September 18, 2003 – Seasons of Life

IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008

Thursday morning… Yeah!! Why? Because Thursday morning followed Wednesday night. I so enjoyed my time at Greenwood Covenant last night. I met a group of warm, loving, giving, caring ladies… Such a sweet fellowship. The theme of last night’s gathering was Seasons of Life…. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
I shared with them the Seasons of my life and who Jesus has been to me in those Seasons. And now in the Autumn of my life, it is the best season so far but then that is the way it should be, don’t you think? Do you remember that song? Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before; everyday with Jesus I love Him more and more; Jesus saves and keeps me and He’s the One I’m living for; everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before.
Whatever season of life you are in whether it be Spring or Summer or Fall or Winter, Jesus has a plan for you. He desires to walk with you in this season and He desires to grow you into a woman (and for our brothers … A man) of excellence! You are not too young or too old to walk with Jesus!! Is that good news or what?!
Let me read something with you. Luke 18:15 – 16
Now they were also bringing [even] babies to Him that He might touch them, and when the disciples noticed it, they reproved them. BUT Jesus called them [the parents] to Him, saying, Allow the little children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for to such [as these] belongs the kingdom of God.
It is never too soon to bring one to Jesus. It’s never too soon to speak life to a child. Even before that child leaves the womb of his or her mother, speaking and singing the name of Jesus to that child is so right to do. We cannot start too young introducing a child to Jesus! And never discourage a young one’s questions about Jesus; assuming her or she is too young to understand. Jesus is Life and we want our children to LIVE.
And neither is the winter of our lives too late for Jesus to walk with us and make us vessels of blessings to others. Go with me to II Corinthians 4: 16. Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.
Do you see that? No matter what is going on with this tabernacle of flesh that we inhabit, our inner being, who we really are, is renewed daily in Jesus. The winter season should be our best season because our winter season is moving us to that ETERNAL SPRING.
Read with me verse 17- 18: For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!]. Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.
That’s what it said: deathless and everlasting!! When we have completed our seasons, we have an ETERNAL SPRING … Deathless and everlasting WITH OUR SWEET SAVIOUR. Now can you run on that today!! Sure you can!! I love you all!
Father, thank You for the Seasons of our lives and that whatever season it is You are Lord. You are so good to us; keep us on track and keep us in Your Word for Jesus sake. We come now knowing You are hearing our individual prayers for each one listed here and knowing You are doing all things well. Amen and amen. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. George. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Brooklyn. Families and communities hit by Gustav and Ike. Jacqueline and her boys, River and Jackson. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Family from Olive Baptist. Bernie. Darlene. Edie G. Rachel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Dylan. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. David & Allison. Jeanette and Earl and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance andFamily. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family, Mollie B.
Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: T. Palin. Rick M.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George.Travis N. Hawk.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony.
Hospitalized: Captain Tran
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G.
Still praying but no recent update: Hector. Corpl. Light. Bradley T. Albert R III.
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.
November’s Election.
As I post this it is °79F and light haze in Kuwait, KW & the time there is 6:39 AM AST – on September 18, 2008 Internet Daughters of the KING
THE WHITE STONE
His Ministry to You

Un-explainable

IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2008
Quick report – 6th and 7th grades, math and science classes. I even liked it … Most of the Time!

I have received via email some pictures depicting Galveston, Texas since Ike and the first Scripture that came to mind was
Psalm 27: 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the LORD
In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!
Devastation, whether physical such as the aftermath of Ike or a medical report or the untimely snatching away of a spouse or a child, this passage speaks. It speaks so clearly, maybe no commentary is needed. Read it again. Just in these moments here at the screen, I have read them again and again. Lets not only read them but pray them. Pray and rely upon them for people; people assaulted by Ike; people ravaged by sickness or death or some other sort of separation.
ABBA, I don’t understand all You are saying within me as I read again and again these verses but somehow there seems to be a sense of comfort that I know is possible even in devastation. And it is for this comfort, this calm stillness, this un-explainable hope in the midst of devastation that I am praying for those who have lost ‘all’ or much either by Ike or by some other means. Ike and Gustav came and went leaving homes and businesses and landscape torn and riddled and flattened and these are things we can see with our eyes but the picture I think I am getting ABBA is that sin and sickness and disease have come to many and have torn and riddled, flattened and devastated the spirits of so many. And so based upon Your Word I pray for un-explainable hope to arise in people; the people of Ike, the people of Gustav, the people of this IDOK list. I pray for an un-explainable peace to settle in hearts; for a quiet un-explainable assurance to take hold of minds and emotions; for a comfort that cannot be seen but is even more real and tangible than a blanket around a shivering child to become a steadfast home in the spirits of people. I pray for people to receive from You a determination to believe against all human odds that they will in the here and now see Your Goodness. ABBA, You are Perfect Father, Savior, Friend. Thank You for un-explainable hope even in midst of rubble. And, Lord, even though I do not understand all that You Holy Spirit are doing and saying in these moments, THANK YOU. YOU ARE AWESOME. And I am so grateful to be Your Servant. Somehow, Lord, speak the power and comfort and un-explainable hope of these verses to every eye who reads them and every ear who hears them, and especially our IDOK Troops. Amen and amen. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. George. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Brooklyn. Families and communities hit by Gustav and Ike. Jacqueline and her boys, River and Jackson. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Family from Olive Baptist. Bernie. Darlene. Edie G. Rachel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Dylan. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. David & Allison. Jeanette and Earl and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance andFamily. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family,
Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: T. Palin
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George.Travis N. Hawk.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony.
Hospitalized: Captain Tran
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G.
Still praying but no recent update: Hector. Corpl. Light. Bradley T. Albert R III.
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.
November’s Election.
As I post this it is 86°F and partly cloudy in Baghdad, IQ & the time there is 8:20 AM AST- on September 17, 2008
Internet Daughters of the KING
THE WHITE STONE
His Ministry to You

