Devotions @ 3 on 9-29-18

3 a.m. prayer:

Most gracious heavenly Father,

The Bible’s book of Proverbs continues to compare right from wrong. SENSIBLE or SENSELESS! “He who despises his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding keeps silent.” (To belittle another is to insult God, to hurt the man, to invite strife, and to help no one. A man of understanding  knows that it is better to say nothing if he can’t praise or edify.) “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter” (Proverbs 11:12-13). A talebearer seems to take malicious delight in spreading scandal, informing on others, and breaking confidences. He doesn’t hold anything back, but tells everything he knows.) From the New Testament: “At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention” (1Timothy 5:13). (A faithful friend knows how to maintain a confidence and to refrain from talking.)  A senseless man is not wise, is untrustworthy, and foolish, tears down his neighbor, spreads gossip and contempt. However, one who is sensible holds onto peace, builds up another; if he cannot speak good of his neighbor he says nothing at all, thereby showing he/she is one of understanding, intellectual, wise, prudent, and is faithful to his friends and neighbors. “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1Peter 4:8). The first rule is Love.

//Standing Prayer: Always remembering our country, for restoration, our continued peace, and freedom; we ask that You grant wisdom and guidance to those who are in authority, and we pray; and for the protection of our men and women who are on the battlefield, we pray. Lord, heal our land, we pray. There are people in other parts of the world who need protection and relief as they are surrounded by war and poverty; also in need of rescue are Christians who are being persecuted, and we pray.
And so we begin, “Just for Today”: For one who has multiple health issues, we pray.
NOTE** For prayer requests and/or updates, please communicate that information by leaving a note, and your email address, in the comment section at the bottom of this devotion, OR at the Message Center for Devotions @ 3 which is: https://www.facebook.com/messages/t/KittyeSharron
*>NEW Prayer Requests: *>A dear lady prays for others but has multiple health issues herself, and we pray. *> A dear lady tore the plantar fascia in her right heel and will be wearing a boot for the next 4 weeks, and we pray. *> A wife is praying for her dear 80 year old husband who has only 25% heart function. He has had several stents as a result of a heart attack 30+ years ago, and as of recent has been taking nitroglycerin. His doctor is arranging for a nuclear stress test, and we pray.

