“Near is the great day of the Lord, near and coming
very quickly. Listen, the day of the
Lord! In it the warrior cries out
bitterly. A day of wrath is that day. A day of trouble and distress, A day of
destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, a Day of clouds and
thick darkness, a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities
and the high corner towers.
“I will bring distress on men so that they will
walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; and their blood
will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be
able to deliver them on the day of the Lord’s wrath and all the earth will be
devoured [consumed] in the fire of His jealousy, for He will make a complete
end, indeed a terrifying one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.” Zephaniah 1:14-18
When
the Israelites finally arrived in the promised land, God commanded them to
completely rid the land of its pagan inhabitants because they worshipped
idols. But the Israelites found excuses
not to, even though the first Commandment God entrusted to them insisted they
worship only Him. Gradually the
Israelites compromised (for the sake of peace and harmony, of course) and began
to worship other gods.
Zephaniah
was sent to the king of the day to warn him of what was to come: the great day of the Lord was near! Babylon would soon come and destroy
Jerusalem. The king tried to fix things
but it was too late and the betrayal of the Lord too serious. The Babylonian conquest occurred just as
surely and horribly as Zephaniah had predicted.
Yet,
Zephaniah’s message is just as relevant today as the world slips further away
from the Truth. God promises a final
judgment – a day of worldwide destruction (Revelation 20:12-15). And God’s final day of judgment is as sure as
the Babylonian conquest.
There is only one way to be spared from this terrible
time and that is to rely on Jesus. You
cannot save yourself by doing ‘enough’ good or trying harder or giving more. If you want to learn of a way to share this Good
News with others or if you want to understand more about how to be eternally safe,
click this - LINK
Take
care with love, especially His! Your servant and friend in Christ, who
still prays for you each morning. Darlene
PS:
My statement of faith is here: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com
You can find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for “WeakDay
Devotion” (Also, there is an android “Google Blogger” app you can
download to read them on your phone.)
NEW PRAYER REQUESTS and UPDATES
(NOTE:
Words underlined have a link embedded to provide more details)
- New – Norm C – having a surgical procedure this
Thursday. Please pray for the skill and watchfulness of the health
care providers and his family as he recovers.
- UPDATE - Scott – Scott’s wife abandoned him and this two children Sophia (10) and
Grady (8) a few years ago. He has proved to be a caring and loving
single father. He is now
engaged to a wonderful Christian woman and they plan to get married in
March. Hopefully she can help
inspire him to seek the Lord once again.
They are happy and look forward to their life together. It is so great to see him joyful
again. It has been a long time and
lots of prayers and God has answered those prayers. Thank you. Please
continue to pray he seeks the Lord for himself and his children.
- NEW UPDATE - Baby Jolie – 11 months old, struggling
for life with meningitis and kidney failure. Still in critical
condition – had surgery to remove lots of dead muscle tissue on her leg. Now they wait to see how she will
respond, but at least they did not have to amputate which was the initial
fear. Pray her health carers have
wisdom and compassion, her parents have patience and peace and that the
Lord provides a miracle of healing for this child. ‘GOD is so GOOD. He has got this We keep
praying for complete healing. She
is still battling kidney issues too.
One thing at a time. Please
keep praying. Family so grateful
for all the prayers.
- URGENT - Carla’s sister Jackie – diagnosed
with stage 4 pancreatic cancer and endocrine tumour. She is in severe abdominal pain, with a
blood clot in her pancreas. Pray
for traveling mercies for Carla as she goes to be with her in Canada. Pray for the doctors and health carers
and for those who love and will support her through this difficult time.
- Puerto Rico Volcanic Eruption – Please
pray for all those who continue to be faced with one natural disaster
after another. Let God’s mercy finally bring them relief.
- Volcanic Eruptions - Isaias and Judith (Ambassadors for Christ, the
Philippines) now dealing with the increasing threat and damage of ongoing
volcanic activity affecting their ministry, seminary, conferences and
leadership forums. God is working in all these tragedies.
Please pray for those who lead, work, teach and contribute to this
ministry. (Tita, Isaias sister had cancer surgery 8 January and Edna
who remains on regular dialysis). Pray our Father continues to keep
these servants strong and safe and that they find balance for their lives
and good health. To make a contribution or/ and learn more, contact
Isaias Catorce on icatorce@gmail.com
- Savannah – 15-year-old granddaughter of Cliff and Beth, diagnosed with a
psychological disorder that is difficult to treat and could lead to very
serious consequences. The new meds the doctors tried have helped and
Savannah is doing a little better! She has a very long road ahead! But
progress is happening and with any brain injury GOD and time heals
it. God is giving her a more
positive attitude and that is helping too. Please continue to pray for wisdom for
her health carers, patience for her parents and healing for her.
- Peyton – 17-year old granddaughter of Jeff and Rachael, a
professional dancer for 14 years.
Her foot bone is healing properly, and she is out of the boot. She needs rehab to help with strength
and muscle loss but will be cleared to dance in a couple of weeks. Thanks
for prayers. Pray for complete healing, peace and patience while
she heals.
- NEW UPDATES – Fires
in Australia –- Rain forecast for today but then it stops and
the temperatures increase once more. As the country takes a breath
the devastation continues. Estimates of 28 dead and up to a Billion
animals lost. Pray for the more-than 2,500 firefighters, those
providing care and shelter for those who have lost everything, and wisdom
for those still in the path of the fires, for mercy on the animals and the
ongoing tragedy that accompanies this. Please pray God’s hand of
love and compassion is demonstrated by His people as this tragedy
continues to burn throughout this dry and sunburnt land!
- USA President Donald Trump – It is
our responsibility as Christians to remember God has a plan through this
man. If you doubt the importance of his appointment, just look at
how much antagonism there is against him. Surely Satan is NOT happy
and means to thwart God’s plan. Pray someone helps President Trump
understand the true meaning of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ,
that he will have a driving hunger to read God’s Word for himself and that
God sends a Bible-believing Christian to regularly disciple him in the
Truth and that God shuts the mouths of the false prophets who circle
around him.
- URGENT -USA - Pray the Lord would demonstrate His power in
unexpected and uniting ways during these times of unrest and
confusion. Help hearts settle and rest in Him alone. Let the
truth of God’s Word and ways overcome the drive to destroy our founding,
Bible-based values.
- Chris H – recently lost his sister (the last of his
family) and will be facing his first Christmas without her. Please
hold him up with prayers as he walks through this time of change and
pain.
- Christine’s husband – broke his arm and wrist
and is home recovering. Pray during this time that the Lord will
speak to him through his loving wife and that they will have a
Christ-centred relationship and family.
- Doris (my second mom) – celebrated
her 101st birthday 22 December. She is growing frail and sleeping
more and deeply now. Thank the Lord for Patti, her faithful
daughter, as she makes time to be with her Mom. Pray Freddy, Doris’
son, does more to help.
- SJ – as he struggles with circumstances he did not anticipate.
Pray for his willingness to grow through this dark time and for wisdom of
his counsellors. Pray for his ability to rest and forgive himself.
- Paul –Pray for his ongoing resilience and that the
Lord would allow him to find a role. He’s been unemployed since
2010. Most of all, pray his heart melts enough for the Truth to
touch him where it hurts. Pray for my wisdom and patience as he
stays here.
- Tracey – Pray Tracey finds a new role to satisfy her and allow her to
grow and share her skills and wisdom.
- Me – Please pray for the Lord to provide a new project for me.
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