Prayer Requests for the Smith Family for Our Adoption.

Prayer Requests for the Smith Family for Our Adoption.

 

Thank you to so many of you who have asked how can we pray for you and your family for your adoption and trip to Ukraine. We appreciate each prayer warrior and take seriously your commitment to us in this area of our lives. I found a wonderful prayer tool which I want to share with you from http://www.prayingscriptures.com/.

 

We know that there is nothing more powerful than God�s word. We would ask that you would join us in speaking The Word of God over our lives and the lives of our children on this trip, and always. This may seem long, but it is of more value to us than anything we can think of to ask you to do with us and for us as we travel to get the children, be a witness to the nations, and to their eyes, and raise them in Christ. I will follow the scriptures with some other family/adoption specific things to pray for us about as we travel and are in Ukraine.  

 

Please pray for us:

Ps 31:23..........Father, I thank You that our pastors are faithful,
Ps 31:23..........and that You preserve them.
Prov 28:20........That they abound with blessings,
Gal 6:9.............and do not grow weary in well doing.
Phil 1:6.............That You who began a good work in them will perfect it.
Eph 2:10...........They are Your workmanship created in Christ Jesus,
Heb 13:21.........and equipped in every good thing to do Your will.
Heb 13:21..........Work in them that which is well-pleasing in Your sight.
2Cor 9:8............Let all grace abound toward them, having sufficiency in all things,
2Cor 9:8...........and an abundance for every good work.
2Cor 9:6...........Because they have sowed bountifully, they will reap bountifully,
1Cor 3:6...........and whether they plant or water, Father, You give the increase.
2Cor 2:14..........I pray that they continually triumph in Christ,
2Cor 2:14..........diffusing the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.
Deut 28:2..........That all blessings come upon them and overtake them,
Deut 28:2..........because they obey the voice of their God.
Ps 32:8.............Instruct them and teach them in the way they should go;
1Cor 2:10..........reveal the deeper things of God to them by Your Spirit.
2Tim 2:21..........Let them be vessels of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master,
2Tim 2:21..........prepared for every good work.
1Pet 5:2...........Shepherding the flock willingly, eagerly, and being an example to them.
1Cor 2:4...........Their speech and preaching is in demonstration of the Spirit and power.
2Tim 4:2...........And they are instant in season and out of season to preach the Word.
Josh 1:3............Every place the soles of their feet tread upon has been given to them.
Deut 31:6..........They are strong and of good courage for You, Lord, go with them.
Ps 27:14...........They wait on You, and You strengthen them in their heart.
Titus 1:5............Help them set in order things that are lacking,
Titus 1:5............and appoint elders in every city.
2Cor 10:4...........I tear down the strongholds over the pulpit.
Ex 17:11............I lift up our pastors and cover them
Heb 12:24..........with the blood of Jesus.
Deut 28.............Sickness and disease shall in no way come near them,
Gal 3:13............for they are redeemed from the curse of the law.
Isa 54:17...........I say that no weapon formed against them will prosper,
Isa 54:17...........and every tongue rising against them shall be shown to be in the wrong.
Cor 12:11..........Father, let the gifts and anointings on their lives come forth.
Luke 1:45..........Birth the things that You have spoken to them in their hearts,
Acts 6:4............as they continually give themselves to prayer
Acts 6:4............and the ministry of the Word.

Praying For The Children

Acts 19:20.........I thank you Father that Your Word prevails over our children.
Isa 54:13...........That they are taught of the Lord and continue to be
Prov 13:1.......... the fruit of godly instruction and correction.
Isa 54:13...........Great is their peace and undisturbed composure.
Prov 2:6............ Father, give us counsel and wisdom in bringing up our children.
1Pet 1:14.......... I say they are obedient, not conforming to the things of the flesh,
1Pet 1:15.......... but holy, in all conduct.
1Pet 2:2........... desiring the pure milk of the Word that they may grow thereby.
Jas 1:19............That they are swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.
Heb 13:5.......... Their conduct is without covetousness,
Heb 13:5.......... and they are content with what they have.
Heb 13:16......... They do not forget to do what is right and to share.
2Pet 3:18.......... I pray that they grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord,
1Thes 4:1......... and abound more and more in how they should walk and please You.
1Pet 5:5........... That they submit to their elders, and to one another,
1Pet 5:5........... being clothed with humility.
1Pet 5:7........... That they cast their cares upon You, Father, for You care for them.
Jas 1:22............I thank You that they are doers of the Word, and not hearers only,
Ph'm 1:6...........effectively sharing their faith.
2Tim 1:7 ..........not having a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
2Tim 1:9...........Father, You have saved them and called them with a holy calling,
2Tim 1:9 ..........not according to works, but according to Your own purpose.
2Tim 4:18.........Deliver them from every evil work and preserve them.
John 10:5 ........They will by no means follow strangers, not knowing their voices.
2Tim2:22 .........They abide with others who call on the Lord out of a pure heart,
Jas 3:10 ..........and cursing comes not out of their mouth.
1Jn 5:18 ..........Because Jesus keeps them safe, the wicked one does not touch them.
Ps 91:11..........Give Your angels special charge to accompany, defend, preserve
Ps 4:8.............and provide safety for them, day and night.
1Jn 2:5 ...........Because they keep Your Word, Your love is being perfected in them.
1Jn 2:15 .........They do not love the world or the things in the world,
3Jn 1:11..........and they do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.
1Jn 1:7 ...........They walk in the light as You are in the Light,
Jas 4:8 ...........cleansing their hands and purifying their hearts,
2Tim 2:22 .......They follow after righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
Heb 13:18........They have a good conscience and desire to live honorably,
Prov 3:4 ..........having favor and high esteem with God and man.

