Sin Foundations - My Way

"And Jacob answered his mother Rebekah, 'Behold, Esau my brother is a harry man and I am a smooth man.  Perhaps my father will feel me, then I shall be as a deceiver in his sight; and I shall bring upon myself a curse and not a blessing.'  But his mother said to him, 'Your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, get them for me.' 

"So he went and got them, and brought them to his mother, and his mother made savoury food such as his father loved.  Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her elder son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.  And she put the skins of the kids on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck.  She also gave the savoury food and the bread, which she had made to her son Jacob."  Genesis 27:11-17

Jacob did not mind deceiving his father.  He did not mind stealing the blessing Isaac had prepared for his favoured son.  Jacob did not even mind going against God's plan to get what he wanted.  What he did mind was the thought of getting caught and being cursed. 

Rebekah didn't mind deceiving Jacob.  She did not mind taking the clothes of her son to deceive her husband.  She worked to make food that would fool her husband.  She only wanted what she thought God was unable to provide.

God does not miss our desires nor our actions, even the ones we think we can hide from Him. 

Take care with love, especially His!  Your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene 

PS: ANY PRAYER UPDATES TODAY?  Please send updates!  For any of you who wonder if prayer is worth taking time for, just page back through previous entries and see the hand of our loving Father in action!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST:  Please pray for:  Adrian, his physical pain is so difficult now.  He needs the arms of the Lord surrounding him with warmth and love.  His necessary isolation for this procedure is difficult as he begins a 4-6 week journey to kill his immune system and replace his T-cells in the hope of stopping his cancer. 

He's in Royal Brisbane Hospital (in Brisbane). If you can help by sending him an email or card and perhaps paying him a visit (in a couple of weeks - he is too ill for visitors presently), please contact me.  PB needs a heart-kidney transplant and is waiting in the hospital now.

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS:  Please pray for:   Isaac's Dad as he fights for survival at age 84 now & for Isaaic and his family in this time of deepest need especially for hospital bills.   Scott, in particular:  mental and physical healing, God focus and ability to think clearly. 

Tarrega who is in now home from the hospital after a heart proceedure.  John, Patti's husband how has had his second knee surgery and is not progressing well.  He needs to manage his health now to prevent blood clots and infections. 

Deepak:(who still needs our prayers for his situation) asks that we please pray for Melanie Karunaratne, in the hospital with cancer, she's a young mother with two little boys.  Raven - in hospital, had surgery and begins chemo and radiation.  Remember Daniel Craver, now 4 years old (we prayed as he had a liver transplant last summer), seems his body is rejecting the transplant.

Pray for Milo as he studies in Germany till February and for his mom, Sabine that she will adjust to this time apart.

PRAISE & THANKSGIVING:  Betinna’s husband, Jim (with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) got to go out for the first time on Monday, his birthday!  She thanks everyone again, for their prayers and sends this message for Adrian:  "Jim and I can send an encouraging email.  We know that God is God and that He has Adrian in His hands." 

Isaias and his wife Judith need prayers for their ministries in Mindanao, Philippines from 31 July to 20 August, as they have a very heavy teaching schedule during this time - guard their health and hearts.   PNS is feeling better and needs our prayers as he continues to look for a job and that he will continue to grow in strength.

PRAY FOR THOSE WITH HEALTH CONCERNS:   David R doing well through complicated health challenges.  Tim (my little brother) with CPRD, needs financial help and satisfying work.  For Audley and Beverly’s situation and his new endeavour.

For Carlton still suffering from horrible infections and pain in his bones.  For Nancy who is growing stronger and for Fred as he cares for her.  For PJ

ONGOING JOB RELATED:  Barbara (sister-in-law) has had a few very promising job interviews.  Pray the Lord has one of these positions for her.  Be with Hans as he struggles through changes in his life – that he'll cling quietly to the Lord and that there will be an unexpected, satisfying job in his chosen field for him.  My project, actually the product and entire department where I was working, has been dissolved.  Please pray for the wisdom of my next steps. 

ONGOING PRAYER REQUESTS:  Pray the Lord’s hand is dramatically apparent in the lives of all who receive and read this devotion...that His mighty works would be worked out in each life for His purposes in surprising and wonderful ways! 

Carla & Paul K for good results from their business plans.  Please pray for Deborah as she deals with a difficult situation, that she would keep her focus where it must be and that her hurting heart is soothed by her Heavenly Father as He brings about the result that is His will.

For Linda and Ian.  For Rob and his daughter. For Reg.  Pray for Annette and her career adventures.  Pray for wisdom for my brother as he deals with an important matter.  For David K, in his studies and Matthew K as he grows up.  Elaine and Jim back in Hong Kong.

PRAY FOR THE WORLD:  God’s grace on USA & REVIVAL for His children there and for the many nations and individuals suffering from global financial mismanagement.  Pray for the Catholic Church and that the new Pope will always put Jesus first.