Hello Sumite sisters and brothers, Christy Edney here! Today, I'd like to direct our attention to the parable of the lost sheep in Matthew 18:12-14. 

“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish."

I don't know about you, but this is a very familiar verse for me. I felt like I had learned all there was to learn from it, until I heard it in a song. After hearing the song, I began to wonder about the ninety-nine that he had left behind, how would they be protected as he searched for the one? Then I was reminded that Jesus IS the good shepherd and he would never leave the flock alone and without hope. So, how would the flock stay safe while he was away? Forgive me for taking some creative license but I believe the answer is safety in numbers. During the last quarter of 2017, I was reminded of how vulnerable I am when I step away from  my community. Peter reminds us that the enemy is prowling like a lion looking for someone to devour. When we separate ourselves from the flock we become an easy target. I want to encourage you to find your flock of believers. Our community offers several ways to get connected, through the Community Map, Prayer Partnerships, the Facebook page or the conversations following every blog post. If this community isn't the right fit for you then find a church and commit to involvement beyond the worship hour. I'm a Sumite just like you and I know how hard it is to find community but I believe it's absolutely vital. We are better together! Let's pray;

Mighty God, we look to you in every moment of our lives. We give you our highest praise and adoration. Today we are reminded that humans are built for relationship. We are vulnerable to attack when left alone but when bound in friendship we become stronger than a triple braided cord. Lord, thank you for the way that you have designed us, thank you for the provision and protection that you provide through a fellowship of believers. I ask you to provide all of us with such a fellowship. Push us from the comfort zone of isolation into the unknown. Let your spirit move freely through us and accomplish your will in every passing second. I pray in the matchless name of the Lord Jesus Christ, high priest and king of our lives, amen!

More information on our Sumite Prayer Partnerships can be found by clicking this link: Sumite Prayer Partners

f you are ready to receive a prayer partner then please send me an email using this link: Email Christy Edney In your email, please provide your name and your geographic location. 

If you and your partner are experiencing difficulty or you would like prayer then please email me using this link: Email Christy Edney 

Hello Sumite sisters and brothers, Christy Edney here. This time of year seems pregnant with hope, bursting at the seams with joy and emotion. However, not everyone views this season in that same way. It can be especially hard for those of us in unequal marriages. We may feel our souls cry out against the tide of unending materialism or we may bear witness to the enemy’s increased attacks in our home. Over the last week I’ve read more and more stories of our husbands falling prey to the attack that manifests itself through verbal assaults or irrational behavior. Please know that you have the support of this community, we love you and pray for you daily. I would like to call our attention to one sentence buried in the middle of the well-read Christmas story found in Luke 2:17-19

When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 

Let’s notice that Mary, through the excitement of his birth and the stream of visitors, she chose to focus on the promise of who her baby would become. We can choose to focus our hearts and minds on the gift of salvation freely given in the form of this helpless baby, Jesus Christ. Please pray with me,

Mighty God, we strive to focus our hearts on the truth of the Christmas gift, the promise of hope in Jesus Christ. Teach us to be like Mary, to store up what we know about you and your promises. We offer gratitude for the gift that you’ve freely given us and we seek to live our lives in obedience to your call. Father, we lift up our unbelieving spouses. We thank you for what you have done, are doing and will do until the day of completion. We declare their salvation in the name of Jesus Christ. We pray and praise in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

More information on our Sumite Prayer Partnerships can be found by clicking this link: Sumite Prayer Partners

f you are ready to receive a prayer partner then please send me an email using this link: Email Christy Edney In your email, please provide your name and your geographic location. 

If you and your partner are experiencing difficulty or you would like prayer then please email me using this link: Email Christy Edney

Hello Sumite sisters and brothers! 

Please join me in reading from 2 Peter 1:3-4 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires.

Mighty God, today we rest in your provision. Through the work of Jesus Christ and continued indwelling of your Spirit, we have been given all we need to live the lives you've called us to. We look at our circumstances or the state of our world and we feel like lost sheep. Remind us that we are never more than a breath away from you. We have only to cry out to you, recommit to your will and devote our hearts again. God, challenge us to rise each morning and seek your presence first. You, mighty protector and provider, want your children to know your heart and receive all you have planned for us. Pour into us and provide the growth to the seeds planted deep in our souls. Father, we look to you and ask, what will you do in and through us today? We pray and praise in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, our savior and messiah, AMEN!

