The tree is finally up and there are five gifts beneath it – one for each precious daughter and the ‘Green Box’ containing years of prayers to Jesus offering Him our gifts of praises and pledges. Some of those pledges we have kept and some we have not and He loves us anyway! Gifts for others are yet to be wrapped. Yesterday was full of now happy memories and today promises to be too. A Charlie Brown Christmas was never so grand as yesterday when Josh played Linus. And today Logan will sing. It’s one week before Christmas and I am counting my blessings. I think it’s a very good faith exercise for today. Make your own list even if you only do it mentally. And while you are naming your blessings count the old songs of Christian faith as one of your blessings. I am told that Count Your Many Blessings was written in 1897 by Johnson Oatman, Jr. Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWb4sdriOo8&feature=related
. I think it will be a blessing you can count today too. And this one too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxszG_MCdBI&feature=related And I am thankful today for eyes that see, ears that ear, and fingers that type and sweet IDOKs who read and tears of joy as we worship our Savior and King. To Him be all the glory. ABBA, Great is Your Faithfulness and in You we have all we need and so much more and we owe all to You Lord Jesus. Amen and amen. Some time in the course of the day pray for this list below but in this moment right now just worship and praise our God. And one more will really get you going. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcjDoMJBbu4&NR=1 Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Dot B. 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. Wayne B. 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. Richard M. Adam M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B. Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George.Travis N. Hawk. Justin G. Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08) Ill: Coleman H. (12/17/08) 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 55°F and partly cloudy in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 4:11 PM AST – on December 18 2008. Internet Daughters of the KING THE WHITE STONE His Ministry to You
The song, Mary, Did You Know, is right up there for me with Oh, Holy Night. Did Mary know? Did Mary know the child she carried in her womb was the Son of the Living God? Of course she did! Did she know when she kissed His face she was kissing the face of God? Of course she did. She also knew when she kissed the Face of God she was kissing the face of her little baby boy. Ponder that awhile. (and I’d love to read your ponderings, if you care to share. ) Mary is not deity but she deserves our admiration. Again I say Mary is not deity but she carried Deity within her. Read her song, hear the humility. Father God knew just what He was doing when He chose her. Luke 1: 46 And Mary said: “ My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.” Let me say it again. Mary had the peculiar privilege to be the Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. No other woman in eternity has that distinction. Mary was actually impregnated with the SEED of GOD and in the fullness of time, she gave birth to God. I do not understand it but I know it to be true. I know something else that is true. Mary is not the only one to carry Deity within her. You and I do too. Every man, woman, boy or girl who has traded their sins for Jesus’ Righteousness, carry DEITY within. Romans 8: 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Question is are we like Mary? Do we magnify the Lord we have within us? Do we rejoice in God our Savior? Do we know that God Almighty has regarded our lowly estate and has lifted us to be sons and daughters of the Most High God? My Dear Ones, if we know this, then we need to inform our faces, our thoughts, our words, and our deeds because there is a world out there that has no idea it’s CHRISTMAS. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Father, Holy Spirit, this is too much for us to take in alone. So I am asking You to break this Word open to us and feed it to us precious morsel by morsel until it lives in us and through us. Prayer Reports: Lukas is improving, so our prayers are being answered and now is NO time to stop. This link will give you more of an update. http://www.strafford1st.com/page25/page26/page26.html
And we have another seriously ill soldier. His name is Coleman Hinklefert. He is in a hospital in Germany. Please check out this blog for more information. www.rootingforcoleman.blogspot.com
Father, the news about Lukas is so good and we are grateful and we pray for more and more good news. We pray for his vision to be fully corrected as well as nerve endings, tissue, muscles, all the damaged areas of his body to be restored. And we pray for all emotional, material and spiritual provision needed for him and his family to be provided to them. And this news about Coleman is sad and disturbing. I hardly know what to say. He is loved and his family is so not ready to give him up Lord. And it seems to me that only You can give Coleman life here. Doctors do not know what to do. It is up to You Lord. You can heal Coleman. We are certain of that and Lord Jesus as You prayed in the Garden, Father Thy will be done. And we pray for our other IDOK Troops that You will protect them all individually in mind, body and spirit. And we pray for each listed here. As we look over the list we know some are doing so much better and others are still hanging in there waiting to be so much better too. Thank You that You are Lord over every situation and circumstance and we pray Your Will be done. Thank You for the successful surgery for Sharron and now we pray for a textbook perfect recovery too. We remember too our continuing concern for Israel, for peace and safety and support and the depraved state of America and we pray for space and grace to repent. And Father I especially ask today for all our IDOKS that each of us, including and especially me, that we let our faces and the rest of our being know that we know You live within us. Thank You ABBA. Amen and amen.Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Dot B. 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. Wayne B. 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. Richard M. Adam M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B. Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George.Travis N. Hawk. Justin G. Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08) Ill: Coleman H. (12/17/08) 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 34°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 8:40AM AST – on December 17, 2008. Internet Daughters of the KING THE WHITE STONE His Ministry to You
Two verses to carry with you: Psalm 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways And kind in all His deeds. 18The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
I am borrowing today from an uncertain day in December 2004. It was this excerpt from JOURNEY that caught my eye this morning as I skimmed the month of archived IDOKs. From Journey: IF you feel overwhelmed by circumstances or by your own sense of insecurity, saturate yourself in God’s Word to discover your true identity in Christ. God wants you to approach Him with confidence so you can become all He has in mind for you to be. Don’t allow circumstances to rob you of the joy and freedom God has given you through Jesus Christ. Move closer to Him and appropriate His supernatural strength. 2 Corinthians 5 (Amplified Bible) 17 Therefore if any person (no exceptions here — He says ANY) Is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is (not maybe or will be or hope to be BUT is) a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. (gone! As far as the east is from the west) Behold, the fresh and new has come! This is who we are … Think on that. 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. (nothing will come to us today in thought or deed, that HE does not understand, not only fully understands but has overcome for us , moreover was judged on the cross guilty thereof, so we could be acquitted! THEREFORE –) 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]. Amen — may it be so in us today. John 15 10 If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love. 11 I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing. 12 This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. That doesn’t need any Kathie Whitestone commentary, does it? Philippians 4 13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. He said “I have” present tense, already have it in stock, don’t have to order it and wait for it’s arrival. Isn’t that good news?! Father, thank You. Thank You for Your Word, for You Holy Spirit who imparts The Word to us and who empowers us to live it and even helps us choose to live it; thank You. I pray we will enlist Your help today to make those right choices. Father, You know what is before us this day; You know about doctor appointments, surgeries, the challenges, the hours of labor, sick babies, hurting bodies and savage diseases; all these things that face us this day and we pray for eyes to see Your Love in it all for Jesus sake. Thank You for what You will do in all of IDOK this day. We love You Father and thank You for loving us.Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Dot B. 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. Wayne B. 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. Richard M. Adam M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B. Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George.Travis N. Hawk. Justin G. Injured: Lukas 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 61°F and haze in Baghdad, IQ & the time there is 4:14PM AST- on December 16, 2008. Internet Daughters of the KING THE WHITE STONE His Ministry to You
We are glad you are here; stay a while, look around, and be encouraged. We estimate there to be over 3,000 posts here at The White Stone Blog. Please know my hope is ALWAYS to help and NEVER harm. I have voiced many opinions and thoughts here since 2007 and by now I MAY NOT EVEN AGREE with all of them and some of my grammar and punctuation likely needs editing. But this is changeless: JESUS is our ONLY Savior and Hope. Do you KNOW Him?
