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By Southern Seminary (4 min 6 sec)
[God speaking to Abraham] “’In your seed all the nations
of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.’” Genesis
22:18
“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ to a new
life, sharing in His resurrection from the dead, keep seeking the things that
are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind and keep focused habitually on
the things above on the heavenly things, not on things that are on the earth
which have only temporal value.
“For you died to this world, and your new, real life is
hidden with Christ in God. When Christ,
who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. So put to death and deprive of power the evil
longings of your earthly body with its sensual, self-centred instincts,
immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is a kind
of idiolatry, because it replaces your devotion to God.” Colossians 3:1-5 The
Amplified Bible
As with all of us, God had a lot of work to do in Abraham’s
life. Oh, yes, it is easy to imagine
that he was special. Remember how he
obeyed God by leaving his country and all he knew? And what about that dramatic moment when obedience
led Abraham to entrust his only son into God’s hands as a sacrifice?
He really must have been an extra strong follower of God. And yet, even with the immense and amazing
promises God made to him -- he, and his family after him, still strayed from
obedience. Therefore, it is important to
take note of the ‘condition’ of every promise in Scripture.
The coming of Christ, as God’s sacrifice to pay for our sin,
was reflected in the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his only son and it
must have seemed nonsense to Abraham at the time. Who would sacrifice an only son for unknown
results anyway!
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 to Amazon
books.
NEW PRAYER REQUESTS (any updates?)
•
Jen –
has just lost her only sister and needs your prayers to get through this
difficult time and maintain her health.
•
Denny as
he struggles with health challenges and for his wife, Marci as she supports him.
•
Megan
(for emotional healing) and Scott, her husband (for patience and wisdom) and wisdom
for his sister, Clare, as she seeks
to support them through troubled times.
•
Thanksgiving
– A special answer to prayer – my wonderful sister-in-law’s sister (who we have
prayed for) has a remarkable answer to prayer for her journey. Thank God for His loving care of this
determined woman. (Hold down the Ctrl key and click ‘Thanksgiving’ to read
more)
•
Lyle -continue
to pray as he recovers from surgery
on his wrist! Pray for his
continued healing and patience during this time and for Annette, his lovely wife who supports him. Also pray for travelling mercies as Annette
drives them to spend time with her father who has cancer. Pray for Annette’s Mom, who
will be there to support him through this time that she remains healthy and
strong.
•
Please
pray and hold me up during the next couple of months, during some changes that
my trust grows stronger.
•
Pray for peace
and revival in America
•
Sarah and Andrew
– he has left his job and she has gone to work in a new and exciting
position. Pray for this precious
Christian couple that they focus on family balance to the glory of the Lord
•
Sue and Rob need prayers for wisdom and resolute spirits as
they deal with their adult nephew, Luke.
He is becoming increasingly disruptive and irresponsible. They invited him to stay with them as he was
struggling, but he has more than overstayed his welcome. Pray for healing for Luke and that he accepts
their request.
•
Iran - The country is in turmoil. Many are in danger for seeking freedom. Many
have been killed or thrown into prison.
Pray especially for Ryan's family and
friends there.
•
Bettina –
continue to pray for her as she grows into a new phase of her life in the
Lord. The Lord has provided her with five,
married daughters and 17 grandchildren.
Pray they all grow to love and follow Him. The daughter we’ve especially been praying
for has begun to return to the Lord through a difficult time. Continue to pray for her and for the husbands
of two of her daughters who have not yet believed in the saving power of Jesus
Christ.
•
Robin –
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.
•
Christine –
give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing and pray her husband gives
his heart to the Lord.
•
Family of Eric
– Eric died suddenly at 52 leaving his 47-year-old wife and three girls (ages
16, 19 and 23). Pray the Lord brings strength
to them as they regroup into a new life.
Pray for trustworthy, honourable, Bible-based friends to continue to support
them.
•
Peyton and
Carter- Grandchildren of Jeff and
Rachael.
Payton is their 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. 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 daily.
•
Callilah-
a lost child. Pray the Lord captures 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.
•
Talitha – has chosen to go
into full-time ministry and is raising support.
Please pray to move the hearts of those around her so she does not have
to be concerned with finances.
•
Jenny S–
who has served the Lord as a Bible teacher at a local Bible school for 25 years
has been called to a new ministry. Give
her courage and strength as she finds her way in this 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 and finances in this time of stress.
•
Simon, Tamara
and their children – Simon (my pastor) will be entering a new phase of
his work and leaving our congregation.
Pray the entire family is gracious and courageous under change and that
their grace, devotion and love continue to reflect their love of the Word and
lordship of Jesus Christ. Strengthen the
congregation to rejoice with them as they leave us. And help us left behind welcome the new leader
the Lord has prepared for us.
•
Andrew –
a man devoted to his family and the responsibilities of leading a worldwide
ministry to the deaf, has been travelling extensively. Pray for his continued strength and health
and that through this time he discovers new insights.
•
Pat and Isobel
–as they serve tirelessly in challenging times.
Pray the Lord refreshes and strengthens them with ‘streams in the desert’.
•
Jasper and Bec
– the new youth pastor who is completing his studies at Moore College while
living on campus. Pray for balance
between academic studies and common-sense family focus.
•
Patrick -
a Bible scholar, who is presently part of an English Translation Review
Committee, reviewing a new translation of the New Testament, ‘The 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.
•
Elaine and Jim
Pounder and their Little Church ministry have begun a new work. Continue to pray for their safety, health, strength
and time with family as their ministry continues to spread around the world in
a model of home churches. Pray for the continued growth of their YouTube
channel and website: The Little Church
World at https://www.youtube.com/user/thelittlechurchworld
.
•
Audley M – In his 90s remarried this year (his wife passed
away a few years ago). 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 a serious 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.
•
David – growing
stronger after his heart attack. Pray
for wisdom for his health carers and for Heidi,
his daughter, who cares for him daily, to be strong and healthy through this
time.
•
Sophie– six-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 her symptoms and heal her.
•
Hans– a
dear friend in Germany, continues his battle with 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, 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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