IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2008
23 Days till Christmas
Lets read from the Amplified Bible again today at John 3. 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.
18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation–he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.]
I like so much the way the Amplified reads. I heard a friend once say the Amplified Bible means ‘amply fed’. I like that. Read again that last sentence. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.] As unpopular a teaching and as misleading as it could be if a soul chose to be deceived, people don’t go to hell for lying, cheating, stealing, murder, adultery, abortion, homosexuality and so on and so on. People go to hell because they have refused to let their trust REST in Christ’s name. My understanding of that is that people all over the globe have refused and continue to refuse for various reasons to believe that Christ alone is worthy and sufficient to save them from hell and from sin. It is a matter of a soul believing so much that the sinless life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, is the only way of salvation that that soul comes to REST in that belief. That is that soul is satisfied that Jesus is enough and refuses to believe anything else. And according to Scripture when a soul has so RESTED in Jesus, then that one will step by step cease to do those sins mentioned above as well as others. Ceasing and desisting takes longer in some of us; but BE SURE it will occur because if it does not and there is no heavenly chastisement, then most assuredly that One has not RESTED in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 12: 7 You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?
8 Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God’s children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all].
So the next time someone says “you know you go to hell for lying”, you will know based upon the Word of God that is not true. However, be sure to mention there will be liars, cheaters, thieves, murderers, adulterers, those who have aborted their babies, homosexuals, morally upright folks and the like in hell, not necessarily because they SINNED but because they are SINNERS who never RESTED in Christ Jesus for Eternal Life and for the ARREST of their behavior in the here and now.
As you walk this life and you encounter those practicing such sins, love them in Christ Jesus, pray and wait. And as you do Jesus will reveal to you what your role is in the life of that one you love. Remember HE is the CHASTISER and the SAVIOUR. It’s our job to love them and live before them RESTED in Christ Jesus and steady in the process of being ARRESTED from our own sins.
The following is “From 31 Family Devotions for Christmas, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by Permission.”
“Decide today that you will not let the commercialism of the holiday spoil the simple message of God’s love for us. Fix your heart on the true meaning of Christmas: God sent His only Son to earth so that we could be with Him for eternity!”
Stress-free Tip
Start making lists of everything you will need for the holidays. These may include a baking list, a craft list, and a gift-giving list. Keep a special notebook with you at all times so that when you remember something you need to do, you can write it down right away. It’s also a good idea to mark your calendar with each event to which you will need to bring a dish or dessert. That way you won’t forget and have to scramble for a store-bought item at the last minute.
Banana Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
1 1/3 cups sugar
1 Cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 to 4 medium bananas, very ripe, mashed
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups milk chocolate chips
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cream sugar, sour cream, butter and eggs. Stir in flour, salt and baking soda. Add bananas and vanilla; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread in greased 9 x 11 inch pan. Bake 35 minutes. Cool in pan.
ABBA, thank You for each IDOK. I pray You will comfort the weary and lift up the fallen and heal the sick and relieve those suffering according to Your Glory and the eternal good of each. Thank You Holy Spirit for Your ARRESTING Work in each of us and I pray You will arrest the bad Behaviour in each of us. I pray You will make us more sensitive to You and thereby to the needs of others. Help us be encouragers rather than discouragers. Help us live and speak in such ways as we build up others. Help us bring praise with us as we go today. Give us Your Thoughts, Lord, especially when our plans and schedules are derailed by jobs that don’t go as we intended. Help us know that ALL things work for our good because we love You and we have been called for Your Purposes and we are learning to walk in Your Purposes for us. As I look over this list I see the faces of many, some I’ve not met so don’t but either way we pray for them in whatever capacity brought them to this list, we pray for Your Best for them. We specifically pray again for Lucas and his family. His injuries we think are critical but we know You have a plan and we pray for Your Glory to be seen in this. We pray for his brothers and his Mom and Dad to be held in You. We pray too for our IDOK Troops that You will hold them today and keep them from injury either in body, mind or spirit. We pray they will know they are loved and appreciated and that they will make right decisions today. We continue our prayers for Americans, for those who know You as Saviour to practice holiness and for those who have not rested their trust in You to be convicted and repent. We pray for the Peace and Safety of Israel, that leaders will make right decisions within the governing bodies of Israel and within Washington on Israel’s behalf. We pray for our Christian brothers and sisters being persecuted in various places that they will be strong and that You will comfort and protect them for Your Name Sake. Thank You for the opportunities that will come our way today, help us seize them in Your Name. Amen and amen. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Terry and family. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family. Carolyn. Mary. Mabel. Joan. Jodi H. David T’s Family. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Jason A and his mother. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. George. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Brooklyn. Jacqueline and her boys, River and Jackson. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Bernie. Darlene and Torkel. 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. John L.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Richard M. Brandon B.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George.Travis N. Hawk. Justin G.
Injured: Lucas S. (11/30/08)
Injured and brought State side: Anthony.
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G. Captain Tran
Still praying but no recent update: Hector. Corpl. Light. Bradley T. Albert R III.
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.
As I post this it is 63°F and haze in Baghdad, IQ & the time there is 3:34 PM AST – on December 2, 2008.
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