Monday, March 27, 2023

Other Side-Thorns

 

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By Pastor Landon (6 min 52 sec)

 

“Now the angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim.  And he said, ‘I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land which I have sworn to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you, and as for you, you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’  But you have not obeyed Me; what is this you have done? 

 

“’Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they will become as thorns in your sides and their gods will be a snare to you.’’  When the angel of the Lord spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept.”  Judges 2:1-4

 

Judges would be one of my favourite books because it is much like most of our lives.  We mean well in our relationship with the Lord, but we also choose to ‘do what is right in our own eyes’ far too often, never realising the damage it does to our own lives and to those around us (especially pre-Christians, who are watching our lives to see if what we believe is how we act). 

 

Here, God confirms His promise, but abandons the Israelites to their folly, knowing His commands are there to protect them.  In choosing to ‘flirt with danger’ the Israelites would not have peace in the Promised Land.

 

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?)

People affected by several disasters and those searching for them and those supporting them during this challenging time:

o   Mississippi hurricanes, (over 26 dead so far)

o   Pennsylvania chocolate factory explosion (5 dead, 9 missing),

                 Peter and Jill – planning to fly across country to attend a family wedding.  However, he has been scheduled for an angiogram Tuesday and will spend the night in hospital.  Please pray the Lord gives his health carers gentleness and wisdom and that He will hold Peter’s and Jill’s hands through the procedure and that they will be able to fly the next day.

                 Wayne B – please pray for compassion for him as he deals with the heart of his beloved wife, Lyn, who was diagnosed with FTD (frontal temporal dementia) three and a half years ago.  She has been in care since May of 2020 but recently has had a succession of falls and is now in a psycho geriatric facility. She knows who he is but is no longer able to talk and screams when she gets agitated.

                 Denny is having additional health challenges and has been in and out of the hospital as he awaits some important surgery.  Please pray for his health carers to have wisdom and support for his wonderful wife, my friend, Marci as she supports him.

                 Jen – lost her only sister and needs your prayers to get through this difficult time and maintain her health. 

                 Demi and John – one evening he went out his backdoor to run an errand and was attacked by someone with a knife who stabbed him several times (one pierced his heart).  He is recovering, but please pray for him and his wife as they pull their lives together.

                 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.

                 Annette and Lyle – travelling mercies as they are overseas.

                 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.

                 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.

                 Bettina – continue to pray for her as she grows into a new phase of her life in the Lord.  Pray each of her five married daughters, their spouses and 17 grandchildren grow to love and follow the Lord 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.

 

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.

Pray for the World

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