30 Days of Prayer - Egypt

Coptic Christians and Muslims in Egypt

Ramadan 2007 / 1428 : Day 04 for September 16

- Focus Area: The Nile Delta Region

The Nile Delta is a fertile farming region that extends from the northern edge of Cairo to the Mediterranean Sea. The three major cities marking the limits of the Nile Delta region, but not included in it, are Cairo, Alexandria, and Port Said. Referred to simply as the Delta, the region consists of the area surrounding the branches of the Nile River, which splits into the Rosetta and Damietta branches at a point just north of Cairo.

As one of the Middle East’s and Egypt’s most densely populated areas the Delta is home to approximately 32 million people living in several large towns and thousands of villages. The region includes twenty cities each with populations of between 90,000 and 500,000 people. The local population increases by about 500,000 people each year. Covering the same land area as the state of Vermont in the USA (22,000 square kilometers) this small area is home to 12% or 1 out of every 8.5 native Arabic speakers in the world (The total population of the 22 countries of the Arab world is 323 million but only 272 million have Arabic as their mother tongue).

The people of the Delta range from the poor, rural and uneducated to the wealthy and urban who have advanced degrees from universities in Western nations. There are even several universities in the Delta, but the overall literacy rate is low. Despite urbanisation the vast majority of Egyptians in the Delta are farmers. Egypt is one of the world’s top rice producers, almost all of which is grown in the Delta.

The US ambassador to Egypt enjoys attending an annual celebration in the Delta city of Tanta. Sayid al Badawi founded a Sufi order and the mosque in Tanta housing his tomb is one of the largest in the Middle East.

The overwhelming majority of the people in the Delta are Muslims. However there is a significant minority, roughly three percent, who identify with the Coptic Church, which traces its origins to Mark the Evangelist, the writer of the Gospel. A tiny minority of Christians in the Delta are Evangelicals.

Prayer Requests:
* Pray for boldness for all believers (current and new believers) resulting in the Gospel being shared thousands of times daily.
* The Delta is filled with a spiritual atmosphere of fear, confusion, fanaticism, and magic. Pray for fear to be driven out by perfect love, for clouds of confusion to be burned away by the light of truth, for fanaticism to be overcome by humility, and for demonic bondage resulting from practising magic to be broken in the name of Jesus. Pray that people will get to know the real Jesus, despite any errors they may have been taught.
* A family for Jesus can make God’s most powerful unit for building his kingdom. Pray for entire families to come to Christ so that they will devote their homes, as well as their hearts, to the Lord.
* Pray for people to listen to and watch the Christian radio and satellite broadcasts which can be heard in the Delta.

Background information, map and statistics about Egypt are here >>

Savoring the last days of summer

The last days of summer
School is in full swing for both Gracie & me, but we are looking forward to a few more days of summer sun forecasted this week. They are calling for temps in the 80's....plenty of sunshine heading my way! We have a beach day planned on Friday...counting down the days!

I'm the last to put my away my sandals and sunscreen. Here are a few pics & memories from the last few days of summer~

Park play after the German Fest - We love the park!

Plush Horse Ice Cream Shoppe! YUM! A gorgeous place to enjoy your ice cream is an added bonus...ecept for the bees!

We love waterpark play. It's twice as nice when shared with a friend!

30 Days of Prayer - Saudi Arabia

30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World Ramadan 2007 / 1428: September 13 - October 12

Results of Prayer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

For Saturday, 15 September, Ramadan 2007. "Loving Muslims Through Prayer"

Christians have been praying for Saudi Arabia for years and as a result, some openness has resulted. For example, in October 2005, King and Prime Minister Abdullah, in his first TV appearance, publicly stated “people are free to practice their faith in the privacy of their homes”.

Saudi Arabia does define itself as the “upholder of Islam”. As such, the foreign policy of Saudi Arabia is very much based on Islamic mission (Da’wa). This is partly because of the Islamic concept of non-separation between religion and state, and partly due to the kingdoms own desire to spread Islam around the world.

On the one hand we have some cracks in the armor of Saudi Arabia itself, but on the other hand there is a huge work continuing outside Saudi’s borders to not just promote Islam, but to “see the West converted to Islam and integrated into the global Umma (all Muslims in the world viewed as one community)”.

[Full Text]

Prayer requests:

• Pray for the capital city of Riyadh. Although not all of Riyadh's 4.5 million inhabitants actually pray five times per day, a high percentage are regular in their prayers. May they all have an increased hunger to know the living God and to be in real communication with Him (Jeremiah 31:34 and John 17:3).
  
• A significant number of foreign Christians also live in Riyadh. Many of them are servants and workers, often from Asian backgrounds. Pray that they will be able to be witnesses for Christ like Joseph and Daniel who served in countries far from their homes (Genesis 39-41 and Daniel 1-2).
  
• Many Muslims are particularly sensitive to dreams. Pray for revelations of the risen Messiah.

+ Google Map Link: Riyahd, Saudi Arabia


--- of interest ---
"Libya and Nigeria announced Tuesday, 11 Sept. that the moon had been sighted and the fast would start Wednesday. Clerics of most other Arab nations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, said that the new moon had not been sighted Tuesday night and so Thursday 13. Sept. was the first day of Ramadan."