All nations around the world are included in this prayer. Or you can pray for an individual nation such as "the nation of UKRAINE."

Praying For The Nations

Joel 3:12...........Let the nations be awakened!
Isa 1:2..............Let the earth hear the voice of the Lord!
Ps 9:20............Judge the nations in Your sight, Father, and put them to fear,
Ps 9:20.............that they might know themselves to be but men.
Rom 8:22..........Father, the whole creation groans and labors
Rom 8:21..........to be delivered from the bondage of corruption,
Rom 8:21..........into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Jn 15:26...........Send forth Your Spirit of Truth to bear witness of You,
Jn 16:8.............and to convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.
Eze 14:6..........Cause them to repent and to turn from their idols.
Hag 2:7............Shake the nations, so they will come to the Desire of All Nations(Jesus).
Num 23:24........Father, cause Your people to rise up.
Joel 3:11..........Gather Your mighty ones to prepare for war.
Joel 3:14..........Bring the multitudes into the valley of decision.
Jer 49:14..........Send Your ambassadors into all the nations.
Col. 4:3............Open to them a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ,
Mt 24:14...........that the gospel of the kingdom may be preached in all the world.
Ps 111:6..........You have declared to Your people the power of Your works,
Ps 111:6...........in giving them the heritage of the nations.
Phil 2:10...........Let every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord!
Isa 61:11...........Cause righteousness and praise to spring forth.
Hab 2:14...........Let the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory
Hab 2:14...........of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Isa 43:9.............Father, gather the nations together,
Ps 22:27............that they may worship Thee,
Ps 46:10............and exult Thee in all the earth.
Gal 3:8...............Let all the nations be blessed through Your people,
Zech 14:14.........and let the wealth of the heathen be gathered together
2Kin 22:5...........and be delivered into the hands of Your people for the work of the Lord.
Isa. 49:6............Send forth Your salvation to the ends of the earth,
Mk 12:36...........and make Your enemies to be Your footstool.

Praying For Pastor's Family

1Pet 4:8...........Father, I pray that their family members love one another.
1Pet 4:9...........That they are hospitable to one another without complaint.
1Pet 4:11.........Serving by the strength that You supply,
1Pet 4:11.........so that in all things You may be glorified.
1Thes 5:11.......I pray that they encourage one another, comfort, edify,
Acts 20:32.......and build one another up.
Mt 18:19..........That they stand in agreement in every area of their lives,
Neh 8:10..........Letting the joy of the Lord be their strength,
Col 3:15...........with the peace of God ruling in their hearts.
Ps 138:8..........Father, I thank You that You're perfecting
Ps 138:8..........everything concerning them.
Ps 92:10..........Anoint them with fresh oil.
Ps 103:5..........Satisfy them with good things,
Ps 103:5..........So that their youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Ps 92:14..........In old age they shall still bear fruit,
Ps 92:14..........and be fresh and flourishing.
Ps 91:16..........With a long life You will satisfy them.
Job 1:10...........Father, place a hedge of protection
Job 1:10...........around them, around their household,
Job 1:10...........and around all that they have on every side.
Ps 34:7............I thank You that the angel of the Lord encamps
Ps 34:7............round about them and delivers them from all evil,
Ps 91:3............from the snare of the fowler, from every pestilence,
Ps 91:10..........and that no plague will come near their dwelling.
Prov 3:24..........They shall lie down and their sleep shall be sweet.
Prov 16:7..........Because their ways please You Lord,
Prov 16:7..........You make their enemies to be at peace with them.
Deut 29:9..........They keep Your word and do it,
Deut 29:9..........therefore, they prosper in all that they do.
Jn 15:4.............Because they abide in You and delight them selves in You,
Ps 37:4............You give them the desires of their heart.
1Pet 5:6............And because they humble themselves, exalt them in due season.
1Pet 4:19..........I thank You Father that they are committed to You, to doing good,
1Pet 5:7...........casting all their cares upon You, for You care for them.
1Pet 5:8...........That they are sober, vigilant, continually resisting the devil,
1Pet 5:9...........and steadfast in their faith.
1Pet 5:10..........Father, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle them in Jesus' name.

Please pray

�      for our travel, for us to safely make our connections, for our luggage to make it with us to Kiev and to each destination.

�      for our friends in Kiev who are graciously allowing us to stay with them as we begin our adoption process in UA.

�      For our facilitators and their team. For their families, for their health, and the health of their families, and for them to be ministered to by us as they minister to our family. Help us to show them the love and deep appreciation we have for them, and share with each of them the love of Christ.

