A WeakDay Devotion: WHITEWASHING GOD'S TRUTH

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

HOW TO SHARE THE TRUTH WITH OTHERS:

Please click HERE to learn how!

==============

PRAYER: As His family, we share each other's burdens & joys. Please continue to remember the ongoing Prayer Requests listed in the post script each day.

PLEASE SEND PRAYER UPDATES. Those who are so faithfully praying are encouraged and blessed to hear the Lord's progress.

Also, we are delighted to introduce you to

The NEW Little Church Prayer Room

++++++++++++++++++

Something new for you: Especially His Love

++++++++++++++++++

KINDLE BOOKS

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.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

WHITEWASHING GOD'S TRUTH

“Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie, therefore behold, I am against you,’ declares the Lord God. ‘So My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will have no place in the council of My people, nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, that you may know that I am the Lord God.

“’It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash; so tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it will fall. A flooding rain will come, and you, O hailstones, will fall; and a violent wind will break out.’

“’Behold when the wall has fallen, will you not be asked, ‘Where is the plaster with which you plastered it?’ Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘I will make a violent wind break out in My wrath. There will also be in My anger a flooding rain and hailstones to consume it in wrath.’” Ezekiel 13:8-13

This warning was directed against false prophets who were lying to God’s people. They wanted to be powerful and popular as they thought Ezekiel was and decided to tell the people whatever they wanted to hear – thus ‘whitewashing the truth’. This made Ezekiel’s job much harder and confused God’s people. God intervened to ensure His message was crystal clear to the people and that the truth behind the lies was revealed.

We see these same behaviours today. It makes it difficult to know the Truth. That is why it is vital to read your Bible, because only God’s Truth can give you the wisdom to sort through the lies to reveal the truth.

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

PS: Please pray for this ministry. This is the 20^th year of endeavouring to serve others in His name to offer a smattering of Scripture daily. Find my statement of faith by clicking (or cut and paste this link into your Web browser): https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com You can find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for “WeakDay Devotion” (Also, there is a “Google Blogger” app you can download to read them on your phone.)

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS and some UPDATES too!

· USA – that the Lord would demonstrate His power in unexpected and uniting ways during these times of unrest and confusion. Help hearts settle and rest in Him alone. Let the truth of God’s Word and ways overcome the drive to destroy our founding, Bible-based values.
· UPDATE - Scott – Scott’s wife abandoned him and this two children Sophia (10) and Grady (8) a couple of years ago. He has proved to be a caring and loving single father. Recently, he began dating a wonderful Christian woman and is very happy. Please continue to pray he seeks the Lord for himself and his children.
· Yalawe – no update. He had his surgery (cancer) on 15 October. Please pray for his full recovery and that his health providers and family would be extra gentle with him.
· Jen – my sweet friend in the UK— had another procedure today (with a good result) and should be on the road to recovery now thanks to your faithful prayers.
· SJ – as he struggles with circumstances he did not anticipate. Pray for his willingness, for wisdom of his counsellors as he wanders through this dark time. Pray for his ability to rest and forgive himself.
· Annette and Lyle – Pray for travelling mercies as they begin the next phase of their wonderful lives together and for good health and a love that continues to bind them and their family together.
· UPDATE - Patti – faithful daughter of Doris, wife of John. A Proverbs 31 woman, who need strength, energy and the ability to prioritise with grace and resolve. Pray she will grow in confidence to say ‘no’ sometimes and enjoy a new season of serving her husband.
· UPDATE Sarah – Her mother thanks you for your faithful prayers. She is still wandering around looking for herself and trying to avoid family. Pray the Lord grabs her hand and brings her back to reality soon and that her family trusts the Lord more to know He has a plan for her.
· Terri – her relationship of 13 years has just broken and she needs prayers to travel through this journey.
· UPDATE - Adrian - (Julia’s son now 8 years old and in 3rd grade) Is in a special program at school for 1/2 days but refuses to do any work involving writing/ spelling or learning new things from his teachers. Still displaying some symptoms of autism.
· Tracey – Pray Tracey finds a new role that will satisfy her and allow her to grow and share her skills and wisdom.
· UPDATE Robin - age 52, completed breast cancer treatment and seems to be doing well. She is thankful for your prayers and asks you to continue praying for full recovery and for blessings for those who are supporting her.
· UPDATE - Patti’s Best Friend – earlier this year lost both her parents within six months after years of caring for them. Pray her life begins to settle and that she focuses now on her own family and that she and her husband enjoy a few weeks in Florida together.
· UPDATE - Julia – (Patti’s daughter) now teaching half-time to ensure her physical and emotional health (still dealing with symptoms from a concussion over a year ago). It gives her more time to be with her two children (ages 5 and 8), both of whom have challenges. Pray for her strength, patience and resolute heart as she helps her children grow up.
· Me – Please continue to pray for me as I lead the Thursday Bible study at work. Pray for my humility and wisdom to share the Word for His glory. I will be putting the weekly series on the EspeciallyHis blog site as a resource for others.

PRAY FOR THOSE IN FULL-TIME SERVICE

No comments:

Post a Comment

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

Blog Archive