IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

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

August 11.  Big sigh. Time ticks by too quickly, particularly without my expressed permission. :)

Soon I’ll be settling into a new routine — at least that’s the plan. I have Grands for a couple days and then they are back to school.  My visit with my dear friend, Bev, was a blast! And R & R days with my beloved were a HUGE blessing and we are so grateful for having had the opportunity.

And now here I sit at 9:30, knowing I need to round up some folks for bed, including myself.  And I will, but first and perhaps, a few words will come to appear on this page.

Recently I viewed, via television, an interview that Alvin Slaughter gave and one thing he said stood out and demanded that I take notice.  He said (my paraphrase): Many of us serve God but we don’t seek Him.

You may recall that one of our verses for Tuesday’s devotion was when we SEEK Him with all our hearts we will find Him.  (Jeremiah 29:13).

I think Alvin is right.  I think we  can keep ourselves really busy with holy activities without much more than an occasional check in with the Father. That is until we have worn ourselves into such a frazzle that some spiritual R & R is no longer a ‘luxury’ but is imperative.

Why do we do this?  Why do we think He wants our ‘service’ more than He wants our ‘company’?   I’ll be the first to admit when I have to run out to a meeting with supper dishes left on the table and laundry in the washer and after my meeting I come home  to a clean kitchen and folded laundry, I APPRECIATE IT!  However, if these acts of service were not coupled with conversation, it would not take long before I would question my hubby’s motives for service.  Now, God does not have my limitations and He does not wonder about my motives; but my analogy makes a point, don’t you think?  Service is great. Service is needed; but service without conversation (intimacy) negates the service to just about worthlessness, wouldn’t you say?

If I were to tell the truth (and I better be) if I give (or even receive) service for an extended period without it being heavily mingled with intimate conversation, I get cranky, irritable and not so pleasant. So to those of you who are ‘privileged’ to share close breathing space with me, should I become cranky, irritable and not so pleasant remind me that I might ought to SEEK my ABBA — that obviously my ‘spiritual tank’ is getting dangerously low.

Psalm 119 New American Standard Bible ²How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.    ³They also do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways.

And when you find yourself tired, cranky, irritable and not so pleasant, I wouldn’t be offended if you remembered this lesson and did an immediate check on your SEEKING GOD LEVEL too.  We can’t afford to run on empty or even the bottom half of our spiritual tanks.  Am I telling the truth?

ABBA, I appreciate this lesson.  I appreciate the interview that started it.  Thank You.  And I ask You now to apply it as each of us need it.   And I pray for our IDOK Troops.  Please keep them safe and please bring them home safe and sound.  I pray for the Henderson Family, Kim and the Children, You know the grief they are living right now and I pray they will find their comfort and their own road to holy grieving in You.  And we pray for each name on our list Praying For These, asking You to minister to them with peace and comfort and healing and restoration.  Amen and amen in JESUS NAME.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

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

I am coming to you this morning with the writings of Sarah Young from her book Jesus Lives.

Trials

THOUGH I BRING GRIEF, I WILL SHOW COMPASSION. No matter what trials you are enduring, you can count on My Love and My compassion–neither of which will ever fail.  I can bring good out of everything I allow in your life, but much of what I do is far beyond your understanding.  My children often misinterpret My ways with them.  When adversity strikes, they tend to feel as if I’m displeased with them.  They don’t realize that My most devoted followers are especially targeted in spiritual warfare.  The devil and his demonic underlings delight in tormenting those who live close to Me.  When you are suffering and your troubles seem endless, remember I am tenderly present in your afflictions.  Instead of lamenting the way things are, search for Me in the wreckage of adversity.  You will not fail to find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

I want you to experience more fully the greatness of My overflowing Love.  As you open yourself to My compassionate Presence, this Love flows into you more freely.  Like new wine, My Love expands within you, increasing your capacity for Me.  Another way to expand this capacity is to let My Love flow from you to others. I am so pleased when  you do this that I flood you with more of My living Presence.  As you continue this blessed adventure with Me, I fill you with ever-increasing volumes of unfailing Love.

(New American Standard Bible)

Lamentations 3: ³²For if He causes grief, then He will have compassion according to His abundant lovingkindness.

²²The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.

²³They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Jeremiah 29:¹³‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.  ¹⁴‘I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’

This bears pondering:Instead of lamenting the way things are, search for Me in the wreckage of adversity.  You will not fail to find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Thank You, ABBA.  I pray, Holy Spirit, You will minister these words to every heart as we have need.  I pray for our IDOK Troops, please protect them, keeping them safe in spirit, soul and body.  And our list of Praying For These, we pray Your Will be done. Thank You, ABBA, for Your Goodness, so undeserved but so freely given to us in JESUS NAME.  Amen and amen.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

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

We’ve had a relaxing celebration, home now visiting with a dear, dear friend.

Just a short Passage of Scripture this morning to encourage us.

Psalm 126 (New American Standard Bible)    ¹When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream.
² Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful shouting; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
³ The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
⁴ Restore our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the South.
⁵ Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
⁶ He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

For sure, for sure! The LORD has done great things for us.  For all of us.

And are you sowing in tears this morning?  Take heart. We shall reap with joyful shouting . . . if we remember The LORD has done great things for us and He’s not about to stop now!

Listen and take heart — We Will Remember.

Thank You, ABBA, we remember and by Your Grace we shall continue to remember.  And this morning I pray now for all our IDOKs, asking for strength and courage for all  that we may stand and remember even when we are weeping with many tears, even when our legs have buckled and we are only strong on our knees, help us remember Your Goodness.  I especially pray this for the Henderson Family – You could yet raise Brian up but if You choose another way, I pray they will remember that You are Good.  And we pray for others this morning too, for our IDOK Troops and for our list of Praying For These, asking for peace and safety and protection in JESUS NAME. And as I am reminded, those with court appearances, help us remember that You are in Control and in You all is well.  Amen and amen.