I made after reading Day 33.

“Lord, in the last 6-7 years, your Word and Your love for me had been such a redeeming force in and for my life. I have learned so much about Your grace, Your compassion and Your attitude of “no condemnation”.

I have been freed from “bad thinking” that was instill in me as I grew up. Unfortunately at times, some people have focused on my faults. But, You do not see my faults, my short-comings. You see me through Your grace and that transforms me on a daily basis.

Condemnation over my past mistakes has been exchanged for grace and cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus.

Daily my life is changed and sustained by Your grace. My life is really going from glory to glory.

I still want people to love and respect me. But, if that does not always happen, I know You always love me. And that is all that matters. That has liberated from seeking the approval of man.

Every day, I can rise-up and know that Your glory is upon me (Isaiah 60:1). I no longer need to work for Your approval, it’s just there. In verse 2b says: “...but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you.”

You bestow on me the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and You make beauty out of the ashes of my life. (Isaiah 61:3)

Please continue to daily fill my spirit with Your Word, Your mercy, Your peace and Your love.

Thank You Lord, for in You, I have an abundant life. Serving You is indeed 

a privilege. Amen!

Denise 

^{Scripture verses taken from the New International Bible.}

Déclarations de Victoire

Déclarations de qui apportent de la victoire à nos prières quotidiennes.

Je déclare que je suis transformé par le renouvellement de mes pensées. (Romains 12:2)

Je déclare que j'ai la vie éternelle, parce que je crois et que j'ai accepté Jésus comme Sauveur et Seigneur de ma vie. 

(Jean 3:16)

Je déclare que j'appartiens à Dieu et je suis à Lui. (Jean 17:9)

Je déclare que Jésus-Christ a pardonné tous mes péchés. Je suis donc justifié. (Actes 13:38-39)

Je déclare que je n'ai aucune condamnation car je suis en Jésus-Christ.

(Romains 8:1)

Je déclare que j'ai la pensée de Christ. (mes pensées sont positives)

(1 Corinthiens 2:16)

Je déclare que je ne perds pas courage car j'ai reçu miséricorde.

(2 Corinthiens 4:1)

       Je déclare que L'Esprit en moi déclare que je suis la fille de Dieu.

       (Galates 4:6)

        Je déclare que je ne m'inquiète de rien; mais en toute chose je fais

       connaître mes besoins à Dieu par des prières, des supplications et avec

        des actions de grâces. 

       (Philippiens 4:6-7) (Je remercie le Seigneur tout ce qu’Il fait pour moi.)

     

       Je déclare que je peux tout en Celui qui me fortifie.

       (Philippiens: 4:13)

       Je déclare que j’ai la paix de Dieu garde mon cœur et mes pensées

       en Jésus-Christ. 

       (Philippiens:4:7)

      Je déclare que je me laisse guidé par la Parole de Dieu et non par

       mes circonstances. 

      (Jérémie 29:11)

      

      Amen!

      Ces déclarations ont été tirées d'une liste de déclarations 

préparées  par Ministre Madeleine Lajoie, 

qui dirige le Ministère de prières à l'Église Le Centre 

à Orléans, Ontario.

Lavish love !

In Deuteronomy 7:9 of the New Living Translation the Word says: “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.”

The dictionary defines the word lavish as profuse, exuberant, 

lush and opulent. 

 When the Word of God says that the Lord lavishes his unfailing love on you, it’s not a little bit of love,  it is not a second-hand kind of love, it is not a distant kind of love, no, it’s a first quality love, an exuberant and unconditional love.

In the same manner as He daily lavishes His love on us. 

He also lavishes His faithfulness on our lives.

I’m sure if you all took a piece of paper and a pen it would 

not take very long for each of you to fill a page

 of times and circumstances

 where His faithfulness brought you through a day, a season or a time 

of great need in each one of your lives.

Psalm 36:5 describes the faithfulness of God in a very accurate manner. It says: “Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, 

your faithfulness to the skies.”

You really have not experienced being loved until you experience the 

unfailing love the Lord lavishes on you on a daily basis.

 

  Have a blessed day!

  Denise

L'amour nous motive a servir. Version revisée le 5 juin, 2021

Dans Matthieu 20:26b, Jésus dit: “Mais quiconque veut être grand parmi vous, qu'il soit votre serviteur.” J’aime à motiver et encourager les chrétiens à servir le Seigneur avec tout leur cœur.

Pour ma part, plus que tout autre chose, je veux servir le Seigneur à 100% et être efficace dans ce qu’Il me donne à faire.

Dans Jérémie 29:11 le Seigneur dit: “Car je connais les projets que j'ai formés sur vous, dit l'Éternel, projets de paix et non de malheur, afin de vous donner un avenir et de l'espérance.”

Si vous avez un désir de servir le Seigneur, il faut: 

#1 prier pour sa volonté pour votre vie, 

#2 écouter attentivement ce qu’Il vous dit où vous montre,

 #3 faites des notes de ce que le Seigneur met sur votre cœur où des versets bibliques qui semblent parler à votre situation, 

#4 soyez prêts à être disponible.

