The End - The Beginning

A visual summary of the

New Jerusalem.  Hopefully,

you will enjoy it and listen to

God's Words of preparation for us!

"'I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches, I am the root and the offspring of David; the bright morning star.' 

"And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.'  And let the one who hears say, 'Come.'  And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

"I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book; if anyone adds to them, God shall add to him the plagues which are written in this book and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy., God shall take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. 

"He who testifies to these things, says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.'  Amen.  Come Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all God's people.  Amen." Revelation 22:14-21

What a wonderful and challenging way to conclude this book of strange and fantastical images...a dream of our eternal future when a new heaven and a new earth and a new Jerusalem will be our forever paradise where daily we will be so close to our Saviour!!

In the next week or so, I will be preparing a new study, suggested by a friend who faithfully reads the WeakDay Devotion and prays for those on the prayer list.  She has been a strong encourager and supporter to me for many years.  The new study will be about hope and walk us through the Beatitudes, the Fruit of the Spirit and the wonderful book of Philippians.

Take care with love, especially His!  Your servant and friend in Christ, who prays for you each morning, Darlene

NEED PRAYER UPDATES PLEASE! 

• Please continue to pray for the special person you identified two weeks ago in your assignment until they fall into His arms.  Then you can pick another to pray for!

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

• ·        UPDATE - Adrian - Has been down with the flu for the last three weeks.  Unable to get out of bed. Unable to make it to his regular cancer treatment infusion, rescheduled to 20 July.  Pain is very high and he is miserable.  Please hold him up that the Lord will hold him and cuddle him gently through this.  The Leukaemia Foundation person is still not around.  I'm going to try to contact them from here for Adrian.  Pray for Adrian's companion dog, Toby, to remain healthy.  He is very important to Adrian's mental well-being and a clear gift from the Lord during this time of pain and loneliness.
• ·        UPDATE - JR - one of my brother's lifetime friends was found to have three brain tumours.  The largest was removed in emergency surgery.  He is home now while they consider ongoing treatment.  He is losing his balance and this may or may not be a sign the large tumour is regrowing.  Pray for his wife, family, friends and the health carers as they deal with this serious situation.

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

• ·        Rachel - Her father, age 95, passed last week.  Please remember her and her family in your prayers.
• ·        Jo - No job news. The partners have several serious issues to handle so she is trying to be patient as she anticipates they will extend the contract!

PRAYERS SPECIFICALLY FOR SALVATION

• ·        Paul - is feeling unwell.  Please pray for his health to strengthen and that his heart melts enough for the Truth to touch him where it hurts.  He has not had work since 2011!!
• ·        Aunt Dot, who is still in hospital.  Pray for her husband (he and Dot are believers) and that this event will be the trigger for her boys to come to the Lord.  She is one of Jo's Christian mentors and has many health issues.  
• ·        Sarah (early 30s) - Urgently needs psychiatric help and that her family demonstrates "tough love" with her.  Pray the Lord captures her heart through this situation.
• ·        DB's father - (84 years) now home and doing better.  She thanks you for your faithful prayers and asks you to keep praying his heart opens to Christ through this experience., he is an avowed – and boastfully proud – atheist. 
• ·        Chester (Adrian's friend) with pancreatic cancer that he has the  energy, strength and resolve to deal with a worldly system that continues to abuse him; and that someone will come share Christ with him soon.
• ·        Keep praying for the two unsaved women in Jo's Bible class:  Angie and Liz.
• ·        Wezley - Rachael is not able to find Wezley's mom to get an update.  Her husband lost his job and the family may have moved.  Keep praying for the entire family!

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

• ·        Sergio - Finally found a new role and is very grateful for your many prayers and for the compassion of the Lord in his life.  He is in Mexico City and work for graphic designers there is rare. 
• ·        David R - Doctors believe vision loss in his left eye is result of a localised stroke and may return eventually. 
• ·        Brody - Pray for his continued healing and that his scooter will be a joy for all at his wedding this month.  He has many operations yet to go to repair his crushed ankle. 
• ·        Toron - (18-year-old) Pray for him to find direction and encouragement and most of all to come to the Lord. 
• ·        BG - Is growing stronger and stronger each day now that treatment for his headaches has begun. 
• ·        Raven - no signs of new cancer and her ongoing meds are not "hurting" her so much now. 
• ·        Doris - (my "second Mom")  Please pray for her continued health.  She as pivotal in my coming to Christ.  She and her (now departed) husband faithfully prayed for me and my brother, Tim all our lives.  She is in her 90s and still filled with enthusiasm and good health.  Would love to see her this side of heaven! 
• ·        Praise the Lord and pray for the many individuals in Russia, US, Australia, UK, Poland, Germany, France, Portugal, American Samoa, Romania, Ukraine, Estonia, Singapore, China, India and Alaska who are regularly reading the WeakDay Devotion on-line.  The blog seems to be gathering an audience in +unexpected and mysterious geographic locations.

