1 + 1 = One

Credit - matescium

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30bNyWvNIp8

YouTube – The Reconciliation We Have In Christ

Dr. Voddie Baucham

By – Founders Ministries (2 min 1 sec)

 

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

 

“Therefore, from now on we recognise no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 

 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”  II Corinthians 5:14-19

 

Voddie Baucham is a strong and compassionate teacher of Scriptural principles.  His statement about how our lives change once we are reconciled to God makes sense:  “We don't just put down our arms and no longer fight with one another, we become one another. He makes the two into one.  That's the reconciliation that we have.”

 

In my experience, family can be difficult sometimes and yet, in all my time travelling to and/ or living in different US states and in different countries, I was always blessed to find loving and supportive ‘family’ at each destination.  God is so good to us!

 

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 Bible studies). You can also find the devotions online, just search for ‘WeakDay Devotion’. 

 

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

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

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

·      Patti and John – pray God continues to inspire them with His love and compassion, that He will guard their health.  Pray especially for Patti as she faces an unexpected health challenge and for travelling mercies as she is now their designated driver. (Joshua 1:6-9).

·      War Against Israel - Pray Israeli forces to locate and save all 133 remaining hostages.  It’s been over 200 days since 7 October when this began.  Pray for the wisdom and safety of Israeli soldiers, for those who have lost loved ones and for those moving through enemy territory as they risk their lives to restore peace and purify the land of all terrorists.  Pray also for the Palestinian people – many are helpless captives of war.

·      Barbara – beloved widow (of my brother, Tim) thanks you for your prayers. As one of God’s faithful widows, pray God always protects her, especially at night and during the violent storms that have swirled around the house. Pray God guards the structure and integrity of the house and places willing people in her path to help as she faces a life without Tim. 

·      Patrick - a Bible scholar who, although retired, continues his work as part of an English Translation Review Committee.  They’ve now completed a new translation of the New Testament, ‘The Antioch Bible’ (translating from Syriac to English) and are beginning working through the Old Testament.  Pray for his health and vigour and increasing skill in the complicated languages.

·      Denny & Marci – Marci is a lifetime friend, who also helps me with the WeakDay Devotion books.  She is recovering from internal shingles. Pray for improved heart health for her husband. Pray for his patience, the wisdom and skill of his health care providers and for Marci as she supports him through this time. 

·      Junko –Please pray God quietens her as she applies herself to her studies and that she gets enough rest.

·      Mitt and his brother, Eavon – both visited church Easter Sunday.  Please pray for them as they strengthen their walks with the Lord. 

·      Yoshimi – Is enjoying her new job and taking training courses in IT to help her be more ‘marketable’.  Pray she is calm, able to concentrate and remember all she needs to.  She is attending church and reading her Bible.  Pray she grows into a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

·      Lindsey - the youngest daughter of my dearest friends, Annette and Lyle. Lindsey needs your prayers for healing, strengthening, patience and pray for the wisdom of her health care providers.

·      Jeff and Rachael’s family – Peyton (granddaughter) graduated from college Dec 2023.  Carter (grandson) is doing great in his first year in college.  Praise God that 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 as their lives develop under God’s loving hand and that their love of God’s Word increases daily.

·      David – son of Grant and Sue that the Lord would draw him closer to the cross.

·      Sarah and Andrew – have settled into their new roles, with him at home and her work becoming stressful and ‘full on’. Pray for this precious Christian couple that they focus on family balance to the glory of the Lord.

·      Nerida – that her living and career situation is resolved with grace, and she finds a new place to live and work that is more peaceful and supportive.

·      Bettina – has retired after a lifetime of service to her company.  Pray each of her five married daughters, spouses and 18 grandchildren support her as she enters this new phase of her life, and they all continue to grow in their love of the Lord Jesus Christ.

·      Ian and Jenny– continue to pray that his desire to grow his understanding and effectiveness with personal evangelism is fulfilled and that their two grown children would turn back to their relationship with Christ.

·      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, pray most of all that her husband gives his life to the Lord.

·      Robin – continue to pray for her strength and healing after the loss her beloved mother. She has now moved into a new home and her daughter has moved away. 

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:

·      Fred and Barb – brother of Patti, and his wife.

·      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.

·      Louisville family of Jeff and Rachael – that a desire grows in their heart for a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

·      R & B – exploring the Truth for themselves. Pray God places true believers in their paths to disciple them.

·      Becky – recovering from spinal surgery.  Pray for her patience and her health carers 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.

·      Sophie– seven-year-old daughter of a friend who is chronically ill and frail.  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 no job or work after more than ten years.  Pray the Lord provides needed work so he can begin to heal and strengthen.

·      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.  Pray for her as she waits for her body to heal and strengthen and that she finds salvation.

·      Demi and John – John was attacked and stabbed several times, including piercing his heart.  Although recovered physically, they are still pulling their lives back together.  Pray they might find the Lord in all the chaos left behind and that she finds work after a year of searching -- as she is now the ‘breadwinner’.

·      Jen N – a Jewish woman I met during a project. Please pray for her that she will find a new role and that she stays safe and healthy.  Pray for her and her two boys (ages 16 and 17).

·      Don Yockey - lost his fight with cancer.  Pray the Lord uses this time to open the family’s hearts to His love and salvation.

·      UPDATE - Sue and Rob – Luke was ordered to leave their home last Friday after verbally abusing Sue. And he did.  Pray for Sue and Rob that they get their lives back together and for Luke to get the mental health support he so urgently needs.  Pray the Lord saves all three. 

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