Three Steps from Sorry to Happiness!

"'Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.'" Matthew 5:5

[Jesus teaching] "'Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.'" Matthew 11:29

"'Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold your King is coming to you, gentle (meek) and mounted on a donkey.'"Matthew 21:5

"...but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle (meek) and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God." I Peter 3:4

The Beatitudes is the first evangelical tract!  It leads you through the facts of trusting God through Jesus Christ and becoming His follower and disciple!

• ·        You must recognise your poverty of spirit (I need God.). 
• ·        Then comes a sincere mourning over your sins and sinfulness (I have sinned and liked it and want to keep sinning!). 
• ·        Meekness follows as you give up your rights.  And like Jesus did for us, you begin trusting in God's plan rather than your own. (I need Your leadership and Lordship!)

If you are not meek, you are not mourning your sinfulness.  If you are not mourning your sinfulness, you are not yet aware of your poverty of spirit.  (You still think you can fix everything yourself.)  If you do not know your poverty of spirit you will never be truly happy!  

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 - Paul - had important job interviews this week.  No news yet.  Please pray he is well prepared, confident and calm during his meetings.  Most of all pray his heart melts enough for the Truth to touch him where it hurts.  He has not had work since 2011!!
• ·        UPDATE - BG - has had a series of tests and examinations and a few more to go, indicating a series of strokes over a period of time.  Also, his pituitary gland is affected.  He needs our prayers at this time to strengthen him and keep him calm.  More as I get updates. 
• ·        UPDATE - Adrian - still quite unwell but had his treatment yesterday was very tired.  Unsure how the new meds are working.  Sheila, the lady from the Leukaemia Foundation handed his case to another.  Who knows what this will mean without ardent prayer from those who love the Lord!  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 - is home now getting ready for his next battery of tests.  Attitude is good, considering he has rapidly advancing small cell carcinoma in his brain.  Please pray for him and the quality of life and time he has, 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 dear and precious friend, JR (and Dale), during this difficult time.  Tim has shared his testimony with JR and cares about him very much.  The weather (which sounds insignificant for most of us) is making it difficult for Tim with his COPD.    

FOR THOSE IN FULL-TIME SERVICE

• ·        Doug McIntosh - an invaluable key contributor to my love of Bible study was diagnosed with multiple myelomas.  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 Pope, who need our prayers that he will always put Jesus first in all his decisions.

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

• ·        UPDATE - Steve/ Fion - thanks you for your prayers for his Mother.  She is doing well.  He is still pacing himself through his heavy workload at his university post.  Pray for his strength, more funding and wisdom for the organisation
• ·        UPDATE - Hans began his new therapy yesterday.  It will last from 3-6 months.  Pray the Lord gives him peace in his new situation and guards his family while he is away.  Pray for those sharing this time with him that they truly care for him.  Most of all, pray he finds Christian companions and leaders wherever he is.Rachael asks us to please pray that Scott seeks the Lord for his sake and his Children.
• ·        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.

PRAYERS SPECIFICALLY FOR SALVATION

• ·        UPDATE - The Bible study in Jo's home continues.  This week they look at Romans 4 and you can feel Jo's excitement as these women grow a step closer to understanding how loving the Lord Jesus is! Keep praying for  Angie and Liz.
• ·        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.
• ·        Sarah - still urgently needs psychiatric help  Still not communicating with her mother, father or brother.  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) please keep praying his heart opens to Christ.  He is an avowed – and boastfully proud – atheist. 
• ·        Chester (Adrian's friend) with pancreatic cancer that someone will come share Christ with him soon.

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

• ·        UPDATE - Sergio - has found some consulting projects and it will help him weather financial difficulties for, hopefully the next six months.  He is in Mexico City where work for graphic designers is rare. 
• ·        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)  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! 
• ·        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 - they are working to better manage his back and leg pain.  Pray they will take a practical and conservative approach and that his doctors and therapists are wise and compassionate and that Fin will have friends with him during this time.
• ·        Aunt Donna - (Doris' sister, age 84) has dementia. Please pray for her daughters for guidance in her care.
• ·        David R - after high dosages of antibiotic the pain from the tooth abscess has been managed for now.  Surprisingly, the United States Veterans Administration does not cover dental expenses.  Still no news about 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).  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.
• ·        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.

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

ONGOING PRAYER

• ·        Deepak - has worked tirelessly for years to develop his business and needs people to pay what they owe him.   
• ·        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.
• ·        Bettina for additional strength and wisdom.
• ·        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.