Hello Sumite nation! I would like to admit that I've been somewhat discouraged lately. The undercurrent of hatred and divisiveness is, at times, too much for this tiny brunette. During these moments of discouragement the Lord is quick to renew my strength if I remember to focus on his presence. I keep a stack of encouraging verses tacked to the wall of my cubicle for moments like these. I thumb through them and land on a bit of encouragement from Joshua 1:9, "This is my command - be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Or this one from Psalm 42:5-6, "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again - my Savior and my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you - even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar." And now one from the mouth of Jesus in Mark 4:39 "Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Peace, be still!" And the wind ceases and there was great calm." Please join me in prayer:

Gracious Father, we lift our weary hearts to you and praise the glory of your name. You are the mighty king, the alpha and omega, the source of all existence. You are far beyond my comprehension, deeper than the depths of the greatest ocean. In these moments of worship, I can feel Jesus say PEACE BE STILL and suddenly everything stops then find myself in the stillness of your presence. You remind us that we are sons and daughters of the Most High, held safely in the palm of your hand. I ask you to renew our strength again today. Set our feet upon the foundation of your written word and encourage our souls in ways that we cannot begin to imagine. Now we look to those who have been affected by the numerous natural disasters. Father, please provide for their every need and send encouragement through the works of your children. Please provide relief and comfort. Mighty God, we pray and declare this things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

More information on our Sumite Prayer Partnerships can be found by clicking this link: Sumite Prayer Partnerships

If you are ready to receive a prayer partner then please send me an email using this link: Email Christy Edney In your email, please provide your name and your geographic location. 

If you and your partner are experiencing difficulty or you would like prayer then please email me using this link: Email Christy Edney

Hello Sumite brothers and sisters, Christy Edney here! Today I'm celebrating the one year anniversary of our Sumite Prayer Partnerships. I cannot believe it's been an entire year since we launched this community building opportunity. During this year, the Lord has formed bonds between one hundred and seventy four members of our community! That number far exceeded even my wildest dream. Through this I have learned that God uses our smallest amount of obedience to accomplish the most amazing things. Would you join me in praising our Father for all that he is and all that he does for his beloved children?

Gracious and loving father, words cannot capture the depth of our gratitude. You have planned each detail and ordained every moment. Thank you for being so far beyond my comprehension. Please continue to cover our community with your protection and develop these bonds of friendship. We worship you and live for the glory of your name, Jesus Christ, amen!

It is never too late to receive a prayer partner, new partnerships are still forming! More information can be found by clicking this link Sumite Prayer Partners. If you are ready to receive a partner then follow this link to send me an email request Email Christy Edney 

Prayers and love!

Hello brothers and sisters, Christy Edney here! Today I would like to pray from Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."

Oh mighty God, this world is so extremely loud, we struggle to drown out the noise and focus on your still small voice. We are bombarded with endless distractions, obligations and duties. But, you knew that we would become overwhelmed by this pressure so you planned ahead with eight words. "Be still and know that I am God!" Father, thank you for these written words, for this command to stop and focus our hearts on you. Your word promises to flood our souls with the peace of your presence if we would only focus on you. Father, bless every Sumite with this peace, giving us an intentional focus on the person of Jesus Christ. Placing our love and pursuit of him over all other people or situations. Lord, now I look to our leaders. Please provide Lynn and Dineen with a mighty band of angels to fight the spiritual battles raging all around them. Fill these women with a renewed love for you and for their husbands. Please provide many moments of love and laughter in the coming days. Mighty king, we worship you and long to walk in your presence. Thank you for being Lord of our lives. We pray these things in the perfect name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen

More information on our prayer partnerships can be found by clicking this link: Sumite Prayer Partnerships

I am here to support you in your prayer partnership. If you and your partner have run into a roadblock then please feel free to send me an email by clicking this link: Email Request

Hello Sumites, Christy Edney here!

Today I would like to pray from Ecclesiates 4:9-12 "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Please pray with me.

Heavenly Father, I read your words and my heart aches for your people, those who still believe the lie that we are too different, that it's impossible for us to find fellowship in your holy church. Or maybe we've been isolated by the memory of someone in the church who deeply wounded us. Lord, whatever stronghold grips our hearts, I ask you to rip it down today. Impress upon us the need for community among a body of believers. I ask you to make a way for us to form these bonds and provide an obvious path for us follow.

