IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2010

Praise Reports, Prayer Requests and Updates:

As I begin it’s Sunday evening, nearly 8 o’clock.  It’s been a full day, Bible Study (Sunday School), worship, lunch, a great nap, back to church for the LORD’s Supper and home now for the evening.  I think for our time together here at the screen today I’ll share what I said to myself when Pastor Roy commented on a song we sang before the observance of the LORD’s Supper. We sang I’d Rather Have Jesus.  Perhaps you are familiar with the hymn.  The lyrics in part say I’d rather have JESUS than riches, houses, lands or world-wide fame.  And Pastor Roy said would we not give up world-wide fame, houses or lands just to have more of JESUS?  And like a sobering jolt on the wall of mind came these words: Huh! I don’t even give up television so I can go to bed at a decent hour to refresh and take care of this body He resides in; I don’t even say no to that extra dessert I don’t need so I can be healthy. Yea go ahead and sing you’ll give up houses and lands and world-wide fame, like you’re gonna have that opportunity. What about this day to day stuff you really could do?

I’m not dogging television, I’m not dogging desserts, I’m not dogging wealth or any of the great things we get to enjoy.  I’m just saying  I don’t always act like I’d rather have JESUS than doing my own thing.  So! We can all stand in the sanctuary and sing and we can get in our vehicles go home and turn on the television and stay up late watching a good movie or not … tonight we chose NOT!  Maybe singing that song did it’s work after all, at least for today.  Take a listen … I’d Rather Have JESUS.

I admit it is possible that I am slightly prejudice but I esteem the way Pastor Roy conducts the observance of the LORD’s Supper at Satsuma First. I esteem the way he warns us to come NOT to the table unprepared.  And tonight as I prepared to partake, there was something different in it for me.  In the preparation I mean.  I would so love to be perfect and even that desire shows I’m not … a pride thing you see.  But back to my point.  The likelihood that I am going to be sinless this side of heaven is a HUGE ZERO so how can I be ‘clean’  (prepared) enough to partake?  By being honest before Him.  By giving Him praise and thanking Him that even though I am not sinless, I DO love Him and I KNOW I do and I KNOW He loves me.  By honestly admitting any thing and everything that I am struggling with and with as much honesty as I know how to say I agree with You LORD about it and I am willing to do this thing Your Way.  When I do that I am ready.   Not sinless. But guiltless and prepared to partake. Would you agree?

^{Luke 22: 15}And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;

¹⁶for I say to you, I shall never again eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He said, “Take this and share it among yourselves;

¹⁸for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine from now on until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

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

ABBA, I am grateful for this day; for the revelations  You have given; for the preaching of Your Word; for the ministering of Your Spirit in music; for REMEMBERING YOU, Your Body and Blood for me; for us.  And I am grateful that even in the things we witnessed that grieved us, even angered us, we trust You and we pray for solutions and for courage to carry out those remedies for the wrong doings in the lives of people we love and care about.

And for those names recorded on our list, we pray for them.  We want Your best for them and we ask You to help them; help them live and love and worship You.  Help them overcome the obstacles to faith and abundant living.  Please provide for them jobs and hope and courage and helping hands and feet and if any one of us are to be those helping hands and feet, don’t let us ‘rest’ until we obey I pray.

And for our IDOK Troops we pray again for safety and protection for each one.  And, ABBA, please bring each one home safe and sound we pray.  And I pray for Israel.  I do not  like what is going on here regarding them.  I don’t like the lack of support.  I don’t like the evil words and actions toward them and I pray You will correct the behavior of those who are not supporting Israel, especially American leaders.  It is so clear what You have spoken over them.  I am so sorry for the blinded eyes who refuse to see. I pray You will convict and convince them of their blindness and sin and LORD if they will not see, just will not see, will not agree with You, I am trusting You to do what is right regarding them and to preserve Israel and the Body of Christ.  And this I pray in the Name and Merits of JESUS, Your Son, ABBA, and my Savior. Amen and amen.