Have you ever been tempted to read quickly the phrase “His faithful love endures forever,” repeated 25 times in Psalm 136? I sure have. But not anymore. As I meditated on this Psalm in my spiritual retreat (not in Malaga as was planned but in my own home) I saw four overarching reasons why the Psalmist gives “thanks to the God of gods” (v 1). God has done creative miracles, protective miracles, miracles of provision and directive miracles. What a blessing to remember certain miracles in each of these areas during various stages of my life.
Let me share one “miracle of provision” over the last month. I really needed some help with some bureaucratic details and couldn´t come up with any ideas. During a random conversation with a friend, a possible solution was suggested. Now I have two people to help me with this need.
Here are some more praise and prayer points (more in the calendar):
- Praise that Teresa and her husband are fully recovered from a bout of Covid and his shoulder is healing, and that their daughter Ann, also my student, appears to be more encouraged now, after a low point for several weeks, in spite of her physical and learning disabilities. Praise that Teresa is praying much more and wants to read her Bible more regularly. Pray for discipline to follow through on her desire.
- Praise that the monthly Betania Church prayer meeting for my town Castilleja, suspended by Covid, is set to start up again at my house on March 19th. Pray that those that the Lord wants to come will be able to come.
- Praise for a team from a Bible College in Canada coming to visit Rich and Joy, the other ACTION missionaries in my town. Pray for good encounters with town folk and for me as I share with them a bit of my testimony and experience of ministering here.
- Praise that the transition from my leadership of Primary Sunday School to a team of leaders, who will replace me, is progressing on schedule. It is exciting to see how they are truly championing one another. Pray this process continues and will be completed by the end of the month.
- Praise for financial provision up to now. Pray for the $500 a month additional needed ever month to meet my needs. Thank you so much for your part via prayers and gifts.
Finally, thanks for your prayers for one final request. I need to make several important decisions during the next six weeks. The Lord promises me, as I keep close to Him, that he will “work out his plans for my life” because “his faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 138:8 NLT).
Mary Woodward
Field Address: Apartado 18
41908 Castilleja de Guzmán, (Sevilla), Spain