The Maddening Crowd

"And Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and claiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

"And the news about Him went out into all Syria; and they brought Him all who were ill, taken with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics, and He healed them. 

"And great multitudes followed Him from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan." Matthew 4:23-25

Let's set the scene:  By now, Jesus was born, was rushed off to Egypt before Herod could catch Him in his bloody net.  When Jesus returns to Nazareth He lives in obedience to His earthly parents.

John the Baptiser baptises Jesus and Satan has done his best to draw Jesus off-side from His mission.  Thankfully Jesus was resolute from the beginning. 

When He begins His ministry He is about thirty years old (which would be old for those hard times).  He calls disciples to join Him and as an effective and engaging teacher, Jesus also begins to attract a literal following - a ragtag, maddening crowd of everything from the poorest and sickest to  the strongest and most influential leaders in the local church. 

There was no TV and no social media blaring through your phone.  People walked around.  They would follow him and camp where He stopped overnight.  They would wait for Him to teach a bit more wherever He journeyed.  And we know all His footsteps were purposeful.  Notice the lands He has been wandering around.

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 - Slowly recovering from the flu.  Still in bed and not eating as his little freezer stopped working.  He is so tired, but sounding a bit better.  The doctor insists on weekly rather than monthly treatments starting next week.  It takes so much out of him.  Please pray the Lord will hold him and cuddle him gently through this.  I made contact with the social worker in the regional hospital he last was in.  She promised to contact him and help him sort some things out.  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 rapidly advancing small cell carcinoma in his brain.  He is now in hospital having a series of radiation treatments.  Pray for his wife, family, friends and the health carers as they deal with this serious situation.  Pray his heart opens to the love and grace of Jesus.
• ·        UPDATE - My brother, Tim - Pray for strength, wisdom, courage, health and patience as he ministers to his sweet friend JR (and Dale) during this difficult time.  Tim has shared his testimony with JR, but due to the extreme hot weather, Tim has been unable to visit JR this week.    

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

• ·        UPDATE - Aunt Dot - has gone home, but is needing a special wheelchair to get around.  Please pray there are no delays with this.    
• ·        Steven Parsons - a man recovering from cancer, living on the street in Sydney trying to get enough money for some additional surgery.
• ·        Trent and his 9-year-old daughter Sharika.  He is finishing his trade school classes and living on the streets as he saves for accommodation.  Pray for him and his daughter.
• ·        UPDATE - Sergio - After a few weeks in his role was forced out and needs encouragement as he waits for another place.  He is in Mexico City where work for graphic designers is rare. 

PRAYERS SPECIFICALLY FOR SALVATION

• ·        Lennie - PS ex-son-in-law.  Please pray for his salvation.  He is father to PS' 11 yr. old granddaughter's whom she spends half her time with because of shared custody.
• ·        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!!
• ·        UPDATE - Sarah (early 30s) - still urgently in need of psychiatric help, is living somewhere safe (with a family?) and has held down a job at McDonald's for 4 weeks, so far.  Still will not communicate with her mother or brother - only answer texts from her father with "Yeah, right!".  Pray her family is resolute in demonstrating "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.  The father to Wezley lost his job and the family may have moved.  Keep praying for the entire family!

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

• ·        UPDATE - Jo - The firm she was working for has offered her an additional three-month contract of three days a week and she has been pursuing other opportunities as well.  Pray for her wisdom as she decided her next steps. 
• ·        Brody and Trish - celebrated their wedding vows 16 July. Yes he glided in as gracefully as the bride did on his scooter.  Pray for his continued healing.  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 - The new cancer meds have given her life back.  She loves the Lord and is grateful for His compassions.
• ·        Doris - (my "second Mom" - age 97.5)) Still filled with energy, enthusiasm and good health.  Pray she stays strong and keeps sharing the Lord with everyone who will stop long enough to listen to her.  Would love to see her this side of heaven! 
• ·        Dwight - (Doris' brother, age 91) came from Florida to visit her over 4th of July, which is a praise! They had a great visit!
• ·        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

• ·        UPDATE - Fin - is having trouble with pain in his back and is seeking treatment for relief..Please pray for him, his family and friends at this time.
• ·        Aunt Donna - (Doris' sister, age 84) has dementia. Please pray for her daughters for guidance in her care.
• ·        UPDATE- David R - Feeling good but the excessive hot weather is having its toll on him.  Awaiting additional tests for his right eye with a cataract and early signs of macular degeneration. 
• ·        UPDATE - Joanne - sister to David, who is being overwhelmed by dementia and macular degeneration.  She is one of the most gracious Christian women I have ever known. 
• ·        UPDATE - John - having a sun melanoma removed from his arm soon.  Still having difficulty reading (after stroke 2 yrs. ago).  Test show no new injury in brain, but no more healing of blind spots in his eyes.  Was re-tested by speech therapist who saw no regression from healing he achieved at end of his 4 months therapy after the stroke. 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.
• ·        Julia -(who had the concussion we have been praying for) has been cleared by the Dr. and continues to heal. But now she has shingles on her back!  She is only 37 yrs. old.
• ·        CK - (suffered a stroke in April) is back at home, having speech therapy for his inability to read, also. He is still not driving and his wife is taking him to the various appointments involved in his recovery.

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

• ·        Mr. Hale, an 85-year-old who needs help understanding the benefits he has from the Veterans Administration
• ·        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.