PRAY FOR THE WORLD

• ·        That the Lord's hand is dramatically apparent in the lives of all who receive and read these devotions.  That His mighty works will be worked out in each life for His purposes and glory in surprising and wonderful ways!
• ·        For Christ-centred, Bible-based revival in the USA and religious freedom for Christians wherever they may be.

PRAY FOR THOSE WITH ONGOING HEALTH CONCERNS

• ·        Joanne - sister to David, who is being overwhelmed by dementia.  She is one of the most gracious Christian women I have ever known. 
• ·        John, who had a stroke two years ago continues to struggle with reading.  Please pray for complete healing and/or more patience and grace. 
• ·        Sandy - Tests are inconclusive, yet her symptoms persist.  Pray for wise doctors.  They suspect Crohn's Disease.
• ·        LS - Home from hospital but very tired - has a chronic, auto-immune disease.  Please pray for her.
• ·        My brother, Tim, with COPD (Cardio-Obstructive Pulmonary Artery Disease).  The weather is improving and he is able to get outside and enjoy things more.  Thank you for praying for him.  Pray his heavenly Father continues to give him patience and wisdom to help him manage his health and the limitations to his breathing. 
• ·        CK had a stroke last week.  Currently in a nursing home for physical, occupational and speech therapy.  He can now talk, but not read.

ONGOING WORK RELATED

• ·        Fion - please pray for his Mother.  He has returned to work and was given additional duties that are far too much for anyone.  Pray for wisdom for the organisation and/or courage for Fion.
• ·        Deepak - has worked tirelessly for years to develop his business and needs people to pay what they owe him.    

ONGOING PRAYER

• ·        David R asks us to pray for Mr. Hale, an 85-year-old who needs help understanding the benefits he has from the Veterans Administration
• ·        Fin - has settled into his new home where a friend cares for him.  He has just lost his aunt...Please pray for him and his family and friends at this time.
• ·        Shan needs clarity of purpose and direction for his ministry.  He and Gemma are now married and starting a new life.  Pray it will be steadfastly focused on the Lord.
• ·        Hans is waiting for a place in a new training clinic (which may take up to 6 months).  Pray he finds Christian companions and leaders wherever he is.
• ·        Bettina for additional strength and wisdom.

FOR THOSE IN FULL-TIME SERVICE

• ·        Doug McIntosh - in each of our lives we can point to spiritual "parents and unique encouragers".  For me there are many.  One key contributor to my love of Bible study is Doug, my pastor.  He was diagnosed 16 Feb 2014 with multiple myelomas.  What a great man of God he is!  Please pray for him, his family and the church he has worked so faithfully in, Cornerstone, in Lilburn Georgia.
• ·        Jo and Steve - Please pray their individual ministries in NZ and reconciliation with one of Jo's sisters. 
• ·        Audley and Beverly (stroke survivor) for help with their situation and his return to ministry.
• ·        Stu and Jo and their grown children, Laura and Jason - a family serving in full-time ministry in New Zealand.  Keep them strong, healthy and resolute. 
• ·        Isaias and Judith - in the Philippines.  Pray our Father continues to keep them strong and safe and that they find balance.  They give so much to so many for so little.  Take a moment to learn more about their tireless ministry:  Go to:  http://www.afciworld.org  Look for "Nations" then click "Philippines".
• ·        Please pray for my good friend, JB, that our loving Father provides him with ample opportunity to continue his ministry.
• ·        Buddy and Susan Smith and Kevin and Sandy Currell need your prayers for their ministries in Australia.
• ·        The Catholic Church and the new Pope need your prayers that he will always put Jesus first in all his decisions.

SOMETHING NEW FOR PRAYER WARRIORS

• ·        Elaine and Jim -in Hong Kong have begun an online church with a special prayer room that is open 24/7.  A small army of dedicated prayer warriors is waiting to pray with you.  Please pray for them and go here to learn more:  Https://www.thelittlechurchworld.org/prayer-room

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS

• ·        Linda and Ian, Rob and his daughter, DB, PS, Reg, JD, Annette and Lyle, Carla and Paul, Jeff and Rachael and their wonderful families.  Grateful thanks for their practical support and encouragement over many years.