Thursday, August 20, 2020

WEAKEND MEDITATION



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Love - Worship Song from 1 Corinthians 13


“If I can speak in the tongues of men and even of angels, but have not love that reasoning, intention, spiritual devotion such as is inspired by God’s love for and in us, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 

“And if I have prophetic powers – that is, the gift of interpretation the divine will and purpose; and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and posses all knowledge, and if I have sufficient faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love -- God’s love in me -- I am nothing – a useless nobody. 

“Even if I dole out all that I have to the poor in providing food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but I have not love -- God’s love in me -- I gain nothing.  Love encourages long and in patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy; is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 

“It is not conceited – arrogant and inflamed with pride; it is not rude, unmannerly, and does not act unbecomingly.  Love -- God’s love in us --does not insist on its own rights or its own way for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it – pays no attention to a suffered wrong.  It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 

“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes; is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances and it endures everything, without weakening.  Love never fails – never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end. 

“As for prophecy, that is the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose, it will be fulfilled and pass away.  As for tongues, they will be destroyed and cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away, that is, it will lose its value and be superseded by truth. 

“For our knowledge is fragmentary, incomplete and imperfect, and our prophecy, our teaching is fragmentary, incomplete and imperfect.  But when the complete and perfect, total comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away – become antiquated, void and superseded. 

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.  For now, we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim, blurred reflection of reality as in a riddle or enigma, but then when perfection comes, we shall see in reality and face to face! 

“Now I know in part, imperfectly; but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood by God. 

“And so faith, hope, love abide; faith -- conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to God and divine things; hope -- joyfully and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love -- true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us, these three abide -- but the greatest of these is love.”  I Corinthians 13 - Amplified Bible

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

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
·        22,749,457 reported cases
·        61,928 in serious condition
·        794,191 reported deaths (some related to pre-existing conditions)

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS & UPDATES

·        President Trump – just lost his younger brother and needs prayer that God would give he and his family private time to grieve without interruption or disrespect.
·        Peyton - eldest granddaughter of Jeff and Rachael.  Pray for this lovely woman of God as she goes off to college, that she remains safe and strong in her beliefs and convictions and continues to encourage many with her loving faithfulness to the Lord.
·        Tracey’s Mom – still hospitalised.  Pray for her health carers, her loved ones and that she will rest and be safe.
·        Kim’s Mom and Dad – have now been relocated to a nursing home to be cared for.  Pray for them both and for their family and the wisdom of their health carers. 
·        Ray’s Dad – (Ray Senior) doing better with the challenges of cancer treatment.  Pray the Lord will touch his heart so he reaches out for the only hand that can save him.
·        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, responding well to immunotherapy for lung cancer.  Thank you for continuing to 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, that their time together will be filled with extraordinary good memories and lots of love.
·        Scott – Pray for him.  He has found some temp work but with a family of four, he needs to find something stable to provide.  Pray for his wife Kristy, that she remains patient and prayerful.  Pray he soon reaches 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.  Pray they will both have an insatiable hunger to read God’s Word for themselves.  Pray God sends a Bible-Believing Christian to regularly disciple them in the Truth.  Pray God shuts the mouths of the false prophets who regularly circle around them.
·        Isaias and Judith (Ambassadors for Christ the Philippines) – carrying on their fruitful ministry in the Philippines, despite the many challenges they must daily work with, including the impending threat of China claiming their country.  Pray for those who lead, administer, work, teach and contribute to the ministry.  Pray our Father continues to keep these servants strong, in good health, safe and supported and that they keep a balance in their lives.  They need funds badly now.  Please go to this link o learn more or/ and contribute - email Isaias Catorce at icatorce@gmail.com

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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