**<PREVIOUS Prayer Requests: **Addiction: **<A dear lady asks prayer for herself; she is trying to quit smoking, and we pray. **<A dear mother prays for her son who is an alcoholic and struggling to stay sober, and we pray. **Aging: <A dear lady prays for her daughter-in-law’s aged grandfather who is under Hospice care and not expected to live. Praying, too, for his devoted wife of 60+ years, and we pray. **<Battling Cancer: **>Update:>A dear 32 year old, mother of 3, who has battled colon cancer for the last year and received treatments in Mexico, recently had more scans to determine whether or not there have been any recurrences. She met with her doctor yesterday and received good news as to the results of those scans. Where the active rectal tumor was shows only scar tissue; no active cancer, and no abnormal lymph nodes; and no new nodules in the lungs, only a slight growth in some of the lesions, is currently stable. Being that a year ago her doctors didn’t think she would make it past a year, they are now calling her a “walking, talking, breathing, living miracle”, and we rejoice. She was instructed to keep doing what she’s been doing, and for continued healing, we pray.**<A dear lady prays for her 65 year old neighbor; he has progressive lung cancer, and we pray. **UPDATE NEEDED:>A dear wife prays for her husband who has a rare appendix cancer, and fluid around the lungs; this dear man is suffering beyond words. He was admitted to the hospital a few days ago to have his lung drained, a very painful procedure., He had to undergo additional procedures last night. Hopefully, they were able to put in a stent, which is designed to provide comfort and give this man some added relief and more time on this earth. A neuro block in the stomach was also to be given which is aimed at providing pain relief for this suffering man., and we pray.**>Continuing to remember a dear man with progressive kidney cancer; his liver enzymes remain high but stable. He is very fatigued and in much pain. His meds have been adjusted to accommodate break-thru pain but it’s still very bad at times. Hopefully, he and his wife will be able to take a trip in the coming weeks to visit their son. The dear man is scheduled for another PET scan in November, and we pray. **<We continue to lift up a dear lady who has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and we pray. **<Chronic Pain: <** Some have overall, unexplained pain, others have pain in specific areas of their bodies, and we pray. **<Divorce is so bitter:< **A dear grandmother continues to pray for her grandchildren who are being exposed to an immoral living arrangement, and we pray. **<Epilepsy: **<A sister continues to worry about her 64 year old brother with epilepsy who is prone to drinking excessively, and we pray. **<Family Affairs: **< A dear mother is experiencing problems with jealousy issues between her two adult daughters, and we pray.  **< Financial +:**> A wife prays for a benefit drive going on today to raise money for her dying husband and for the family, and we pray. **<Continuing to remember the elderly couple whose life-savings account is in jeopardy, and we pray. **Grieving:<*< A dear woman says she is unsure how she will get through the difficult days ahead as she gives her final goodbyes to her beloved mother who passed into glory, and we pray.**<For the family of a 37 year old church drummer who was killed in an auto accident. He leaves behind a wife and one child, and it is for them, we pray. <**Although much time has passed, a dear widow continues to grieve as she is still missing her dearly beloved husband, and feels so alone, has no ambition, and we pray. **<Health Problems:**< A dear lady who was recently diagnosed with severe degenerative disease has been referred to a doctor who specializes in the study of nerves. She will be having a sleep study on October 29th, and her appointment with the nerve doctor is on November 5th, and we pray. **< Among us is a grieving widow who continues to suffer from loneliness and chronic bouts of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and has difficulty sleeping, and we pray. **>UPDATE NEEDED:>A dear man with Type 1 diabetes and vascular dementia has undergone tests for his debilitating headaches, and we pray. **> A 20 year old man who has had deep muscular, skeletal problems has been having physical therapy treatments and other testing. He has also been experiencing debilitating pain in the chest, left arm and leg; has an appointment to see a cardiologist on October 3rd to find out whether any of his symptoms are related to his heart. The cost is all out-of-pocket and adds much financial strain to the family, and we pray. **<Heart Related +: *< A dear lady has been diagnosed with some heart abnormalities, and is facing more testing. On October 4th she has an appointment with her doctor to review recent blood tests; she will also have a mammogram and bone density test. On October 9th she will have an echocardiogram, a limited carotid artery ultrasound, and an abdominal aorta aneurysm screening, and we pray.**>A sister prays for her brother who has an inoperable tumor near his aorta, and we pray. **< A dear lady endures much verbal abuse from her fatally ill husband who has a bad heart, and we pray. **<Homebound: **<One among us is disabled due to a previous stroke, and we pray. **Identity Crisis: **>A dear grandmother prays for her 16 year old granddaughter who is struggling with gender identity, which has deeply impacted the rest of the family. Recently, one of the grandmother’s daughters attended a Bible study gathering where she met the mother of another young lady who has the same gender issues. She invited her sister to come to the study and it appears she is going to begin attending. Hopefully, this Bible study will help to bring restoration and togetherness of these hurting hearts, and we pray. **<Infections/Injections/Injuries: **> A dear man continues to pray for his 84 year old friend and neighbor who fell on Monday and is in the hospital. Still not much is known except that the dear man is having a lot of testing, and we pray.**<An elderly woman who has many health problems asks prayer for her ‘whole body’, and we pray. **> One among us continues to have much back pain, difficulty walking, and suffers from high blood pressure. Her only relief is through medications, physical therapy, and laser treatments twice a week. Hopefully, she can be relieved so as to avoid risky surgery. Much of her treatment is not covered by insurance which puts a financial strain and worry on this elderly lady, and we pray. **<One among us continues to suffer from tendonitis in her left heel which is being helped by wearing a brace, and for continued healing, we pray.**<Job Market: **< One in our group has been working with a recruiter to gain suitable employment with benefits; her husband’s insurance runs out in February, and we pray. **<Making Progress: **The dear couple who stepped out on faith, to ‘begin again’ are continuing in remodeling their newly acquired older home; presently, they are all fighting colds; also they are working hard to build up their online business, and for continued success, we pray.**<Marital Crisis:**> There are at least 5 couples who are having difficulty in their marriages; it is known that one of them is seeking Christian counseling, and we pray. **<Marriage Plans: **<A dear couple has set a wedding date which is a year away, and we pray. **<Mental Health: **< Continuing to remember a 23 year old man who is at home after being treated for mental disturbances; he has social anxiety, and for continued healing, we pray.**<A 20 year old woman who had been in treatment at a mental hospital is out on her own but, not making good choices, and we pray. **<Pregnancy &: **<Two grandmothers are awaiting the births of grandchildren who are due in October, one around the first week and the other toward the end of the month, and we pray. <Pregnancy Crisis: For the expectant father of an unborn baby who struggles with memories surrounding the death of his first child; he had a recent scare when an ultrasound detected kidney problems in his unborn son, but all continues to look good now, still we pray. **<Respiratory: <**Many are suffering with symptoms from colds, flu, and/or allergies, and we pray.
**<Surgeries/Prior: **<There are two who are healing from back surgeries, and two had knee surgeries (one went for post op yesterday; was a little concerned about his pain), and for continued healing, we pray.
**<Surgeries/Upcoming: **>A wife prays for her husband who has to have a 4th surgery on his eye; he also suffers from Afib, and we pray. **>A dear sister prays for her brother who is scheduled for cataract surgery in October, and we pray. **>Continuing to remember the elderly lady who is battling health problems, has blocked arteries, and an open wound on her heel. Surgery is still scheduled on October 17th for a Bi-femoral artery bypass, and we pray. **< A dear lady suffers much pain due to bone on bone in her hip, also has severe curvature of the spine. Surgery for hip replacement is scheduled for November 28th, and we pray.
//Travel Mercies: **<>This is an ongoing prayer request for all who are on the highways and byways. Lord, we ask that You daily keep our travelers safe from harm, and we pray. **<A group of veterans is presently on a trip out west, and we pray.
For these and the many unspoken requests we pray all in Jesus name. Lord bless our homes. AMEN