Pakistan: Christian homes torched, churches attacked after jailing girl
Christians from the UK will be meeting outside the Pakistani High Commission in London on Wednesday to protest the arrest of an 11-year-old girl for blasphemy. The girl, named in reports as Rimsha Masih, has Down's Syndrome. She was accused by Muslims of burning pages of the Koran and was arrested by police after a mob surrounded her home in Mehrabadi, Islamabad. Rimsha remains in police custody and hundreds of Christians have reportedly fled the area in fear. Muslims torched Christian homes and ‘destroyed’ a church in a slum area of Islamabad while suspected militants shot at another church outside Pakistan's capital, after the jailing of a mentally handicapped Christian girl for ‘blasphemy’, witnesses said on Tuesday. President Asif Zardari has called for an investigation into her arrest. The protest in London is being organised by the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA).
Pray: for Rimsha that her unfortunate actions will be recognised as something unintentional. Pray that the investigation by the authorities will clear the situation and bring peace. (Mt.5:9)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/uk.christians.to.protest.arrest.of.pakistani.girl/30513.htm
Four Paralympic flames kindled around the UK
Four Paralympic flames have been kindled at the top of the highest peaks of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland ahead of next week's Games. They were created on Northern Ireland's Slieve Donard, Snowdon in Wales, Scotland's Ben Nevis and on Scafell Pike in England's Lake District. Four teams scaled the highest peaks of the home countries to spark the flames which will come together at Stoke Mandeville on Tuesday. The Games start the following day. The flames are being carried down in lanterns ahead of celebrations in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast over the Bank Holiday weekend. A 24-hour relay will leave Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual home of the Games, to arrive in Stratford in time for the opening ceremony in London.
Pray: that the flames will once more unite the nations.
Paralympians to celebrate Games in St Paul’s
St Paul’s Cathedral will echo with an unaccustomed sound on the Sunday after next: a three-a-side wheelchair-basketball game is to be played beneath the dome during a service to mark the opening of the Paralympic Games the following Wednesday. The Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Richard Chartres, will preside, and the service will begin when Chris Holmes, the blind Paralympian swimmer, runs in through the Great West doors with a laurel wreath, and places it on the altar. Baroness Grey-Thompson, who won 16 Paralympic medals during her sporting career, will give the address. Lord Coe and Dame Tessa Jowell MP are expected to attend. In a message to the 2700 young people who volunteered to be ‘ambassadors for Christ’ during the Games, Bishop Chartres said: ‘Without seeking to undermine the Prime Minister's emphasis on the virtues of competition, I think that you all deserve a medal.’
Pray: that the success of the Games will continue and the Paralympic Games will add to the amazing legacy already achieved. (Heb.12:1)
21 DAYS - Seeking Gods Face
In the spirit of 2 Chronicles 7:14, we at Intercessors for America sense a renewed call from God to humble ourselves, pray, seek His Face, and turn from our wicked ways. We believe this call is deeply personal and that God wants His people to seek Him with an attitude of repentance.
The prophet Isaiah spoke against wickedness and backsliding among God's people. Still, it was a time when they were going to the temple regularly and fasting. Yet God asked "Is it a fast that I have chosen...?" (Isaiah 58). God then described specifically what He had called them to do, which required a deep personal, self-reflective look at their relationship with Him.
We invite you to join us, as we together seek God's face daily for 21 days, commencing on the anniversary of 9/11 and continuing through 10/1/2013. Each day we will send a brief devotional looking at one aspect of Isaiah 58 and the commitment to which God still calls His people.
How You Can Participate:
• Sign up to receive devotionals for 21 days to encourage you beginning on 9/11 and continuing through 10/1/2013.
Click Here to receive the Daily Emails (http://www.formstack.com/forms/?1550917-JF3YY8fxJJ)
• Set aside quality time each day to pray and seek God's face.
• View our daily devotion through email, on Facebook, Twitter, or on our website: NationalDayofRepentance.org
• Keep a prayer journal for the 21 days and record what the Lord shows you.
• Forward this email to a friend.
We believe setting dedicated time aside and giving up something as a type of fast will be profitable.
Fasting traditionally means abstaining from food for a time period, but God may lead you to fast from other things. We encourage each person participating to pray and ask God to lead you during these 21 days.
Sharing: Each day there will be an opportunity to share what God has spoken to you so that other fellow believers will be encouraged. However, we understand that in some areas, it might be too personal to share publicly what God has revealed to you. We are excited to hear and see how God reveals and draws each of us back to Himself in specific ways during these 21 days of praying and fasting. We believe that He will greatly honor this time.
It is a desperate hour in our nation's history. Repentance is the key that will unlock revival. Please join us!
David Kubal
President/CEO
Intercessors for America
