IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

Bridgett’s news was cancer.  I don’t have to tell you she and her family need prayer.  Also pray for Paul Lavallet.

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

I wanted our Tuesday lesson to be put to rest to wait for press much earlier than this; but it  isn’t —  . . .

And I have a KT paraphrase of a quote I heard from Jim Garlow today: The core reason for compromise is a craving for the approval of people rather than a healthy fear of God.

Do you concur?

From Pastor Garlow I also learned today of a campaign toward 40 days of Prayer and Fasting to begin on September 20  and run through October 30, 2010.  That is the Saturday before the November mid-term elections.  The suggestion is to individually discern from the LORD how and from what HE wants one to fast.  I am NOT advocating 40 days of NO FOOD but rather 40 days of something that you can quietly release to the LORD.  Something that will be an actual sacrifice for you;  not something to brag about, not something that others will even necessarily notice; just something that will remind you of the seriousness of the matter and will draw you to prayer for this Nation to repent, for  mid-term election results that will remove the ungodly from political office and replace them with people who at least empathize with  morality as taught in the Bible and will call the Saints of God to repentance.

Are you interested?  Are you interested in sharing this information with others?  If so … ACT on it.

Additionally, Pastor Jim encouraged us to Pray and ACT.  ACT being an acronym for

Affirm our fundamental beliefs.

Conform our lives to what we say we believe.

Transform our culture by strategically entering into a cause that we believe in — one we are called to, be it political, community service, Gospel ministry related – whatever is dear to our hearts.

The information above is based upon these links.

Life Today

Renewing American Leadership

The Manhattan Declaration I haven’t even begun to read this yet, but I will.

If you are moved by any of this, have interest in it and believe ‘numbers’ do mean something,  please let me know.

Titus 3: (King James Version)  ⁸This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Romans 12: (New American Standard Bible) ²And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Galatians 5: (The Message) ^22-23But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Philippians 1: (The Message) ^9-11So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.

Affirm, conform, transform (involved) these verses say it all — You’ve laid it out, ABBA.  It’s all here.   We hear You calling.  I pray we answer YES.  Yes I will affirm what You have given me to believe.  Yes I will submit myself to You so Your Word will conform me to what I say I believe.  Yes, I will get involved so You in me can transform this culture in which I now live.

Bridgett.  The result was not what we wanted.  Not what You wanted either; I believe that, ABBA.  I know You never wanted illness and disease for any of us and yet here on this planet that is what comes to many and often.  Still we pray for Bridgett to be healed of this and in addition I am praying for You to be exalted; to be praised and loved and worshiped in this and for strength and peace and courage to abound in Bridgett and her family.  I pray for Paul, strength and courage there too and for You to be exalted.  We need You, LORD, to be glorified in this.  That ‘s our prayer.

And we pray for the others; our IDOK Troops, asking You to keep them safe and protected; to keep safe in spirit, soul and body; to bring them home safe and sound.  And for the others on our List for Prayer, we pray for Your Will to be done.  We trust Your Will is just what each of them need.  We trust Your Will for each of them is good and loving and kind and gracious and glorious; so it is for this we pray.

We pray too for Israel; for peace and safety; for them to yet walk in the promises You gave them and for them to yet embrace You, LORD JESUS, as their Messiah.  And for Your Church, LORD, I pray we will be instruments of mercy and help to Israel and to America and around the world.  Holy Spirit, send revival to the BRIDE.  Send revival in JESUS NAME and for His sake. Amen and amen.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, JULY 26, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

Baby Ryder is over 7 pounds and at the time of this writing is expected to be home soon (if not already).  Todd and Joni’s Little Chatam Elizabeth is born, is at home and doing great – Mom and Dad no doubt are tired but praising the LORD.

I am late getting this request from LaJuanna to you: Brandon Bosarge is in Intensive Care Unit at USA Medical Center.  He is in critical condition following a motorcycle accident.  If he lives, he may never walk again. Please pray for him and his family. Thank you.  AND

Jim’s CT scan did not show any blood clots in his lungs.  PTL!  His blood work indicated that he had a blood clot.  The CT tech even asked me if he had surgery recently which could have caused a blood clot.  Thank you so much for praying for Jim.  He continues to feel dizzy and faint upon standing, but we do not know what is causing this.  Hopefully his doctor can unravel the mystery soon.  Love and thanks, La Juanna

And this from Carolyn: I have just talked to Doylene.  She is at home and recovering from surgery.  She is rejoicing because she is free of pain in her legs. Now she just has to recover from the surgery. Her mother is having some medical problems and still struggles with dementia. Please pray for the entire family.

