A WeakDay Devotion: Dressing the Bride and Groom

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Recently finished a new Kindle entitled “Genesis & Discrimination”. It is a very powerful collection to challenge your thinking. Also, consider: Secrets of a Deeper Life in Christ , A Missing Psalm, Forgiveness. I hope putting these together in this new format will be a blessing to many more & will help support this ministry.

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.

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Dressing the Bride and Groom

"I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61:10

"We hide. He seeks. We bring sin. He brings a sacrifice. We try fig leaves. He brings the robe of righteousness. And we are left singing. -- God has clothed us. He protects us with a cloak of love. Can you look back over your life and see instances of God's protection?

"'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. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light.'" Matthew 11:28-30

There are lots of TV shows lately about brides finding the right gown. I have not seen one yet about the trauma the groom goes through finding what to wear. Think of everyday as your wedding day and know that your loving heavenly Father has crafted the perfect gown or suit for you...and He dresses you with such care and love...for every day. You are His child and His ambassador to the world. Please review the prayers below, so many need you and we have so many praise points!

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

URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS?

· Adrian - Is the worst he has been in my memory. His pain is very difficult to manage. His emotional energy and resilience is fading. He has had to be driving back and forth to the hospital -- almost each trip he is off the road or driving dangerously. Please pray the health care facilities will make time for him and that God protects him and continues to give him strength until his surgery and procedures are over with.. Certainly pray for someone to come to help him that is a gracious and loving Christian.
· Heatwave in Egypt - more than twenty dead, over 60 in serious condition. The heatwave is expected to last through 25 August with temperatures soaring in some places to over 45 degrees C (113 F).
· Taiwan and China have been hit by a powerful typhoon. Fourteen are reported dead at this early stage. Please pray for the survivors and those working to rescue and aid them.

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

· [Rachael sent email this morning] Chris was put back on transplant list. A heart came available. Compatibility tests were a match. After 7 hours surgery he has a new heart. Prayer is needed now more than ever. Also pray for Chris' family and the family of the donor. Thank you so much for your faithfulness.
· Ingrid, Han's sister has been released from the hospital and is now recovering from a serious infection.
· Christine, was offered a job yesterday and is very thankful for prayer.
· David K begins his internship in New York - his travel went well and he is reasonably settled in the Big Apple!
· Paul NS had two good job interviews last week, and one of the groups has him working through some tasks as a next step. He has not had work since 2012 and would appreciate your prayers
· Fion's father has been recovering from a stroke for over a year and has been in a special care facility and is strong enough to go home, where his wife can care for him more easily. Continue to pray for them and for Fion, as his workload is quite heavy at this time.
· Bernhard (brother of Hans) has seen the specialist and requires further treatments, and have ruled out cancer. Please pray he recovers fully.
· Hans has had some supportive and helpful meetings recently where the Lord is blessing him with wise and compassionate counsellors who are giving him practical advice to sustain him for now and to give him hope for his future.
· My project has been extended through August. Thank you for praying. The next project I was looking at has not come through. Please pray for a situation in my life, that I have wisdom and courage to handle it well.

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS

PRAY FOR THE WORLD

· That the Lord's hand is dramatically apparent in the lives of all who receive and read these devotions. That His mighty works will be worked out in each life for His purposes and glory in surprising and wonderful ways!
· For Christ-centred, Bible-based revival in the USA and religious freedom for Christians wherever they may be.
· Pray for the many individuals in Singapore, China, Russia, India and Alaska who are regularly reading the WeakDay Devotion on-line. The blog seems to be gathering an audience in unexpected and mysterious geographic locations.

PRAY FOR THOSE WITH HEALTH CONCERNS

· My brother, Tim, with COPD (Cardio-Obstructive Pulmonary Artery Disease), that he has patience and wisdom to help him manage his health and the limitations to his breathing.
· David R as he manages his macular degeneration and a host of other health challenges and for Heidi, his daughter who cares for him.
· Audley and Beverly (stroke survivor) for help with their situation and his return to the ministry.
· BG that his blinding headaches will finally stop.
· Adrian asks: Pray for his friend, Chester with pancreatic cancer that the Lord gives him energy, strength and resolve as he deals with a worldly system that continues to abuse him. And that someone will come to share Christ with him soon.

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. He is a young Christian man who is in West Germany.
· Elina got the law internship she dreamed of and asks us to pray the Lord allows her to stay there after she passes the bar in February.
· Deepak needs to have his tireless work efforts bear fruit as he continues to develop his business.

SOMETHING NEW FOR PRAYER WARRIORS

Elaine and Jim, wonderful friends of mine in Hong Kong have begun an online church there with a special prayer room that is open 24/7. There are a small army of dedicated prayer warriors waiting to pray with you. Please pray for them and go here to learn more: Https://www.thelittlechurchworld.org/prayer-room

ONGOING PRAYER

· For Fred and his family as he recovers from the loss of his wife. Please pray for the intimate comfort of the Lord for them as they walk through this difficult time.
· Shan needs clarity of purpose and direction for his ministry and his choice and timing of life partner.
· Wezley is an 18-year old who has lost her direction and her way. Pray the Lord seizes her heart and that she realises His love soon.
· God has provided Adrian a room in Phil's home. Yet, Phil is quite chaotic. Pray the Lord will establish and maintain peace between these two men and that the Lord will give Phil more understanding, patience, empathy, compassion and gentleness with Adrian.
· Bettina for additional strength and wisdom.
· Pray for travelling mercies for DB in China.

FOR THOSE IN FULL TIME SERVICE

· Stu and Jo and their grown children, Laura and Jason - a family serving in full-time ministry in New Zealand. Keep them strong, healthy and resolute.
· Isaias and Judith are back in the field again training up leaders for the Lord Pray He continues to keep them strong and safe and that they find balance. They give so much to so many for so little. Take a moment to learn more about their tireless ministry: Go to: http://www.afciworld.org Look for "Nations" then click "Philippines".
· Buddy and Susan Smith and Kevin and Sandy Currell need your prayers for their ministries in Australia.
· Yangrae and the Uniting Church he shepherds in Australia, that he and his family will have the energy, strength and good health to feed the flock He has entrusted to Yangrae.
· The Catholic Church and the new Pope need your prayers that he will always put Jesus first in all his decisions.

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS

· For Gemma - wisdom.
· 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 and encouragement over many years.

*A Love Worth Giving is copyright protected since 2002 by Max Lucado. All rights are reserved, including translations. The ISBN is 978-0-8499-4831-2 (repackaged). I encourage you to secure a copy and follow along. I quote carefully and respectfully from his wonderful book. Pray for Mr. Lucado and I thank my brother for recommending it.

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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

A WeakDay Devotion

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Dressing the Bride and Groom

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Background of WeakDay Devotions

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