YouTube: ‘Why I
believe The Bible – (20 Minute Brilliancy!)’
By Faith Talks (24 min 25 sec – and worth every second)
“In the beginning was the Word, and thee Word was with
God, and the Word was God. He was in the
beginning with God. All things came into
being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come
into being. In His was life, and the
life was the Light of men. The Light
shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:1-5
“For the Word of God is living and active and sharper
than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and
spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and
intentions of the heart. And there is no
creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the
eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”
Hebrews 4:12-13
In the many years I’ve been writing the WeakDay Devotion, I’ve
rarely taken a ‘leave of absence’.
However, most of December turned out to be a forced rest for me with
various health challenges to deal with.
So, I rested and considered why it is difficult for me to rest and thanked
the Lord for the interlude and then for restoring my health.
I offer my apologies and am delighted to continue the ‘God’s
Promises Have Conditions Series’ (we are now starting in the New Testament). But wanted to start the New Year with the
foundation of the devotions -- God’s Word.
Please also take a moment to review any prayer requests you have made
and update me with any changes.
Take care with love, especially His, Darlene (who still
prays for you daily)
PSS: Find my
statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com
(where you will also find a series of
beginner Bible studies to share). 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. Not sure about Apple.). For the books, go to Amazon
books. To contact me with prayer requests and updates: darlenerichard@gmail.com
Please update your PRAYER REQUESTS
·
URGENT ISRAEL– it is
the 86th day of this horrible and unwanted war. Pray that Israel forces will locate and save
the many hostages still held captive. Pray for those who have lost loved ones, continued
protection of the hostages, for the Israeli soldiers and strategists moving
through enemy territory to restore peace and purify the land of all terrorists. Pray also for the Palestinian people – many are
helpless captives of the terrorists.
·
NEW – Lindsey - the youngest daughter (now all
grown up) of my dearest friends, Annette and Lyle. Lindsey needs your prayers for healing and
strengthening. Pray for her patience and
the wisdom of her health care providers.
·
David
– was in hospital for observation and special treatment of his congestive heart
symptoms and pneumonia. He is now home
and feeling better, but tired. Pray for
his patience and continued wisdom for his health carers.
·
Heidi --
(David’s daughter and home carer) has come down with a serious flu. Please pray
for her complete recovery and that she will be strong and healthy.
·
Barbara –
the beloved wife of my brother, Tim (who passed away the end of January 2023). Please pray God places people in her path who
will help her with all the things He knows she needs help with. Pray for Barb’s peace and protection at
night.
·
Patti and John
– Pray the Lord keeps them safe and healthy and that they are encouraged in the
strength of the Lord and never compromise the truth of the Bible for any reason
(Joshuah 1:6-9).
·
Jeff and
Rachael’s family, Peyton and Carter - Payton, granddaughter, now a
senior in university. Carter, their son,
now a freshman in college. Both are
exceptional students and love the Lord. Pray
they are not distracted by worldly things, that the Lord watches over and
protects them, that they continue to do well in their studies and that their
love of God’s Word increases daily.
·
Sarah and Andrew – he left his job two years ago and she went to
work in a new role. Pray for this
precious Christian couple that they focus on family balance to the glory of the
Lord.
·
Bettina –
continue to pray for her as she grows into a new phase of her life in the Lord. Pray each of her five married daughters, spouses
and 18 grandchildren grow to love and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
·
Ian –
continue to pray that his desire to grow his understanding and effectiveness
with personal evangelism is fulfilled.
·
Elina –
needs God’s wisdom and the courage of her convictions and resolve to live a
life that is Christ-honouring for herself and her young son, Jimmy.
·
Megan (for
emotional healing) and Scott, her
husband (for patience and wisdom) and wisdom for his sister, Clare, as she seeks to support them through
troubled times.
·
Christine –
give her strength as she journeys to heart-healing and pray her husband gives
his heart to the Lord.
·
Robin –
lost her beloved mother (was 93 years old), please pray for strength and
healing for her as she navigates through this time of mourning and for her
daughter who is comforting her.
·
Pray for true,
Christ-centered revival in America.
Pray for those in full-time service
Pray the Lord upholds our Christian leaders – that they
never compromise God’s Word and remain bold and courageous in the face of
evil. Pray for their wisdom, safety,
ingenuity, strength and for their families.
·
Scott and Carolyn
Petty – Scott settling in as our
new pastor. Pray he and his wife and
family know how welcome they are. Pray
for their wisdom, strength and patience during this time.
·
Elaine and Jim
Pounder and their ‘Little Church’
ministry. They thank you for your
prayers. Continue to pray for their safety,
health, strength and time with family as their ministry continues to spread
around the world in a model of home churches. Pray for continued growth of
their YouTube channel and website: The
Little Church World at https://www.youtube.com/user/thelittlechurchworld
·
Pat and Isobel –as they serve tirelessly in challenging
times. Pray the Lord refreshes and
strengthens them with ‘streams in the desert’.
·
Ray and Kathy –
Ray has recovered from his surgery. Pray
for plans to move his mom (who is fading into the growing fog of dementia) to
Sydney where more of her family can support her. Pray for their separate ministries to grow
through the witness of their love and compassion.
·
Jenny S–
Pray Father-God continues to give her robust health, sufficient financial
support and winsome wisdom -- and keep praying He provides her with a new car
(she would love leather seats). Help her
identify the value of her unique contributions wherever she goes.
·
Talitha
– in full-time children’s ministry needs financial support for her work. Pray God moves the hearts of those around her
to provide ample support for her work.
