But Laws Are So Much Easier!

"Christ has set us free to live a free life.  So take your stand!  Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.  I am emphatic about this.  The moment any one of you submits to circumcision or any other rule-keeping system, at that same moment Christ's hard-won gift of freedom is squandered. 

"I repeat my warning:  the person who accepts the ways of circumcision trades all the advantages of the free life in Christ for the obligations of the slave life of the law." Galatians 5:1-3 The Message

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.  Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 

"And I testify again to every man who  receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law." Galatians 5:1-3

It seems that one of the biggest difficulties in the Body of Christ today, as in the time of the Galatians, is how easily we can slip back into thinking that keeping a bunch of laws make us Christians! 

Keeping rules is SO much easier than trusting in love and grace!  Like children, we have been fooled into believing if we just keep doing the right thing then we are alright.  But doing the right thing (such as being circumcised, which was a well-understood requirement of the faithful in Galatia and a long-held requirement for proof of obedience) does not make you right.

Salvation is not at all dependent on human achievement; it depends on the grace of God.  You must simply cast yourself and your sin on the mercy of God.  What matters is faith, which works through love.  The key is not your obedience to any law but your love of Jesus Christ.

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

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

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST

• ·        LATEST UPDATE - Adrian - ASKING for additional prayer:  We talked yesterday as he was having his cancer infusion.  He is tired but ready.  Surgery to repair his crushed left shoulder is scheduled for THIS Friday (16th) at the Prince Charles hospital (Brisbane).  He is quite concerned about the procedure.  He will be picked up by ambulance at 6 AM that day and be in for 3-4 days.  The Leukaemia Foundation has contacted him and will speak with him while there.  He is increasingly dependent on the prayers of the Body of Christ!  Please also pray for his 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 - Paul - was not selected for the role in the Philippines.  I know the Lord is watching over him because of your prayers.  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 the massive headaches he has been having were mini-strokes.  He needs our prayers at this time to strengthen him and keep him calm.  
• ·        UPDATE - JR - is home.  Celebrating life and filling his days with pleasant memories.  More tests to go.  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 Jenny, his 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.  And that God gives him the words to say to touch JR's heart.  Tim has shared his testimony with JR and cares about him very much. 
• ·        UPDATE - Hans continues with his new therapy and is making headway with understanding his condition better.  He is in West Germany.  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. 

FOR THOSE IN FULL-TIME SERVICE

• ·        Doug McIntosh - an invaluable contributor to my love of Bible study has 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, continued health and strength; and that God will multiply the effectiveness of his radio ministry in Florida.
• ·        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 - a land that is growing increasingly chaotic and dangerous.  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.  Please, 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 ample opportunity to continue his ministry in Sydney.
• ·        Buddy and Susan Smith (in Queensland) and Kevin and Sandy Currell (in Melbourne) need your prayers for their ministries.
• ·        The Catholic Church and the Pope, who need our prayers that he will always put Jesus first in all his decisions.

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

• ·        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 in Oklahoma.  Pray for his strength, more funding and wisdom for the organisation
• ·        Rachael asks us to please pray that Scott (in the USA) seeks the Lord for his sake and his Children.
• ·        Steven Parsons - recovering from cancer, living on the street in Sydney, trying to get enough money for additional surgery.
• ·        Trent and his 9-year-old daughter Sharika.  Finishing 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 - Fred – procedure went well and they have found no cause for the change in the aneurism, but he awaits news about forthcoming surgery to repair the leakage around the newly discovered weakness. 
• ·        UPDATE - Aunty Dot  has finally received her special wheelchair.  Here is her thank you to you:  " My chair has arrived and I am going to go out to enjoy the sun and read my book.  Thank everyone please!"
• ·        Sergio - has found some consulting projects and it will help him weather financial difficulties for the next six months.  He is in Mexico City where work for graphic designers is rare. 
• ·        Jo - seems to be finding support for her ideas and initiatives within her firm.  Please also pray for her wisdom as she considers setting up a charitable trust. 
• ·        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! 

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.
• ·        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 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 - Feeling good but there is nothing they can do about the continuing deterioration of sight in his left eye.  He lost sight in the other awhile ago.  Also, his little companion dog, Chandler, now 16 years old, is growing weaker and having trouble walking.  It will be difficult for David to lose him.    
• ·        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 and give him more time with his young daughter.   
• ·        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.