Going Through a Valley, Kidney Day & How to Spend More Time in Prayer

Hard times often are described as “going through a valley.” But Bruce Watson, pastor of First Baptist Jeanerette, La., describes life’s valleys as the place where the soil is the richest.

“It’s not until you get in the valley where the dirt of life is, where the thorns and thistles are, and life happens and becomes dirty, that you find that that’s where the fertile soil is, where the fruit grows,” Watson said.

Watson and his wife Danielle have walked the valley of financial worries, sudden life changes, and the loss of a child they cared for and loved.

He says they’ve seen God care for them every step of the way and they’ve learned God will use the valleys a believer walks through to encourage others, he said.
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Rudy Kebreau and Randal Lyle are bound by far more than their mutual faith and pastoral calling these days. Lyle, senior pastor at Meadowridge Community Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, gave Kebreau, his next generation and children’s pastor, a priceless gift this summer when he donated a kidney to his friend and associate.

It was an unlikely match made this side of heaven that even astounded transplant doctors who rarely, if ever, see perfect matches between Anglo donors and Haitian-American recipients. Yet, after extensive testing, Lyle met all the markers for donating a kidney to Kebreau.

The pastor sees the transplant process as an object lesson for his congregation. “We are a multi-ethnic church,” Lyle said. “I think it was a testimony that, in a sense, we are all the same. The issue was never anyone’s background or skin color or anything.”
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Good News for Today is made possible through our friends at The Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission — no matter the cost. Find out more and sign up for their free monthly magazine at vom.org/goodnews.
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Maybe your church has a prayer list. But have you ever considered have a personal prayer list? In a piece in the Baptist Press Toolbox, Kie Bowman says it may help you remain faithful in prayer.

He writes, “A prayer list keeps you focused. To some a list may seem mechanical; but remember, you’re building a good routine. Even if it feels awkward at first, you’ll soon appreciate the way you’re now doing it better than the way you previously didn’t do it! Prayer is spiritual, but the logistics of building a prayer life are simply practical, repeatable disciplines.

He says consider covering topics such as…”praise, confession, intercession, supplication, submission, and other matters. Use the Lord’s Prayer as your list or as a guide to craft your own prayer list. Adjust your list as your habit of prayer grows.”

“Make paper or electronic copies and keep them handy so the prayer list is always ready whenever you want to pray. A list helps you avoid the familiar dilemma of wandering thoughts while you pray, and it allows you to maximize the time you have,” Bowman writes.

You can read the full piece and learn more about our daily emails at Baptist Press.com.