·
Isaias and Judith
Catorce – have
faithfully served as key leaders and teachers for Ambassadors for Christ
Philippines (AFCP – TMS Global). Judith
still needs your prayers as she recovers from cancer surgery. I had the privilege of visiting their
ministry and encourage you to learn more about their tireless work and consider
supporting them by going to www.tms-global.org . Select the ‘Give’ option at the top of
the page. Select ‘Give to a
Worker.’ Type the amount of the gift and
the code 6028 (which equals ‘Catorce’), then follow the simple directions.
·
Andrew M. – national
coordinator of (Deaf Ministries Intnl). Pray for strength and wisdom and for his
beloved wife, Toyoko, as she supports him.
·
Simon, Tamara and
their children – Simon has moved
to a new ministry with new challenges.
Pray for him and his entire family.
·
John and Sheridan
– a most delightful couple.
He is the pastor of a church with a small and faithful congregation, and
she supports him in many ways. Pray God
encourages them to not grow weary of their work and that the Lord brings
abundant fruit.
·
Patrick
- a Bible scholar, who is presently part of an English Translation Review
Committee, reviewing a new translation of the New Testament, ‘The Antioch
Bible’ (translating from Syriac to English).
Pray for their hoped-for goal of finishing the entire NT this calendar
year and that he has increasing skill in the complicated languages he is
working with.
·
Audley M – In his 90s, has remarried after his wife passed
away. Pray for their union in Christ,
heath and strength. Pray for his wisdom
and the effective growth of his wonderful radio ministry (Florida, Virginia,
Alabama, Indianapolis) as America hunger for ‘True meat’ and for sufficient
energy to work on his book.
Pray Especially for Salvation for:
·
Becky
– still in rehab for spinal surgery.
Pray for her patience and for her health care providers to be wise and
compassionate, that her family rallies around her to care for her and, most of
all, that she finds the Lord in all this.
·
Fred and Barb –
brother of Patti -- for salvation.
·
Bryan and Julie
(Patti’s daughter) Pray for the salvation of at least one of the family and
that the others will follow shortly thereafter.
They are parents of Callilah, Adrian, Micah, Kevin and Nate --
lost, damaged and troubled children – all of whom we have prayed for over the
years.
·
Sophie–
six-year-old daughter of a friend is chronically ill and frail. Please pray for her, her parents and health
carers to find ways to manage her symptoms and heal her and that this will lead
them all to God’s saving grace.
·
Paul –
please pray for him. He still has not
found a job or work after more than ten years.
Please pray the Lord provides needed work so he can begin to heal and
strengthen.
·
Pray for Jeff and
Rachael’s family in Louisville to
desire and seek a relationship with the Lord.
·
Peggy – a
dear friend and colleague of my sister-in-law who has been battling cancer in
her neck for years. Her new oncologist
has started a combination of chemo and radiation that seems to be working, but
she is miserable. Please pray for her as
she waits for her body to heal and strengthen and that she finds salvation.
·
Sue and Rob – opened their home to support Luke who is angry and lost. He has been there a long time now and refuses
to move out. Please pray the Lord saves
all three and that Luke realises he must take responsibility for his own
life. Pray for continued patience and
compassion of Sue and Rob.
·
Demi and John – one evening John went out their backdoor to run
an errand and was attacked by someone with a knife who stabbed him several
times (one pierced his heart). He has
recovered physically, but pray for him and his wife as they pull their lives
together – that they might find the Lord in all the chaos left behind.
·
Jen N –
a Jewish woman I’ve met at work, please pray for her that she will find a new
role and that she stays safe and healthy.
Please pray for her and her two boys (ages 16 and 17).
Pray for those with ongoing health concerns
Many of us have family, friends and loved ones with fragile
health. Pray God takes special care with
them and protects them in practical ways and that the Lord will have mercy on
them.
·
Wayne B – is slowly losing his precious wife, Lyn,
(diagnosed with frontal temporal dementia three and a half years ago). She has been in care since May of 2020 but recently
had a succession of falls and is now in a psycho-geriatric facility. She
sometimes knows who he is but is no longer able to respond. Pray for comfort for Wayne as he deals with
this difficult situation.
·
Joni – a long-time friend, wandering through the
challenges of cancer treatment. No
results yet from the PET scan, but other tests indicate her cancer is
gone. Nevertheless, she is still
recovering from the treatments and needs your prayers as she lives alone.
·
Hans–
a dear friend in Germany struggling with lung cancer and financial
difficulties. Pray his new social worker
will be able to help him and that he will have patience. Pray for his healthcare providers and that he
is surrounded by faithful and compassionate Christian friends who will remind
him of the Lord’s love. Pray for his Mom
(age 84) -- that their time together is filled with extraordinarily good
memories and lots of love.
·
Jake – continues his battle with COPD (emphysema) and
heart problems (he’s now had five stents put in). Please pray for his daughter, Tiffany and his other friends and health
carers to help him through his health journey.
·
Jen – who
lost her only sister and recently had an accident that landed her in a special
long-term facility. She is home now and
very tired and grateful to be home.
Please pray for her patience and that she will realise how much the Lord
loves her.
·
Philip and Sue –
Philip recently had surgery. Pray for
his health carers and for Sue as she supports him through his recovery.
·
Leon –
out of intensive care into the high dependency unit. Pray for his health-care providers that they
are wise and compassionate.
·
Patti and John –
pray God continues to inspire them with His love and compassion and that He
will guard their health. Pray also for
travelling mercies as Patti is now the only one who drives.
·
Dana,
daughter of Annette and Lyle just gave birth to their first grandchild. All healthy.
Pray God watches over this precious, new child throughout her life and
that He captures her heart early in her life that she may inspire others by her
faith and love.
