A WeakDay Devotion: When Will YOU Decide?

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The WeakDay Devotion originated as encouragement for a dear friend who was having difficulties with her job.

It is especially for my family, firends, business people, students, pastors, teachers and a myriad of pre-, new and long-serving Christians who want more Scripture with their devotion than many of the regular devotionals offer. it is also written to be short so you can get on with your day, but filled with a new idea from God's Word that is practical and applicable. You can also have it sent directly to your email box every day - just send me an email (DarleneRichard@gmail.com) and I will add you to the distribution.

Monday, March 23, 2015

When Will YOU Decide?

“And Jesus said to him, ‘If You can! All things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the boy’s father cried out and began saying, ‘I do believe; help Thou my unbelief.’” Mark 9:23-24

“From that time Jesus Christ began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

"And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.’” Matthew 16:21-23

Research indicates that the average listener forgets 40% of what they hear during a presentation, within half an hour. By the end of the day, 60% will be gone. A week after hearing a presentation, the average listener retains only about 10% of what was said.

Peter loved the Lord Jesus with an innocent and impetuous passion we would all hope to have a little more of. But it was just a few days before this “counselling session with the Lord” when he jumped up with one of my most favourite answers: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”

Like we all do, after the passion of the moment cools, sometimes we forget there is a plan to what might seem like confusion surrounding us. Then we have to ask ourselves, when will I decide to trust Him?

Take care with love, especially His! Your servant and friend in Christ, who prays for you each morning, Darlene

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST:

· Those in Vanuatu - the cyclone was described as apocalyptic and cyclones are skipping across the top end of Australia right now.
· Please pray the Lord quiets the hearts of those in the USA while racial tension again raises its head. Pray for the police officers around the nation.

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING-

· Adrian - has undergone a transition of his medicine and last night called me to report that he has had his first day in ages to feel able to be up. He is still feeling strange from the new meds and goes to the hospital for his cancer treatment today. He is thankful that the chemo is now over, and thanks everyone for praying for him so faithfully over time.
· Paul N-S -has had one of the TV series ideas he has written (while he waits for a new role ) accepted and he will receive some funds. Great news! Thank you for praying. He has not had work since 2012.
· David K celebrates a significant birthday on Monday!

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

· My brother, Tim with COPD (cardio-obstructive pulmonary artery disease), that he has patience and wisdom to manage his health and the limitations to his breathing and to cope with the limitations. He has had three upper respiratory infections in the past months and did not get his flu shot this year.
· Shan - Needs clarity of purpose and direction for his ministry.
· Helen Birdsall - remains in hospital recovering. Please pray for her and her husband.
· Otto - home from hospital recovering from upper respiratory infection
· Maureen - recovering from surgery on her shoulder.
· Emily has left. Please pray for her time to rest and consider her options and her hopes to return to Australia.
· Rachael asks: Please pray for Chris, who is on the wait list for a heart transplant - that if it is God's will for him to get one that the surgery is successful and that he fully recovers.
· Yangrae and the Uniting Church he shepherds, that he and his family will have the energy and good health to feed the flock he has been entrusted with.

PRAY FOR THOSE WITH HEALTH CONCERNS

· Phil (the man who has let Adrian stay in his home): for understanding, patience, empathy, compassion and gentleness.

· David R as he manages his macular degeneration and a host of other health challenges.

· Audley's and Beverly's (stroke) situation and his return to the ministry.

· Nancy has plateaued in her efforts for full recovery from a life-threatening head injury. Pray she and Fred will be at peace and take some time to just be grateful and stop striving for more from her.

· BG that his blinding headaches will finally stop.

· Chester as he continues to struggle through a host of medical challenges and poor care with dwindling funds and few friends to help. Give him energy, strength and resolve as he deals with a worldly system that has abused him.

PRAY FOR THOSE WITH ONGOING JOB RELATED CHALLENGES

· Hans - needs wisdom and courage to guide him during this time, some emergency funds and a reasonable job.

· Elina - no word yet on results of her graduate program interview. She says she is very grateful for your prayers.

· Michael, a man who is humble and without a home or a job who needs a chance to get his life back to normal.

· Deepak - that his work efforts begin to bear fruit as he is on the road travelling, promoting his business.

ONGOING PRAYERS

· Wezley an 18-year old who has lost her direction and way, that she will find the Lord in her life.

· Buddy and Susan Smith and Kevin and Sandy Currell - ministers of grace and salvation in Australia.

· Fion as he supports his ageing parents and manages a heavy load of challenges.

· Bettina for additional strength and wisdom.

· Isaias & Judith (in Philippines) were called to train other Christian lay leaders and they work tirelessly in challenging conditions. Please keep them in your prayers. Perhaps you would like to learn more about his work there: Ambassadors for Christ --look for Isaias Catorce.

PRAY FOR THE WORLD:

· For Christ-centred, Bible-based revival in the USA.

· For the many individuals in Singapore, China, Russia and India who read the WeakDay Devotion. (The WeakDay Devotion blog is being read by many people in these countries! God is mysterious!)

· The Catholic Church and that the new Pope will always put Jesus first.

ONGOING PRAYER REQUESTS

· That the Lord’s hand is dramatically apparent in the lives of all who receive and read this devotion...that His mighty works would be worked out in each life for His purposes in surprising and wonderful ways!

· Jen, needs the watchful care of the Lord in her life.

· Linda and Ian. Rob and his daughter. Reg. Annette and Lyle, Carla and Paul, Jeff and Rachael and their wonderful families. Thanksgiving for their practical support over the years.

