Sunday, April 2, 2023

Do As I Do, Not As I Say!

 

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(Official Music Video) by zachwiliamsVEVO (3 min 40)

 

“Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, ‘Why have I found favour in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?’ 

 

“Boaz replied to her, ‘All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. 

 

“May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.’ Ruth 10-12

 

Typically, I would be writing about obvious-Easter-related topics.  However, this year, as I’m highlighting promises and conditions, it seems appropriate to be in the book of Ruth. 

 

Ruth is a unique and wonderful story that can minister to all of us as we see unsaved family and friends around us who we ache to share the Lord with.

 

As a child, I was often told to ‘Do as I say, not as I do.’  Research shows the opposite is true.  Children (and adults) do as they see others do and often do not listen to what someone says because actions do speak louder than words.  This is but one of the messages of Ruth.

 

Although, we will not always keep our word or behave in ways that are right, it is important to remember that others watch us to see if our lives reflect the words we say.  Nevertheless, we must not let our mistakes in word or deed prevent us from reaching out to share our journey with those who are lost.

 

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?)

                 Heidi – has just lost her Dad and needs your prayers for strength and comfort, as she deals with the practical issues and heartache of mourning her loss.

                 Denny is having his surgery on 3 April.  Please pray for peace for him as he goes through the surgery and for his health carers to have wisdom and pray the Lord encircles Marci, his wife, and my life-long friend, as she supports him.

                 Peter and Jill – Peter has his exam and will require a procedure when he returns.  Today, they fly to Perth for a family wedding. Please continue to pray for travelling mercies.

                 Christine – give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing and pray her husband gives his heart to the Lord.

                 Jake – A friend of my brother, living with COPD (emphysema) and heart problems.  Please pray for his daughter, Tiffany and for other friends and health carers to help him through his health journey.

                 Annette and Lyle – travelling mercies as they are overseas.

                 Wayne B – please pray for compassion for him as he deals with the slow and sad ‘loss’ of his beloved wife, Lyn, (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 still knows who he is but is no longer able to talk and screams when she gets agitated.

                 Jen – lost her only sister and still 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 – that they might find the Lord in all the chaos left behind.

                 Callilah- a lost child.  Pray the Lord captures her heart.

                 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.  They invited him to stay with them during a difficult time in his life, but he refuses to leave now and is ungrateful and disruptive.  Pray for salvation 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 is comforting her during this time.

                 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.

 

Pray for those in full-time service

Pray the Lord 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.

                 Scott and Carolyn Petty – who will be starting as our new pastor and wife 1 May 2023.  Pray they will know how welcome they are and give them wisdom, strength and patience during their time of settling in.

                 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– was a Bible teacher at a local Bible school for 25 years and is now called to a new ministry.  Pray for 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 and his wife – a man devoted to his family and the responsibilities of leading a worldwide ministry to the deaf.  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’.

                 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.

            

Pray for the World

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