New Light on Idols

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008

I am approaching Tuesday with some apprehension. Tuesday marks my first Sub Assignment. I am privileged and in honesty a wee bit scared to face a room of 6th and 7th graders. So your prayers for me are greatly coveted.
Again another one of those thoughts that is not new and yet it is. And as you may suspect it’s Beth (Moore) again from her book Breaking Free Day by Day at page 270 and she writes: “Everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. 1 Corinthians 9:25.
I’m not being overly dramatic when I say we can either tear down our strongholds with the mighty power of God or they will eventually tear us down.
We don’t even have to love something or someone to idolize or exalt it in our minds. We can easily idolize something we hate! I’ll never forget realizing that a person I felt I couldn’t forgive had become an idol to me through my un-forgiveness. Humanly speaking, I didn’t even like the person, yet Satan had seized my imagination until the whole situation stole my focus and therefore became idolatrous to me. May it never be so. Let God have the victory in everything!”
Is that a new concept to you too? I don’t recall it ever occurring to me previously that something or someone I don’t even like could become an idol to me. I have always just assumed if I idolized something or someone it was because of great, great affection for the person or thing. Like I did when I was 13 with Elvis. How sobering it is to realize that being consumed or at the least regularly preoccupied with something or someone to the exclusion of obedience is idolatry. That brings un-forgiveness into a whole new light, doesn’t it? Can you think of other idols we love to hate? I truly hope that this concept is beyond you, meaning that you have no idols either the kind you love or hate.
2 Corinthians 10:
4 since the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments
5 and every high-minded thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
6 And we are ready to punish any disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
ABBA, I am grateful for fresh insight. Even more now I see it is important to abolish every stronghold in our lives for we do not want to be guilty of idolatry. We do not want to be guilty of allowing thoughts and imaginations that breed disobedience to live in our minds, for surely if we entertain them they will become deeds. Thank You for bringing this to our attention. And thank You that we are without excuse for You are able to deliver us. We pray for willing hearts. And now we pray for Melinda asking that You cause the bones to knit well and quickly and that You bring together too monies needed at this time. We are also thinking of Trisha and her family as they grieve. Lord, ease and heal their minds. I cannot imagine what they are suffering; only You can hold them up and carry them in this time. And yet I pray that You will bring others close to them to touch and comfort them. And ABBA I pray for George and Juanita; for George, that You will give him a full recovery and peace for Juanita while You do. We thank You for continuing to comfort Patti’s family; it must be a bitter-sweet time for them – so grateful that she is no longer hurting and yet missing her so much. You know what to do for them and we trust You to do it. And for Bernie, Lord. We are remembering that You have a perfect plan of restoration for Bernie and You have plenty of strength and comfort and help for Linda. And Steve and Janet as they by trial find Your remedy for Steve. As we look over this list there are many many needs and Lord we are so grateful for the privilege of praying for them. So grateful for the love that brought this list together; so grateful that You would entrust at least in part to us these souls for prayer. Thank You for what You are doing on behalf of each one of them. Thank You for the blessings that You are giving to others as they come alongside to minister in Your Name. And we are mindful as we are daily of our IDOK Troops and their need for safety and protection as well as guidance and wisdom and we pray for this for each of them today. And we pray for their families for strength and peace of mind as they carry on with jobs and duties here. And Lord I pray for the presidential candidates as they continue to speak to gain the confidence of we the people. You know my heart on this. You know the cry of my heart for this Nation and You know who You have brought to light for such a time as this and I pray for enough voters to secure this Nation again. I pray for Peace and Protection for Israel and I pray for repentance and revival for we the people of America. I pray in Your grace You will continue to protect us from terrorists and I pray that You will see to it that terrorists wherever they are hiding will be apprehended and put out of commission. Father, I am sorry for the evil in this world, I am sorry for the mess we have made of this place. Thank You that it will not always be this way. Thank You for Your Grace and Your Kingdom that is to come and until then I pray You will transform each IDOK into a mighty warrior for Your Glory and the good of America and the world. Amen and amen. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. George. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Brooklyn. Families and communities hit by Gustav and Ike. Jacqueline and her boys, River and Jackson. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Family from Olive Baptist. Bernie. Darlene. Edie G. Rachel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Dylan. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. David & Allison. Jeanette and Earl and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance andFamily. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family,
Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: T. Palin
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George.Travis N. Hawk.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony.
Hospitalized: Captain Tran
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G.
Still praying but no recent update: Hector. Corpl. Light. Bradley T. Albert R III.
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.
November’s Election
As I post this it is 88°F and smoke in Balad, IQ & the time there is 5:40 AM AST- on September 16, 2008
Internet Daughters of the KING
THE WHITE STONE
His Ministry to You