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You are welcome and encouraged to forward these e-mails to others.
30-Days International write the materials and coordinate the translation into some 40 languages where booklets are distributed from around 30 offices around the world. Download PDF booklets in English, Spanish, Chinese, Malaysian or Arabic from our 30-days.net website.
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30 Days of Prayer - Lebanon

30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World                     Ramadan 2007 / 1428:  September 13 - October 12

How Young Men Prepare for Prayer

    in Beirut, Lebanon

For Friday, 14 September, Ramadan 2007. "Loving Muslims Through Prayer"

Outside, the muezzin finishes his call to prayer over the loud speaker. Instead of going to the mosque, a young man decides to pray at home. But first he does the ritual cleansing. In his cramped bathroom he begins by declaring his intention to cleanse himself and pray by saying "Bismillah" (In the name of God). He then washes his hands up to the wrists, three times. He rinses out his mouth with water three times and cleans his nostrils by sniffing water into them, three times. He proceeds to wash his whole face three times with both hands from the top of his forehead to the bottom of his chin and from ear to ear. Finally he washes his arms three times up to the elbow and ends by washing his ears and both feet.

Then the young man remembers the previous night. He was near the bars of Gemmayzeh, an eastern Beirut "Christian" neighbourhood. So many pretty young women were there. The young Muslim had really desired to enter a bar himself, however he had no money. His anger rose a he thought of the conflict with Israel and conflicts with Christians. No job, little money. No peace.

Then he unrolled his prayer rug.

[Full Text]

Prayer requests:

• Beirut's Muslims cleanse themselves outwardly for prayer but many find that injustices, hurts, and temptations fill their minds. Finding real peace with God could liberate them to forgive and love others. May they discover the God who truly forgives and cleanses (Mt 18:23-35, Romans 5:1-5).
  
  
  
• Pray that the Church in Lebanon will be "salt and light" in the city, and that God would be glorified in all that is said and done. There are high numbers of non-practising "cultural" Christians among the Lebanese (Mt. 5:14-16; Romans 12:1-2).
  
  
  
• God has his own purposes and plans for Israel, yet for Lebanon's Muslims (and often Christians) it is very hard to understand how to love or appreciate Israel. May the God who loves both Arabs and Jews through the cross be fully revealed (Ephesians 3:6).

Beirut has 1.5 million people (perhaps 50% Muslim)

+ Google Map Link: Beirut, Lebanon

+ YouTube Link: 3:35, beautiful city Beirut

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You are welcome and encouraged to forward these e-mails to others.
30-Days International write the materials and coordinate the translation into some 40 languages where booklets are distributed from around 30 offices around the world. Download PDF booklets in English, Spanish, Chinese, Malaysian or Arabic from our 30-days.net website.

30 Days of Prayer - Preparation

Understanding Islam ...

Preparation for "Loving Muslims Through Prayer".

During his life, Mohammed met many people who called themselves Christians, though it is debatable how many of them were really in the faith. Mohammed also learned many aspects of Jewish religious customs from the various Jewish clans which were living in the region. Eventually he became the political and religious leader of Medina, a city north of Mecca which had a significant Jewish population. Mohammed’s prophethood was not accepted by the Jews of Medina leading to serious conflict. Jewish and Christian ideas, concepts and history are very present in the Qur’an though they are often distorted.

We have put concise overviews of the world of Islam on our website. Some of the following may be helpful to you:

• About Ramadan
  
• The Basics Of Islam
  
• The History of Islam and the Life of Mohammed
  
• What Muslims Believe
  
• Mindsets in Islam
  
• Social Issues in Islam
  
• The Culture of Islam
  
• How to Witness to Muslims
  
• Testimonies from former Muslims

Islamic beliefs :
- One God, the Creator of all things
- Angels and evil spirits
- Prophets  (Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Mohammed)
- Mohammed was the last and greatest of the prophets.
- Holy books (Injil, Zabur, Qur’an)
- The Day of Judgement
- The Bible has been corrupted and modified.

- Jesus was conceived miraculously  in the womb of Mary.
- Jesus is only a prophet.
- Jesus was actually a good Muslim.
- Jesus taught an earlier form of Islam.
- Jesus did not die on the cross.
- Jesus went to heaven.
- Jesus will come again, marry, have children and die.
- Jesus will be judged like all men at the  Last Judgement.

Muslims do not believe :

- That  it is possible to know God as in John 17:3. (They only think that they can know about Him).
- God is a Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- Jesus is the Son of God.
- That Jesus is the world’s true Lord.

30 Days of Prayer - Why Pray?

Today is the frst day of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.  I am particpating in the annual 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World.  This year's theme is Loving Muslims Through Prayer". I'll be posting daily prayer topics along with information about Islam.  God's heart beats for the Muslim as much as it does for one who calls Him father. For the sake of the harvest...but also, I really want to draw closer to God myself in this time of prayer and consecration.

30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World                     Ramadan 2007 / 1428:  September 13 - October 12
Why Pray for Muslims?

Why "Love Muslims Through Prayer"?
Why Pray for Muslims ?

