Dear Friends,

Imagine with me ... the scorching sun is shining brightly down on a nomad camp, residing near the tall oak trees of Mamre. On the threshold sits an elderly man, his beard white with age, his skin wrinkled and dark from the many years of traveling. His aged wife, Sarah, is napping in the back of the tent as her husband keeps watch in the heat of the day. He looks up to see the silhouettes of three travelers approaching his tent, with the dust of travel clinging to their feet.

This elderly man, as you may have guessed, is Abraham. He is about to have one of the most life changing moments as He entertains the Angel of the Lord – Jesus.

As Abraham eagerly hosts the Lord, he is given a promise: the fulfillment of what he had eagerly been waiting for. When his wife Sarah laughs at the seemingly impossible promise, the Lord utters the simple and profound truth about His nature.

"Is anything too hard for the Lord?"

The word "hard" is the Hebrew word pala' meaning "to be marvelous, wonderful, surpassing, extraordinary…" It is used to describe God's omnipotent power, able to achieve what is impossible and unimaginable from a human standpoint.

As we meet with the Lord in prayer, this is a promise for us as well. This account in Genesis 18 is significant because it brings to mind God's sovereignty and everlasting truth of His promises. So often we underestimate the power of prayer. It invokes and celebrates the very presence of God in our midst… this God who is capable of doing exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think.

As we pray for this upcoming conference, I just want to encourage you all that we are praying and serving a God who delights in doing the impossible. If you're facing something that seems too big or difficult for you to handle alone (a "hard thing"), remember that you are not alone. I once heard a pastor say: "If it is do-able, it's a good thing. But if it's absolutely, utterly, incredibly impossible, maybe it's a GOD thing. God forever calls His people to things they cannot do themselves so that He alone receives the glory." May this upcoming conference (and our whole lives!) be one that we can delight in God's power, trust in His sovereignty, and give Him all the glory for what He is going to do.

Blessings,

Beth

Prayer

-  Please be praying for host-housing for attendees of the conference. We have several coming in from far away looking for a place to stay. Pray that God would raise up families with a heart for hospitality for these guests.

- With less than a month before this conference comes, pray for the speakers as they prepare, as travel arrangements are made, and as they continue their ministry and life responsibilities.

- Pray that God would be preparing the hearts of each of the attendees even now to hear this message and make life-changing decisions for the glory of God.

- Pray that everything we do would be God-directed and God-honoring and that everyone involved would constantly remember Who we are serving.

Praise

-  We are incredibly blessed by God to be looking forward to 741 teens and parents who are currently registered for this conference.

- Praise the Lord for raising up many new volunteers and publicity captains! May the Lord strengthen each of you with His grace and effectively direct your hands as you serve Him.

- Praise the Lord for the work that He has already accomplished in preparation for this conference. We are especially thankful that He has granted further healing and strength to Evie Schmitt (the ministry assistant for Alex and Brett Harris) and for all of her work in coordinating.

What else can we pray for together? How have you seen the Lord work? This letter is filled by you. Please e-mail me often with your specific prayer and praise reports to be shared with the Indy team.

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