Monthly Archives: February 2013

A Quick Hello, Just Chatty Today

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It is Sunday evening as I type these words. Our Soul Detox study is complete. Now what?

Where to now with THE WHITE STONE or more affectionately known by long time friends – IDOK Devotions?

Our Home page says THE WHITE STONE is A Gathering Place for Christian Devotions and Prayer. And so we are. Can we be more? Is there a need to be more? Is there a need to be less? Shall we ponder those a while?

A Bible exercise this morning. I trust you will play along. Please read the following (redacted for ease of reading) Text and list the similarities and differences then and today when we gather for corporate worship.

Nehemiah 8 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

1 all the people gathered with one accord in the open space in front of the Water Gate and asked ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moshe, which Adonai had commanded Isra’el.
2 ‘Ezra the cohen brought the Torah before the assembly, which consisted of men, women and all children old enough to understand. It was the first day of the seventh month.
3 Facing the open space in front of the Water Gate, he read from it to the men, the women and the children who could understand from early morning until noon; and all the people listened attentively to the scroll of the Torah.
4 ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher stood on a wood platform which they had made for the purpose; beside him on his right stood . . . .
5 ‘Ezra opened the scroll where all the people could see him, because he was higher than all the people; when he opened it, all the people rose to their feet.
6 ‘Ezra blessed Adonai, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate before Adonai with their faces to the ground.
7 The Levites . . .  explained the Torah to the people, while the people remained in their places.
8 They read clearly from the scroll, in the Torah of God, translated it, and enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read.

via Neh 8 CJB;NASB – all the people gathered with one accord – Bible Gateway.

Blessings Friends + + +

ABBA, thank You for the privilege of reading Your Word and sharing it here in this forum. I pray we will have eager hearts to read, to hear, to pray and to obey. I pray for each one who gathers at this screen to read and to pray that, HOLY SPIRIT, You will encourage them, will give them answers to the questions they have and the quandaries they face; I pray You will strengthen them in their love for You and their trust in You. I pray You will heal their diseases and prosper their homes and their families as they seek You with their whole hearts — and me too, ABBA, in the Mighty Name of YESHUA, our Savior and coming King.  And in particular I pray for Leslie’s recovery and steady gaining of strength and practices for health; Kerri – always holding her up before You and Dylan too; Dori – she blesses me so, broaden her boundaries I pray; and I pray for those whose names I am not privy to but who are held close in the hearts of our Readers here; that You will make them whole, LORD JESUS. Amen and amen.

Christian Living, Guests, Soul Detox

Officers of the Court

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Day 35 of 35 – Soul Detox

Romans 14:1-23

Devotional

If you’re hurting all the time, you can’t help hurting other people, but if you will do what it takes to Biblically manage toxic relationships, then you can be strong and share the love of God to people who need to know Him. Strive to manage the toxic relationships in your life, and more importantly, strive to make sure you aren’t being the toxic one in your relationships.
What are some things you can to do to build healthier relationships in your life?

via Soul Detox | YouVersion.com.

And so our Soul Detox study together closes. However, I think if we are wise and if this study is to be perfected in us, we will continue to ponder the TEXTS we have read and the questions asked and the messages given.

Today’s TEXT addressed Judgment, using the word in my Translation six (6) times. And after this study today I am more firmly convinced that our society does not have a clear understanding of the word and it is inappropriately thrown around for the specific purpose of dismissing one’s responsibility before GOD and warding off corrective admonitions of Others.

The use of the word Judge in our TEXT today is this:

to preside over with the power of giving judicial decisions

via Krino – New Testament Greek Lexicon – King James Version.

What is a judicial decision?          An execution or acquittal.
And who makes judicial decisions?         One having the power and authority to carry out those decisions.

And when a human judge sits the bench and he gives a judicial decision to place the Offender in prison and the Police Officer comes and takes the guilty one away, do we say the Police Officer JUDGED the Offender?  I’ll leave that there for you to ponder the analogy.

But I will ask, who has the ultimate power and authority over man?
Who has the right to Execute or Acquit?
Who has the power and authority to open up hell and drop One in or open Heaven and welcome One in?
Who has the directive from GOD to warn and invite mankind respectively? (See Matthew 28:19-20.)

How did JESUS speak to the Woman taken in adultery? (See John 8:10-12.)

“Neither do I condemn you. Now go, and don’t sin any more.”

via John 8:10-12 CJB – Standing up, Yeshua said to her, – Bible Gateway.

Allow me to share an example of a communique that is NOT Judging: I don’t know the specific weapons the Evil One used to entice your flesh to commit adultery (or fill in any other sin); whatever they were I am sorry. I am sorry you did not see any other way; I am sorry you were overtaken by this. It is wrong. It is an evil choice you made. But I have great news!  You can be set free of it and forgiven. Based upon the Word of JESUS, if you will repent; if you will change your mind about this sin, and admit it is evil and a violation of GOD’s Holy Word, determining in your heart that you are willing to forsake this sin, He will forgive you and heal you; and the HOLY SPIRIT will help you never do it again.

That my sisters and brothers is what we need. You and me willing to love enslaved people enough to give them this GREAT NEWS! It is not our JUDGMENT. It is ABBA’s Judgment. We are merely given the privilege and responsibility of being Officers of His Court.

ABBA, this is a heavy ending to this study but I thank You for it. It helps me see and I pray it will help others see too. See that You do hate sin and that sin will eternally kill and destroy us if we do not repent and yet when we do repent You will forgive us, You will heal us and we will LIVE forever with You. Why am I so shy with speaking this glorious message? I pray for your mercy and forgiveness to repent of this and allow You to fill me with bold and holy love for people. And, ABBA, I pray this too for every sister and brother who joins me in agreement. Thank You again for this study, please seal it in our hearts and walk it out with our lips, our hands and our feet for JESUS name sake. Amen and amen.

Christian Living, Guests, Soul Detox

Questionable Relationships

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Day 34 of 35  — Soul Detox

Acts 15:22-41; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Deuteronomy 7:1-6

Devotional

Even though it may not be easy, your toxic relationship may grow to such a dangerous point that you may have to end it. Today you will read more from God’s Word about why it is sometimes necessary to end a toxic relationship, and examples of toxic relationships that ended.
Why do you think we tend to have more toxic relationships in our lives instead of healthy ones?

via Soul Detox | YouVersion.com.

That is a probing question. Do you have an answer?

Why do we allow toxic relationships to continue?
And what is a toxic relationship anyway?
What makes a healthy relationship?
And do we have the right to pitch a person out of our lives just because they irritate us?

In this moment as I type these questions I am reminded of something Joyce Meyer said and I think it answers at least a couple of these questions. She said that she will associate with anyone as long as she is INFLUENCING them and they are not INFECTING her.  I understand that to mean as long as she has confirmation from the HOLY SPIRIT that she is influencing them to focus on JESUS, she continues with the relationship; but if she hears the HOLY SPIRIT checking her Spirit and she realizes she is being adversely affected by them (my examples: praying less, reading The Word less, disobedient to the WORD we know already; negative, short-tempered, unwholesome language, and the list could go on and on), the relationship must be distanced or stopped.

Does that help anyone?

ABBA, again I am thankful for this Soul Detox study; I am grateful for the clear message it gives; I am grateful for the practicality it gives so we can see changes we must make. And so, ABBA, I pray for myself and for every person who comes here to read and to pray that we will have the courage and the necessary love for You to make these changes. And as yesterday, there are people and matters all around us crying for Your intervention. In particular today I am mindful of sex trafficking. I pray You will raise up an army of holy people to co-labor with You to rescue these enslaved in this plague of evil. I pray You will educate us and arm us with tools and means to rescue and deliver them from this bondage. Thank You for hearing our prayers, individually and collectively. Melinda comes to mind. I particularly ask for favor and blessings of just what she needs today. And there’s a list of others – many, ABBA, and others joining in prayer here have lists too. We are so grateful that You hear and You care and You are willing and able to answer and help us. We confess and proclaim we have no question, no matter, too small or too large for You. Thank You, ABBA, in YESHUA’s Mighty and Holy name.