Stage 16 Moirans-en-Montagne / Berne

DIEU Tout-Puissant,
toute pensée de vérité et de paix procède de toi: nous te prions d’allumer dans les coeurs de tous les hommes le véritable amour de la paix et de guider de ta sagesse pure et paisible ceux qui délibèrent du sort des nations de la terre; puisse ton royaume avancer dans la tranquillité jusqu’à ce que la terre soit remplie de la connaissance de ton amour;
par Jésus-Christ notre Seigneur.    Amen.


GOD Almighty,
all thoughts of truth and peace proceeds from you: we pray to kindle in the hearts of all men the true love of peace and guide of your pure and peaceable wisdom those who deliberate the fate of nations of the earth; may your kingdom advance in peace until the earth is full of the knowledge of your love;
 through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Le Recueil des Prières 
The 1962 Canadian Book of Common Prayer in French

Doubs 25

Dear Father,
we pray for the churches here in Doubs on the eastern boarder of France.  Father we pray for their witness among their cities and villages.  Lord, we pray that each member of the body of Christ will live with the power of the Holy Spirit moving through them with a flow and fire to keep them as salt and light to those living around them.  Lord, strengthen your body in Doubs and let the fire of revival begin to ignite in the hearts of the people of Doubs. We pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen

Étape 9 Arc-et-Senans > Besançon

Romans 10:17

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Stage 9 will be a individual time trial that is 41.5 km.  Beginning in Arc-et-Senans and ending in Besançon. Besancon is found in the the region of  Franche-Comté. Yesterday we ended in Switzerland, but today they travel along the border as fast as they can.  Our lives can be like a time trial, we spend our days going as fast as we can being busy with our daily lives without much time to hear.
 Lord, help us all to slow down and take the time to listen to your word.  Our faith will grow the more we listen.  Open our ears and hearts so we can hear the message you have for us today here in Besançon.  We pray all these things in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Haute Saône (70)

In the stillness of this place, In the quietness of this hour.  We praise your name.  God only you are worthy of our praise.  Lord, thank you for all that you are. 

Lord,

Haute Saône is a quiet department compared to others, but yet in this place we still see you, and then  see the need of you.  Lord, thank you for the still places on this earth.  Here we can sit by the rivers and hear your still small voice, or climb to the top of the hill and hear you whisper our name in the wind.  Lord, I need the quiet places in my life so that I can hear you.  Keep me still Lord. 

Draw people to You here in Haute Saône.  Let them hear you whisper their names.  Move in their hearts so that they can know you.  Thank you for this place and bring Christians to Haute Saône to live, teach, baptise, and make disciples.  Let us be faith even in the still places.   I pray in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen

French city Belfort

French city Belfort

Belfort was a battle ground for many years between many countries.  This small spot in our world reminds me of the small spots in our hearts where there are battles going on.  Is our hearts divided into many areas where the god of this world is doing battle or we ourselves are battling with God over a spot of control?  He asked us to give it all to Him.  Have we? 

Holy Father,

I desire to have an undivided heart before you.  What spot of power am I struggling over.  Have I given everything to you or am I holding on to the Belfort of my heart?  Jesus show me the littlest spots of my life where I refuse to surrender to your will.  I love you and desire to be fully surrendered to you. 

Lord, we pray for Belfort France.  It is one of the smallest departments that I have found so far in France.  Lord, we desire today to pray over this place.  Giving it to you.  Lord, let the hearts here in Belfort understand the benefits for having you as Lord of their lives and the King of their castle.  Lord, open hearts here, use the 8 churches in this area to proclaim the gospel.  Bring to them encouragement so that they will continue to serve you by telling others of Your costly gift of eternal life.  Thank you Father for loving us and being so willing to work in our hearts until we surrender all. 

I pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen

Doubs (25)

 Eglise Cépée-Besançon can be found in the city of Besançon in the department of Doubs.  They have a wonderful website which shows a growing church.  They will be having a barbecue and baptism on the 27th of June.  Pray for them as they continue to grow and serve our Lord.  Besançon has around 250,000 people and we are grateful for other churches in the city but their harvest field is still great.  Pray that God will use His church in Besançon to share the love of Christ.

Most Holy Father,
Thank you for your church here in Besançon, France.  We praise you for all they are doing according to your will.  Thank you for the new believers who will be faithful in Baptism here this month.  Help them to grow in you and become essential parts of the body of Christ.  Protect the pastor and give him the strength and wisdom that he needs each and every day.  Thank you for his faithfulness.   Lord, give them a vision for Doubs and help them to reach their neighbors and friends for Christ. 
We pray in the name of Jesus. 
Amen

Jura France (39)

Dole France is in the department of Jura, region of Franche-Comté.  Dole is the birth place of Louis Pasteur and here in Jura is the famous Royal Salt Works.  This week we have been doing VBS and our theme was God's word, and both of these things helped with preserving.  Pasteur figured out a way to pasteurize milk, and to keep the bacteria from spoiling the wine and beer.  The Royal Salt Works manufactured salt for the French to use in preserving their foods in the 1700's.  God's word preserves us.  God says to hide his word in our heart so that we might not sin against him.  He also called us the salt of the earth because his spirit is in us.  I pray we keep his word in our hearts so that we will be effective salt in this world.  Can we preserve the good in this world?

Lord, at one time France was the salt of the world and we pray that soon it will be so again.  Lord, your word is so important to us individually and corporately, I pray that we remember to hide it in our hearts so that we will not sin against thee.  Keep us preserve our usefulness to you.  Let us be the salt of the earth and preserve our effective saltiness to all around us.  I pray for this department of Jura to remember how at one time they too were salt. Let them be  effective salt once more.

 I pray in the name of Jesus.
 Amen.

Region Franche-Comté

Acts 28:26-28
 'Go to this people and say,

"You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'
"Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"

Lord, help us who understand you when you take the time to speak to us.  Lord, we desire for your hearts to understand and turn to you.  Lord, I pray that my eyes will always seek your face.  Please Lord allow the hearts of the people of Franche-Comté to desire the same.  Only if your move in this region will people seek you.  Send your Holy Spirit to open eyes and ears and to soften hearts.  Thank you for those who preach your message and speak of you.  Protect them and allow your word not to return void.  Thank you for speaking to us.
 I pray all of these things in the name of Jesus. Amen