National Day of Prayer

“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

May 5th 2011 marks the 60th National Day of Prayer and America will be abuzz with people praying together.

Read about the National Day of Prayer in my article The San Diego Christian Perspectives Examiner.

May this year's prayer day be the best ever. God knows, America needs prayer.

Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © May 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
www.twitter.com/JaneyDeMeo

The Prayer Dare

Just in time for The National Day of Prayer . . .

The Prayer Dare – Take the Challenge that will Transform your Relationship with God – by Ron Kincaid is by far one of the most comprehensive books on prayer I’ve read. And it’s easy reading.

Each chapter emphasizes a different aspect of prayer based on Scripture and provides practical illustrations leaving the reader with a dare—to practice prayer in the way outlined in the chapter.

Praying according to God’s will, praising Him for who He is, lamenting and confessing are just some of the topics covered in the book. Each chapter ends not just with a challenge (dare) but also with an opportunity to write down what you’re learning along the prayer walk and to thereby apply its message.

Author, Ron Kincaid, is a pastor, husband and the father of nine children. His testimony is one of a man who’s discovered the power of prayer.

The Prayer Dare. Read it. Put it into practice. Take the dare.

You can also read this review in The San Diego Christian Perspectives Examiner.

Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © May 2011

www.orphansfirst.org
www.JaneyDeMeo.com
www.twitter.com/JaneyDeMeo

Heartache for Haiti

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world with thousands are orphaned, beautiful children. Since the recent catastrophe, thousands more are orphaned. Thousands injured. Thousands starving. Haiti’s plight is desperate.

So what are we gonna do?

You can sleep too much, eat too much, watch too much TV, do too much computer stuff -- BUT you can NEVER pray too much. Never. That answers part of the question as to what we’re to do: Pray!

For years subscribers to the Orphans First Prayer Chain have prayed over Haitian adoptions. We have watched God move and bring precious children home to their forever families. Adopting a child in Haiti often takes between 3 and 5 years. Let’s pray God uses this tragic disaster to open up adoptions and make them easier – at least for godly parents.

Orphans First has supported several orphanages in Haiti over the years and more recently a feeding program in Port-au-Prince. By God’s grace, we plan to increase this support.

For those wanting to help orphans in Haiti, and who want their money to be used in a God-fearing manner to help children, send your tax-deductible gift by using the donate button on the Orphans First website. Details are also on the site.

Orphans First is a non-profit organization helping hurting children through Christ—one by one.

On another note, you can hear me being interviewed about my parenting book, Heaven Help Me Raise These Children! on The Authors Show (under Christian Authors section) today on Monday Jan.18, 2010.

I’m praying about going to Haiti. For now, I must remind myself: I can only do what I can do. God, please help me to either accept that or to do more. Still, Lord Jesus, help us do more to help Haiti.

"I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!" (Psalm 27:13-14).

Thanks for your prayers.

blessings,
Janey

Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
January 2010 © Copyright
www.orphansfirst.org
www.Janey.DeMeo.com
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New RADIO BROADCAST for the Frenchies, Bible studies etc.

When I first began blogging, I hadn’t decided how often to blog. At this present time, since I have several blogs to update, I’m keeping a sorta once-a-week post. I know. It’s not much compared to some. Some post daily. Maybe I’ll upstep it in time, but for now, I’d rather be faithful to a more reasonable commitment than fail my commitment by over-committing. Does this make sense?

This past week I’ve found myself teaching in several contexts. Today we broadcasted our first FRENCH RADIO SHOW —REVEIL -- to ladies (& men if they want to listen) across the Internet on RestoreTV.com. Because it’s on the Internet, the program has the potential to reach people in any country. My heart is to especially reach -- & teach – the ladies in France, French Africa (which is half the continent) & Canada. The broadcast will begin with teaching – a sort of Bible study. Then for the second half, folks can call in with questions, comments etc.

Anyway, this was my first show, and it went well (in spite of weeks of being technologically challenged trying to get it to work). I don’t know how many listened but “peu importe” as we say in French (no matter), I’ll be on again next week, same time same channel.

So, check out RestoreTV.com at 10 am PT (So Cal time) every Wed. morning for my show. And if you want, call in and say Hi (in French of course).

