Bringing in 2017!

May the Lord bless you and your family in 2017!

Merry Christmas to you all!

May God bless your Christmas Season!

From the Clausen/Cox Clan!

Thankful Heart!

With a thankful heart I praise my Lord
For all He has done and all He can afford
I thank Him for my family and friends
I thank Him for love that never ends 
I thank Him for my children who I love beyond belief
I thank Him for my husband who is my companion and relief
I thank God for the mountains 
I thank Him for the storms
I thank Him for the valleys
I thank Him for keeping us warm
I thank Him for our nourishment He provides
I thank Him that He is always by our sides.
I thank Him for you, the one reading this rhyme
and Pray that you will get to know Him more in time.

Author Janet Clausen 11/24/2016                                                                                       

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us!

The Clausens!

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Thank you to so many who have called and wanted to know more about our prayer shawl ministry, or who have asked for us to send one to you, At this time, I am having to suspend requests for prayer shawls, because I am simply overwhelmed with requests already and need to finish the ones I have already started before I can take on anymore.

When I started this venture I had several people wanting to help and many who were helping me make these items for others, but through the years, in the business of other's lives and through a battle with sickness of my own that had me down for a while, I have become the only one making these precious items for you. I am still praying everyday for the ones on my prayer list, so if you have a need and would like me to pray for you, please feel free to email me and I'll add you to our confidential prayer list, but I cannot add any more requests for shawls, blankets or prayer cloths at this time.

I pray that I will be able to begin taking requests soon, but until then, I wanted to thank so many for their support and prayers through this adventure with the Lord.

God's Promises Are True

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations in life where we wonder, "Where is God in this?" Whether it be sickness, financial struggles, loss of a job or even death of a loved one. We, as His childen, know the Lord promised, "... never to leave nor forsake..." but even in that we still can't see His presence.

This is when our faith is truly put to the test, when we must trust that God's promises are true. He says He will never leave, that He is near, and that He will work everything for the good. Even when we can't see these inner workings of God right away, we must be patient, have faith, stand strong in the Lord, and in His time, He will show through.

Psalms 73:28 "But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works."
Romans 8:28 " For we know, that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
James 4:8a "Draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to you..."

Faith it Takes to Stand

Life is never easy, God never promised us an easy life. We have seen attacks against God's people in the past, but in today's world we are being tried and tested, sometimes in a court of law, but more so in the court of public opinion, speculation, and in the face of our Lord and Savior, to our One True God.

God is a loving God, yes, God is patient, He is so longsuffering, that He allows these attacks and persecutions to go on for a season. In the US, right now, we face trials as a follower of Jesus Christ, we get told we are closed minded, judgmental, and hate the ones who are not like us... but that is simply not true. God told us we would see this, we would see haters of the faith, we would face persecutions and even death. As a Christian, even with what we face here in the US, I was shocked to find out the overwhelming statistics of the mortality rates of Christians in other countries.

There are 100 Million Christians being persecuted for nothing more than their faith in Christ.  Many are imprisoned and tortured because they are believers. People who knew if they were caught they would face these horrible outcomes because of one thing, they professed to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Not because they hurt someone else or murdered someone, simply because they stood on the Word of God and Believed. (http://www.religionnews.com/2015/01/07/persecution-christians-reached-historic-levels-2014-will-2015-worse/)

God told us this was going to happen, He said in His Word, the Bible, that He would be persecuted for His teachings, but that we would be as well. Some even to the point of death. He also tells us to stand in the last days.

Eph 6:11-13
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, ad having done all, to stand. 

We see evil everyday in our world, in our state, our city, and our community, sometimes the greatest evil you have is in your own home, but God has given you the weapons you need to have to stand against it. It does not tell us to live in combat with everyone around us, it tells us to Stand. Christ already won the battle, and in the end, He wins the war as well. He wants you to stand, stand on the word of God, stand fast in your faith, and stand for your God who stood for you the day He gave His Son to die for you. He has been right there waiting. He needs His people, His army to stand and be counted, to let others know that God is still God, whether they believe or accept Him.

He does not ask us to put on this armour for a bloody battle, but for a spiritual one, He says to have your loins girt about with truth, your breastplate of righteousness, your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (good news of peace), and ABOVE ALL, taking on the Shield of Faith, to be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked, and the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. Eph. 6:13-17

All of this is what it takes just to stand, to live in our world, but He doesn't tell us to go out and kill those who do not believe the way we do, He doesn't tell us to fight, kick and scream everytime we are attacked. He says in His word...

