“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You
shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.; But I say to you, make no oath at all, either
by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the
footstool of His feet,
“ …or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for
you cannot make one hair white or black.
But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these
is of evil.” Matthew 5:33-37
“Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons
of Israel, saying, ‘This is the word which the Lord has commanded. If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an
oath to bind himself with a binding obligation, he shall not violate his word;
he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” Numbers 30:1-2
I pray you are enjoying this series and noticing that Jesus
seems to have some ‘favourites’ that He brings up frequently with His
disciples, the people and the religious leaders – such as how important it is
to keep your word or keep silent.
It is such an ‘old fashioned’ concept, but Jesus would have
us be honourable and surprise those who will say anything for their own gain.
PS: By the way, if you read all of Numbers 30,
there are some interesting caveats about a woman’s vows.
Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still
prays for you each day)
PS: Find my
statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com (where you
will also find a series of beginner Bible studies to share). You can easily
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.
Not sure about Apple.). For the
books, go Amazon
books.
NEW
PRAYER REQUESTS (any updates?)
· Eddy – has cancer in
his bladder and kidneys. The surgery to
remove one of his kidney was successful and he is now home. They will begin radiation or chemo soon. Please pray for him and those who care for
and support him during this time, especially his health-care providers.
· Annette’s Dad – is recovering after his accident and brain
bleed. He is now recovering and will
soon have another CATSCAN. Pray God prepares the hearts and strengthen those
who love this man for this challenging time -- and pray for his caregivers as
he heals and recovers.
· Maria Nienhaus, the mother of Hans has been taken to the hospital for tests and
treatment for an undiagnosed illness (not COVID). Please pray for her carers and those who love
her so much.
· Jasper, Bec and Nev – new youth pastors at our
church. They are still at Moore College
and living on campus. Pray for balance
between their academic, church and family life.
· UPDATE - The horror of
war in Ukraine – Please pray for
the people caught in the cross-fires of this war, and especially strength for Christians
of this country and that God’s sends encouragement and help in unexpected ways
to save Ukraine and our world from the potential devastation of a third world
war.
· Update - Unprecedented
Floods in New South Wales, Australia - the rains have stopped but are
expected to begin again in a few days
Clean up from previous floodings starts and stops. So many are dealing with the resulting
devastation and loss. Continue to pray
for those who have lost loved ones, their homes and all their possessions and
especially for those providing care and support of those affected.
·
Simon and Tamara and
their children – Simon (my pastor) has been chosen to support the
Lord’s work in a new, more far-reaching way.
Help them prepare throughout this year for the new challenges that await
them. And when Simon takes up the new
role, let him fill it with the same grace, devotion and love he has
consistently demonstrated while at St. Marks.
Strengthen the congregation to rejoice with them and their decision.
·
Elina – has asked for prayer. Please hold her us as she struggles through
some personal issues and is feeling overwhelmed.
·
Ray Jr. –Pray the Lord holds Ray Jr. (and his brothers)
closely as they grieve and deal with the practical matters after the loss of
their father. Give Kathy (Ray’s wife) strength and wisdom as she
supports him during this time.
·
Christine – give her strength as she journeys to
heart-healing.
·
Family of Eric – Eric at 52 died suddenly leaving his
47-year-old wife and three girls (ages 16, 19 and 23). Pray the Lord comforts the family through
this time of mourning. Pray for their
wisdom and that God will send trustworthy, honourable, Bible-based councilors
for the many decisions that now must be made.
· Peyton - eldest granddaughter of Jeff and
Rachael – now in her second year of college.
Please continue to pray for her that she does well, makes good decisions
and continues having a good relationship with the Lord.
·
Barb –
my brother’s faithful and kind wife.
Thank you for praying for her.
She needs prayers to sustain her and protect her health and energy
during this time of additional stress and challenge at work.
·
Sophie – three-year old daughter of a friend. She is chronically unwell and frail. Please pray for her, her parents and health
carers to find ways to manage the symptoms and heal her.
·
Hans –
a dear friend in Germany, the cancer seems to be stable for now. Pray for his financial situation to improve
and for his ongoing strength through the pain when it comes. Pray for his patience and God’s mercy. Pray for his healthcare providers and that he
is surrounded by faithful and compassionate Christian friends who will support
him through this journey. Pray for his
Mom (age 84) who is also unwell -- that their time together is filled with
extraordinary good memories and lots of love.
·
Callilah
- a lost child. Pray the Lord will
capture her heart.
Pray for those in full-time service
Pray to uphold our Christian leaders – that they never compromise God’s Word, are bold and courageous in the face of evil. 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 with fragile health. Pray God takes special care with them and protects them in practical ways and that the Lord will have mercy on them during this challenging time.
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