Last week, I had the joy of teaching the women of Christian Surfers Newport Beach (in Costa Mesa). Amazing group of gals. I had a wonderful time sharing on Praying on Empty – something I plan to write about in the future. But the most interesting thing about the evening was how the Spirit lead, and how the women’s hunger directed.

Because these gals have met my husband and my son, they’d heard of me and were eager to hear a little about what I do (a question I often ask myself: What do I do anyway?) So, I began sharing about Orphans First, how it began, stories about children we’ve helped. Needless to say, I cried. And so did some of the other gals. I mean, how can you hear stories of real children who live in such poverty and not weep?

It seems to me – more and more really – that there are too many children out there needing help, especially in the foster system. And it seems to me we should do more for them. Exactly what, I’m not sure. But please pray with me as to how we can better reach out to these children. There shouldn’t be such a thing as a child without a home in such a place as America.

So Cal Fires -- alert!

“It’s just stuff,” my friend Cameron tells the TV crew as he and his family are being evacuated to avoid the fires. I’m watching him on TV even as I write this. So far, my family and I are not touched directly by the fires. Yet if I step outside, I smell smoke, and the skies are black with smoke. Several nearby towns are on fire. People have left their homes, their belongings and some were left with a horrible choice—which pets to take and which to leave since they didn’t have room for all of them. Oh, what a terrible ultimatum.

At this time, 300, 000 people have been evacuated due to these fires. Curiously, one fire that was an instigator began at Witch Creek. They call it the Witch Fire. And all that right before Halloween. Thank God our trust is not in man, nor in superstition, but in the Living God. No fire is a threat to Him for He is a consuming fire.

Just today I was thinking of how amazing our God is to place the sun in exactly the right place. If it were closer to earth, we'd burn to death. If it were farther, we'd freeze. His is in perfect control. I find such contrast in the fact that man is unable to even control the fire...

May we all be praying for those whose lives are affected by these devouring fires. God have mercy. And may the Lord draw people close to Himself during this time—and save the helpless, whether big or small, young or old.

Alarming News from the week of 9/11

Heavy stuff, this weeks news. China bans lead paint on toys to be shipped into the USA. Bravo. Wonderful. So does that mean that toys remaining in China—or going to other countries—will contain lead paint? Silly me. I forgot. Many little Chinese kids, and most kids in the third world, don’t have toys. Not like Americans. But if they’re lucky enough to have one or two, they’ll likely be laden with lead. Deadly lead!

The thought of children consuming lead—or any poison for that matter—because of man’s greed, his desire to make more money with less care, faster, is heavy stuff.

I’ve been thinking about hot topics relating to the welfare of children. Take, for example, the McCanns, now accused of killing their missing child, Madeleine. I don’t know all the facts, and I’m convinced the media won’t give them to you. It’s hard to glean objective reports among the grapple and grab for sensationalism. Is Portugal’s trying to cover something up? It is hard to imagine that this couple who seem to love their twins could have done anything to that little princess. I do know one thing for sure: God knows. And I’m praying that truth be revealed.

Meanwhile, I know about another couple accused of killing a child. I choose not to give details here but I spent some time researching their story. If you read some articles, you’d swear the parents were culprits—or at best disciplinarian fanatics. But if you dig deeper, it’s not that hard to read in between the lines. It sure is looking as if some “force” is trying to destroy a Christian family and discourage fostering and adoptions. It reminds me of a sad conspiracy reflecting the dark times we live in. I’m praying for the couple concerned and for truth to be revealed.

More news: A school principle left her child in her SUV for 8 hours. The car got unbearably hot. The baby died. She apparently forgot the child in her haste to get to her job. Should she be prosecuted? Oh my, how did we ever get to this place? This is insane.

I don’t want to stir up controversy. I know little about the above news items. I have no right to spout an opinion. But what I do want to say is that we cannot just gullibly believe what the media spouts out. And when we hear that America’s (happily) is taking measures to refuse toys with lead in them, we can rejoice—yes, do let’s rejoice—but let’s not close our hearts to the thought that so many children elsewhere are not protected. It’s just not economically interesting to seek their protection.

My conclusion: We need to pray like we’ve never prayed before. We need to talk to God about all these issues, ask for His wisdom, guidance and also ask Him what we should do. And we need to pray for His truth to be upheld.

