A WeakDay Devotion: A Pause for Some Sevens

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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.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

A Pause for Some Sevens

"After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.'

"Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven and One sitting on the throne." Revelation 4:1-2

We spoke earlier about the number seven as special in the Bible. As I was studying to prepare this segment of the devotion I discovered that there are two more sets of seven letters to churches:

Paul wrote to seven churches: To Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse and Thesalonicia, sometimes more than once!

Then the combination of James, Peter, Jude and John wrote seven letters for congregations they were concerned with.

To me this is a remarkable thought, in that God's Word is there for us to consider and learn from. Our heavenly Father is always giving us opportunities to learn from Him and consider our attitude, behaviour and actions in light of His sacrifice, grace and amazing love.

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

URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS?

NEW PRAYER REQUEST

· Adrian - has lived where he is now for about 3.5 years. He has been asked to move. Pray he will find an assisted living situation so he can rest and have his little companion dog, Toby. His next cancer treatment 16 January. He got his car fixed and is on the road again. He truly should rely on others for transportation, as it is tremendous stress on him and in his condition, he may endanger others as well as himself.
· Hans will be going to another special clinic at the end of January. Pray for his healing and for Christian companions and leaders wherever he is.

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING?

· Fion: Parents now together in a special care facility about 30 minutes from one of his sisters and already doing better. Pray for Fion as he misses his parents and is working way too much to ensure they are well cared for.
· TG was allowed to go home because his recovery has been quicker than expected. Thank you for praying for him and his friend, Pookie.
· Pray for Shan and Gemma as they plan the details of their wedding. May they stay ever close to His leading.
· I thank the Lord for allowing me to have a project at this time and that it has been extended through January.

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.
· Please pray for Rik, a good friend who has been diagnosed with Lyme's Disease and is undergoing very expensive, long-distance treatment to restore his health.
· BG that his blinding headaches will finally stop.
· Adrian asks: Pray for my friend, Chester with pancreatic cancer - for energy, strength and resolve as he deals with a worldly system that continues to abuse him; and that someone will come share Christ with him soon.

ONGOING PRAYER

· For Fred as he deals with life without his beloved wife, especially at this time of year when memories are so precious. Please pray for the recognition of how his life will be fulfilled now.
· Shan needs clarity of purpose and direction for his ministry.
· Keep praying for the two unsaved women in Jo's Bible class: Angie and Liz.
· There has been no update to numerous follow-ups regarding Wezley an 18-year old who lost her way. The Lord knows where she is, just keep praying for her that she turns to Him.
· Adrian pays a substantial sum for one small room in the back of a shared home with a man named Phil, who seems to add to Adrian's stress. Pray the Lord gives Phil more patience, understanding, empathy, compassion and gentleness.
· Bettina for additional strength and wisdom.

FOR THOSE IN FULL TIME SERVICE

· Audley and Beverly (stroke survivor) for help with their situation and his return to ministry.
· 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 in the Philippines. Pray our Father 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".
· Please pray for my good friend, JB, that our loving Father provides him with ample opportunity to continue his ministry.
· 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.

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.
· NEW European Migrant Situation Update - a prayer for the migrants, but also for the European states, who are working to adjust to the situation. New in Cologne.
· 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.

SOMETHING NEW FOR PRAYER WARRIORS

· Elaine and Jim, wonderful friends of mine in Hong Kong have begun an online church 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

ADDITIONAL PRAYER REQUESTS

· Paul NS has not had work since 2012 and would appreciate your prayers.
· Deepak needs to have his tireless work efforts bear fruit as he continues to develop his business.
· Elina needs clarity of purpose for her life and relationships.
· 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. Grateful thanks for their practical support and encouragement over many 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

A WeakDay Devotion

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Wednesday, January 13, 2016

A Pause for Some Sevens

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Background of WeakDay Devotions

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