CHN Newsletter May 2003

“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8)

May 2003

Dear Friend,

Trusting that all is well with you and your loved ones. We are fine, and working hard to make available to you resources for help during these difficult times. Our crisis Helpline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you need to talk to someone, or would like agreement in prayer, please call The Hope Connection Helpline at 1-718-238-4600 and a Hope Connection Prayer Partner will be there for you.

War is always difficult. The decision to go to war is the hardest decision a President has to make. My late husband was a World War II Disabled Veteran, and as much as he suffered, he always said that going to war was something he had to do; it was his duty to his country to fight for freedom. I see the young soldiers at Fort Hamilton Army Base, and on TV, and I think of him when he was only 18, and going to war. We have got to stand behind our troops, and pray for them. They deserve all the respect, support, and love that we can possibly give them for what they are doing. We, as Christians, have got to stick together in unity through our prayer and support of our military. If you have access to the Internet there is a web site that you can go to, to adopt a soldier to pray for. It is www.presidentialprayerteam.org If you have questions regarding the Presidential Prayer Team, or you have a prayer request, you can write to our Online Coordinator, my daughter, Rev.Geri Damone at HopeNet@aol.com Our Wall of Prayer is building up in our office. People are sending in pictures of their sons and daughters in the military, and we place them on the Wall. Everyday during Chapel, we pray for each one of them for God’s protection, and to come home soon. If you have a picture of a loved one, and would like it placed on the Wall of Prayer, please send it in, using the enclosed envelope. We will cover your loved one in soaking prayer.

How are you dealing with this? Are you okay? I do pray that by the time you receive this letter, the war will be over. But if not, we know that God is in control, and our trust is in Him. There is one thing about the Psalms that I find so comforting. When I don’t know how to express myself, or what to say to God, there is always a Psalm that will express my thoughts, my emotions, and my desires. It is amazing how God will somehow direct me to a Psalm that will say just what I would have said, if I could have found the words! King David went through a huge amount of thoughts and feelings, ranging from total despair, to fear, to complaints, to cries of pain, to confidence, to shouts of joy and praise. The Psalms help us to remember that God is the center of all life, history, and creation itself. He is King and Sovereign over all, yet His compassion, concern, and tender kindness for His children are those of a loving Father. When we draw near to Him, He is faithful to draw near to us, and He will offer comfort and hope.

In Psalm 4, David asks God to answer him when he calls on him. He asks for relief from his distress, and asks for God to be merciful to hear his prayer. David is going through a tough time with the enemy, and he is angry. But he trusts that God will hear him when he calls to Him. How many frustrating nights have we tossed and turned worrying about what is going to happen to our country, to our city, or to our family? Psalm 4:4 tells us to “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still.” Our sinful nature would just love to take over at this point, and cause us to think of all the things that will bind us, and cause us to stay awake. But do you know what? We do not know the answers. Our staying awake at night, will not bring this war to a victorious ending, or solve all the world’s problems. But our prayers will soar to the heavens and bring God into the situation. Glory!

Therefore, it is our job to trust that sleep is possible because God alone makes us dwell in safety. (Vs. 8). We should decide at that point that we will sleep on the problem, and let God fill our thoughts with His promises. We should turn to Him, and ask Him to relieve our stress. Jesus tells us in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Therefore, let us clear our minds from all that is not of Him, and allow His peace to enter into our thoughts. In Psalm 37 David says “For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” (Vs. 10,11) Alleluia!

Psalm 91 is a wonderful Psalm with promises regarding God’s loving tender care for us. It has a condition with it, as all of God’s promises do. It says in verses 9,10 and 11 “Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” In other words, because you abide in Christ, this is what is promised. As we give our lives totally to God, and live for Him, He assigns angels to watch over us. Dr. Billy Graham, observing the plural in this text concluded that every believer has at least two angels assigned to protect him. Praise God! That should be enough to comfort us, and help us to sleep at night!

Now is the time to pray, my friend. We pray for our President, our country, our military, for the peace of Jerusalem, for salvation, and liberation in Iraq, for Saddam Hussein to lose power, and yes, even for his salvation. After we pray, we read the Psalms, quiet ourselves before the Lord, and trust that He holds our future in His hands. Then we sleep in confidence knowing that God is awake, and in control, and that His angels are watching over us.

P.S. From time to time, as a courtesy to our precious veterans and their families, we will be including important updated information regarding health benefits. We pray that this will be a blessing.