More news: One in a million have sextuplets. A 29 year old in Tampa gives birth to sextuplets—5 boys, one girl. She chose not to eliminate any. (Good for you gal! Those babies belong to God). The babies are beautiful, as is the couple’s other little girl. I wonder how they’ll cope. I also wonder if they used fertility drugs (the news didn’t go into that). And I wonder again what will happen to the thousands of abandoned children, not wanted, stuck in the foster system or some orphanage somewhere.

Meanwhile, a 16-year-old kid drops out of high school and now works for UPS. Why? Because his mom is now in prison for 2 years. Why? Because she bought beer for her minor’s birthday party, at his request. She took the car keys from all the kids who were there and insisted that they stay the night. Still, she bought them beer illegally. And now she’s behind bars. And Ryan’s life is ruined. Sure, his mom made a mega mistake. But my heart breaks because this kid’s heart is broken. His life is destroyed because of it. No future for him now. Just a broken heart—unless God does a miracle. I’m counting on the latter. I’m trusting God will do a miracle for Ryan. Let’s pray for him.

Commemorated on 9/11 this week: 2, 974 died at the Twin Towers and the crashed planes combined—all that because of terrorists. Tragic. But the greater tragedy is that America is still letting in illegal immigrants from high risk countries. I would encourage anyone to read of In Mortal Danger by Cong. Tom Tancredo and learn some of the things that are still taking place in America.

Blessings,

Janey DeMeo©September 2007

Drawing Near To A Generous God, Embraced by Grace

OK, so where’ve I been? I told you in my last blog, but that doesn’t explain the silence since I returned. The thing is that life hasn’t stopped whirling around me and, frankly, my head’s spinning.

My daughter’s Master’s graduation was beautiful and we enjoyed renewing contacts with friends in Atlanta, one of my favoritist cities. The adoption awareness seminar in Daytona Beach, FL – sponsored by Embraced by Grace, a Christian adoption agency – went fantasticly well and was catalyst to several adoptions.

Here on the homefront, last week we enjoyed a special banquet at the Spirit of the West Coast with Peter Furler of Newsboys speaking, followed by a wonderful, God-exalting concert by the Newsboys. My husband, son and I had a blast just enjoying the Newsboys' great music, super performance and spiritual inspiration. Helping build houses for poor people in Baja, Mexico, this band lives what they sing and preach. Love 'em. And tomorrow we have Switchfoot, This Holiday Life & a bunch of other bands on Moonlight Beach hosting a surf contest. (Can you understand why I keep harping on So Cal-ers being so spoilt? It's the truth). Too bad Louis won't be there. Yes, Louis left yesterday to minister again in several countries in AFRICA. And I will be in Chicago next week for the Write to Publish conference—a Christian writer’s conference I highly recommend.

Talking of writing, I have an article in this month’s issue of Indeed magazine (Walk through the Bible) called: Expectant Squawking (Drawing Near to a Generous God). This is a great devo mag more meaty than most—a great tool to go deeper with God.

On that note, some great books I recommend are by Chris Tiegreen, Indeed’s editor:
http://homepage.mac.com/ctiegreen/Personal2.html Chris’s writing is refreshingly deep. He doesn’t cater to the feel-gooders who formulate their doctrine based on what keeps them comfy. Chris, like many of my fave authors, knows about suffering and understands its value in our lives. And, whether we like it or not, pain has great value.

Speaking of suffering, this weekend features the Worldwide Weekend of Prayer for Children at Risk (see details at www.viva.org). The idea behind this event is to encourage churches, small groups and individuals to specifically put time aside to pray for the world’s suffering children. There are so many needs out there, it’s not hard to think of children who need our prayers. Sadly, there are still too few churches who implement this event on their premises or who even promote it for small groups. I hope it’s through ignorance and not through indifference. God forbid that we wouldn’t find it important enough to put aside our comfort for a while and give time to intercede for those who cannot speak up for themselves: Prov.31: 8,9.

This brings me back to the title of my article mentioned above: God is indeed generous. He waits to be gracious to us (Isa.30:18). And He waits for us to call on Him on behalf of others.

On that note, yikes, the clock is ticking me off. Must go. I’m hosting a prayer meeting at my home tonight and the house needs cleaning. Don’t want folks sneezing ‘cause of dust in the middle of praying right?

If I don’t blog before I’m back from Chicago, please know I appreciate your visits and especially your prayers for the suffering children of the world.

Janey DeMeo (copyright 31 May, 2007)