Copy and paste the link into your browser
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1BAHnlQz90
Or search YouTube for 'Garden of Eden?
Ask a Pastor, Dr. Joel C. Hunter
by Northland Church
“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of
Eden to cultivate it and keep it. The
Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat
freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat
for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.’” Genesis 2:15-17
God gave Adam complete responsibility for the garden. He entrusted all of Creation to him. He only had one condition… ‘Do not eat from
the Tree of Good and Evil. God did not
put up a barrier so Adam was prevented from approaching the Tree to eat from
it, instead, God gave him the choice to obey out of love.
And that is how our lives are still today. God gives us minute-by-minute choices – He does
not restrict us or make us obey. When we
make the wrong choice, there may be frustration, pain and despair.
Yet, God, in His love for us brings us benefits through these
lessons that can help us learn and grow and make better choices in the
future. Living with the consequences of
our choices is one of the best ways to become more responsible. The condition of this promise was very clear. The way it works out today remains mysterious,
but inevitable.
You might ask, why God would place a tree in the garden and
then forbid Adam to eat from it. God
loved Adam and wanted him to choose to obey -- but He gave him the freedom to
choose. Without choice, Adam would have
been a prisoner forced to obey. The Trees
presented an exercise in choice, with rewards for choosing to obey or
consequences for choosing to disobey.
Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still prays
for you daily)
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?)
•
Devastation From Hurricane
Ian - please pray for those in
the path of this amazing hurricane. It
is too early to estimate human losses, but the destruction is
breathtaking. Pray for rescue workers
and those supporting those affected by this storm that is still raging.
•
Patrick -
a wonderful Bible scholar who is presently part of an English Translation
Review Committee, working to review a new translation of the New Testament,
Antioch Bible (translating from Syriac to English). Pray for their hoped for goal of finishing
the entire NT this calendar year and that he has increasing skill in the
complicated languages he is working with.
•
Iran -
The country is in turmoil and many are in danger for seeking freedom. Nearly a
hundred have been killed. Please pray
especially for J and for Ryan's family and friends there.
•
Bettina –
Please pray for her strength, courage and wisdom and for the Lord to comfort
her as she remembers the loss of Jim, her husband who passed on 7th of October,
seven years ago. Pray also for her five,
married daughters and 17 grandchildren, that they remain faithful and caring of
Bettina. Pray the Lord captures the
hearts of two of her daughters’ husbands who are not yet believers and for one
of her daughters who is working her way back to the Lord.
•
Robin –
just lost her beloved mother (was 93 years old), please pray for strength and
healing for her as she navigates through this time of mourning and for her
daughter who comforts her during this time.
•
Tom and
Elizabeth - planning their wedding.
Please pray that they both are firm in their commitment to Jesus Christ
as the priority and that Sue and Grant have wisdom in their advice to
them.
•
Andrew –
is growing stronger after the cancellation of his wedding. Please continue to pray for him. He is supported by his Christian family and
friends, but needs our supportive prayer to get through this loss in a gracious
and hopeful way.
•
J and M –
who were planning a life together and have just broken up. She is returning to Japan to regroup. Please pray for both of them that they remain
civil and grow through this difficulty.
•
Christine –
give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing and pray her husband gives
his heart to the Lord.
•
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 for trustworthy, honourable, Bible-based
friends to support them.
•
Peyton and
Carter- Grandchildren of Jeff and Rachael. Payton is the eldest granddaughter and is now
in her third year at college. Carter is
a senior in high school. Both are
exceptional students and love the Lord.
Please pray they are not distracted by worldly things, that they
continue to do well in their studies and that their love of the Lord increases
with each day.
•
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 and remain bold and courageous in the face of evil. Pray for their wisdom, safety, ingenuity,
strength and for their families.
•
Simon, 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.
•
Andrew –
a man devoted to leading a worldwide ministry to the deaf is currently
separated from his family. Please pray
for this time that Andrew will discover new insights.
•
Pat and Isobel
–as they serve tirelessly in challenging times.
Pray the Lord refreshes and strengthens them.
•
Jasper and Bec
– the new youth pastor. Still studying
at Moore College and living on campus there.
Pray for balance between academic studies and common-sense family focus.
•
Elaine and Jim
Pounder and their Little Church ministry have begun a new work. Continue to pray for their healing strength
and time with family as their ministry continues to spread around the world in
a model of home churches. They have begun a YouTube channel Please consider watching and subscribing to
their sound teaching episodes. Website:
The Little Church World. And
https://www.youtube.com/user/thelittlechurchworld.
•
Jenny S–
A woman who has served the Lord as a Bible teacher at a local Bible school for
25 years, has been called into a new ministry.
Give her courage and strength as she finds her way in this new
role. Give her a hungry curiosity under
change. Help her identify the balance
and value of her unique contribution.
Pray the Lord maintains her health in this time of stress.
•
Audley M –
In his 90s has just gotten married. Pray
for their union in Christ and for their health and strength. Pray for his wisdom and the effective growth
of his wonderful radio ministry (Florida, Virginia, Alabama, Indianapolis) as
America hunger for ‘True meat’!
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.
•
UPDATE - Barbara
– (my sister-in-law) recovering from an infection in her leg. She is finally beginning to be better and is
now off the antibiotics. Please pray for
her complete recovery and for Tim who is caring for her.
•
Thanksgiving -
Lyle - is healing from a broken wrist and is unable to drive. The cast
is off, he now has a brace and is serving time in physical therapy. Pray for his continued healing and patience
during this time and for Annette, who supports him.
•
David –
recovering quickly from a heart attack.
Pray for wisdom for his health carers and for Heidi, who cares for him
daily, that she will be strong and healthy through this time. Sophie– five-year
old daughter of a friend 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, continues his battle lung cancer and financial
difficulties. Pray his new social worker
will be able to help him through this time.
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) --
that their time together is filled with extraordinarily good memories and lots
of love.
•
Denny –
is having heart problems. Please pray
for his health carers and for Marci, his wife, as she cares for him.
• Jake – A friend of my brother who is living with COPD (emphysema) and heart problems. Please pray for his daughter, Tiffany and for other friends to help him through his health journey.
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