IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

Thursday morning report on Jackson: Good morning to all!  Yesterday Jackson got the line in his belly button removed and Ashley not only got to hold him but to dress him in an outfit and change his diaper.  How happy the smallest, normal thing can make a mama.  He is still on room air oxygen and has other wires but the parents get to hold him more now.  The nurse has to hand him to them but they can have him in their arms.  Steve says that they are going to request another vision/hearing test.  Jackson flinched when the nurse made a noise when she hit one of the machine arms yesterday.  He still squints in the light when it shines in his face.  We will wait and see and let God and his little body do the rest.  Praying for miracles; knowing the Lord can provide them; leaning on Him, Melinda

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

John Maxwell said: “There are a lot of things in life that are difficult to understand. Faith allows the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.”

(HCSB)Isaiah 7:⁹ . . .   If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.

Acts 26: (New American Standard Bible) ¹⁶‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;

I’m not Paul and I dare say none of you are either but surely these Passages are speaking to someone this morning.

What if with every hard and difficult ‘gift’ that comes into our lives, what if we by faith took a stand and would allow ourselves to  believe and apply: for this purpose I have appeared to you (I have allowed this to come to you) to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you?

If you will share your thoughts.

I am quiet and sober here, ABBA, so much so that I really don’t want to disturb what You are speaking to our hearts now.  Holy Spirit do all as You will in JESUS NAME.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

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

I am grateful to say the day started off well. I was walking by 5:38 and had thoughts forming for Thursday’s devotional before then.  And as life would have it not everything went according to MY plans but all is well despite it.  And now it is nearly 4:00 — here’s hoping morning thoughts will come together this afternoon.

A question arose this morning at Romans 8:35.  Will it? Yes, that’s the question.  Will it?

Lets read.

Romans 8:35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Good question, wouldn’t you say?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Will it? Will we let hard times ‘inspire’ us to doubt the love God is and has for us? To be sure our doubts do not separate us from Him; nor do they change His love for us; but don’t we sometimes  allow ourselves to FEEL less loved?   Don’t we often equate love with getting what we want from Him, when we want it?

So, will it?  Will we let hard times drive us to feeling estranged from Him?  Lets read on.

36. Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” 37. But (This is a really important word here — BUT) in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. This is some serious persecution, wouldn’t you say?  Yet our Penman, Paul, confirms he is loved. Why is that? 38. For I am convinced (and there is the key.  He is convinced; he does not doubt JESUS LOVES ME) that neither death, nor life, no angels, nor principalities, no things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39. nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So what it comes down to is Paul was convinced that getting his brand new car scratched to the metal in a parking lot, or finding every checkout lane has 3 or more in line waiting, or being excluded from the lunch click because he prays before eating, or  having  worked all day and there’s not a thing in this house to eat, or not having a ‘thing’ to wear to Mary’s party — none of this would  cause him to entertain the idea that God was holding out on him. None of this would be reason enough for Paul to say woe is me I think I’ll just have a flesh fit.

Neither will it us … will it?

ABBA, You know You delighted me so this morning when You began to form this lesson as I read the TEXT.  And I am so grateful that nothing will ever separate me from You and yet I know that I am susceptible to the darts of the Evil One who would have me believe this is not so.  Who would have me believe that You quickly and easily turn Your Back on me and maliciously withhold good things from me just because You can.  It’s the same old lie he spoke to Eve  and many of us have bought into it even as she did. But Praise You JESUS we are learning better and we are grateful.  Thank You.  So I ask You know to encourage each IDOK and minister this Word as You see fit.  And before we put this post to rest we pray for our IDOK Troops; for peace of mind and for safety and protection for spirit, soul and body of each one of them.  And collectively and individually we pray for Your Will for all those named on our Praying For These list.   We remember too Israel, praying for peace, praying for protection, praying that nothing You have given them will they give over to another. And we pray for America, asking You to forgive us and bring us to repentance.  And praying for Your Church, asking You to revive us, refresh us and consume us with holy love for You and people, desiring above all that they be saved and we be useful to You and them in the rebirth process.  And since Elaine comes to mind, I just lift her up; You are doing a wonderful work in her.  Thank You, ABBA.  My prayer is for her physical comfort as much as possible and for her soul and spirit to display You.  All this we ask in the Name and Merits of JESUS. Amen and amen.

The doctor came with more information for the family regarding Jackson — he gives no hope for a ‘normal’ life for Jackson.  BUT until God says the doctor report will stand, we continue to ask ABBA for healing and wholeness for Jackson.

Please use this link for a full report.

Thank you for your faithfulness.    kwt