IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2009
As I sit to write, inside my head are swirling thoughts, so many of them, and I am wondering just how many of them will make it to the screen – hopefully some will help you and me. Yesterday, I began via the internet to participate in the summer Bible Study with Beth Moore. She and I and oh, probably close to a 1,000 other women by now, will meet at her Blog every other Tuesday (a total of 4 Tuesdays) to learn the message ABBA gave Jennifer Rothschild in her book Me, Myself & Lies. And today I began the workbook, having now completed Day One. Here’s a little background before I give you the clincher for the day. First Matthew 12:35 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) 35 A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. And Jennifer told us that ‘storeroom’ is like the Magi’s Chest, it is a container. It holds things. And the Magi’s chest held TREASURE for Jesus – gold frankincense and myrrh. Then Jennifer went on to point out to us that our hearts are a thesauros (a container of words), words we use to either bless or curse, speak life or death, to OURSELVES! And the study leads us to seeing what words we have in our thesauros and whether or not it is a treasure chest or a junk yard. Now here’s the clincher: The magi’s treasure chest existed to have something to give Jesus. As we begin to speak wise words to our souls, we do so to ultimately have fitting treasure to offer our King. He deserves our finest thoughts, best words, and a thesauros full of truth. But even with all that said, she was not done with us for she said: As you go through the rest of this day, ask God to show you if you have filled your thesauros based on who you truly are or if you have confused your identity with your struggles. And that is when it hit me . . . why it is that even though I am saved and no doubt loved, I struggle to allow adjectives (for me) like smart in my thesauros but have no difficulty keeping words like stupid, dumb, forgetful, fat, ugly, etc. etc in it and daily speak them to myself! As you go through the rest of this day … that’s the key to my ‘junk yard’ and here’s the TEXT: James 1:24 For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. I study, I do the work, I see it and then I promptly get up from my study and forget it, continuing to tell myself lies about who I am. And if I were a betting woman, which I am not, I would bet you do the same thing. Why else are we failing to see the POWER of God displayed mightily in our day to day comings and goings? (Be reminded: we are talking here who I am, who you are, NOT what we struggle with; and if we continue to believe that we are what we struggle with, we will never walk, talk, or stand in who the Word says we are!).
Here’s the TEXT in context:
22 But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].
23 For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;
24 For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.
25 But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).
Yep! That’s the key to getting rid of the junk yard and replacing it with a treasure chest for Jesus – go through the rest of the day thinking about and practicing what I read/heard in The Word. He deserves our finest thoughts, best words, and a thesauros full of truth. Amen and amen. Make it so. Make it so!
Prayer Requests and Reports
As you know we added Micah and Katie on Wednesday.
Today we are adding Brian. Brian has melanoma but the doctor is confident he can get it all that is the good news but there is still the ordeal of it – Brian needs our prayers.
Update on Katie: The tumor is in the center of her brain and attached to the rest of the brain. The biopsy is Friday. They will try to remove all of it and then start radiation.
I can see already this study is timely and I am in the right place; thank You, ABBA. I pray that a whole bunch of us daughters will trade our junk yards for treasure chests.
And now we pray again for Micah and Katie, we really want You to heal these two little ones. And we pray for Brian that all will go well with him; particularly we pray that if he is uncertain of a relationship with You that You will convince him that You are worthy of his trust and that without You he will never be free. And we pray for Loyce and Marzelle, KC, Neolle, Mary, and every other name listed here below, asking for Your Will to be displayed in and through them. We pray for our IDOK Troops to be safe and protected; for America to be cleansed from the White House to every house; and especially for we Your people to repent and walk humbly with You. We pray for Peace for Israel and for Your Gospel to spread like wild fire through the Muslim world. Thank You for tending us with perfect love. Amen and amen.
A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Katie B. Brian. Loyce McM. Marzelle. KC. Neolle T. Mary F. MH and J. Caleb and his family – Rob, Vaughn, Whitaker and Donoghue. Dora. Mattie. Jarrod. BETTY. Billie Joyce and family. Stack Family. Brenda and her family. Joshua A. Kim T and her parents. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Darlene’s Sister. Tammy B and Family. Jackie K. Brian T. Ricky M. Linda and Family. Joe. Michael H. Linda W. Debbie W. Mike and Vickie. Natalie. Jacqueline and Sons (River and Jackson). Sandra. Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family Mary. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Melissa and daughters. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Darlene and Torkel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. DeLois. Katelyn (B) J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Bay and family. Bill and Judy. Doug. Larry and Claudia and family. Callie. Ruth. Cynthia. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Chuck. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Mollie and family. Andrew and Daughters. Mollie B.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.
ABBA, I am posting this here in prayer as a daily prayer and I am praying as pure in motive as I know how today, asking that You by whatever ways and means You choose, see to the removal from office of every elected Official in Washington and all 50 States that is not sensitive to and is not inclined to work to preserve Judaeo-Christian values and the Constitution of this Nation in its Original Intent. Lord, I am so sorry that many (and thank You not all) offices of this Nation are filled with corrupt, reprobate-minded people who have no regard for You or Your Word and if I have done anything that has contributed to the election of these people, please forgive me and stop me from any further actions that will damage and bring this Nation to complete ruin. I pray Holy Spirit that You will stir the hearts and prayers of enough people to bring this Nation to repentance and will clean and cleanse the offices and the Officials of this Nation. Father God, please have mercy on us. Lord Jesus, clean Washington even as You did the Temple if need be. And Lord some weeks later since this prayer began we have word from one of those Alabama officials that he wants our prayers, that he is mindful of You, that he does love You and obviously he is well acquainted with Your Word. And ABBA I am so delighted and grateful for this man and for others like him, so for each of them (and You know who they are, Lord) we pray that You will anoint and empower them to stand firm and holy in these places of service You have given them and Lord please bring others alongside to stand with them and help them. And as he suggested move us to be involved in the political process with more than just our prayers according to the individual will You have for each of us. Again, Lord, thank You for this news, thank You for what You are doing. Amen and amen.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Justin G. Michael K. Bay N. T. Palin. Richard M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T. Chad B (3/2009) Kyle N.(3/09) [Kyle is having a birthday this month, extra blessings would be appreciated]. Jessica D. (4/09) Sgt. Vince Barrientos (5/2009)
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G. Tommy W.
Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08)
Military at home, specifically those emotional-spirit wounds that only God and Time can heal – Adam M. Captain Tran. Josh. John L. Drew.
As I post this it is 82°F and Haze Smoke in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time there is 6:19 AM AST on June 25, 2009.