Father, now my heart turns toward or community leaders; Lynn, Dineen  and Ian. Cover them with your mighty arm of protection, that they would not become ensnared by the assaults of the enemy. Fill their hearts with an ever growing presence of your Holy Spirit and continue to give them the courage to act in obedience.

King of heaven, we praise you, we magnify and glorify you. Let all of our lives be lived in service and for the glory of your holy name. We thank you for your constant provision, protection and pardon. You are the one our hearts adore. We pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen!

For more information on our Prayer Partnerships please click the following link: Sumite Prayer Partnerships

It's never too late to request a Prayer Partner. If you're ready to be paired up then use this link to send me an email Email Christy Edney

Lastly, I am here to pray for you and support your partnership. Please feel free to email me anytime. Email Christy Edney

Hi prayer family, Christy Edney here. Please join me in prayer,

Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."

Father, this often quoted verse is quite familiar to us but, what if we truly lived by these words? How would your Holy Spirit impact our marriages, families and the world around us? Lord, I believe that there are no limits to your power, you can and will move in any way that you see fit. However, you have created us to be creatures of choice, free to choose the object of our focus. Today I am asking you to use this Easter season as an opportunity to realign our focus. Set your people on fire with the love of Christ, teach us to live obedient, authentic and abundant lives for the glory of our Lord and Savior. God, this sort of devotion is hard for those of us in unequally yoked marriages but, we know that your power is perfected in our weakness. Please renew us with a spirit of courage and absolute dependence on you. Embolden our leaders with a deeper sense of your presence and gift them with the knowledge that must be passed on to your children. Provide them and their families with a divine hedge of protection against the assaults of the enemy. May this renewed commitment push all of us into a deeper relationship with you. We pray and praise the name of Jesus Christ, amen!

If you would like more information on our Prayer Partnerships then click the following link to send me an email: Sumite Prayer Partners

Hello brothers and sisters in Christ, Christy Edney here. Today I would like to lift up prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Please open your Bible, read all of Psalm 65 then join me in the following prayer.

Let all that I am praise God the father and our Lord, Jesus Christ! If I have but only one remaining breath then let it be used to praise the life giving king of all. For He is worthy of all my praise. Though I stumble and trip over the nature of my sin, You go before me and plan ahead for my failures. Father, your grace and mercy go beyond human understanding. Such mercy and grace awaits each person who would declare the name of Jesus Christ and put their faith in him. Mighty God, thank you for pursuing those who would attempt to run from you. We thank you for the work that you have done in these hearts and the work that we know you will do. Lord, you are the object of our faith, the source of our peace, joy and hope. Thank you for being our provider, protector and so much more than my words can capture. In the matchless name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen!

If you would like to receive a prayer partner then please click this link to send me an email: Sumite Prayer Partners

If you and your partner have hit a roadblock in your relationship then please click this link to send me an email: Sumite Prayer Partners

Love and prayers!

Good morning family of faith, Christy Edney here. I hope you are following Lynn and Dineen through this journey of emotional healing. I have read each of your comments and prayed over them numerous times. Today, I would like to offer a prayer for all of us:

Merciful God, my heart is broken by the painful experiences that so many people have endured. These stories have reminded me that we live in a fallen world, populated by fallen people. You warn us that there will be pain in this world, and that your enemy will use people and circumstances against us. But you also promise not to abandon us in our pits of despair. Your Holy Spirit flows through each of us with a healing power that is beyond our understanding. Father, I am claiming Romans 8:38-39 today; “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Your words remind me that our painful experiences will seem as big as mountains in our hearts but nothing can keep us from your love. Your love can be found in Followers of Christ who are willing to run toward the wounded. Please push these hurting souls toward your servants, those servants may be our pastors or elders or deacons or professional counselors. Lord, I now lift up Lynn and Dineen who lead us with such vulnerability. Thank you for filling them with your spirit then giving them the courage to pour your love out to us. Lord, provide them with a holy protection against the assaults of our enemy. Please continue to guide their words and thoughts with your divine wisdom. Father, thank you for the healing power provided by your Holy Spirit. I pray and praise the name of our savior, redeemer and king, Jesus Christ. Amen!

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, please know that you are not alone in your pain. Reach out to Lynn, Dineen, myself or your church. We are the body of Christ and we are here for you!

