World Prayer: Albania

World Prayer: Albania by ric gustafson

The Republic of Albania is 28,748. Albania is a mountainous Balkan state on the Adriatic Sea. The capital of Albania is Tirana. The country is one of Europe's poorest countries. The Communist regime crumbled here in 1991 after the death of dictator Enver Hoxha. 

God has been working in this country. The Albanian Church is maturing. Evangelicals is now several thousand. We need to pray because Albania has a long road ahead to recover from atheistic Communism. The religious climate is hazy. Islam is the largest religion in Albania. 

We need to pray for leadership training. We need to pray for church planting. We need to pray for a Holistic mission. The country of Albania needs world prayer.

research help: ' Operation World' by Jason Mandryk

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

words of Jesus: Sent in Peace

 words of Jesus: Sent in Peace by ric gustafson

After his crucifixion and burial, Jesus reappeared to his disciples. He encouraged them. He commissioned them. He gave them authority to preach and forgive sins. John 20 says As the Father has sent me I also send you.

Jesus did it for the disciples. Jesus does it for us. Jesus comes in peace. He sends us out in peace. Jesus gives us resurrection power. Jesus gives us the peace of his presence. We follow Jesus. We need to be filled and led by Jesus

I pray that Jesus will send us out in peace.

research help: ' Bible Word Search devotional' by Broad Street Publishing

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

World Prayer: Afghanistan

 World Prayer: Afghanistan by ric gustafson

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is 652,225 sq km. The country is dry, mountainous but has fertile valleys. Rival foreign empires have fought over this land for nearly 3 thousand years. The capital is Kabul. 

Prayer is needed for the present political situation. Poverty and living standards. Recovery and rebuilding. That more people in the country can be reached. Pray for the church in Afghanistan. Pray for Afghan believers. 

research help: ' Operation World' by Jason Mandryk

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

words of Jesus: Trustworthy

 words of Jesus: Trustworthy by ric gustafson

In Luke 16, Jesus talks about money. The bible verse today talks about other areas of life. To give to others takes integrity, self discipline  and honor. It takes honesty and reliability. Those who can be trusted with a little can be trusted with a lot.

Joseph from the Old Testament was sold into slavery. But he was trustworthy. He was reliable and honest. He became a trusted advisor to the King. He started with nothing. He became one of the most powerful men in Egypt. Why because he was trustworthy?.

To Jesus, I pray we will be trustworthy also.

research help: ' Bible Word Search devotional' by Broad Street Publishing

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

words of Jesus: Every Little Thing

 words of Jesus: Every Little Thing by ric gustafson

Jesus knows our names and ages. Jesus knows every detail about us. Jesus cares about our entire life. Every aspect of it. According to Matthew 10, Jesus even knows the number of hairs on our head. There are no limits to Jesus's understanding of us. 

If Jesus knows everything about us, why do we have to worry about our lives?. We need to put our trust in Jesus. We need to give Jesus our anxieties. Jesus will sustain us. Jesus will provide for us. Jesus will give us every little thing. 

research help: ' Bible Word Search devotional' by Broad Street Publishing

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

7/16/1999 page 7

 7/16/1999 page 7 by ric gustafson

At the Essex County Airport, John hobbled toward his red and white Piper Saratoga. Ten minutes later, Carolyn arrived in their Lincoln Town car. Lauren greeted her sister. Then they helped John load everything into the plane's small cargo hold.

Once they got into the plane, John went through his preflight check for takeoff. Friends like Kyle Bailey and John Perry Barlow tried to warn John about the weather. Despite their warnings, John was determined to fly this evening on his own.

When John was ready, Carolyn and Lauren belted themselves into tan leather seats. When the two sisters were settled in, John eased the Piper Saratoga unto the runway.

John informed the control tower his flight plan. He intended to fly north to Teterboro New Jersey and then east to Martha's Vineyard.

At 8:38 pm, the Piper Saratoga took off.

research help: ' The Day John Died' by Christopher Andersen

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Gettysburg 2026 page 2

 Gettysburg 2026 page 2 by ric gustafson

Major General Joseph Hooker was tormented. The 48 year old from West Point had risen quickly through the ranks. He had solid performances on the battlefield until Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. His performance at Fredericksburg had tagged him for dismissal. Then Hooker found himself commanding the Army of the Potomac. President Lincoln knew Hooker was overconfident.

Hooker's failings at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville were many. There were leadership lapses from his corps officers. There were poor command decisions made by Hooker. Most of all, Hooker did not use all of his available units. 

Newspaper headlines were not kind. The New York Herald led the pack for his dismissal. President Lincoln visited Hooker's headquarters. The President asked what Hooker's next plans were. Hooker did not give the President a precise date to move his men again. He cited casualties and the expiration of enlistments. Hooker moved his army to the northern bank of the Rappahannock River.

research help: ' Gettysburg a testing of courage' by Noah Andre Trudeau

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric