The Touch of Jesus Makes All The Difference!

IDOK DEVOTION for Friday, October 5, 2007

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1: 7
And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. I John 2:25
I listened intently today to the words of Nicole C. Mullen’s song – One Touch. I found the lyrics written on line and I want to share them with you. Read carefully and capture the vision of Jesus touching you, capture the vision of Him pushing through your madness and making you whole.
I do not know if Nicole penned the words to this song or not but obviously the song comes from The Gospels of Matthew,chapter 9; Mark, chapter 5; and Luke, chapter 8.

Luke 8: 43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

One Touch
Been ostracized for 12 years

I’m used to being alone
Spent everything I had
And now it’s gone
I’m used to being put down
My issues tell it all
My only hope is anchored
In this fall
If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I’d be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul
If only one touch
So many people calling
How could He ever know
That just a brush of Him
Would stop the flow
If he knew would He rebuke me
Or shame me to the crowd
Well I’m desperate ’cause it’s never or it’s now
If I could just touch the hem of
His garment I know I’d be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul.
And then suddenly He turned around
He said somebody has unleashed my power
Well, frightened and embarrassed I bowed
You see I told Him of my troubles
And how…
I had to touch the Hem of His garment
And I know I’ve been made whole
And how I had pressed my way through this madness
And His love has healed my soul.
Then with one word He touched the hem of my garment
And you know I’ve been made whole
And somehow He pressed His way through my madness
And His love has healed my soul.
I tell you he Touched me.
He reached way down and touched me
When no one else would touch me
Your Jesus shol’ ‘nough [sure enough] he touched me…
And I know I’ve been made whole
I believe whatever our issues, whatever our madness through which we are pushing, if we will let Him touch the hem of our garments, the ‘life draining’ flow will stop. He is not turned off by our issues or our shame, He wants to gently touch us and make us whole!
Father, thank You for this song; thank You Lord Jesus for making this woman of the Gospels whole. Thank You for making us whole. Thank You for pushing through our madness, each of us, and making us whole. Thank You for looking upon us with compassion and love and giving us all what we need most. Thank You Father. We are continuing to remember Brenda and Jacob, asking that You heal them. We are reminded of J. Lloyd and Cathy too as they continue with You in the healing of their hearts. Thank You for them and bless them abundantly we pray. Thank You that Jonathan is Stateside now; we are delighted! Thank You and we pray for him that he will immediately get with a Bible Believing Church and join in worship and fellowship. Guide him, comfort and bless him and all our other IDOK Troops too. Move upon each of them to rely upon You in greater degree each day and protect them in mind and body and cause them to love you more. And Father we Pray for the Peace of Israel. Protect her and help her see You and surrender to You Lord Jesus, individually and as a Nation, and if we can help please enlist us. Thank You Father. And if we can help with evangelizing America, help us do that too – revive Your Church, Lord and begin with me. Thank You for each of these listed here – we entrust them to You. We again pray for the Eastern Shore Women’s Conference, Lord, move Your Women to be there and Holy Spirit we ask You to pour out and down upon us and fill us up for Jesus sake. Brenda D. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. The Ellis Family. Bev. Ed Litton and family. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. Kathy. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops -Shaun. Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W.
In Transition: Jonathan. Jasmine B.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Lee. Mack. The 226. Troy. Danny. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Tommy T. Civilian in Country – Mike.
As I post this it is 89°F and mostly cloudy in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 8:29 AM AST – on October 5, 2007

I would like to remind you again of the Eastern Shore Women’s Ministry Conference – our 4th Annual – to be held on November 3, 2007. Please pray, ask Father God if He has a message for you at this conference. I would like to see you there. This link will give you all the information:

His Ministry to You

New Cards: B16, E16, AB8 and AB9 – published 9/26/07
http://www.whitestonephotographyart.com/

Corrective Lenses

IDOK DEVOTION for Thursday, October 4, 2007

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1: 7
And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. I John 2:25