SOMETHING NEW FOR PRAYER WARRIORS

· Elaine and Jim started a new ministry in Hong Kong and have some great news for those with a gift and heart for prayer: An online church with a Prayer Room. It is open 27/7 and there is an army or prayers waiting to serve in prayer. Go here to learn more: https://www.thelittlechurchworld.org/prayer-room

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Background of WeakDay Devotions

Over eleven years ago a dear friend couldn't find a job. She's brilliant, skilled & experienced -- but simply couldn't find a position to suit her. After about eight months of struggling & searching, she was hired to work with the Sydney Olympics but six months later the role turned feral. She was discouraged as she pulled herself into work each morning.

Then it became apparent they were trying to "move" her out. She struggled. At least once a week she would be on the phone to me or be sitting on my balcony talking/crying her heart out. I found myself being a sort of Christian coach/mentor for her.

One morning after my quiet time, something I learned seemed relevent for her, so I shared it with her in an email. She wrote back that it indeed helped. Next morning the same thing happened. Again the Lord used it to encourage & strengthen her. The next morning nothing seemed good to send, but I searched till I found something I hoped would strengthen her. The Lord used it. Each week day morning from then on I would get up early & write her a note of encouragement.

A month went by & another friend sent me an e-mail expressing their own frustration with a work situation. I sent them a copy of the e-mail I'd sent my friend that very morning. They were encouraged & asked me to include them each morning. After a couple of weeks both wrote to me to say they'd been sending the email to others & would I just add theses new names each morning. They also suggested I ask others if they'd like to be included. I did & many asked to receive it. One day, I was asked to do a radio interview with Gordon Moyse ("An Ordinary Christian"). He had heard about the morning "WeakDay Devotions" & wanted his listeners to know more about them.

Almost every week day morning since that first e-mail, I've written a fresh word of encouragement for (by now) an untold number of people around the world. It was originally mostly business oriented, but has grown to be more general in nature with Christian business people knowing it is the little personal details of their walk that need a boost anyway.

Within the distribution list now are Christians or pre-Christians (Catholic & Protestant), some are Jewish, some have not made a decision about what they believe, yet. There are several pastors; a Catholic priest, a Jewish teacher and a Christian Web page creator (and pastor) who distributes select ones to his readership. There’s even a pastor in the USA who uses them as part of his daily radio program.

Many who receive them forward them to others & they ricochet around the world. They're used as morning devotions between friends at work in the USA, Argentina, the Philippines, New Guinea, Hong Kong & places I don't even know about yet.

The Lord is using these meek & meagre "presents to Him" for His own purposes in the lives of others & I'm constantly surprised & humbled at the encouragement I've found in my own personal time with the Lord because of their ministry to me!

If you'd like to have them emailed directly to you each day, just send me an email. I'm open to comments, suggestions & criticisms.

Again, it's almost always only one screen long, so you don't have to take too much time with them, they always come marked "Urgent" so they can be found more quickly. Finally, the distribution list is "blinded" so everyone's privacy is assured (although I pray for everyone I send to & know them all much better now).

Every day is different, some days are very short -- sometimes only one verse or two, but there's always a Bible verse (I always use the New American Standard Bible translation, unless otherwise indicated). There are also times when there is a suggestion for something special as an assignment. I've also written a variety of series, such as: The Ten Commandments, Forgiveness, How to Know God's Will, Fasting, Unmet Needs, etc.

Stay close to His Word.
Your servant and friend in Christ.... Darlene

The First Devotion

"And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee; for Thou, O Lord, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee." Psalm 9:10

From George Muller's Autobiography:

"I saw more clearly than ever that the first great and primary business to which I ought to attend every day was to have my soul happy in the Lord. The first thing to be concerned about was not, how much I might serve the Lord, how I might glorify the Lord; but how I might get my soul into a happy state, and how my inner man might be nourished.

"The first thing I did, after having asked in a few words the Lord's blessing upon His precious Word, was to begin to meditate on the Word of God; searching, as it were, into every verse, to get blessing out of it; not for the sake of the public ministry of the Word; not for the sake of reaching on what I had meditated upon; but for the sake of obtaining food for my own soul. The result I have found to be almost invariably this...that after a very few minutes my soul has been led to confession, or to thanksgiving, or to intercession, or to supplication; so that though I did not, as it were, give myself to prayer, but to meditation, yet it turned almost immediately more or less into prayer."

Have a wonderful day resting in Him....love, your servant and friend in Christ...D

Another style: The Princess & the Pea

[Jesus teaching] "'And why do you look at the spec that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?'" Matthew 7:3

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." James 2:10

"So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!" James 3:5

"Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.'" Matthew 13:31-32

Ever notice how it's the little things that get under your skin and grow out of perspective? Think of the time you spend looking for a misplaced file or phone number. What about when you're late and get a red light or someone pulls out in front of you in traffic. Or how about when you get a paper cut or have a hang nail? How about forgetting someone's birthday or when you lose your glasses or keys? Any of these things can make us "lose our cool". As Christians we must be ever vigilant to how the little things can stumble our walk and witness with Christ.

It reminds me of the fairy tale of the Princess and the Pea (where a prince looked for a gentle and delicate princess to help rule his kingdom. He arranged a test of all the fair maidens. He had a stack of mattresses placed one on top the other and each "princess candidate" was invited to spend the night in the castle. The Prince became discouraged because no one seemed to respond to the test until one morning a lovely woman complained she could not sleep, as the mattress was too lumpy. Unbeknownst to her (and all the other candidates) the Prince had placed a single pea under the bottom mattress. No one else had been sensitive to the little things. Of course they lived happily ever after. In our Christian walk we need to be that sensitive to the little things that stumble us! Take care, your servant and friend in Christ – Darlene

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Monday, March 23, 2015

When Will YOU Decide?

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Background of WeakDay Devotions

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