#5 consulter votre pasteur où un membre de l’équipe pastorale pour vous aider. 

Dans Marc 4:23 (SG21) la Parole de Dieu nous dit: ^“Si quelqu'un a des oreilles pour entendre, qu'il entende.” 

Ne faites surtout pas l’erreur de demander au Seigneur de vous utiliser pour ensuite lui dire que ce qu’Il vous demande de faire, ce n’est pas ce que vous aviez en tête de faire.

Souvent, le Seigneur va nous sortir de notre zone de confort.

Les plans pour votre vie, sont seulement des bons plans, si c’est Dieu qui est en contrôle.

Dans Philippiens 2:4 (LSG) la Parole nous dit:“Que chacun de vous, au lieu de considérer ses propres intérêts, considère aussi ceux des autres.”   

Comme chrétiens, il est important de grandir et de mûrir pour être en mesure de copier le caractère de Christ. Si nous avons une bonne relation avec Dieu et si nous laissons le caractère de Christ nous changer, nous transformer, la compassion et l'amour de Dieu seront reflétés dans notre vie et c’est de cette façon que nous allons servir ceux qui nous entourent.Un chrétien qui ne veut pas servir est une personne qui ne peut pas grandir dans sa vie spirituelle, c’est une personne qui ne fera aucun impact dans le royaume de Dieu.

Servir le Seigneur, ça demande de la foi. Ce n’est pas toujours clair ce qu’Il veut de nous où quels seront les résultats. La foi, c’est cependant la première étape à franchir si on veut servir. L’obéissance est certainement est aussi de grande importance. Obéir sans comprendre, c’est aussi de la foi. Dans les épreuves où les difficultés de la vie, nous avons deux choix. S’énerver, abandonner où se fier 100%au Seigneur. Ceci s’appelle avoir de la foi. J’ai souvent vu la faveur de Dieu prendre plusieurs situations négatives et les changées en bénédictions. Quand nous vivons guidés par la foi et non par ce que l’on voie ou de la façon dont nous nous sentons, le Seigneur fait de notre appel un appel de joie et de paix.

Est-ce que cela ne veut pas dire que nous n’avons jamais de problème? Au contraire, si on sert le Seigneur l’ennemi va nous attaquer. Mais la foi nous donne la confiance que notre Dieu prend toujours soin de nous. 

L’amour de Dieu nous motive à servir et servir aide le cœur à guérir.

Quand nous servons le Seigneur, Il répand sur nous comme un parfum de grande qualité qui nous garde, nous protège, nous remplit de paix et nous équipe pour Le servir chaque jour de notre vie afin que nous puissions combattre le bon combat de la foi. ¡Amen!

Chacun d’entre vous avez des talents et des qualifications qui peuvent faire une grande différence dans la vie des gens et dans votre église locale. 

Surtout, gardé toujours un cœur humble et disponible. 

Prier et écouter ce que Dieu vous dit. Surtout ne le limiter pas! Ne le limiter pas! 

Possiblement que vous pensé: Je suis secrétaire, gérant de banque, femme de ménage, dentiste, maman à la maison avec 2-3 enfants, que puis-je faire pour l’œuvre de Dieu? Ne le limiter pas.

En 1990, Il a pris Roger, un comptable agrée et Denise, une administratrice de bureau et IL en a fait des missionnaires au Mexique. Si le Seigneur a pu se servir d’un comptable et d’une gérante de bureau, Il peut certainement se servir de vous. 

Quand Dieu nous appelle, Il nous équipe surnaturellement avec les aptitudes et les capacités spirituelles pour accomplir l’appel pour lequel ou dans lequel Il nous appelle. Il peut se servir de vous, là où vous êtes et possiblement quelques-uns de vous devront faire des gros changements, mais si vous priez, Il est à l’écoute. Tout dépend de votre désir de servir et de votre disponibilité. 

Servir Dieu, il n’y a vraiment pas rien qui apporte autant de satisfaction.

En préparant ce BLOG, mon désir est que l’amour de Dieu que vous avez dans vos cœurs vous motivent à Le servir tous les jours de votre vie.

Ésaïe 61:3a (BDS)…“et d’apporter à ceux qui, dans Sion, sont endeuillés, la splendeur au lieu de la cendre, pour mettre sur leur tête l’huile de l’allégresse au lieu du deuil, et pour les vêtir d’habits de louange au lieu d’un esprit abattu....”

Maintenant voici ma version personnelle de Ésaïe 61:3a “Et j’ai apporté à Denise qui était endeuillée, la splendeur au lieu de la cendre, pour mettre sur sa tête l'huile d'allégresse au lieu du deuil, et je l’ai vêtu d'habits de louange au lieu d'un esprit abattu.” 

C'est ce que Dieu à fait pour moi, et Il peut faire la même chose pour vous. Amen! 

En terminant, je veux vous encourager à servir, là où Dieu vous demande de servir. 

Moi, je donne gloire à Dieu pour tout ce qu’Il fait pour moi, en moi et à travers de moi.  

Merci et que Dieu vous bénisse!

Denise