No Greater Love
Week 50 (Sunday-Shabbat)
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.,” John 15:13, NIV. This weekend, we celebrate heroes. Our soldiers voluntarily step into harm’s way so freedom can be maintained. The supreme example of laying down one's life was by our Lord and Saviour.
Paul went so far as to say that he would trade his salvation for his brothers' ("For I wish that I myself were acursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethern," Rom 9:3a. And he said that after they had beaten him and broken virtually every bone in his body~~ WOW! Talk about a true act of love!!!)
Though we may not be called upon to physically lay down our lives, we are called upon to set aside our agendas, our needs, and wants so we can help another. Someone told me about how her friend was emotionally frazzled. This person is spending her vacation lifting up the arms of her friend. Sure, it would have been easier to have lay in bed relaxing, but she put her friend’s needs ahead of her own.
Are there those who need us?? Are we willing to “sacrifice” ourselves for another’s betterment? Let us ponder all our Lord has done for us.
SHAVUOT — FEAST OF WEEKS — PENTECOST (begins 5/26/2012 at sundown and observance continues for 2 days outside of Israel; in Israel, only 1 day)
God gave: His Law on Mt. Sinai; His Holy Spirit in the Upper Room
We have a choice: to receive or not to receive His Word and His Holy Spirit
"Precious Father, thank You for having laid down Your life for us! Help us to daily receive Your Word, Your Law. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit. Help us to understand what it means to daily lay down our lives for others. Thank You for ordering the chess pieces of our lives that we might grow in You. We worship You, Holy Father. Provide jobs for those who are in need –give discernment as to which job is from You. Heal the broken hearted – mend relationships and physical bodies. Be with Natan and our soldiers. Thank You for Your healing on Natan’s friend, Hawkins, who was so badly injured. We pray You bring healing to their bodies, their spirits, and their emotions. Thank You for the willingness of each of those in our volunteer Army. Thank You for the examples You have given us of true love. We pray for Your peace over J’lem and that You will turn the hearts of Americans to You, our King, In Your most loving Name, we pray.”
Hallelujah: lots are great action THIS week!
Pro-Israel African pastor who went to Israel for treatment from acid’s being poured on his face, which caused his to lose an eye: Israel covered $100,000 of his treatment!! Read more about him: Acid thrown on ex-Muslim's face for support of Israel
Phyllis: good family communication
Bobby (Yonah’s husband): awakened from a sound sleep with the awareness that immediate prayer was needed for Natan. Praise God for hearing ears! We learned this week, that his vehicle was hit by an IED (improvised explosive devise) and an RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) exploded over his base, resulting in 4 casualties. Natan was fine, but 4 of his friends were hurt.
The soldier sent to Walter Reed is expected to live! Hawkins is progressing and will be sent to a hospital in El Paso, where he is stationed!
Sharlene (Bonnie’s friend): has a couple of good leads for a job!
Maxine: excellent report from her kidney doctor!
Natan: prayerfully has only 6 weeks left of this deployment! HALLELUJAH!!!
Maggie (Les’a sister in law): she and family traveled to see family! (An undertaking that 6 weeks ago seemed impossible)
Pamela & Norman: God is providing work – still need a little more, but part-time jobs are coming!!
Brother (Frank): able to walk again!!
God is moving in finances and is getting people out of debt!
4-year old great niece (Bonnie): leg surgery and she will be able to walk without braces and with straight legs!!
Nicole (Rhonda and Norm's daughter): pain is gone – still some facial paralysis – took an out of town field trip!
Danielle (Phyllis' daughter): God opened the door for her to move into a townhouse!
Rudy (Les’a’s customer’s friend, who, months ago, cracked his entire skull from a fall): is doing much better. After months of hospitalization, he is home! His mother thanked everyone be for their prayers!!
Donna (Les’a’s associate’s daughter, who mysteriously became ill (for over a week, she was listed as the most critical patient at St. Joseph’s): she no longer needs leg braces.Huge miracles!!!
