Honouring Him Now

 

Pray for Israel by Name

By FIRM - Israel

 

“Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar!  I am not pleased with you,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘nor will I accept an offering from you. 

 

“’For from the rising of the sun even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure; for My name will be great among the nations,’ says the Lord of hosts. 

 

“’But you are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to be despised.  You also say, ‘My how tiresome it is!  And you disdainfully sniff at it,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and you bring what was taken by robbery and what is lame or sick; so you bring the offering!  Should I receive that from your hand?’ says the Lord. 

 

“’But cursed be the swindler who has a male in his flock and vows it, but sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord, for I am a great King,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and My name is feared among the nations.’”  Malachi 1:10-14

 

Ritual and sacrifice in the Old Testament was burdensome, especially to the priests who were God’s representatives to His people.  They had started cutting corners and compromising on how God was honoured. 

 

Today, it is tempting to skip church -- to offer just the leftover change in your budget to your home church -- to pray casually, if at all -- to fail to remember that WE are the church to those around us – Christians and non-Christians. 

 

As ‘inconvenient’ and ‘tiresome’ as it sometimes may seem, our challenge and purpose is to reflect Jesus’ hope and to grow increasingly into His image so we are able to offer His mercy and salvation to those who do not yet know Him.  And that is not ever easy.

 

Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still prays for you daily)

 

PS:  Hoping re-entering the email list has worked today.

 

PSS:  Find my statement of faith:  https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com  (where you will also find a series of beginner Bible studies to share). 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

·      URGENT ISRAEL– thousands have lost their lives to heartless terrorists in an unprovoked attack.  Many from Israel have also been captured as hostages (soldiers, elderly, women, children and babies).  Please Pray for those who have lost loved ones, the hostages and for the Israeli soldiers and strategists who must now take action to save lives and restore peace from the many terrorists surrounding their land.  Pray also for the Palestinians, most of whom are helpless captives of the terrorists.

·      David – his health care providers changed his meds after they put in a heart loop to monitor his heart more closely.  Whenever this happens it is stressful for him.  In this situation they are working now to stabilise his heart from the congestive heart symptoms.  He did not need hospitalisation and is home on oxygen for now as he adjusts to his meds.  Pray for his patience and continued wisdom for his health carers, and for Heidi, his daughter and sole carer to be strong and healthy.

·      Peter and Jill – arrived in Greece, on their holiday of a lifetime, and were robbed.  God continues to watch over them.  Pray for patience, safety and good health as they continue their journey and that all will be restored. 

·      Andrew M. – we’ve been praying for him and his full-time ministry (Deaf Ministries Intnl) – is home in Sydney now and almost fully recovered from contracting Zika fever in The Philippines.  Pray for strengthening and wisdom. Pray for his beloved wife as she cares for him.

·      Barbara – the beloved wife of my brother, Tim (who passed away suddenly early this year).  Please pray God places people in her path who will help her with all the things He knows she needs help with.  Pray for Barb’s peace and protection at night.

·      New – Jen N – a Jewish woman I’ve met at work, please pray for her that she will find a new role and that she stays safe and healthy.  Please pray for her and her two boys (ages 16 and 17).

·      Patti and John – Pray the Lord keeps them safe and healthy and that they are encouraged in the strength of the Lord and never compromise the truth of the Bible for any reason.  (Joshuah 1:6-9).

·      Jeff and Rachael’s family, Peyton and Carter - Payton, granddaughter, now a senior in university.  Carter, their son, now a freshman in college.  Both are exceptional students and love the Lord.  Pray they are not distracted by worldly things, that the Lord watches over and protects them, that they continue to do well in their studies and that their love of God’s Word increases daily.

·      Sarah and Andrew – he left his job a year ago -- she went to work in a new role.  Pray for this precious Christian couple that they focus on family balance to the glory of the Lord.

·      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, spouses and 18 grandchildren grow to love and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

·      Ian – continue to pray that his desire to grow his understanding and effectiveness with personal evangelism is fulfilled. 

·      Elina – needs God’s wisdom and the courage of her convictions and resolve to live a life that is Christ-honouring for herself and her young son, Jimmy.

·      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.

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

·      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.

·      Pray for true, Christ-centered revival in America.

 

Pray for those in full-time service

Pray the Lord upholds 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 Especially for Salvation for:

·      Becky – came through her spinal surgery to repair some deterioration vertebrae but there is a long recovery time.  Pray for her patience and for her health care providers that they are wise and compassionate, that her family rallies around her to care for her and most of all that she finds the Lord in all this.

·      Fred and Barb – brother of Patti -- for salvation.

·      Bryan and Julie (Patti’s daughter) for salvation.  They are the parents of Callilah, Adrian, Micah, Kevin and Nate -- lost, damaged and troubled children – all of whom we have prayed for over the years.

·      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 and that this will lead them all to come to salvation.

·      Paul – please pray for him.  He still has not found a job or work after more than ten years.  He is very discouraged and now unwell.  Please pray the Lord provides needed work so he can begin to heal and strengthen.

·      Pray for Jeff and Rachael’s family in Louisville to desire and seek a relationship with the Lord.

·      Peggy – a dear friend and colleague of my sister-in-law who has been battling cancer in her neck for years.  Her new oncologist has started a combination of chemo and radiation that seems to be working, but she is miserable.  Please pray for her as she waits for her body to heal and strengthen and that she finds salvation.

·      Sue and Rob – opened their home to support Luke who is angry and lost.  He has been there a long time now and refuses to move out.  He is very angry and disruptive.  Please pray the Lord saves all three and that Luke realises he must take responsibility for his own life.  Pray for the continued patience and compassion of Sue and Rob.

·      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 has recovered physically, 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.

 

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.

 

Pray for the World