The “30 Days” movement is based on the idea that God desires to bring multitudes of Muslims into his kingdom. We believe that He has asked us to pray in order that this could take place.

The “30 Days” project is simply part of fulfilling Jesus’ command to make disciples of all the nations (Mt 28:18-20). He also told us to ask for labourers to be sent into the harvest (Mt. 9:37-38). Our Lord’s desire is that all men would come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

We, as Christians, have often come to think that the Gospel is uniquely about our personal needs, wants and desires. Personal peace and fulfilment seem like the goal of the Christian life for many. While God is concerned about these things His Gospel is actually much more profound. God has actually started a new creation through Christ Jesus. He is rescuing and recreating our world. God is calling all people to participate in His new world which began with Christ’s resurection. The Gospel calls us to enter into the life of the world to come. There shall be a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (Isaiah 65:17 and 2 Peter 3:13). The zeal of the Lord will accomplish it (Isaiah 9:7).

Let us pray in faith for God’s will and desire to be accomplished through us.

Amen
 

Blessings, Ron and the Editorial Staff

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30-Days International write the materials and coordinate the translation into some 40 languages where booklets are distributed from around 30 offices around the world. To find out more about our ministry, visit the About Us section of our 30-days.net website.

What is Ramadan? (according to About.com)

During the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims all over the world abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during the daylight hours. As a time to purify the soul, refocus attention on God, and practice self-sacrifice, Ramadan is much more than just not eating and drinking.

Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. We are to make peace with those who have wronged us, strengthen ties with family and friends, do away with bad habits -- essentially to clean up our lives, our thoughts, and our feelings. The Arabic word for "fasting" (sawm)literally means "to refrain" - and it means not only refraining from food and drink, but from evil actions, thoughts, and words.

During Ramadan, every part of the body must be restrained. The tongue must be restrained from backbiting and gossip. The eyes must restrain themselves from looking at unlawful things. The hand must not touch or take anything that does not belong to it. The ears must refrain from listening to idle talk or obscene words. The feet must refrain from going to sinful places. In such a way, every part of the body observes the fast.

Therefore, fasting is not merely physical, but is rather the total commitment of the person's body and soul to the spirit of the fast. Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint; a time to cleanse the body and soul from impurities and re-focus one's self on the worship of God.

More good news

AND I later retreived my acceptance letter from GSU! Ok...here we go! The summer was nice but there's hard work on my horizon!

1st day of Preschool

Great day for Grace as she started preschool today. She wasted no time making herself at home greeting the classroom pets, finding her cubby, playing with playdough and helping the teacher. She's growing up...no way to stop it, huh? I'm so proud of her~ Thanks for sharing this journey with me. Experiences shared are twice as nice!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Ok...which one do you like the best? I'm printing one of them off for the actual scrapbook...hold in your lap book. Please vote~ The 2nd one has more photos. Thanks~

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Kitchen Cutie

We had a great weekend up with dear friends in Milwaukee celebrating two birthdays. Gracie enjoyed herself silly at the Hawaiian luau.  I'll get some pics up here soon. AND we brought home some bounty from our other Grandma's house...home grown apples that are absolutely GORGEOUS!  So tonight we stayed home & baked an apple pie. Our first together...Gracie adores helping me cook and aside from her master taste tester job, she also cut up the butter, rolled pie crust, spread the apples in the crust, sprinkled spices, dumped cranberries and sweetened it all up with a good bit of sugar.  I know...what do I do except peel the apples?? Not much!  Anyway...I just love creating memories with her & I get such a thrill out of her excitement in the kitchen. She'd choose cooking with mom over most anything...maybe not a popsickle...possible, as she calls them. :o)

Anyway...the pies's about ready to come out of the oven. Here's to a yummy treat made by sweet hands. :o)

Oh...by the way, we have our preschool orientation tomorrow where she meets her teachers, finds her cubby and other assorted activities to aid the transition to school.  Her 1st day is next Tuesday...she's so stinkin excited (that's Sarah speak), but I'm on the edge of weepiness at the thought of it all. Time has gone by too fast... Any advice from you who've lived this day of hellos & goodbyes??

PS...that's not my pie...thanks much to Google images

EDIT:  Now THAT was tasty!

Wild West Days

Grace & I had a great time at the annual Wild West Days in Crete this year. Our 1st stop was the European market where we enjoyed a snowcone (Gracie) and mango on a stick (me). YUM! I ate mango the "traditional" way with lemon juice, salt & red pepper. Who knew it would be sooooo tasty?! We bought some fresh blueberries (we're making pancakes)and scrumptious bread & scones.

Afterward, we headed over to the festival grounds (aka-park) for all things western...except for horses. Where are the horses?? Anyway...it was a delightful time with activities, games, wild west show, petting zoo, & yummy fest food! Grace won a hula hoop playing the ducky game...except it was with little frisbees instead of ducks. Anyone wanna talk about hula hooping??? I'm just not good at that yet, as Grace would say. :o)

I like this Smilebox-scrapbook thing~ I can even print it! Print it & put it in an album~ Gotta love that!

Click to play Make your own Smilebox