God has given very, very special times with family members: Debbie (Maxine), Keith (Dawn), Yonah & Chantell (Les’a & Don), Rohit (Lori & Jim), and Lisa (Bev & Ruben)
Rhonda’s work is going well!
Jeannette’s pain dramatically reduced – almost totally gone!
Our miracle baby (Josiah) said: Abba!!!
Alan (Tracy’s brother): issue resolved!
Art: settled in his new home
Marita: has been in Israel for 7 weeks. Where it appeared there was no door, God opened one!
Paul: knee replacement surgery went amazingly well. He is stronger everyday!
Families are drawing together!!
Bob (Chantell’s grandfather): thumb is much better, which was caught in a tractor engine.
(Yvonne’s friend): breast cancer surgery: much less invasion than expected. Prayer no malignant cells in lymph nodes. She becomes a believer.
FINANCIAL MIRACLE: Danielle (Phyllis’ daughter): DEBT MIRACLE! She received back-pay, finally!, and was able to get a working car!!
FINANCIAL MIRACLE: Joan (Les’a’s mother): huge financial blessing – totally unexpected. (Each homeowner was to be assessed $1200 for termite treatment. The company was so impressed with homeowners’ integrity by homeowners reminding company of not being billed. Company reduced the price to $535 and extended warranty almost an extra full year!!)
FINANCIAL MIRACLE: Tere received unexpected financial blessing.
Jon (Phyllis’ son): reading his Bible, praying, going to church and AA. He also said he plans on doing everything he can to better himself while he is in prison!
Lori: Miracles have happened at work!
Brother (Phyllis): continues going to a Messianic congregation!
Don: shingles gone! No pain!
Joan’s steadiness: better every week!!
Aunt (Paul’s wife): at peace with her Messiah!!
Natan’s unit: God’s protection continues!
Requests: (please email updates on these situations)… Don’t forget to email answers – even baby steps are answers!
Prayer:we are blessed to be allowed to intercede for the needs. Some answers come within a few days, others may take weeks or months. Regardless of what we see with our natural eyes, HE is working. We need to continue to be faithful inintercessors!
Hawkins (soldier friend of Natan’s who was hurt in explosion): he was air lifted to the US. Pray for healing physical and emotional for all him and all the soldiers.
Krys (Les’a’s co-worker’s husband): serious problems caused by Parkinsons
Sylvia (Jeannette’s cousin): cancer
Isabel Mercedes Celis (6-year old Tucson girl who was abducted April 21): pray for safety and return to her family.
Soldiers: activity is escalating: please pray for sound mind, safety, protection, and calm.
Mace Bravin: election for Pima County School Superintendent
Sharlene (Bonnie): lost her job last week. Please pray for favor for job hunting and for doors of opportunity to open.
Susie (Bonnie): from previous cervical fusion, one of the screws started migrating and was pushing at her esophagus threatening a puncture. Had surgery Thursday. Prayer for recovery and acceptance of Jesus.
Pastor to have increased compassion & discernment regarding church discipline; wife to be healed of various issues. Anointing as they minister to drug addicts, the down and out, the hurting.
Jobs (Pamela, Norman, Betty, Deb, Sharlene, Lori, and all those who not listed): those who need work. That God will give them fulfilling and rewarding employment where they will have great favor!
Bud (Tracy’s father): 2 tumors, and another one that is pre-cancerous.
Nicole (Rhonda and Norm): some facial paralysis from Bells Palsy to leave!
Ruben: PSA count to come back down
Bonnie: healing with oxygen levels
Joan (Les’a): not wobbly as a result of medicine.
Christopher & Liz (Maxine): she has ovarian cancer, resulting in financial problems. Pray for encouragement
Bob & Pat (Maxine & Joe): healing
Phyllis, John, and Rhonda, total healing.
Yvonne: that the Lord’s spirit will continually cleanse her work place.
Jeannette: Pray for complete recovery from surgery and total eye & pituitary gland healing.