It is amazing what corrective lenses do for you! For me, without them I see dimly, fuzzy, no details, almost shadows, but slip on those glasses and yeah! I can see! And with these thoughts in mind I keyed in ‘see clearly’ to my on line Bible Search, asking it to search in The Message Bible for references. I liked what it found and here is one of the references for you, but in the New King James Version.
Joshua 3: 1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.
2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp;
3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
I also read this morning in my Journey that Father has each of us on an ‘Individual Journey’ with Him. And that even though we collectively live here on planet earth as brothers and sisters in Christ, we each have an individual path that we walk with Him, even though we are all moving toward the same destination – we all, meaning all Christians – the destination of non-believers is the other direction – we must walk our path with Him, individually. Individually, we must do as we see in our Scripture Tex this morning. Don’t move, until you SEE the Ark of the Covenant moving. That may require some waiting or it may mean getting your bags packed and get moving Now. I can’t see your path but you can as long as you keep your eyes on the Father’s Will through the corrective lens of HIS COVENANT with You who is The WORD made Flesh – Jesus the Christ and Who is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit when we read His Written Word. Oh yes! The Corrective Lens! What a Blessing!!
Pray for the Peace of Israel
Father, we have heard no word yet regarding Brenda’s surgery yesterday but we are confident that You have been with her and You are yet with her and shall be and we are trusting You to manifest Your Glory to her and through her. Thank You Father. And with this morning’s message we are looking to You to guide each of us individually today; and we know that collectively You will guide and lead Your Church as You are simultaneously work with each of us. You are AWESOME Father. So I thank You for the work You are doing and will do today for each and every IDOK. Thank You for meeting each of our needs today. Thank You for giving individual attention to each one of us today and for giving Your Perfect Love and Attention to these listed here and to our IDOK Troops. Thank You for the protection You give to them and we ask You to bring this war to a successful conclusion and we ask that all our IDOK Troops come home to us safe and sound, more in love with You than when they deployed. And we ask in Jesus Name.
Brenda D. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. The Ellis Family. Bev. Ed Litton and family. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. Kathy. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam.

Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops -Shaun. Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W.
In Transition: Jonathan. Jasmine B.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Lee. Mack. The 226. Troy. Danny. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Tommy T. Civilian in Country – Mike.
As I post this it is 101°F and scattered clouds in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is
3:54 PM ASTPM AST – on October 4, 2007

I would like to remind you again of the Eastern Shore Women’s Ministry Conference – our 4th Annual – to be held on November 3, 2007. Please pray, ask Father God if He has a message for you at this conference. I would like to see you there. This link will give you all the information: http://www.easternshorewomensministry.com/news.html
His Ministry to You

New Cards: B16, E16, AB8 and AB9 – published 9/26/07
http://www.whitestonephotographyart.com/

Whatcha Think of You?

IDOK DEVOTION for Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1: 7
And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. I John 2:25

I would like to remind you again of the Eastern Shore Women’s Ministry Conference – our 4th Annual – to be held on November 3, 2007. Please pray, ask Father God if He has a message for you at this conference. I would like to see you there. This link will give you all the information: http://www.easternshorewomensministry.com/news.html

A revist to December 1, 2004:
Father, multiple thoughts are rolling around in this and You know I started to say empty head of mine and immediately the direction becomes clearer; thank You.
I wonder how often we sell ourselves short? That was a question posed to my mind this morning. You know what I mean? Don’t we all do that? Don’t we all often think we are … Well, not much? And you know what else we think? We think that is being humble. WRONG! I am told this morning that failing to see and recognize and yes even give honor to the qualities and the value and the character that Father has built in us as we have walked with Him is NOT humility. It is and this hurts… It is sin. Ouch! And we say well isn’t that better than being the other way and think we are “all that and a bag of chips”? Maybe; but either is not what Father intends for us. I think He wants us to know that
John 3
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
How much more valuable can we get? Now lets Amplify that —
16 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.

