Monthly Archives: April 2010

Uncategorized

Susie

2 Comments
Thursday, April 29, 2010

Susie.  She’s our dog.   A yellow lab.  She’s nearly 8 and weighs in at about 90 pounds.  So she is no small dog and she’s as strong as an ox … well, perhaps not, but you get my drift.  Susie has the run of the back yard within the boundaries of a fence.  It’s a nice fence.  Made of three boards spanning about 3 feet top to bottom with American Wire attached to the boards on Susie’s side which prevents her from utilizing the space between the boards to escape the confines of the backyard.  However,  the boards and the wire are not the only things impeding Susie from leaving the back yard.  Actually, I have no doubt that Susie could easily scale that fence.  And I am equally certain she would be thrilled to be on the other side.  I know this because she will knock down a small child or mid-size woman to get out the gate when it is opened.  For this reason I do not open the gate.  Okay. Okay. I’ll get to my point.  Why does Susie remain in the back yard barring someone leaving the gate open?  Clearly she has the body strength and height to come over that fence.  So what’s holding Susie back?  Here’s what I think.  Susie does not KNOW she can jump/climb over that fence.

I think we are like Susie sometimes.  God has given us gifts, talents, skills and His own dear Presence to empower us, yet we stay in our comfort zones. We stay within the boundaries erected around us.  Boundaries that when we walk up to them, clearly we have the strength in Christ to get over them.  But we don’t.  Why not?  Could it be lack of knowledge?  And why don’t we know?  Have we not read the Scriptures?  Do we not well know, can we not all quote Philippians 4:13?  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. And what about Jeremiah 1:19″They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. [source]

Is there something that God has put in your heart to do?  Are there some boundaries drawn around your heart, your life that He wants you to scale, to get to the other side of and yet you have not?  Be encouraged.  KNOW — no, BELIEVE.  Believe He in you is enough to do the thing and do it!

ABBA, this is another one of those I want to post right now.   One of those that I think, this is good!  This will ‘preach’. This will resonant with some people.  It’ll light up in someone’s heart and they will be encouraged.   That’s what I think.  And that’s what I am praying for now; that when it reaches the screens of our IDOKs and Readers, they will hear from You.  That You, Holy Spirit, will leap this off the ‘page’ and will encourage someone to BELIEVE You and do great things in Your Name in this world.  Even me, DADDY GOD, even me.   I still don’t know why You let me do this but I am so glad You do.  Thank You.

. . .  So many, so many needs, so many problems; but You are able.  Thank You for taking care of all these.  And, LORD, we ask and we ask and I know that’s okay because You told us to ask and yet in this moment I am thinking wouldn’t it be good to just visit with You and love on You and praise and appreciate You.  Like Beth said this morning just fellowship with You. Meaning sometimes we just shut up and listen.  I really want to learn to do that.   So here I go petitioning again… teach us how.   And bless and keep safe our IDOK Troops and their families.   Love on our IDOKs and our Readers and best we know how we are listening in Jesus name.  Amen and amen.

Uncategorized

And They Rose Up To Play

Leave a comment

IDOK Devotion for Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Praise Reports, Prayer Requests and Updates:

Jim and Marilyn Walley are asking that we pray for their friends of 45 years — Barbara and Eddie Horton.  Barbara has cancer.    To read more click here.

As I begin the day is far spent and frankly, I’m tired.  I left the house about 7:07 this morning and spent the day with 2nd graders.  I’m not complaining, you understand, just explaining.  Our 20 or so minute bus ride  from the school delivered us to Oak Hollow Farm.   The place is HUGE and we all had a BIG time — hay ride and all.  Naturally, I took my camera along and came home with more than a few pictures.  One of those pictures I am planning to share with you here.  I thought it was strange when I digitally captured it but somehow it seemed the thing to do … especially when Scripture came to mind.

There were times when Jesus instructed His disciples to rest; to relax – eat, rest and enjoy. Mark 6:(NASB) 31And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)

Recreation.  A time of renewal.  A time to re-create as it were our souls.  Before today I would have called it ‘play time’.  But I’m rethinking that.

