A WeakDay Devotion: CHRISTMAS WEAKEND ASSIGNMENT: LINEAGE

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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.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

CHRISTMAS WEAKEND ASSIGNMENT: LINEAGE

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. To Abraham was born Isaac; … and to Matthan, Jacob; and to Jacob was born Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.” Matthew 1:1-17 selection

“And when He began His ministry Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being supposedly the son of Joseph, the son of Eli, … the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” Luke 3:23-38 selection

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is time to pull away from all the hoopla and focus on something very special. Did you ever notice that there are TWO genealogies of Jesus? Or do you just skip the long lists of names each time you come to them?

Did you ever notice that they aren’t the same? This WeakEnd Assignment will take you a bit of time but will delight you once you’ve completed it.

1. Gather your notebook, Bible and something comforting to drink.

2. Find a place to sit and study uninterrupted for an hour (or two for those who love solving mysteries). I suggest at a desk.

3. Once settled, take time to pray and thank the Lord for His Word and ask Him to give you patience to finish the assignment.

4. Open your Bible and notebook and here are three levels of assignments for you.

5. You will need to refer to Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 to complete one (or more) of the following assignments.

Basic Assignment	Better Exploration	Bonus Discoveries
· Write the names of each of the characters mentioned in both genealogies. · Circle every one you recognise.	· Complete the ‘Basic Assignment’ · Compare the two genealogies to see if there are any similarities. · Discover why this is.	· Complete the ‘Better Exploration Assignment’ · Look up and identify any characters you did not know.

This is not an easy assignment and you may not complete it in one session. Yet, completing one, two or three will give you a new appreciation at how spectacularly detailed the Word of God is! Be humbled and amazed!

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. My statement of faith is found here: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com You can find the WeakDay Devotion online by doing a Google search for “WeakDay Devotion” (Also, there is an android “Google Blogger” app you can download to read them on your phone.)

NEW PRAYER REQUESTS and UPDATES

· URGENT -USA - Pray 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 - FIRES IN AUSTRALIA – continuing to struggle through historic ‘dust bowl’ droughts, Australia is now battling seemingly never-ending fires. The loss of dwellings, animals and the tragedy that accompanies this, continues. Please pray for God’s mercy on this dry and sunburnt and burning land!
· Chris H – suddenly lost his sister (the last of his family) last Sunday. Please hold him up with prayers as he walks through this time of change and pain.
· Savannah – fifteen-year-old granddaughter of Cliff and Beth, is suffering from a psychological disorder that is difficult to treat and could lead to very serious consequences. She NEEDS all the prayers that can be said on her behalf.
· Christine’s husband – broke his arm and wrist and is home recovering. Pray during this time that the Lord will speak to him through his loving wife and that they will have a Christ-centred relationship and family.
· Doris (My Second Mom) – will be 101 on 22 December – is back to her enthusiastic-for-the-Lord self. Pray for Patti, her daughter, as she remains so faithful in sacrificing time and making the effort to always demonstrate God’s love to her precious mother. Doris (and her husband, Owen, now waiting for Doris in Heaven) both prayed faithfully to bring me to the foot of the Cross from age 12.
· UPDATE -Yalawe – developed sepsis and they were unable to operate. He is now on antibiotics until he can have the surgery. Please pray for his full recovery and that his health providers and family would be extra gentle with him.
· SJ – as he struggles with circumstances he did not anticipate. Pray for his willingness to grow through this dark time and for wisdom of his counsellors. Pray for his ability to rest and forgive himself.
· Deepak – thanks you for your prayers and has seen the Lord’s hand in his life in many new ways. His business is growing and now he needs time to consider his next steps. Pray he stays close to the Lord in all his busyness.
· UPDATE - Lachlan – thanks you for praying for him. He has completed his seminary studies and now urgently needs to find housing for himself and his three children.
· Paul –Pray for his ongoing resilience and that the Lord would allow him to find a role. He’s been unemployed since 2010. Most of all, pray his heart melts enough for the Truth to touch him where it hurts. Pray for my wisdom and patience as he stays here.
· UPDATE - Patti – faithful daughter of Doris, wife of John is unwell and resting at home. A Proverbs 31 woman, who needs strength, energy and the ability to prioritise with grace and resolve. Pray she grows in confidence and learns that ‘no’ is a perfectly acceptable response. Pray she enjoy precious time with John.
· Terri – her relationship of 13 years has just broken, and she needs prayers to travel through this journey.
· Tracey – Pray Tracey finds a new role to satisfy her and allow her to grow and share her skills and wisdom.
· Me – Please pray for the Lord to provide a new project for me.

PRAY FOR THOSE IN FULL-TIME SERVICE

· Peter Frith – Works as part of Anglicare as the sole Christian chaplain at a special hospital. The work is very lonely and challenging. Pray for his encouragement, hope and that our loving heavenly Father sends another Christian to work with Peter.
· St Marks Anglican Church Northbridge - Please pray God opens the hearts and minds of those who visit and for those who worship there regularly. Pray their hunger for God’s Word grows. Pray for strength, wisdom and healing rest, for those who serve there: Simon Flinders, Pat O'Keeffe, Kathy Notley, Anne Penny, Barry and Jo and their families.
· Audley – please pray for this faithful Bible teacher who has a weekly radio program to spread the Good News in Florida. Pray for his sustained good health and faithfulness to the Word.
· Jenny S – Bible teacher - for energy and good health, wisdom and time for reflection.
· Isaias and Judith (Ambassadors for Christ, the Philippines) are working tirelessly to help over 100 pastors and their families in the poorest areas rebuild after losing everything in a series of serious earthquakes and aftershocks. If you wish to donate to their ministry, contact me for details.
· Scripture classes in Australian Schools – Australia is a secular country, yet God has ensured -- thus far -- that they have freedom to hold Scripture classes in schools during regular school hours! Some resistance is growing so it is critical to pray. It is a great hope for Australia.
· Bible schools and seminaries in Australia and around the world – Pray they never compromise the truth of God’s Word in the Bible.
· Jim and Elaine –Pray for the new work they’ve taken on in New Zealand and Fiji (heavily Muslim). Thank you, Lord, for allowing Elaine to be ordained to strengthen her work. Pray for their protection and energy, grant them time for shared joy as a couple and to see the fruits of their labours. To learn more of their ministry go to https://tlcwhk.com
· Doug McIntosh - an invaluable contributor to my love of Bible study -- has multiple myelomas. Has retired from full-time ministry. Please pray for him, his family and the church he has worked so faithfully in, Cornerstone Bible Church, in Lilburn Georgia.
· Buddy & Susan –Please continue to pray for their needs and the harvest from their labours. They were one of the first families to welcomed me to Australia. Amazing Christian teachers.
· Kevin and Sandy Currell (in Melbourne) -- Kevin has a wonderful ministry in teaching, in words and images with creating Christian resources. Please visit his site: https://www.kevincurrell.com/ to learn more.
· Jo and Steve - for their loving example of Christian life and devotion. May their love flourish under His guidance as they continue their work in Christchurch New Zealand.
· Stu and Jo and their children, Laura and Jason. Pray for this devoted and loving pastor and his wife who continue to serve in New Zealand. Laura has married Joji and they are in NZ. Jason is studying in the USA. Keep them strong, healthy and resolute for the Lord.
· The Catholic Church and the Pope, who needs our prayers that he will grow increasingly hungry for the Word of God and that he always puts Jesus first in his life and decisions.

PRAY FOR THE WORLD

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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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