Teaching

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-13

God would have us use our gifts and for those who are teachers there is no greater resource for our lessons than His Word.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla recovering from the loss of father, a brother and mother since May this year. Gregg to sell his home in the UK; Reg’s ministry; doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (his bones are not healing because of the chemo), David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (The request has been briefly detailed on the blog site, just click the link in the information below or cut and paste it into your Internet browser or search for WeakDay Devotion in Google).

"God breathed"

“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another – showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.” The Message

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ...” Genesis 1:1-3

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the begging with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” John 1:1-3

“...for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” II Peter 1:21

God breathed! This word “theopneustos” is used only once in the New Testament. It is a combination of two words: “God” and “breath or spirit”. Every author of the Bible wrote with their distinguishing “style”; yet the words of the whole weave together with unimaginable clarity and harmony - a mystery as large as creation itself.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla as she recovers from her physical and emotional journey. Gregg to sell his home in the UK; Reg’s ministry; doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (his bones are not healing because of the chemo), David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (The request has been briefly detailed on the blog site, just click the link in the information below or cut and paste it into your Internet browser or search for WeakDay Devotion in Google).

Unique Scripture

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the faith and correcting error, for re-setting the direction of a man’s life and training him in good living. The Scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God, and fit him fully for all branches of his work.” Philips – The New Testament in Modern English

“For the Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

The Bible is unique. It is the only book of such astounding harmony written over about 1500 years, by more than 40 authors of every walk of life, who lived in different places on three continents while in different moods and in three languages. It contains no less than 14 different literary styles to address hundreds of controversial subjects (marriage, business, character development, parenting, who God is and who we are, etc.); and from Genesis through Revelation is all about one central Character and theme. Neat isn’t it?!!

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla as she recovers from her physical and emotional journey. Gregg to sell his home in the UK; Reg’s ministry; doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (his bones are not healing because of the chemo), David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (The request has been briefly detailed on the blog site, just click the link in the information below or cut and paste it into your Internet browser or search for WeakDay Devotion in Google).

How Much Is All?

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the Word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” Hebrews 2:1-4

“ALL” for the WeakDay Devotions is the sixty-six books of the Bible as we know it today. These sixty-six books started as the KJV. The writing of the King James Version (the foundation of today’s translations and paraphrases) was commissioned by King James of England in 1603. Fifty-four of the greatest biblical scholars were brought together to use fifteen rules for their translation. They were divided into six groups, meeting separately. Two groups were responsible for the Old Testament, two for the New, the groups meeting at three universities. It took three years to complete and was released in 1611.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla as she recovers from her physical and emotional journey. Gregg to sell his home in the UK; Reg’s ministry; doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (his bones are not healing because of the chemo), David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (The request has been briefly detailed on the blog site, just click the link in the information below or cut and paste it into your Internet browser or search for WeakDay Devotion in Google).

Thinking...

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” The New Living Translation

“Every Scripture is God-breathed – given by His inspiration – and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and for training in righteousness (that is, in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in through, propose and action), so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Amplified Translation

Wonder what that means? Humm. Well let’s look at it together this week. So today, perhaps you could print this out and just read the two verses and if you have a different translation, you may wish to write out your version and keep the paper with you so you can write your thoughts on it as you meditate on them.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla as she recovers from her physical and emotional journey. Gregg must sell his home in the UK; Reg’s ministry; doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (his bones are not healing because of the chemo), David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (The request is briefly detailed to the left).

Church Stumbling Block

“but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!’” Matthew 18:1-7

As an author, sometimes people give me manuscripts to comment on. Recently the CEO of a large financial institution I’m doing some work for asked me if I would read his. Normally I do not, but when I realised the topic of his book, I couldn’t resist. He struggles with a stumbling block to his commitment to Christ. The working title is “Doubting Thomas, one man’s struggle with organised religion and its impact on world history”. His proofs are crushing my heart, to think the church has left this kind of historic record; and today is becoming too often a marketing exercise of completion and the latest and greatest gimmicks. One thing we did agree on is that most people have not read the Bible through, let alone enough, to see God’s plan for His Body of Believers.

“preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.” II Timothy 4:2-4

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla and the boys still need your prayers as they recover from their physical and emotional journey. Gregg must sell his home in the UK; Reg’s ministry; doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (his bones are not healing because of the chemo), David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (The request has been briefly detailed on the blog site).

Little Ones to Him Belong...

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, ‘Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!’” Matthew 18:1-7

“Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him Belong; they are weak and He is strong. Yes Jesus loves me! Yes Jesus loves me for the Bible tells me so!” I am not sure if I even remember all the words correctly (and I know someone will send me the right words if these are not remembered correctly) but the little song still plays perfectly in my head. When we come to Jesus the first time and after we are His child, we are to come as a child. This means to be humble, respectful and without defences, just as a child comes to a grown up.

“’Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.’” Matthew 11:28-29

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla and the boys still need your prayers as they recover from their physical and emotional journey. Gregg must sell his home in the UK; Reg’s ministry; doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (his bones are not healing because of the chemo), David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (The request has been briefly detailed to the left).

One-Upmanship

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, ‘Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!’” Matthew 18:1-7

God’s Word is so amazing! I found this passage this morning in my reading and it is simply packed with great stuff, so I may stay with this one for a few days. The first thing that is obvious in my first reading is competitiveness and how sometimes our competitiveness can lead us to be a stumbling block to others...and then ourselves. What a powerful passage to meditate upon.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla and the boys still need your prayers as they recover from their physical and emotional journey. Gregg must sell his home in the UK; Reg’s ministry; doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (his bones are not healing because of the chemo), David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (The request has been briefly detailed on the blog site).

I Promise Because/If...

“Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, ‘By Myself I have sword, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed My voice.’” Genesis 22:15-18

Every promise in the Bible has a “because” or an “if”. A “because” when something has taken place or an “if” when something is required. God’s promises always have one or the other. So a promise like:

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Note: Delighting comes before giving, which when done, changes the desires of your heart. In the Genesis quote, the promise is not just for Abraham (although he and his people took it to be), it is a “because” promise and is meant for ALL nations of the earth. Perhaps it is time to look more closely at promises?

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Gregg must sell his home in the UK; Reg’s ministry; Doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (his bones are not healing because of the chemo), David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (Many have written about this. The request is briefly detailed to the left).

Missing Bibles

“’Behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord God, when I will send a famine of the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but rather for hearing thw Words of the Lord. And people will stagger from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will go to and fro to seek the Word of the Lord. But they will not find it.’” Amos 8:11-012

“As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God. My soul thirsts for God for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’” Psalm 41:1-3

When I was a young Christian it was “fashionable” to focus on the End Times. One thing I knew was that the enemy would take our Bibles from us and then what would we do? So I began to write out entire books of the Bible and hide them in other books and in notebooks. Then from the Navigators I learned to systematically memorise God’s precious Word, so no one could take it from me. It is why I still try to spend quality time in His Word every day. Because today may be the day they come to take my Bibles. How about you?

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla and the boys are home safely with many miraculous and tender stories of their journey. Thank you for praying. Other needs: Gregg must sell his home in the UK; Reg’s ministry; Doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (his bones are not healing because of the chemo), David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (Many have written about this. The request has is detailed to the left).

Doubt Full?

“And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing; but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What hast Thou done?’” Daniel 4:35

“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some were doubtful.” Matthew 28:16-17

I heard a sermon by Don Lanier (one of my spiritual parents, who was my leader in The Navigators). It ended with him crashing the passage in Matthew into each of our hearts. "AND some doubted,” he said, "and SOME doubted.....and some DOUBTED!" How could men and women who walked beside Jesus doubt Him? Why do some of us still doubt Him some of the time?

