A WeakDay Devotion: Faking It!

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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.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Faking It!

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:16-18

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

"We are not required to put a happy face on everything that happens or to have to play games with the facts. But we can give thanks in the midst of uncertainty because of our confidence in God. He is bringing us back; he knows what he is doing; and the present is but a stage to something greater."[1]

"Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies; for as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, 'Eat and drink!' but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments." Proverbs 23:6-8

Not surprising, people often misuse verses from the Bible to mean what they want, which is why it is so important to read things in context. The quote in Proverbs is used as the basis for self-motivation and self-actualisation movements that "preach" that "faking it till you make it" is something God has told us to do.

However, when we are recovering from suffering and sorrow, it is understandable to grieve and be sad. God does not expect us to "fake it till we make it" or put on a happy face during our pain. Sometimes He intends for others to share the blessing of coming alongside us during this time to help and comfort us.

And even when this does not happen we know we are never alone in our struggle. He is here to comfort us through this time as we heal and grow stronger in His care and love.

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

PS: My statement of faith is on the blog: Especially His Love . Either click the link or cut and paste this link in your Web browser (http://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com.au/ )

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST?

· UPDATE - Adrian - has special blood tests today re: effectiveness of cancer treatments and progress against the cancer. To be evaluated 29 March during another hospitalisation. The heat-humidity, poor health care and sub-standard accommodation are taking their toll. Paperwork now finished for him to receive full disability pension starting on his birthday - 30 April. Please pray for the faithfulness of Shane, Carol and Stewart McClelland to make time for Adrian. Please do not grow weary of praying for him. He needs to feel the hand of the Lord covering and comforting him.

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS?

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

· David R - is doing better thanks to a new air cleaner Heidi got for him. Thank you for holding him in your prayers as things settle.
· Me - Thank you Father for always surprising me despite my weak trust in Your hand in my life. Thank for providing abundance in another's life so they could share this blessing. Thank You also for giving me just enough trust to wait for Your next surprise.
· Doris (my "second mom)- at 98 years old still recovering from serious oral surgery.
· BG - his headaches have been diagnosed as a type of mini-strokes. He needs our prayers to strengthen him and keep him calm.
· Mel - (Meldapilu) her hip and knee replacement are healing and she is back at work part time. Pray for her continued healing and that she paces herself wisely.
· Steve/ Fion - Pray for his wisdom, creativity, strength, more funding for his university.
· Raven - continues to strengthen after her long ordeal with cancer. New cancer meds have given her a more normal life. Pray she will be found cancer-free.
· Praise the Lord and pray for the many individuals in Russia, US, Australia, UK, Poland, Germany, France, Portugal, American Samoa, Romania, Ukraine, Estonia, Singapore, China, 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 ONGOING HEALTH CONCERNS

· Judith - wife of Isaias in the Philippines. Spinal surgery put on hold as she is improving from alternate therapies. Pray for the wisdom of her doctors and health carers. (See prayer request below "Full-Time Service" for more details if you wish to help).
· Claudio - diagnosed with liver cancer. Please pray for him and his health carers to be compassionate and wise. Pray for Elea, his wife, as she holds his hand through this --that she has strength and hope.
· Careena S - with MS and Lyme's Disease needs ongoing encouragement as she battles with these weaknesses.
· My brother, Tim - Weather is so changeable right now for his COPD (cardio-obstructive pulmonary disease). Pray for his strength, wisdom and health. Pray also for Barb, his wife, who supports and cares for him.
· Edna Losbanes - wife of Staff Evangelist Isachar Losbanes of Ambassadors for Christ in the Philippines (see prayer requests below) suffered a mild stroke 29 December. Need an air conditioner and small refrigerator to protect her injectable insulin. Please pray these simple needs will be met and for her full recovery.
· Liriel - who is chronically ill and often in pain. Please pray for her comfort and that she can find some joy in each day.
· Fin/Spencer - Pray for his doctors and therapists that he will recover completely from hip surgery and an ulcer. Pray he has friends with him during this time, especially Deborah.
· CK (78 years old stroke survivor) No longer able to drive. Becoming increasingly dependent on his wife. This growing increasingly difficult for them.
· John has reached a recovery plateau from a stroke. He is trying to release some responsibilities of managing his big farm and needs prayer for the mounting legal complications arising. He struggles with motivation to take a more active role in his day-to-day health and now is diagnosed with sleep apnoea.
· Patti (daughter of Doris) recently diagnosed with asthma and sleep apnoea.
· Julia (daughter of Patti) battling depression. Pray she rededicates her life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
· Adrian (Patti's 5-1/2-year-old grandson) has serious behaviour problems and is regularly removed from his Kindergarten classes for safety of the other children. Please pray for the parents, teachers and Adrian.
· Aunt Donna - (Doris' sister, age 84) has dementia. Please pray for her daughters for guidance in her care.
· Joanne - sister to David R, being overwhelmed by dementia and macular degeneration. She is one of the most gracious Christian women I have ever known.
· Sandy - No news on her symptoms which may be Crohn's Disease. Pray for wise doctors.