Hi fellow Sumites, Christy Edney here! As I was praying for our prayer partnerships I started to wonder if any of you have begun to feel the Spirt using your relationship to advance your spiritual and emotional maturity. I know, that is quite a question! Please let me explain myself. I can look at one friendship in my life and clearly see how God used it to expose and heal some hidden sin in my heart. That friendship began as most do; we met at church, had many things in common and were both seeking God. Over time, I began to love her like a sister and even placed her on a very high pedestal. Then God swopped in and convicted me of my sin in making our friendship an idol. After more time had passed, her life became extremely busy and suddenly I felt like my needs weren’t being met. Yet again, God rushed in to teach me that our friendship was never meant to fulfill my needs. Only God is capable of meeting my every need. He also taught me that our friendship is a gift from God. Like every God-given gift, it’s to be used for his glory and can be a blessing to many people. Now, I thank God for this gift and ask him to show me how I can be a blessing to her.

Growing and sustaining a godly friendship is not easy, it takes intentional prayer, a selfless attitude and a willingness to be molded by the Spirit of God. So, why would I hope and pray for such a challenging friendship? I do this because humans are relational creatures and God uses relationships in more ways than we can begin to imagine. I do this because God brought this woman into my life and I want to be obedient to his command in John 13:34 “So now I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”

Heavenly father, I thank you for the gift of friendship. I ask you to bless our community with relationships that would bring spiritual healing and growth. But above all, please gift us with relationships that would bring glory to your name and impact countless generations to come. Lord, I invite your Spirit to move freely through this community, to shine your holy light on the areas that need to be touched by your healing power. I ask you to fill our leaders with the courage to present challenging topics. Such topics that would propel each of us into a deeper and more fruitful relationship with you. I ask these things in the name of the life giving king, Jesus Christ, amen!

More information on our prayer partnerships can be found by clicking this link: Sumite Prayer Partners. If you are ready to receive a prayer partner then please click the following link to send me an email request: Partnership Request

Hi Sumite prayer family, Christy Edney here!

My heart has been swirling around Lynn's idea of seeking the wonder in Christmas. I'll admit, I've been struggling with the hustle and bustle of this month. So, I asked God to shift my focus, to move my heart back to the person of Jesus, our Messiah. I once heard someone say they choose to look for the finger prints of God in every moment, even in the mundane. That sounded lovely and poetic but I wondered how would I put that into practice? For me that has been waking up earlier to spend a little more time in the Word, or reaching out to my godly friend, or choosing to overlook a minor offense, or smiling at the grocery store clerk, or pausing to admire the twinkling Christmas lights, or reminding my kids of the real meaning behind the baby lying in the manager. One thing that continues to bring me joy is reading your stories of success within the prayer partnerships. Stories of an encouraging email received at just the right moment and tangible ways that God has answered your prayers. Thank you for sharing these precious stories with me! It's never too late to get a partner. If you'd like to sign up then send me an email by clicking this link: Prayer Partnerships

Tonight, my prayer for us comes from Romans 15:13 "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."

Father, thank you for gently shifting my focus. It's only by your mercy and influence that I can experience the abundant life you have planned for me. God thank you for the gift of Jesus. My human words cannot begin to express the magnitude of his birth, life, death and resurrection. But I do know that I am lost without him. Please teach us all to focus on that baby in the manger, fill us with joy and peace as we begin to trust him more and more. Lord, continue to walk hand in hand with Lynn and Dineen. Providing for their every need, covering their homes with your fierce protection and filling their days with love. I bless them and all who would read this in the mighty and matchless name of the savior, Jesus Christ, amen!

Hi prayer family, Christy Edney here!

As I think about our community, one phrase continues to bounce around in my head. That phrase is authentic friendships. Many of you have accepted the invitation to form prayer partnerships and you have shared how God is working through those bonds. It's not too late to receive a prayer partner! If you would like a partner then please send me an email by clicking this link: Sumite Prayer Partners

Today I want to share a quick story from Sumites Melissa and Anne. They are prayer partners that can actually meet in person because Melissa used the Community Map to look up her hometown and noticed another Sumite in her area.  I want to encourage you to do the same thing! Click on the Community Map, add a dot to your location and email Lynn or Dineen if you see another dot in your area. This is a fabulous way to build authentic friendships and maybe even community within your own city! 

Father, I am so encouraged by this community's courage and obedience to Your call. It takes courage to reach out to a stranger and trust them with our hearts. It takes faith to believe your promise that the Holy Spirit will be with us whenever we gather in your name. I hold up these men and women and ask you to bless them with friendships that would bring glory to your name. Lord, we look to our leaders and ask you to cover them with your holy protection, give them feet to run from temptation and a heart filled with love for our savior, Jesus Christ. May your supernatural peace flood our lives like a crisp fall breeze. I ask all of these things in the mighty name of our king, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Good morning Sumite brothers and sisters!

