Daily Archives: 6 Oct 2008

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Struggling

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2008

Ten of Twenty Five – A Great Recipe:
10- Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

A prayer update from Martha regarding David T: Kathie, I asked you to pray for my son’s friend who is dying with non-hotchkins Lymphoma. He was bitter with God. All the Paramedics at Medstar and the firemen from around here had a benefit for him this past Saturday.. I have been on a cruise so I didn’t find out about David T. Until I got home. He has made peace with God and says he knows where he is going when he dies. Praise the Lord! God is so good.
And we all say Yes He is!!
My timing has been off today and you probably know what that means — I am lacking a new, fresh IDOK and added to that it is time for all good little IDOKs, including me, to go to sleep. As I do more often that I like I have reached into a storage disc for our time together today. This one comes from a day uncertain in November of 2004. For some, this re-run will be a first run; however it finds you, Father, use this for good.

I was praying with someone yesterday who was struggling; struggling to cast their burden upon The Lord; not for lack of ‘want to’ exactly but because their grip on the thing was so tight they just could not let go. It was as if it was welded to them. Do you know what I mean? If you do you know just letting go and letting it drop seems impossible. Maybe we have all been there. In fact I wrote myself a prayer (a note to myself) not long ago and it read: help me release my grip on this – relax my hold – help me let go – get me to the place I am willing to let go and thank You that all things work together for my good cause I do love You and You have called me. Thank You.
Are you like me? Can you see yourself holding that thing in your grasp? Your fingers are so tightly around it that to release it will require prying your fingers from it one by one. You know what I have learned about Father? If we will come to Him and admit that is our condition and offer ourselves to Him to bring us to the place of willingness to release the grip — HE WILL! I have experienced Him gently working with me one by one to relax those holds until the object falls from my hand into HIS. Oh what a relief!! It can take only seconds and it can take longer — days, weeks, months even years BUT He is faithful. Question is are we even willing to be made willing? It starts with a prayer; a prayer to be made willing. A prayer that says Lord, I see that I am unwilling to do this but I am willing for You to bring me to the place of willingness. And He will!
Matthew 11
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Hebrews 4
15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Yes, in HIM we can find help; even for the tightest-held grip. And yes, even if our need is to be made willing to be made willing. Yes! Even that He can do and will do if we will just ask!
Romans 8
28 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
Father, thank You; thank You that You are our faithful Father even when we are scared, little brats You love us anyway. Thank You for Your patience, Your mercy, Your Loving-kindness and for giving us wills and space and grace to repent — to let go of those things that we know hurt us and do not honor You. Thank You Father. Bless Your people today; bless us with compassion and mercy for those who are struggling to let go; for we have been there Lord and knowing us we will be there again at some point; thank You for Your mercy; help us spread it around today for Jesus sake. And as we read these names and situtations we entrust them again to You for Jesus sake. amen and amen. Economic conditions, especially the effects it has upon the minds and hearts of people. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Jodi H. David T. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Jason A and his mother. 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. 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 and Family. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family, Mollie B. Public and Private School Teachers.
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. T. Palin.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: 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 68°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 7:51 AM AST – on October 7, 2008
Internet Daughters of the KING
THE WHITE STONE
His Ministry to You

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The Golden Sieve

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2008

Nine of twenty five – a Great Recipe:
9- Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

Proverbs 20:24 A man’s steps are of the LORD;
How then can a man understand his own way?
25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.
26 A wise king sifts out the wicked,
And brings the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching all the inner depths of his heart.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king,
And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the splendor of old men is their gray head.
30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.
I cannot say as I begin placing these words on the screen that I have a full understanding of them or even why they seem to be right for us in this moment. But those of you have been with me for awhile know that I often begin not knowing why or where an IDOK piece will end.
So, A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?
How in deed! Do you have to look far to see a soul following his own steps to see what God means here? How long does it take to step into a mess when we fail to follow Jesus? Not long at all. And these days it seems quicker than soon. Have we not heard of or even know little ones as young as 12 and 13 years who are already accomplished alcoholics, drug addicts and prostitutes? That’s too sad to think on long, isn’t it?
And verse 25, how today is that? It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.
How deep a pit can we dig for ourselves when we act too quickly? How much hurt can we heap upon ourselves and others by embracing a plan as good, even holy, before we KNOW it is? How foolish of us to say YES before we have had time to pray and think. I have a rule of thumb I use often for questionable decisions, especially with ‘act now’ offers: If you cannot wait 24 hours for my answer, my answer is NO.
And then verse 26. A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them.
And you know, if this bit of wisdom is good enough for a king, isn’t it good for Everyday Joe or even a presidential candidate? Read it again. Lets look at the word sifts. FreeDictionary. Com describes it this way: To put (flour, for example) through a sieve or other straining device in order to separate the fine from the coarse particles. And To examine and sort carefully: sift the evidence. And To make a careful examination. This reminds me of that old adage: You are known by the company you keep. If we are wise we will place all of the ends and outs and pieces and fabrics and personalities presented to us into the Golden Sieve (The Bible made alive within us by the Holy Spirit) and give it a spin and when the spin reveals coarse particles, we will set those coarse particles aside. We won’t incorporate them into ‘bread’ for our ‘bosom’. That is we won’t feed upon or take into confidence or become intimate with the unholy. Does that seem harsh? 2 Corinthians 6: 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? But there is more than sifting offered in the verse. There’s ‘threshing’. So when that ‘coarse particle’ is a personality, rather than a God-less thought, concept, doctrine, or deed; what do we do? We wait. We pray. We stand ready for any call from the Lord to participate with Him on the ‘threshing floor’. And in time, if those coarse particles are made ‘fine’ by the Threshing Wheel of the Lord, then we offer them the intimacy of home and hearth.
Verse 27 is a comfort to me. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart. Even more than just comfort but security too. I rest in knowing that ABBA searches the inner depths of my heart. I am SO GLAD I cannot hide anything from HIM!! In this moment I can think of no adjective that adequately describes the comfort and safety I feel knowing that He knows ALL about me, all that has been before and all that will ever be, and He STILL loves me. HE IS TRUELY AWESOME!
One more comment and we are finished for today. Verse 30. Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart. When ABBA brings to my attention those inner depths of my heart and the fire of judgment blows on that evil, it’s gonna HURT and it’s gonna cause some ‘stripes’ like a trip to the ‘wood shed’ . But even then I know He loves me and when that particular hurt is finished, my heart is one step cleaner. One step closer to being conformed to the image of Jesus. Hallelujah! I love it! Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
ABBA, this ends sweetly for me. Thank You. Thank You for the warmth and comfort, security and peace You bring to me and not to me alone but to every daughter and every son who calls You DADDY by the Blood of You Lord Jesus. Thank You. And for today strength enough to lean on You is all we ask. As I think about it what a perfect thing to ask for us all; every IDOK; every IDOK Soldier and family member; every name on our list here and even every unspoken request – strength enough to lean on You today Lord is what we ask. Amen and amen.
As I post this it is 74°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 8:39 AM AST – on October 6, 2008.
Internet Daughters of the KING
THE WHITE STONE
His Ministry to You