Sunday, June 21, 2020

LAST OF THE THREE





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The Ark Encounter - Kentucky


“’Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?  Why did the knees receive me, and why the breasts, that I should suck?  For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then, I would have been at rest, with kings and with counsellors of the earth, who rebuilt ruins for themselves; or with princes who had gold, who were filling their houses with silver. 

“Or like a miscarriage which is discarded, I would not be, as infants that never saw the light.  There the wicked cease from raging, and there the weary are at rest.  The prisoners are at ease together; they do not hear the voice of the task master.  The small and the great are there, and the slave is free from his master.” Job 3:11-19

“Is God hidden?  This question, above all, obsessed Richard.  It seemed to him an irreducible minimum, a theological bottom line, that God should somehow prove Himself:  ‘How can I have a relationship with a Person I’m not even sure exists?’  Yet it seemed that God deliberately hid Himself, even from people who sought Him out.[1] 

Richard simply gave up on God.  Since the beginning, individuals have been trying to prove God exists or that God does not exist.  That He is involved with everyday life, or with some of the big things of life, or uninterested in everyday life or just uninterested – perhaps bored with His creation. 

People search for Noah’s Ark, pieces of the cross, or live to research a piece of cloth that they think bears His resurrection image – all to prove He is not hidden and never was or is. 

Did you ever wonder why God doesn’t just let someone find something that would be incontrovertible proof of His life, death and resurrection?  People search for signs and wonders and healings and fountains overflowing with mysterious waters or supercilious sounds. 

They long for something to point to that people will quit arguing about and just get on with believing.  Yet God is not in the business of proving He exists.  He exists in the hearts of those who come to grasp the greatness and universality of His gift of grace – even though they cannot and will never understand it until eternity! 

Take care, your servant and friend in Christ, Darlene (who prays for you each morning).


[1] Copyright © 1988 by Philip Yancey, Disappointment With God, published by Zondervan Publishing House.


PS:  My statement of faith:  https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com  (also you will find a series of beginner Bible studies there.). Also, you can find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for ‘WeakDay Devotion’.  (Also, there is an android ‘Goggle Blogger’ app you can download to read them on your phone.)

COVID-19


Please pray for all those involved in making critical decisions during this time of pandemic.  Pray for those who have lost loved ones, those who contract the virus, the healthcare workers, those on the front line and for all those feeling afraid, lonely or confused.  Pray all are wise, patient and take precautions to contain the effects.  For practical information, please visit https://newsaboutcovid19.blogspot.com/

Latest Statistics
·        Today in 215 countries
·        9,024,499 reported cases
·        54,729 in serious condition
·        469,386 reported deaths (some related to pre-existing conditions)

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

(NOTE:  Words underlined have a link embedded to provide more details)

·        USA – Pray the Lord will 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.  For Christ-centre, Bible-based revival in the USA and religious freedom for Christians wherever they may be.
·        Hans – a dear friend in Germany, diagnosed with lung cancer that has metastasized, home for the next three weeks before he resumes chemo.  Pray for his healthcare providers, his patience and wisdom.  Pray he is surrounded by faithful and compassionate Christian friends who will support him through this journey.  Pray for his Mom (age 83) is unwell herself.  Pray their time together will be filled with extraordinary good memories and love.
·        Scott – recently married.  Pray he finds a job soon so he can provide for his new wife and two children.  Help him reach out for the hand of our loving Heavenly Father so he recognises God is working in all this for the best outcome for them all.
·        Penne – recently widowed after 43 years, the last ten of which she was her husband’s full-time caregiver.  She suffers mental problems from a childhood experience and has reached out to Patti (who asks for wisdom and patience).  Penne has ‘disowned’ all her family, and although a believer, does not attend fellowship for support.  Please pray for her peace of mind and God’s guidance.
·        USA President Donald Trump – As Christians it is our responsibility to pray for our leaders and know that God has a plan for the USA through this man.  If you doubt the importance of his appointment, just look at the baseless antagonism against him. Surely Satan is NOT happy and means to thwart God’s plan.  Pray someone helps President Trump and Melania to understand the true meaning of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and that they will both have a insatiable hunger to read God’s Word for themselves – and that God sends a Bible-Believing Christian to regularly disciple them in the Truth – and that God shuts the mouths of the false prophets who regularly circle around them.
·        Fred I – planning a move from California to Tennessee in the Fall of 2020 (if possible).  Pray for his wise attention to detail, stamina and roaring good health, as he makes these life changes.
·        Unnamed – lost both her parents within six months after a lifetime of caring for them.  Her husband’s mother died in January and his 94-year old father now lives with them.  Pray they take time for each other and keep their faith strong.
·        Ravi Zacharias – is home with the Lord, now.  Pray for his family and friends as they grieve his loss and for the continuation of his ministry. 
·        Those who loved Doris – pray for those of us who grieve the loss of a remarkable woman who helped bring me to His Cross.

Pray for those in full-time service

During this time, when the entire world is struggling to understand this new ‘plague’, it is critical for us to uphold our Christian leaders.  They will be needed everywhere.  Pray for their wisdom, safety, ingenuity, strength and for their families.

Pray for those with ongoing health concerns

Many of us have family, friends and loved ones who are fragile health wise.  It is important to protect them in practical ways and most important we must pray even more for them that the Lord will have mercy on them during this challenging time.

Pray for the World

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