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

Happy Monday to you!

Psalm 118:24 (New American Standard Bible) ²⁴This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the verse of Scripture playing on the screen of my mind even before my eyes were opened this morning.  It’s a directive for me today.  It is a directive for all who name the name of CHRIST JESUS as Savior and Lord. It’s the key to doing Monday well.   And have you realized; if the LORD wills, in five months this will be the day after Christmas? Whatever you and I are going to do for JESUS sake, we better get to it!

Whatever we have been called to do and have been putting off, get to it!

Did you lay out of Church yesterday, not because you were ill but just because?  It’s time to correct that behavior.

What else?  What is it that you know is the LORD’s will for you to do?  Do it! It’s time! Behold today is the day of salvation.  Certainly today is the day for sinners to give over their sins and receive JESUS’ gift of ETERNAL LIFE but to those of us already in HIM, today’s the day to allow Him to save us from procrastinating those things He has called us to do.  Today is the day to rejoice in obedience!

2 Corinthians 6 (New American Standard Bible) ¹And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain–  ²for He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.”Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”–

John 9:4 (New American Standard Bible) ⁴“We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

I can’t say this lesson feels real good, ABBA, but I am listening and I am agreeing in JESUS Name and I am trusting to obey moment by moment today.  And I pray this for all our IDOKs and Readers.  And we join now in prayer for Brandon, You know the plans You have for this young man and his family, we pray for Your Will to be done for him. Thank You for Doylene’s successful surgery and we ask for a complete recovery and certainly for her mother we’d love a reversal of the dementia and we know it is possible with You and we know too that You use all things, things we do not understand to display Your Love and Glory and so it is for that we pray.  Thank You for Jim’s good report and we pray for more good reports for him and for LaJuanna.  Thank You for Chatam Elizabeth; we pray for strength for Todd and Joni and for Elizabeth to grow and Ryder too; we desire holy, healthy children to love You and to see You displayed through them all their lives. We pray for our IDOK Troops, for their safety and protection and I am reminded in particular to pray for these soldiers that have practices that are harmful to them, that You will arrest this behavior and change their hearts, LORD.

I am rejoicing still, ABBA, in a prayer I heard voiced yesterday for Israel.  Thank You.  And today I renew that prayer for them.  And I pray again for this Nation.  Thank You for the freedoms we still have and I am asking that we do all we can in Your Name to keep these freedoms and even gain back those we have lost. I pray for a turning in America.  I pray for repentance for we the People.

And before we post this, Thank You, ABBA, for this ministry.  Thank You for the ministry of each IDOK and each Reader and  I pray we will rejoice in our ministries today and be glad and so doing give You the honor and glory You so deserve.  Amen and Amen.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2010

Today (Thursday) has been a play day for Jerry and me, so we may be brief.  You’ve heard that before … haven’t you? :)

He played golf this morning and I drove the cart … first time for us in five years.  I still think the cart is the best part!
I noticed right away though on the driving range, even before we got to the course, that it was easy for me to lose sight of the ball in flight if  I made my initial point of focus at the tee.
If I wanted to keep up with the ball and follow it to its destination, I needed to look in the projected direction trusting that Jerry would strike the ball.
And as all this was going on, thoughts were forming, and I wondered just what spiritual lesson I could get out of that for us.
It’s not forming well other than to say if we focus too tight on our immediate  ‘tee’ we will fall short of the next ‘green’.

Now for our real lesson today.

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Faithful and righteous — our words of focus today.

Faithful and righteous, are very important words for us when we confess our sins.

He is faithful.  He will not fail to forgive.
And why will He not fail to forgive?  Because He is righteous.
Written another way, He is RIGHT to forgive us when we repent. Right because JESUS paid the price for our sins.
And since JESUS paid the price and when we confess and accept His price, He has allowed Himself no other option than to forgive us.
He forgives us because of His own Right-ness.  He MUST forgive us.
It’s the only right thing to do.  We may feel unworthy and there are good reasons for that — we are, but He IS worthy and He is Right.
And you know what else that means?
Since He is right to forgive us, we are wrong to argue with Him about it.
We are wrong to continue to condemn ourselves after we have turned from our sin to JESUS for His forgiveness.
Let me be blunt: continuing to condemn ourselves after repentance is nothing short of P R I D E.
Who are we to tell JESUS He does not know what He is doing when He says: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.?

