A WeakDay Devotion: Emotion or History?

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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.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Emotion or History?

“You too will become drunk, you will be hidden. You too will search for a refuge from the enemy. When shaken, they fall into the eater’s mouth. Behold, your people are women in your midst! The gates of your land are opened wide to your enemies; fore consumes your gate bars.

“Draw for yourself water for the siege! Strengthen your fortifications! Go into the clay and tread the mortar! Take hold of the brick mould! There fire will consume you, the sword will cut you down; it will consume you as the locust does.” Nahum 3:13-15

Nahum was writing during the reign of Manasseh, one of Judah’s most wicked kings. He vigorously and openly defiled God and persecuted God’s people. Assyria, the world power at that time, made Judah one of its vassal states. Sadly, the people of Judah desired to be like their oppressors because they had power and were wealthy. So they rebelled and compromised their commitment to God.

Assyria had an alliance with Thebes. Together they trusted in their alliances and military power, but history has shown these are inadequate. Nahum’s message was clear then as it is today:

No power on earth can protect anyone from God’s judgment or be a substitute for His power in our lives. Be wise not to insist on learning through personal experience; instead learn the lessons history has already taught. Put your trust in God above all else!

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

PS: My statement of faith is 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

· UPDATE - Baby Jolie – 11 months old, struggling for life with meningitis and kidney failure. Had a rough weekend but is doing a little better. Still in critical condition and fighting hard. Pray her health carers have wisdom and compassion, her parents have patience and peace and that the Lord provides a miracle of healing for this child.
· URGENT - Carla’s sister Jackie – diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Pray for Carla as she rushes to be with her in Canada and for those who love and will support her through this difficult time.
· Volcanic Eruptions - Isaias and Judith (Ambassadors for Christ, the Philippines) now dealing with the increasing threat and damage of ongoing volcanic activity affecting their ministry, seminary, conferences and leadership forums. God is working in all these tragedies. Please pray for those who lead, work, teach and contribute to this ministry. (Tita, Isaias sister had cancer surgery 8 January and Edna who remains on regular dialysis). Pray our Father continues to keep these servants strong and safe and that they find balance for their lives and good health. To make a contribution or/ and learn more, contact Isaias Catorce on icatorce@gmail.com
· Savannah – 15-year-old granddaughter of Cliff and Beth, diagnosed with a psychological disorder that is difficult to treat and could lead to very serious consequences. Doctors are trying new meds, hoping they will help. She has a long road to recovery. Please continue to pray for wisdom for her health carers, patience for her parents and healing for her.
· Peyton – 17-year old granddaughter of Jeff and Rachael, a professional dancer for 14 years has just broken her food and is devastated she is unable to compete in dance completions. She feels she is letting her teams down. She will be in a boot for six weeks. Pray for complete healing, peace and patience while she heals.
· NEW UPDATES – Fires in Australia –- Rain forecast for today but then it stops and the temperatures increase once more. As the country takes a breath the devastation continues. Estimates of 28 dead and up to a Billion animals lost. Pray for the more-than 2,500 firefighters, those providing care and shelter for those who have lost everything, and wisdom for those still in the path of the fires, for mercy on the animals and the ongoing tragedy that accompanies this. Please pray God’s hand of love and compassion is demonstrated by His people as this tragedy continues to burn throughout this dry and sunburnt land!
· USA President Donald Trump – It is our responsibility as Christians to remember God has a plan through this man. If you doubt the importance of his appointment, just look at how much antagonism there is against him. Surely Satan is NOT happy and means to thwart God’s plan. Pray someone helps President Trump understand the true meaning of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, that he will have a driving hunger to read God’s Word for himself and that God sends a Bible-believing Christian to regularly disciple him in the Truth and that God shuts the mouths of the false prophets who circle around him.
· 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.
· Chris H – recently lost his sister (the last of his family) and will be facing his first Christmas without her. Please hold him up with prayers as he walks through this time of change and pain.
· 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) – celebrated her 101st birthday 22 December. She is growing frail and sleeping more and deeply now. Thank the Lord for Patti, her faithful daughter, as she makes time to be with her Mom. Pray Freddy, Doris’ son, does more to help.
· 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.
· 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.
· 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

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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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