Here’s the picture. Call me weird …. I do.   When I saw the sign I thought of Scripture.  I could not remember the Scriptural Address but I knew there was something about rising up to play somewhere in Scripture.   And I knew it was not in a good context.  I thought it was about the time when Moses was on the mountain with God and the People were ‘playing’ at the foot of the mountain.   So, of course, I looked it up when I got home and I found ‘play’ mentioned only two times in the  KJV.

I think DADDY GOD is all for us having recreation but I think He hates ‘playing’.   Here’s why I say that: Exodus 32: (NASB)6So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.  7Then the LORD spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves.

And then again. I Corinthians 10: (NASB) 6Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.  7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.” You will want to read the verses surrounding these too.  See I Corinthians 10:1-14

So here’s the way I see it.  Rest, Relaxation, Fun and even Feasting are all part of God’s Plan for us.  But, ‘playing’ with God — that’s not advisable — we do it at our own risk.

To review the list of names for prayer, please click here.

ABBA, This one seems strange to me.  It seemed strange when I took the picture but yet it just seemed to be right.  And when that phrase from Your Word came to mind, I just knew there was something there from You.  I hope I have handled it well and I pray You will apply it as You will.  I don’t see our IDOKs as ‘playing games’ with You so I don’t know the ins and outs of this but here it is and I pray it will be helpful and useful.  I do know You gave us powerful words, stern, strong ones particularly in I Corinthians 10 and You expect us to live them.  And for one I want to do that, ABBA.  I do not want any game playing with You and I am inviting You to take me to the woodshed if I start in the game playing direction.

This request from Jim and Marilyn  — it’s a rare story I think.  For three families to stay close to You and to each other, that is oh so good.   And of this I am sure You love Barbara and Eddie and this cancer did not take You by surprise and You have a plan in this and it is for Your Plan I pray.   And I pray for discernment and comfort and courage for Barbara and Eddie and, ABBA, it would just tickle the socks off me if You will remove the cancer and heal Barbara — here on earth.   But LORD Jesus as You prayed so do I not my will but Your will be done.

And there are others – LaJuanna, Carolyn, Andrew, Jenny, Jason, and so many, many more — You know them.  Some of the names have been on the list for a long time now and some not so long but we pray for each one of them now.  You know their needs and You know that best way to help them, so thank You now for what You do for them.  And there are some other things on my heart and I’d say on the hearts of our IDOKs and Readers too, maybe even some stuff they have not shared with others.  Speak to us,  help us sort through the thoughts and concerns, throw away the junk and trust You will all that’s left.

We pray for our IDOK Troops, again asking You to protect them and keep them safe.  We pray for LeGrand, it’s a long road to rehab, I just ask that he do well  and You be glorified in him — Carrie and the Boys too.

I’m still thinking about Churches and struggles and schemes of  Satan and I pray his plans will be overthrown.  I pray churches will become Houses of Prayer.  And still I pray for this Nation.   I am glad to be living here; thank You.  I’m sorry for the evil going on here and I am asking You to have mercy and bless us and grace us with conviction and repentance.  I really want to see a revival here and I am praying for it, LORD.    You know I could go on and on with this  and I glad we do but for now give our IDOKs rest and peace in Jesus Name.  Amen and amen.

Forgiveness

Discipline — Who Gets It?

Leave a comment

IDOK Devotion for Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Praise Reports, Prayer Requests and Updates:

Please add me to your prayer list.  I will be having a knee replacement in about a month.  I have heart problems and my surgery will be high-risk.  Love and thanks, LaJuanna.

After a while away from my Breaking Free workbook, I worked in it a little today.  And at day four in week four a sentence reminded me of Saturday’s Simulcast.   And the sentence reads: Remember, God’s primary purpose in healing us from our hurts is to introduce us to new depths of relationship with Himself.