And we say but what about those verses that say:
Romans 3

23 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives.
Isaiah 64
6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
And all this is TRUTH. If we are so foolish as to spurn the GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST and think we can by acts of our own righteousness obtain what only Jesus can give us… Well that is the most arrogant, most prideful, stupid thing a human can do — but you know what even then HE STILL LOVES US! Is that value or what?!!
But back to those qualities and values and character He is building in us as we walk with Him… We have to recognize those as good too or we have missed something important. Look at this
Romans 12
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Do we see what is here? If we have allow the Holy Spirit of God to work in us; if He is transforming us — if we are sinning less than we used to — acknowledge that! Read the next verse.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
We often see ‘the think not more highly’, but do we see the balance here? Think soberly? Don’t go off on yourself either way! Webster says Be earnestly thoughtful.
Recognize the great (what other kind would He do?!) work that Father has done in you and give Him praise and when someone says you did a good job: say THANK YOU! And if you add ANY thing to the thank you, add: I am grateful for the work Father has done in me; He has invested a lot in me and I appreciate that He has.

First and foremost in your praying this morning I ask you to pray for Bobby and his family. Bobby is a young teen with critically imbalanced blood counts; he is considered stable but critical and we want so much for him to recover.
Father, at times like these words fail us other than to ask Your help; that you balance Bobby’s blood count, that you stabilize him and restore him to health; that you eradicate the infection and give Bobby renewed strength and comfort his mother; give peace and a calmness in this storm as only you can; give the medical team wisdom and insight into this condition and cause them to be accurate in their treatment of Bobby. Father, please restore Bobby for Jesus sake.

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I am thrilled to report to you this day on October 3, 2007, nearly 3 years since that prayer that Bobby is doing GREAT. He has a daily Rx he administers to himself and he is good to go — school, after school work, church activities and now even a beautiful girl friend!! God is so Good!!
Pray for the Peace of Israel
Please remember Jacob in your prayers. He will be having surgery at UAB Children’s Hospital on October 9. He will be admitted on the 8th and there will be special precautions taken because of his malignant hyperthermia. He is not thriving and gaining weight as he should and we are all very concerned with his health. Rachel N.
Reminder: today October 3 is Brenda’s surgery.

Father, thank You. Thank You for what You did and have done for Bobby and with this on our hearts we come interceding for Jacob and we pray for such a miracle for Jacob too. That You will raise up Jacob to live healthy, to go to school, to run and laugh and grow and love and bless You and his family. Help Rachel and the family. You know our hearts for them and it is for that we pray.
And Father, we pray for Brenda as she prepares for surgery, as the physicians and surgery team prepare; give peace to Brenda and to her family and for the surgeon and the medical team we ask for accuracy and skill to be text book perfect. Father, bring Brenda through this surgery and recovery beautifully – remove the cancer and set her on her feet again quickly to continue to serve You, we pray.
And we bring these others too. Lots of emotions, physical pain and suffering, spiritual pain and anguish, illness, sickness and disease and more are associated with these and we ask You to individually bless these today. We pray that each will be strengthened today to continue believing and continuing serving and continue receiving from You. And for our IDOK Troops we continue to ask that You protect them in mind and body and that You bring each of them home to us safe and sound and more in love with You than when they deployed. And especially for those who are now home, help them find their way and their place and this we ask in Jesus Name.
Rachel B. Brenda D. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. The Ellis Family. Bev. Ed Litton and family. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. Kathy. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops -Shaun. Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W.
In Transition: Jonathan. Jasmine B.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Lee. Mack. The 226. Troy. Danny. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Tommy T.
Civilian in Country – Mike.

As I post this it is 97°F and sunny in Baghdad, Iraq & the time there is 3:07 PM AST – on October 3, 2007

His Ministry to You

New Cards: B16, E16, AB8 and AB9 – published 9/26/07
http://www.whitestonephotographyart.com/