It is hard to believe that we're two months into these newly formed prayer partnerships! I would love to hear stories about how the Spirit is working and growing these into authentic friendships. Feel free to email me with stories or prayer requests at any time. Also, if this is the first time you've heard of prayer partnerships, then please click this link to learn more: Sumite Prayer Partnerships. If you would like to receive a prayer partner, then please click this link to email me: Email Sumite Prayer Partners

Now, please pray with me:

Heavenly Father, thank you for this loving community. This place to come, to hear your words and rest among other like minded followers of Jesus Christ. Today we lift up our ministry leaders, Lynn and Dineen. We ask you to provide an angel army that would fight the spiritual battles on their behalf. Place a hedge of protection around these women, their husbands and their children. In the name of Jesus Christ, we bless them with a blanket of love and encouragement. Please remind them to seek your will and rest in your loving embrace. Provide them with the time and energy to continue on with the tasks that you place before them. We ask these things in the name of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ, amen! 

Good morning prayer family! Christy Edney here!

It has been one month since we invited you to embark upon this journey of Prayer Partnerships! I expected to receive a handful of requests but God has far exceeded my wildest expectations. Today, we have over sixty women in prayer relationships! Now, I'm calling on the male members of our community. I know you're out there and this invitation is also open to you. If any of you (male or female) would like to receive a partner then please click here: Sumite Prayer Partners

Now, please join me in prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for these hearts that have called out for a deeper fellowship with you and each other. In the name of Jesus Christ, I bless them with authentic friendships that will achieve your purpose in each of their lives. Lord, I focus our attention on the leaders of this community, Lynn and Dineen. I ask you to assign a host of angels to fight the spiritual battles on their behalf. Cover them with love and encouragement from the most unexpected places. Please provide an abundance of time, material and motivation as they continue to work on this new book that you have placed upon their hearts. Holy Spirit, fill this community with your presence and reinvent us in your image. Thank you for being more than my human words can express. I pray these things in the name of our High Priest, Jesus Christ, amen!
 

Good morning Sumite family! We have some very exciting news for you today! First, let me begin with a little background information. Recently, I have noticed more and more people requesting prayer in all areas of my life, even from pre-believers. I've noticed an increase, especially here, within the virtual walls of our church. It's as if people are crying out to God in a more desperate way. After noticing this increase, I asked God to show me how to best meet this need within our community in spite of our geographic limitations. He answered me with John 17, specifically verse 20-23. Let's read Jesus' prayer:

"I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who would ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me."

This passage convicted me of how often believers miss out on this unity with the Holy Spirit and with other believers. It may be due to denominational differences, differences of opinion, varying life experience, the hectic pace of life or the enemy whispering in our ear. But, here in our community, we have been given the chance to experience this perfect unity. The opportunity to come together purely as Followers of Christ, to stand on His word and live obedient lives. That led me to my next question, how can we move toward this perfect unity? For that answer let's consider these verses:

1 Timothy 2:1 "I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them."

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."

2 Chronicles 7:14" Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."

After laying my questions before God and digging into His word, I began to see His answer was Prayer Partners. Specifically, one to one dedicated and confidential prayer partnerships. Those who are interested would contact us and then be partnered up with another person through email. You would commit to contacting your partner at least once a week (but hopefully  more often) to share prayer requests, praises and then pray daily. The method of contact is up to you and your partner, you have a world of unlimited technology at your finger tips.

Can you see how God has broken down our geographic limitations? God-willing, these partnerships will bloom into authentic friendships deepening your walk with Christ and becoming the living example of John 17:23. We will also post monthly prayer topics to focus our prayer efforts and intercede as the body of Christ. These monthly topics will give us the opportunity to cover our faithful leaders, Lynn and Dineen, and other issues as the Spirit directs us. 

If you're ready to receive a prayer partner and embark on this new adventure then click on my name below this post! 

Christy Edney

Dineen and I, Lynn, are psyched that Christy has stepped into this new role here in our community. Christy has been an active part of our community since 2011. She has a heart full of love for God and for people.

Watch for a post from her about prayer and prayer partners once a month. Thank you Christy for your love and dedication to this family on the web.