PRAYERS SPECIFICALLY FOR SALVATION

· Continue to pray for the special person you identified in your assignment until they fall into His arms. Then you can pick another to pray for!
· Pray for RS who I had the delightful privilege of sharing the Gospel with yesterday. Please pray for her that she keeps considering what we discussed.
· Bobby and George - that they will begin to consider Christ.
· Karen - who I spoke with recently about the Lord, that in her confusion and the chaos of her job, she will search for His peace.
· JR's wife, Jenny - Recently lost her husband and needs strength to deal with his loss and that she would find answers in the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ.
· Adam - life is filled with confusion and need. Pray someone comes alongside him to help him see how much the Lord loves him.
· Scott (in the USA) recently single father who must now care for his children alone and that this situation will help his heart melt in awareness of the Lord's love for him.
· Bible study in Jo's home Pray for wisdom of Jo and openness in the women who meet together, especially Angie and Liz.
· Toron - (18-year-old) Pray for him to find direction and encouragement and most of all to come to the Lord.
· Lennie - PS ex-son-in-law and father to PS' 11 year old granddaughter. Please pray for his salvation.
· Sarah - needs psychiatric care. Not communicating with family members pray God continues to work in His mysterious ways in her life and that He captures her heart through this.
· DB's father - (84 years) pray his heart opens to Christ. He is an avowed – and boastfully proud – atheist.
· Chester (Adrian's friend) with pancreatic cancer that someone will come share Christ with him soon.

ONGOING WORK RELATED

· Paul - Job search continues. Sold a script recently and continues to write. He has not had paying work since 2010. I know the Lord is watching over him because of your prayers. Most of all, pray his heart melts enough for the Truth to touch him where it hurts.
· Deepak - has worked tirelessly for years to develop his business and needs people to pay what they owe him so he can have more time with his young daughter.
· Sergio - his projects have ended and he is looking for work again. He is in Mexico City where work for graphic designers is rare. I've just recommended him to one of my contacts.
· Hans - therapy ends this month. Pray he finds gainful employment, Christian companions and leaders wherever he is.

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 growing number of displaced people from wars and famine. These refugees need compassion.
· Donald Trump - the new USA President. If ever there was a time to pray for an individual, it is now! No matter whom you voted for or wanted as President, it is our responsibility as Christians to remember God has a plan through this man. Pray someone helps him understand the true meaning of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that he will have someone to regularly disciple him. So much depends on it.

FOR THOSE IN FULL-TIME SERVICE

· Audley and Beverly (stroke survivor) for help with their situation. No word yet about situation where Medicaid will no longer provide home care for her. Pray for wisdom for Audley as he cares for his beloved. Pray also that God continues to multiply the effectiveness of his radio ministry in Florida.
· Doug McIntosh - an invaluable contributor to my love of Bible study has multiple myelomas. Please pray for him, his family and the church he has worked so faithfully in, Cornerstone, in Lilburn Georgia.
· St Marks Anglican Church Northbridge - and the many who serve there: especially the pastors: Simon Flinders, Adam Street, Pat O'Keeffe, Kathy Notley and their families.
· Jo and Steve - for their NZ ministries and for reconciliation with one of Jo's sisters.
· Stu and Jo and their grown children, Laura and Jason - the entire family is involved in full-time ministry in NZ. Keep them strong, healthy and resolute.
· Isaias and Judith - in the Philippines - a land growing increasingly chaotic and dangerous. 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. Please, take a moment to learn more about their tireless ministry: Go to: http://www.afciworld.org Look for "Nations" then click: "Philippines".
· Jenny S - a Bible teacher and expositor who serves in many areas, for strength, wisdom and protection.
· Please pray for my good friend, JB, that our loving Father provides him ample opportunity to continue his ministry in Sydney.
· Buddy and Susan Smith (in Queensland) and Kevin and Sandy Currell (in Melbourne) need your prayers for their ministries.
· The Catholic Church and the Pope, who need our prayers that he will always put Jesus first in all his decisions.

SOMETHING NEW FOR PRAYER WARRIORS

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

ONGOING PRAYER

· Linda and Ian, Rob and his daughter, DB, PS, Reg, JD, 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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Sunday, March 19, 2017

Faking It!

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Background of WeakDay Devotions

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