Dear Disciples...

"For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands, and bring you into your own land.  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness, and from all your idols. 

"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.  And you will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.'" Ezekiel 36:24-28

"And when He saw the multitudes, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him." Matthew 5:1

It is vital as we begin the meat of this special devotional study place to understand why the Beatitudes -- and this time of concentrated teaching -- is not what it seems on the surface. 

Most of us have heard these platitudes all our lives.  We even hear them in everyday conversation sometimes.  But what is it about this effort of Jesus Christ that makes it so powerful and memorable? 

Although a crowd was present, and a big one, it was to His disciples that He directed His challenging comments.  This is not an evangelistic sermon, addressed to unbelievers with a view to bringing them to discipleship. 

This is a series of challenges made to all of us who follow Jesus Christ and believe in Him alone for our salvation.  Next time you read it, read it slowly and let it touch your heart from this perspective.

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

Thank you for the recent PRAYER UPDATES 

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

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

• ·        UPDATE - BG - has had a series of tests and examinations and a few more to go.  With the headaches, and the small blood vessels in his head, the doctors have found he has been having strokes for some time and it seems his pituitary gland is also affected.  He needs our prayers at this time to strengthen him and keep him calm.  More as I get updates. 
• ·        UPDATE - Adrian - The weekly treatments are providing some relief.  He is trying to do everything he has had to put off for a year all at once before he can't work again and growing exhausted by over activity!  Pray he paces himself, although it is easy to understand why he does this.  I'm unsure how many more treatments he has to go in this set.  Perhaps finally this cancer will be put in remission.  No word about help from the social worker.  Pray she makes an extra effort to get him help.  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 with rapidly advancing small cell carcinoma in his brain.  He returned home this week and is beginning to settle into some "real life" once more.  Prognosis is he may have from two weeks to six months more to live.  Please pray for his wife, family, friends and the health carers as they deal with this serious situation.  Pray most of all that his heart opens to the love and grace of Jesus' gift of grace.
• ·        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, and this week worked to install an air conditioner in JR's home to help with the heat.    

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

• ·        Rachael asks us to please pray that Scott seeks the Lord for his sake and his Children.
• ·        Fin - is having back pain.  Pray they will take a conservative approach to helping him have some relief.  Please pray for his doctors and therapists that they are wise and compassionate and that Fin will have friends with him during this time.
• ·        Antonella has just lost her grandmother and the family is very sad at her loss, yet happy to know she is now at peace.  Please keep the family, especially the children, in your prayers.
• ·        Update - Aunt Dot - is home from the hospital and still waiting on a special wheelchair to get around.  Please pray they find one for her soon.    
• ·        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.
• ·        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 - 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.

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

• ·        UPDATE - Jo - The firm she was working for has offered her an additional three-month contract of three days a week.  She needs wisdom as she considers setting up a charitable trust.  Pray for her wisdom and clarity of heart as she decided her next steps. 
• ·        Toron - (18-year-old) Pray for him to find direction and encouragement and most of all to come to the Lord. 
• ·        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

• ·        Aunt Donna - (Doris' sister, age 84) has dementia. Please pray for her daughters for guidance in her care.
• ·        David R - has a tooth abscess that is infected and affecting his liver.  His health care and the VA do not cover dental expenses.  He is still waiting for additional tests about the sight in his right eye (cataract and perhaps early signs of macular degeneration).  Also, his little companion dog, Chandler, now quite old, is growing weaker and having trouble walking.  It will be difficult for David to lose him after 16 years.    
• ·        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 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.