Pray BFF Letter #279

August 20, 2016

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Beyond Expectations

Dear Prayer Partners,

How amazing that God cares about our lives. Do our jobs, raising children, our marriages really mean something to Him? Yes, indeed. God is a Father and a Shepherd and when we depend on His care for us, He leads and strengthens us. It is not because of our innate skills but what He has given to us for His glory. I belabor this only because He has surprised me with an extra book this summer. I had a goal for two but even during this busy season of life, He gave an extra one.

While the other books were planned for a long time, this book, The Lord Your Healer, was not. It literally popped out of a sermon. I was caught off guard by how people lose faith during their struggles with sickness, that the numerous truths coming from Exodus 15:26, Jehovah Rophe, answered all the difficult questions about sickness and disease and more. Oh, that we might know Him as our Healer!

This is only one recent blessing, but God is answering prayer in abundant ways. One of the most difficult aspects (from my perspective) of our oversea training seminars is the planning. I think there are 13 flights in my October STM trip. Well, I think most of that planning is done. Now for the visas!

“Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Ps 106:1).

The Lord is helping me in many other ways, too. When we came back from New England, the dishwasher was broken. It was hard for my wife to come back to a dishwasher full of dirty dishes. I am grateful that the Lord motivated me to get a touch panel replacement, and with Isaac’s assistance, we could get that repaired quickly. That might look mundane to some, but it displayed His grace (I wanted to avoid it) which made my wife even happier.

We will need that kind of grace as we step into busy lives. For Linda, tomorrow is Promotion Sunday for Sunday School. She is very busy getting things ready. I’m start preaching regularly tomorrow (Aug 21). May God’s grace be abundantly supplied to us all!

Praise!

The Lord Your Healer answers all those hard questions about why God allows sickness, even among believers. Knowing God as Healer changes how you look at sickness. Instead of looking at what you don’t have, you will be amazed at God’s love evident in the level of healing you do have!
The dishwasher was fixed in record time.
I have done much preparation for BFF and OIF this summer, including preaching series as well as teaching series for my overseas October trip.
I was excited when a sister at the church said that she was there to help me administrate church affairs. We have no secretary at the church, so this is a great blessing to ensure events and people with needs are not forgotten.

Follow Paul on Twitter! @PaulJBucknell

Pray!

August 21 begins my regular preaching at OIF (Oakland International Fellowship). This is one of the two congregations that are now part of Pittsburgh Chinese Church at Oakland (PCCO) which I helped plant in 1995. We have a growing assembly of students, young professionals, and families from around the world.
Students are returning. Pray for wisdom as I try to effectively care for the flock of God as well as keep up the BFF ministry.
Do pray for visa applications for my October East Asia BFF training trip as well as funding (which is very low right now only $210).
Kathryn, our 6th, is on the train to Chicago for her sophomore year at Judson University out by Chicago. Rebekah will start PA Cyber School for the first time. Pray for grace.
Pray for a good but rightly-priced translator for getting some of our books into Chinese. A recent translator said she wanted 4 times what I have been paying. I can’t take that path.
Pray for the publishing and distribution of 1000 printed copies of our marriage book in Burmese. This is a key investment into a fast developing nation. May God give the Burmese a good understanding of marriage during this confusing age of blindness.

As always, thanks so much for your prayers!

Paul

Rev. Paul J. Bucknell, President and Instructor

Biblical Foundations for Freedom

Email: pb@foundationsforfreedom.net
Phone/text: (+1) 412-398-4559 (Mobile)
3276 Bainton St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 USA

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