A WeakDay Devotion: Humility

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By Email Too

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.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Humility - True Humility

"If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each one of your regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others."

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a things to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Philippians 2:1-8

"True humility is not thinking lowly of yourself but thinking ACCURATELY of yourself. The humble heart does not say, 'I can't do anything.' But rather, 'I can't do everything. I know my part and am happy to do it.'"*

Being humble is having a realistic appraisal of who you are. It is being expectant, understanding and willing to use the gifts and abilities and talents He has equipped you with for His glory. This attracts others to Him.

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

PS: I left something special for you here. Whispers

URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS

· Adrian - will see his doctor today. Please pray for some good news about the tumour they found near his ear. They have adjusted his new medicines and slowly he is sounding better and stronger. He is still praising the Lord and thankful for your prayers.
· Those in Kenya who have lost loved ones in the senseless attack on an university there. As many as 147 may be dead.
· Families grieving for the loss of their loved ones from the plane crash of the Germanwing plane that killed 150 people.
· Those in Vanuatu - The cyclone was described as apocalyptic.
· Growing tensions in the Middle East, especially right now in Yemen.

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

· Paul NS - has had one of the TV series ideas he has written (while he waits for a new role) accepted and they are now talking of paying him an advance. Thank you for praying. He has not had work since 2012.

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. 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 - recovering. Please pray for her and her husband.
· Otto - home recovering from upper respiratory infection.
· Maureen - recovering from surgery on her shoulder.
· Emily - please pray for her time to rest and consider her options and her hope 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

· David R - as he manages his macular degeneration and a host f other health challenges and for Heidi who cares for him.
· Audley and Beverly (stroke) for their situation and his return to the ministry.
· Nancy has reached a plateau 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 be grateful and stop striving for more from her.
· BG that is blinding headaches will finally stop.
· Chester as he continues to struggle through a host of very serious 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. And bring someone to him to share Christ's decision for him.

PRAY FOR THOSE WITH ONGOING JOB-RELATED CHALLENGES

· Hans - needs wisdom, confidence and courage to guide him during this time, some emergency funds and a suitable job.
· Elina - no word yet on results of her graduate program interview. She says she is grateful for your prayers.
· Deepak - that his work efforts begin to bear fruit as he works to make his business more profitable.

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 24/7 and there is an army of prayers waiting to serve. Go here and learn more: https://www.thelittlechurchworld.org/prayer-room

ONGOING PRAYERS

· Wezley an 18 year old who has lost her direction and way, that she will find the Lord in her life.
· Phil (the man who has let Adrian stay in his home) for understanding, patience, empathy, compassion and gentleness.
· 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 personal challenges
· Bettina for additional strength and wisdom.
· Isaias and Judith (in Philippines) were called to train other Christian lay leaders and they work tirelessly in challenging conditions. Please keep them in your prayers as they plan the future of the ministry. Perhaps you would like to learn more about his work there: search Ambassadors for Christ and look for Isaias Catorce.

PRAY FOR THE WORLD

· For Christ-centred, bible-based revival in the USA and religious freedom for Christians.
· For the many individuals in Singapore, China, Russia and India who read the WeakDay Devotion. (it seems to be gathering an audience in unexpected geographic locations).
· The Catholic Church and the new Pope that he will always put Jesus first.

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS

· That the Lord's hand is dramatically apparent in the lives of all who receive and read these devotions. 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.

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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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Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Humility - True Humility

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Background of WeakDay Devotions

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