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla and the boys begin their travel back from Jamaica to Sydney tomorrow, please pray for their safe and smooth passage. Gregg must sell his home in the UK. Reg’s ministry. Doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother (who after all this time have found his bones are not healing at all because of the chemo he was on), David, Adrian and Randy. My need -briefly detailed to the left).

Changing & Remaining Constant

“Who is a God like Thee, who pardons iniquity and passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19

“’For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.‘” Malachi 3:6

“Nothing is constant in this world but change,” said a wise man one day and in our world it seems like this is true. All around us the whirlwind of turbulent technical, strategic, economic, geographic changes remind us of how delicate and transient this world and the people on it are. It is good our God cares about every individual with a love that passes all understanding.

“’For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’” John 3:16

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: The funeral for Carla’s mother is now over. Thanks for praying for the entire family during this time. Gregg must sell his home in the UK. Reg’s ministry. Doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother, David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (Many have written about this. The request has been briefly detailed on the blog site.).

Getting Grace

“Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." I Peter 1:13

“For by grace you have been saved through faith’ and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2-3

Grace is a pure and simple gift from the Lord. Our understanding of grace comes from our exposure and understanding of the Lord through His Word. The purpose of grace is to demonstrate His workmanship in our hearts. It is what many find attractive about the Lord. He gives grace where and when it is needed, and it remains a mysterious component of our salvation.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: The funeral for Carla’s mother is now over. Thanks for praying for the entire family during this time. Gregg must sell his home in the UK. Reg’s ministry. Doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother, David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (Many have written about this. The request has been briefly detailed on the blog site.).

Begin with the End

“’For just as the lightening comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.’” Matthew 24:27

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time, and now and forever. Amen.” Jude

There is an end to this...whatever it is that you are involved with or surrounded by, whether good or bad and you are not alone in your journey.

“’No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.’” Joshua 1:5

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: The funeral for Carla's mom is today. Please pray for the family. Pray for Paul, Carla's husband, who stayed behind, as he misses them. Gregg is still trying to sell his home in the UK. Reg’s ministry. The doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother, David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (Many have written about this. The request has been briefly detailed on the blog site.).

Switched Values

“Then Elisha said, ‘Listen to the Word of the Lord; thus says the Lord, ‘Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’ And the royal officer on whose hand the king was leaning answered the man of God and said, ‘Behold, if the Lord should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?’ Then he said, ‘Behold you shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.’” II Kings 7:1-2

This is the prelude to a very special story in the Bible about lepers and avoiding fears and finding unexpected treasure. Yet, these two verses have lots to teach us. First to always listen, not to men or the circumstances we see around us, but to God. That the worldly values we see are never reliable. And that we may see or be in high positions one moment, but our fate and lives are in the hands of the Lord. Isn’t God’s Word just amazing!!

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.” I John 2:16-17

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla and the boys are in Jamaica for the funeral of her mom, but Carla has taken ill, please pray for her and the boys. Pray for Paul as he misses them. Gregg is still trying to sell his home in the UK. Reg’s ministry. The doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother, David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (Many have written about this. The request has been detailed on the blog site.).

Claimed Verses

“And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.”

“And Elijah came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people did not answer him a word.” I Kings 18:21

“And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’” Mark 1:17

“’If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it shall be done for you.’” John 15:7

During my lifetime with the Lord, I have claimed various verses to comfort me when I am feeling week. Here are four of mine. Do you have any? It might just be the day to remember them again.

Stay near God's Word. Take care. Your servant & friend in Christ, Darlene

PS: Prayer Requests: Carla and the boys arrived safely in Jamaica for the funeral of her mom, but Carla has taken ill, please pray for her. Pray for Paul as he misses them. Gregg is still trying to sell his home in the UK. Reg’s ministry. The doctors and specialists caring for Lyle’s brother, David, Adrian and Randy. My need. (Many have written about this. The request is detailed in the prayer section to the left.).