Eph 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

God tells us plainly over and over that we are to pray for our enemies, not who we declare enemies, but who declare to be enemies against us. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves, to love our enemies, and to love God with our whole, Heart, Mind, Soul, and Spirit. We are to pray asking God to give us strength, to give us the ability to stand firm in all that is coming toward us, against the attacks of Satan himself. We are to allow the Holy Spirit to flow through our being and keep open intercession with God on our behalf, filling us, giving us the strength to stand against it all.

Prayer:
I pray dear Lord, on behalf of others, my family and myself, that you give us the strength to stand for you in these last days. We have seen your power, your creation, and your way, that is why we have chosen this life, to follow you. Lord as we stand with our armour on, I ask you today that you come and fill our hearts, to lift us up and prepare us for the coming spiritual battles ahead. Fill us with your strength and allow the Holy Spirit to flow through us, and let it spill over to others, that we can share your gospel, the Good News of you, the Father in Heaven, and all you have done for us. Keep our hearts turned toward home, to you. 

If Lord, there be anything in me today that would keep that line of communication between you and I closed, I ask you to remove it from my life, reveal to me what is hindering the Holy Spirit from having intercession with you, and free my heart and mind from the clutter that gets in the way. 

I thank you God for all you are doing in my life, and about to do in and through me. I ask all these things in Jesus' Holy, Precious name, Amen. 

Happiest Thanksgiving!

There is so much to be grateful for, even in this world of troubles and trials. God sends you little blessings, great gifts, and His guiding, loving hand to hold everyday. Take the time to give thanks to God for all His mighty works in your life.

"Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving, and into His courts with Praise..." Ps 100:4

From Our Family to yours...

May you have the 

Happiest Thanksgiving Ever!!!

He Will Carry You!

So many times when we are hurting or too far in our own pain and grief that we don't or can't see God's work in our lives, or in these situations that drag us down. I can tell you dear one, that God has a plan for all of our lives, and He wants to help you through this trial as well. He is here, always, the Bible says that God tells us, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." and you know I have found over and over His promises are true. You can take Him at His word, every single time.

I was going through some old songs that I just love, and found one that I thought would help you to remember, that even though there may be a burden before you, that God is always right there beside you, arms stretched out, wanting to take them from you. Please listen, and I hope these words will touch your heart and give you a peace that only God can give, as they have given peace and comfort to me as well.
.

"He Will Carry You"
by Scott Wesley Brown

There is no problem too big God cannot solve it
There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it
And there is no storm too dark God cannot calm it
There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it

And if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my brother that He will carry you
And if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my sister that He will carry you
He said, "Come unto Me all who are weary, and I will give you rest"

There is no problem too big God cannot solve it
There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it
And there is no storm too dark God cannot calm it
There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it

And if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my brother that He will carry you
And if He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know my sister that He will carry you

I know my brother and I know my sister
That He, He's going to carry you
Oh yes, He will
He's going to carry you

Prayer Shawl Ministry Growing AGAIN! We Need You!

This is Living Sacrifice Ministries...

We love God, Love all people, and are called to carry out the Great Commission* We believe we are called to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, teaching the Gospel of Christ, bringing others to the saving grace of God, and Baptizing them... As God has Commanded. Through Preaching the Word, Singing His Praises and Sharing the Love of God in every way we can. 


Our prayer shawl ministry is growing by leaps and bounds, we need help, it is hard to ask, sometimes we don't know how, but here it goes anyway... We need HELP, in many ways to carry out our prayer shawl ministry, but in the biggest ways, We NEED money to send these prayer shawls all over the world, and We NEED supplies as we have been paying for these supplies and postage through our own self support. 




At this time, we are receiving new prayer shawl requests at about 4-6 prayer shawls a month, from the states yes, not just locally, but Washington, Oregon, Texas, California, and Many More, but at this time, we have also received requests from over the world, literally, Norway, Africa, England, and even Holland. We need help sending these prayer shawls, cloths, wrist bands, and other items to these recipients in the Name of the Lord God, because God has sent us out to do this for Him. 

If you say, "I want to do something for God, but what?" Here is your chance, pray for us, ask God what He would have you do. Many think about sending material or money, which is needed so sincerely, but we also we need many people to help create these beautiful items for others, in the name of The Lord Jesus Christ. We need help in many ways, do you crochet, sew, knit, loom? Whatever your craft you can use them for God, to help us make these beautiful prayer shawls. We need prayer warriors, as we pray over each item we make, stitch by stitch, row by row, before it is completed, then we also anoint them and pray over them before we send them out, we need prayer warriors who will come in agreement and pray with us as each item is made. 