�      For us to be a good witness to each person we come in contact with in UA.

�      Please pray on Jan. 22^nd for our appointment at the SDA. We will be meeting with our first round of government officials to determine if we are going to be allowed to adopt the children. All of them! Please ask God for us to have His favor upon us and for soft hearts and an open helpful spirit from the people at the SDA.

�      Please pray for Director A. that she will be open to us visiting with two of the boys before we are technically allowed so to do. Please ask that our visit with her would go well and that we would have her favor and her permission to visit with the children in her care.

�      Please ask God to open doors for us to learn as much about our children from each director, caregiver, and teacher that we visit with. They are under NO OBLIGATION to share this information with us to the depth that we are asking God to give us. What we find out now is what we have to go on with the kids. Ask for favor that we might be allowed to learn of their family history, medical history, schooling, any photo�s they have of them� anything to help us help them hold their lives and memories together.

�      Please help us as we deal with Director B.  Please ask for a soft heart from her and a willingness to share information with us about our child in her care. Please pray that we would be allowed to minister to other children in her care that we know and love. Ask God on our behalf for protected time with those children so that we may show them the unconditional love of their parents who are waiting to come and get them on their behalf. We have a chance by God�s grace to interact with them and to by proxy be the arms of their amazing parents fighting to get to them. Please pray for us that we would be allowed this honor for the kids on our friend�s behalf. She is not notoriously fond of Americans. God on the other hand can do anything through anyone He chooses. We claim this truth.

�      Please pray for Director C. that God would allow us to have a good rapport with him instantly and that he will be easy to work with in helping to get our kids paper work settled. We have not met him and are anxious to make his acquaintance and learn about the needs of his orphanage.

�      We think that there is a Director D. that we may interact with and we ask that she will be as benevolent as we have encountered her to be in the past and that for the sake of the children she will be helpful to us in finding out information about one of our boys schooling and health information.

�      Please pray for each court appearance that we have. Please ask that we would be able to schedule court expediently (and yes I did just use expedient in tandem with Ukraine).  Please ask that we would be fortunate enough to encounter Christian judges and office workers in the places that we go to process paper work and that they would be helpful to us as we gather up what we need to press forward and get home. If this not be His will ask please that because of His love through us that they will be touched by His grace and be pressed by the Holy Spirit to consider their heart need of Jesus.

�      Please ask the Lord for the salvation of our children and of other children that we come in contact with.

�      Please pray with us about friends in UA that we have been praying with and for about their salvation.

�      Please pray for us all for our physical health. It is going to be quite cold and we need to be at our best to take care of the kids and each other.

�      I know this one sounds odd, but please pray for me (Jenn) not to slip and fall on ice, did this as a kid and am not the most coordinated person I know! Walking and chewing gum is sometimes a challenge!

�      Please ask for our bonding time with the kids to be blessed and for them to take to us and us to them quickly.

�      Please ask that they would recognize us as their parents and that they would begin quickly to come to us to allow us to meet their needs, learning that we are their safe place. Learning to trust us, even though they do not know us well yet, to take care of them.

�      Please pray for there to be no outside interference from others as they learn to bond to us.

�      Please ask God for his protection of our legal custody of the kids esp. during our 10 day wait when people are able to come forward and appeal the judges choice to let us be their parents if they are family who can take care of the kids.

�      Please pray for our security while we are there. Ukraine has a cash economy and when we travel we will have to keep currency with us instead of traveler�s checks etc.

�      Please pray for things to go smoothly when we go to get the children�s Ukrainian passports. We will need these in order to get their American passports processed!

�      Please pray for easy flight plans home, and for gas prices to be down at that time so that ticket prices will be down too. Please ask for God to get us all on the same plane together home!

�      Please pray for our families as we are gone, for their health and well being. It is hard to be out of pocket for this amount of time we need to be focused on our kids and not on the folks at home. Knowing they are safe in a prayer net will ease our anxieties about the time away from them. Please pray especially for Jenn�s brother and new sister in law as they are getting married on March 8^th. Please ask for God�s will to be done in getting the kids home from UA in a timely fashion if we are to be able to attend. Our time line looks like it will bump right up against that week. In an 8 week scenario.

�      Please pray for Terry & Chelle Martin as they lead Olivet�s Youth ministry while we are in UA. Ask God�s blessing and favor on them as they take the lead in sharing Christ with our kids here, and ministering to their needs.

�      Please pray with us as we will celebrate Mark�s 35^th Birthday while in Ukraine, as well as one of our boys 14^th birthday!

�      Please ask God to give us many chances in Feb. around Valentine�s Day to share HIS AMAZING LOVE JESUS with the people of Ukraine.

�      Since Mark and I may be spending a sizable chunk of time separate from each other please pray for good communication with each other by phone/email so that we can keep up and help encourage each other daily!

 

Thank you for your commitment to our family and most of all to God in prayer for us!

We love you and cannot make this journey alone! We need you with us each step of the way! This is where the fun really starts!

Love,

Mark and Jenn and the Fab. Five!