David (Bev & Ruben): his mom’s request “he quickly come to the end of himself and look up. Protection for him and all of his family.” Warfare is intense.
Leonard (Phyllis’ brother): chemo 24/7; radiation M-F: healing and peace
Prayer for our soldiers safety and for the hearts of morale for these soldiers who have lost fellow soldiers
Call to Prayer intercessors: Debt-free by the end of 2012!
Betty & Harold’s friend: brain tumor stage 4. Cancer.
Paul & Lynn: healing from knee surgery and other issues.
Christine’s mom (Bev and Ruben’s friend): very ill. Prayer for total healing.
Prayer for intercessors who are hurting because of the challenges their loved ones are facing
Families– that God will bring families into a tight bond in Him.
Tina (Phyllis’ daughter-in-law): turn heart and life to the LORD; peace and direction
Joan (Joan’s friend): collapsed lung.
Phyllis: son (in jail).
Tracy & others: healing from intense migraines.
Diane (Jeannette’s friend): shingles on face and in eyes – very painful!!!
Natan: please pray he can enter green-to-gold program.
Paul: upcoming total knee replacement.surgery and pre-surgery complications.
Hurting hearts & bodies would be healed.
Carol (Maxine’s friend): lump in rib.
2012: wisdom and self-control that we can all achieve financial freedom.
Jeanne (Bonnie’s friend): stage 4 ovarian cancer. Salvation and healing with the understanding it was God Who healed her.
Phyllis & Dawn: continued prayer for total healing of their knees.
John: continued health and financial challenges.
Keith (Dawn’s grandson): come to the God of his parents and grandmother.
Debbie and family (Maxine’s daughter and grandkids): prayer for their healing as they transition to life without Matt. Also, for Frank and family during their transition wirhhout Judy. And for Karen and kids with their loss of Fred.
Rudy (Les’a’s friend): cracked skull resulting in major mental complications.
Financial needs.
God to continue strengthening and building family relationships!
The hearts of Americans: turn to God!
God will protect our soldiers – that He will give them wisdom.
Natan (Les’a and Don’s son and his family): Pray for wisdom, accuracy, and knowledge. God will bring them home whole: spiritually, mentally, physically, and emotionally. And God will be with their families.
Families(all of our families): to be whole and walk in the ways of the Lord!
Grandson: pray that his mom and her boyfriend treat him with love.
Marriages to be healed.
Jon: That God intervenes and places him where he will be encouraged to make good decisions, impacting his family for good.
God’s protection over Israel
David: return to the God of his youth — that his family will be encouraged.
Healing of family relationships.
Intercessors for The Call To Prayer: wisdom and tenacity to continue on to see victory!
God’spower, anointing, and favor on pastors.
Sheri: migraines would permanently leave.
Peace of Jerusalem!
Debt-free in 2012!
Pima County Sheriff's department.
Those who need jobs will get jobs — God-chosen jobs.
Deb: migraines and onslaught of the enemy.
Need total & complete healing for hearts of my family that are wounded; forgiveness for offenses; & new found understanding & commitment to family, restoration & unity
Need for increased income with wisdom & self-control, in order to pay off credit card/legal fees.
Josiah D.: favor, protection & a heart like King David.
Favor & wisdomin the work force: We would be excellent in the work place – even as Joseph, Daniel, etc. were – blessings to the companies because we are there!
God will healour land
Three sisters to meet godly men.
Children will stop runningand will turn to God.
Corbin (Jim’s acquaintance): God will open his eyes to accept Jesus as his Lord and that he will accept the word of God.
God will supply the needs of those in ministry.
A’s daughter in law: her heart, drawn to her husband; she will receive info from her father-in-law, that the Lord would place believers in her path.
A’s relationship with his daughter: healing and mending of hearts.
A’s Medicare situation to be straightened out – to his financial benefit. And for doctors to find the right solution to his health issues.
T (Les’a & Don’s friend & a man of God): the Lord would bring him the perfect helpmate – to share his life and to be a partner in ministry.