The Holy Spirit ministering through Beth hit us hard with  forgiveness/unforgiveness.  That is He said we must forgive those who have sinned against us.  I am persuaded that includes persons who have grievously, maliciously, and without remorse sinned against us.  And I agree they do not deserve our forgiveness.   And I agree even the thought of forgiving them generates feelings such as, that means I get wronged TWICE; and I have a right to not forgive them; and to forgive them would mean they get off  scot free! And, no I cannot  forgive and God should not even ask me to forgive them!  I cannot do it! I won’t do it! Really, I understand this line of thinking – it’s human!  Been there. Done that.  But guess what?  Unforgiveness becomes the ‘gift’ that keeps on giving.  Moreover it gives that one who hurt us the  ‘right’ , the ‘privilege’ of continuing to hurt us.  But we say, wait a minute.  My purpose in withholding my forgiveness is to protect me, to keep them from getting close enough to me to hurt me again. I understand that.  But it’s a lie from hell.   In refusing to forgive them we  have spiritually stepped into a prison cell, pulled the door closed and handed them the key —  we are constantly soul tied to them even if we are physically miles from them.

And if that is not bad enough, while we are in that prison cell of unforgiveness, DADDY GOD has no choice but to temper that prison cell with discipline of His own.   Can we even begin to imagine the pain this causes Him when what He so much wants is for us to stop hurting?   But He knows that we are not going to stop hurting  until we forgive them and let Him heal us.  Further, He knows He cannot let us get by with un-forgiveness because like it or not our un-forgiveness is sin!

So what we have here is they sinned, we won’t forgive which means we have become a wrong doer too and are now in line for discipline ourselves. (See Hebrews 12:7-9) Discipline which takes the form of ‘heat to the seat’ or ‘time out’ or a blending of both.   What do I mean by ‘heat to the seat’ or ‘time out’?  Please, please hear me!  I am NOT saying personal and family stress, and problems on top of problems with no quick solutions, and just day after day feeling hopeless and miserable is always because of the sin of unforgiveness.  But we’d be wise to ask Him about it — don’t you think?  And I am of this persuasion too … unless we have stuffed that unforgiveness into the deep hole of denial, we know that weed of un-forgiveness is growing in the garden of our heart — don’t we?  Either way, talking it over with DADDY GOD at gut level honesty is our first step toward healing, relief and abundant blessings from Heaven.

One little encouraging ‘disclaimer’: forgiveness does not  mean ‘reconciliation’ is possible every time or even meant to be, especially when the offender has neither repented or even gives evidence that they know they have sinned.  (See 2 Corinthians 6:14) It’s a case by case judgment call and only ONE knows how to call it — And that ONE is our DADDY.  And yes we can trust Him!

To review the list of names for prayer, please click here.

ABBA, this has been a hard one to write.  I’m tired.  It feels like I have been wrestling — I’m worn out and my brain is tired but I am trusting You for strength and for power to overcome.  Thank You.  You know my concerns for our IDOKs and our Readers.  You know my desire for this ministry; I want it to be just what You desire and I don’t want to hinder You working in them or me – so I pray You will set me straight and keep me that way.

I pray for LaJuanna that this surgery when she has it will correct and give her much needed and desired pain relief.  And I pray the procedure will be text book perfect and she will awaken from the surgery alert and knowing You are right there with her.

I pray for our IDOK Troops,  keep them safe, LORD, from hostile fire, both spiritually and physically; keep them safe even from ‘friendly’ fire and bring ‘brothers’ along side ‘brothers’ to give encouragement and to speak the Life of Your Gospel to those who are still lost and in jeopardy of losing their own souls.  We pray for the families left behind that they will conduct themselves with dignity and honor and thereby give comfort to their soldiers.

We pray too for others on our list, Joshua for one praying this heart surgery will be successful and this little boy will be made whole.  We pray for other recent concerns added and for sure the long standing ones … everyone of them need You, LORD.  And we know You are faithful to us.

There are some decisions and potential goings on in some local churches, You know it even better than I and I am asking You to help.  Help Your people refuse to do the wrong thing and help us know for certainty what is right and do it!

Rest us, LORD, empower us and train us in this spiritual war that is raging around us.  Give us eyes to see and courage and boldness to fight the good fight of faith, never lowering our determination to love even as You have commanded us in Christ Jesus. Amen and amen.