The East Austin Wellness Center is pleased to announce that we’ve “walked” a total of 2,420 miles on our Walk to Jerusalem over the past two weeks, making it to Fes, Morocco in our first week and all the way to Gabes, Tunisia this week!
If you have the chance, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with Gabes, reading the Wikipedia entry here. You’re encouraged to reflect on and pray for this part of the world during your exercise this week.
Gabes Prayer Needs:
- The city’s fast-growing number of chemical factories has resulted in a serious pollution and health problem, both in the area and in the Gulf of Gabes. The government is working on new programs and laws to decrease the amount of pollution. Please pray for them in this important effort.
- Poverty and unemployment are on the rise, and the city is seeing a lot of social unrest resulting in violent protests involving unemployed residents and the police. Please pray for peace, love, guidance and support for all involved in these issues.
Additionally, below is this week’s devotion that you are welcome to reflect on and even discuss if you choose to exercise with others.
Visitors along the road:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23.
When we think of visitors along the road, the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 naturally comes to mind. We can all somehow relate to that story. The Good Samaritan actually stopped to help the hurting person while others ignored the hurting person. How often can we say that we have walked past a hurting person? How often have we helped a hurting person? The person may not even be a stranger. The excuses are many. To help the hurting person means stepping out of our comfort zone, rearranging plans and yes, showing and living the fruits of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. This week as you walk you may not see a physically hurting person, but ask God to help you see others as He sees them. If we are willing, He will show us the hurting of this world and fill us with His compassion and love.
Questions to ponder:
Have you ever unexpectedly and spontaneously helped a stranger?
How did you feel?
Think about hurting people you know. As you walk this week pray for
those hurting ones. Does God want you to take some action?
Thank you all for your participation! Don’t forget to track your miles at bit.ly/stjameswalks by noon each Friday. Remember that every 20 minutes of physical activity equals 1 mile!
Blessings,
The East Austin Wellness Center