At current count, we have over 20 prayer shawl requests now on our list to make and send, at this time because of various circumstances beyond our control, we now only have ONE person making these prayer shawls, ME. I will keep working on for the Lord, for this cause, and I know that God will bless me for it, but this takes more than one person doing this work to be able to help more than one person at a time, and I know God has put on other's hearts to help, I know they want to, but are unsure how; all I can tell you is, ANYWAY GOD LEADS YOUR HEART, just contact us at our website, or through LivingSacrifice2003@gmail.com and we can help you pray and figure out how to help in God's Great Commission or to help in this major endeavor to send these  prayer shawls and cloths to the hurting and ones in need. WE NEED YOU! 


* Scriptures for our Calling and Ministry
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all they soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:37-40

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go Ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:18-20 

We Need YOU!

Completed Projects Recently Anointed
being shipped this week.

LSM Prayer Shawl Ministry is growing by leaps and bounds, we have a growing list of people in need of prayer, comfort, healing, and ministers to their hearts through something tangible of God's presence in their lives. We have multiple orders that are lining up for Prayer Shawls, Prayer Blankets for Men, Babies, and even Prayer Wrist Cuffs for others. We are working as fast as we can to complete these orders, but we are asking for your help.

Prayer Cloths come in various
colors, shapes and sizes

This organization and many others like it, have been established to meet very special needs for others in prayer and supplication to the Lord. We have dedicated our lives, hearts and hands to serve or God and our Community as God has commanded and called us to do, but we do not ask for any money for our Prayer Shawls. These are a gift. They are God's tangible evidence to His hurting people that He is ever so near and that He loves them. We pray over each stitch and each item so carefully, anointing them with oil and preserving their care for presentation to the recipients. While, up until now, we have been able to purchase the materials on an as needed basis, or stock up on clearance items when we find extra special deals, but because these orders are coming in so fast, our supply of material is starting to run low.

You ask us "Really, I don't knit, crochet, sew or other, how can I help you?" There are so many ways that you could help us, to help our Lord in this endeavor... We need prayer, encouragement, and the most important things right now, that you or others you know may be able to help us with...

Fleece Material for Prayer Shawls

We NEED donations, yarn, fleece material, thread, or other types of material,  Anything that you may have extra, lying around for that one project that you never got to do, something left over from an old one that is just taking up space, or you can purchase items if you so want to... Just materials for making that special prayer cloth, shawl, blanket or any other item you feel God may be able to use for this project. We need these items to be able to finish many projects already being produced, while the list is still long and there are many more items needed to be started and completed, (hopefully by year end.)

Prayer Shawl Wrist Cuffs Popular
Among the Youth

Others that want to help and have a special skill you have been hiding or not sharing with others for whatever reason, WE NEED YOUR HELP, your hands, your skill, your prayers. If you can crochet, knit, loom, or sew, we could use you if you are available and willing to spend just a little bit of time each day, a couple of hours a week, or even just spare time when you can, God don't care how much time you can give, He just wants you to give all you can for Him, for His people. We have a very long list, new requests coming in almost daily. Even if you say, I can't sew or use a hook, but I can pray, we would love for you to just come and pray over the items with us while we stitch them. As we make each item, we pray for them stitch by stitch, then once they are complete we come together in agreement, anoint the shawls, and then pray a corporate prayer over the entire supply of Prayer Shawls and Blankets. Then we will deliver or have delivered them to the recipients right away.

Prayer Shawl Wrist Cuff for Teens

Please take the time to pray and ask God how you could help or what capacity God could use you in this special ministry. You will find that God will open your heart, you will be able to see that special moment when the Holy Spirit reaches down and touches each item to be sent, or you see that smile from the recipients, their families, or even just the feeling you get from doing something special for another person who is hurting, you will begin to understand, for yourself, just why we are compelled to keep this ministry alive and well. God supplies all our needs, He always has and He always will.

Prayer Cloth

We will keep going, no matter what the outcome of this plea, it is just a matter of how many and how quickly our hurting people can be reached depends on YOU. How quickly you respond to this open request.