Did you catch it?  If we confess, He is Right to forgive us AND He even removes our un-right-ness from us and makes us right!

In Him we make par!!!

You’ll have a holy weekend. 

Father, thank You for this pleasant, relaxing day. My golf knowledge and terms are woefully lacking but I pray this lesson will be a bit entertaining and will seal in our hearts that in You, LORD JESUS, we are made right.  In You, we do not fall short.  In You, we are better than par. Thank You.

The hour is late and wisdom says rest, but before I do I pray for our IDOK Troops, for our List of Prayer Requests, for each IDOK, and for each Reader.  So many precious souls in this ministry.  I lift them all collectively and individually, bless them, Father, in Jesus’ Name.  Amen and amen.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, JULY 22, 2010

Matthew 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

I’ve been reading Matthew again today – several chapters and I think I am settling in on Matthew 11 to share with you today (Thursday).

Here is a link to the chapter, certainly we will not discuss all of it.

Who of us has not had doubts about JESUS or about the ministry He has called us to or perhaps some other matters relative to our Christian walk?

John had doubts … big ones!  And he did the right thing with them — he sent his doubts clothed in questions from his dungeon to JESUS.  We would do well to send our questions from our dungeons to JESUS too.

Jesus’ reply to John is recorded in verses 4 and 5.  However, we miss a lot if we do not read on through verse 15.  John’s doubts did not put Jesus off a bit.  And John’s doubts, listen to me closely here — John’s doubts DID NOT CHANGE JESUS’ MIND ABOUT JOHN!!  And I am suggesting, no I am telling you as strongly as I know how:  YOUR DOUBTS ABOUT HIM DOES NOT CHANGE HIS MIND ABOUT YOU EITHER!!!

Even after big-time doubts and big-time screw-ups, He still loves you.  He is not sorry He saved you.  He is not sorry He called you into His family.  He is not sorry He gave you certain gifts and ministry in which to use them.

HE IS NOT DOUBTING YOU!  He knows you.  He knows He in you can yet accomplish the goals He has for you!!!

Matthew 11:11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!

Now bear in mind here that at the time Jesus spoke these words, John was in prison, doubting himself, doubting JESUS, and maybe feeling sorry for himself, AND yet Jesus STILL gave such praise to John as is recorded in this chapter.

And then He talks about you and me.

Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

I don’t know exactly what all that means, but this I do KNOW — even when we doubt Him, He does not doubt us!

Now if that doesn’t make you happy and give you cause to shout for joy — you better check whether or not you are even in the family!!!

Amen? Amen.

I like this Father.  I really like it! I like it LORD JESUS that I cannot change Your mind about me.  I love it that I cannot shake You up and get You worried that You made a mistake with me.  Oh, how AWESOME You are!!  And in times to come when this lesson appears on the pages of our IDOKs and Readers’ screens I want them to be encouraged.  I want them to find comfort and hope.  I want them to laugh out loud, clap their hands in praise, whatever expression that will give You praise, and will assure them that You have not changed Your mind about them and even their best days with You are still ahead, still coming to them.  And thank You that’s true for me too.  I accept that Father.  Thank You.

And now I turn my thoughts to others.  To IDOK Troops, to our List for Prayer, for Bridgette and her family, for hearts and lives whose names I am calling to You alone and there are IDOKs and Readers doing the same I think as we gather in our respective places to pray … we lift this all up to You.  We trust You to understand and know us even better than we know ourselves.  We trust You to love those we love even more than we love them. We trust You to do what is best for them, best for us.  And America and Israel come to mind too.  Cannot forget to pray for both Nations, for both to yet enter into the place You have ordained for us.  Father, I want what You want for both. Please forgive us, please have mercy on us and save us, LORD.  Please don’t let us be overtaken by Satan and those who do his bidding.  LORD, You know every soul in America who is saved and I pray not one of us will be satisfied to live beneath our destiny any longer; that we will stop doubting and start living in Your Joy, LORD JESUS, even this very day to Your glory alone. Amen and amen.