https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCA8WMAC4JM
YouTube: June 27,
2020: Mark 11:22-24
By FCF Church (5 min 45 sec)
“As they were passing by in the morning, they saw the fig
tree withered from the roots up. Being
reminded, Peter said to Him, ‘Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has
withered.’
“And Jesus answered saying to them, ‘Have faith in
God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says
to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in
his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be
granted him.
“’Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray
and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.’”
Mark 11:20-24
When I was in high school and not yet a Christian, a girl
friend invited me to a Bible talk. It
turned out to be about this very passage and the story the teacher told left a
life-long impression on me. Here it is:
There was a new preacher in the
old church. He would walk around the
little village every day looking for people he had not yet met to invite them
to Sunday services.
One day, he visited a farmer who
was standing by a pond on his property.
The preacher told him the story of the fig tree and emphasised the unmatched
power of prayer. The farmer listened
carefully.
Then, he nodded, reached into his
overalls and pulled out a pocket knife. He
told the preacher it was a gift from his long-departed grandfather -- and very
precious to him -- and said, ‘So you’re saying that if I really believe this
knife will float if I throw it in that pond there, that it will float?’
The preacher said, ‘If you truly
believe God will make it float, then it will.’
The farmer looked at him for a couple of minutes, ‘OK, I believe it’,
and threw the knife into the pond.
It sank. The farmer smiled and said, ‘I knew it would
not float.’
And that is a great danger with our prayers, we go through
the motions of asking, but do not believe and even when we believe, we do not
ask according to God’s will (I John 5:14-15).
Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still
prays for you daily)
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. For prayer requests and
updates email me: darlenerichard@gmail.com
Please update your PRAYER
REQUESTS
· ISRAEL– more than 100 days have passed of this horrible and unwanted war. The Israeli forces have located and saved many hostages that had been held captive. Pray for those who have lost loved ones and for the Israeli soldiers and strategists moving through enemy territory to restore peace and purify the land of all terrorists. Pray also for the Palestinian people – many are helpless captives of the terrorists.
·
Barbara –
the beloved wife of my brother, Tim (who passed away the end of January
2023). 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.
·
Lindsey - the youngest daughter
(now all grown up) of my dearest friends, Annette and Lyle. Lindsey needs your prayers for healing and
strengthening. Pray for her patience and
the wisdom of her health care providers.
·
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 two years ago and 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 life 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:
·
Louisville family
of Jeff and Rachael – that a desire grows in their heart for a
relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
·
Y & B
– exploring the Truth for themselves. Please place true believers in their
paths to disciple them.
·
Becky
– still in rehab for spinal surgery.
Pray for her patience and for her health care providers to be 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) Pray for the salvation of at least one of the family and
that the others will follow shortly thereafter.
They are 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 ill 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 God’s saving grace.
·
Paul –
please pray for him. He still has not
found a job or work after more than ten years.
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. Please pray the Lord saves
all three and that Luke realises he must take responsibility for his own
life. Pray for continued patience and
compassion of Sue and Rob.
·
Demi and John – one evening John went out their 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 pray for him and his wife as they pull their lives
together – that they might find the Lord in all the chaos left behind.
·
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).
·
Don Yockey- has lost his fight with cancer. Please pray the Lord uses this time to open
the family’s hearts to His love and salvation.
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.
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