We have had people ask us what types of materials or yarn we use to make our prayer items, but we honestly just use what we find or what speaks to our hearts. We have so many types and brands of yarn donated, specialty yarns, worsted or wool yarns, what I call, Plain color yarns, and so much more, we use it all, from Red Heart Economy, to Busy Bee Eyelash, Ribbon, or other heavy weight yarns. It really doesn't matter what type or color it is, God can use what you give, and we appreciate what comes from your heart.

Collection of Prayer Cloths and Wrist Cuffs

Here's a materials list that may help you to know what we need for our prayer items, in need at the immediate moment.

• Yarn - Some people wanted to know what types of yarns we use...
• Red Heart Economy is used most for our prayer shawls and blankets
• Lion Brand Yarn
• Busy Bee
• Any other Yarns are also accepted
• Fleece - we can use fleece to make Men's lap blankets and beautiful prayer shawls
• Cotton - softer cottons can be used for prayer shawls as well

Men's Prayer Blanket in Process

 If you can't give materials, money or even time to help, YOU can pray. We would appreciate your prayers. God loves a cheerful giver, but He LOVES to hear from His Children just as much, if not more. Please consider praying for us, that God will continue to use us in a mighty way, pray for our recipients, that He will touch their hearts, lives, bodies, and minds. Give them comfort and peace as they go through this holiday season and beyond. God knows who they are, you just pray for them, He will do the rest.

Stack of Projects in Process

Thank you in advance for your time and for your prayers in this endeavor to keep these projects moving along.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season and Many More to you and yours.

Prayer For Others, That's What We're About

We have had the honor and privilege of getting to meet, pray for, and learn about so many new people along the way since this aspect of our ministry began in 2008. Our Prayer Shawl Ministry has had the opportunity to reach out to people all over the country, now growing into the world, as our ministry is receiving calls from the "uttermost parts of the earth."

LSM Singers at Benefit Concert

 We had a chance this weekend to sing at a fund raising event for an 11 yr old little girl who has been sick and facing many health issues, most of her life, her family has really struggled with her medical troubles, not having adequate insurance, losing time at work because of having to care for her in and out of the hospital, and the young lady has more treatments coming up that the insurance has now refused to cover, so it was our pleasure to help with this event and to help this family see just how powerful prayer, prayed with two or more, in agreement can do for a family.

Presenting Prayer Shawl

We made a prayer shawl for this precious one, and just before the concert began, we called all the singers back into the fellowship all of this beautiful church, we explained our ministry and about the prayer shawl itself. We all grabbed on to this shawl, I anointed it with oil, and we began to pray. We prayed for the family, for the young girl, we prayed for our concert, for each group there, and for the power of healing and anointing by the Holy Spirit would come down upon this shawl and just envelop the young girl in God's love and care. It was an amazing moment of prayer, an amazing night of music, celebration of our great God, and fellowship with fellow singing groups and ministries who were sharing the love of God with all who could hear the message.

I thank God that we had this opportunity to share our ministry, to share God in a tangible way with this young lady facing a mountain of physical problems, only to see her Lord and Savior on the other side, reaching out to hold her and love her through it. Thank you God for all you do! Bless her, bless these wonderful ministries and groups that came out in support of this family, and thank you for the Holy Spirits blessing on the night, on the prayer shawl, and on this little girl. Amen.

Singing "Little Is Much" 

Care Ministries Clergy Graduation Ceremony 2012

It was our pleasure to be asked to make prayer shawls for the clergy members and instructors of Care Ministries through Saint John's Hospital. They had been training new clergy members for the Hospital and we had the honor of being able to attend and present prayer shawls to the instructors on behalf of one of the members of the graduating class.

Through the ceremony the clergy student gave a beautiful speech about what she had learned from this group, how this ministry and the instructors had taught her so much and reminded her of exactly what it means to be the hands of God in Ministry to the sick and hurting.

Each shawl was made specifically for each instructor, each color and design was chosen based on the character, testimony, and care that each one had portrayed to the students in showing God's love to all, and how important it is to bring God's Light to the world.

We then had the honor of anointing, laying hands on, and praying for each of these shawls and the instructors that received them, it was during the actual graduation ceremony and offered to allow, friends, family members and fellow pastors that had come to the ceremony for other graduates to come up and lay hands on and help us pray, in agreement for each of these members. This has been one of the most amazing and humbling experiences I have ever had in my life of Service to God. That He would chose someone like me to carry this ministry of help, healing and prayer to others, that He sees something in me to show me I am worthy of this endeavor with Him. Thank you God for your call on my life, for allowing me to be apart of such a wonderful and Spirit filled experience, and thank you for loving me.