Monthly Archives: July 2013

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Seven Words (again)

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2010
Seven Words
I was struck with soberness as I read in Philippians 2 today.  Be forewarned.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,
There.  I’ve put it on the page. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven words. This is probably the slowest I have ever typed devotional words on a screen.  What can I say?  What can we answer to that?  Remember last week I think it was – when we said that when we read Scripture we are to respond to God with what do You want me to do with this Scripture?   Can you hear Him say, ‘Do it.’?  Is there any other response that will honor verse 14 of Philippians 2? Do all things without complaining and disputing. Get out of bed without complaining. Go to the office, without complaining. Open my umbrella without complaining.   Words are failing me to describe to you the grip these words have on me today – oh, I hope they NEVER release me! I can see how different my world would be.  I can see my face bright and glowing.  As I walk, I can see my steps are less encumbered even with a precious cargo of adversity in my arms. These seven words were not given to burden us, nor slap us, nor condemn us, but to free us! Can you see it?  Oh, please tell me you see it!  To lift our faces. To make our eyes bright, even sparkling. To bubble up grins from our merry souls. I see astonished people watching.  I see some astonished enough to try it for themselves.  I see people changing.  I see miracles all over the place.  I see women. I see men. I see children – loving, laughing, rejoicing.  I see ABBA ‘pulling surprise boxes off shelves and placing them on our front porches’. I see new-old neighborhoods, new-old churches – not perfect ones, but so inviting, so compelling that others come.  Some out of curiosity, but still they come; they look, they see, they are moved to live there too.  15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
It’s not a fairy tale.  It’s not meant to be just wishful thinking.  It’s real life – it’s the life you and I are expected to live – anything less and we all get cheated!

Oh, DADDY, I see it.  And by Your grace I am going to learn to live it! In Jesus Name for His Holy, Totally Deserving Self, I commit myself before You and these IDOKs to learn day by day to live these seven words for Your glory alone!  I know I will not do it perfectly, I know I will slip shamefully at times, fall flat on my face and think I am crazy for even trying again; but I will get up as fast as Your Grace can lift me.  By Your Spirit, I will get up, step up and keep going.  The work You have begun You will complete, I’m holding You to it, DADDY.  I love you so!  I hear that.  I got to be nuts doing this, but, ABBA, I need the accountability and there is no doubt YOU are worth it all.   And, ABBA, I figure there have got to be some others out there that are willing to take these seven words and let them live in them too and I pray for them for the courage to let You do this in them.  LORD, there must be cells of saints all over to live these words and IDOKs might as well be one of those cells of peoples.  You did not bring us together just to read devotions; there’s more and I pray for the more.   I pray for our IDOK Troops; for their safety, for their maturing in the faith; for their well being in spirit, soul and body. We commend them to You.  We commend all these too and we give ourselves to be hands and feet of service to them as You will.  Amen and amen in the Name that is Above Every Name, The Son of the Most High, Jesus the Christ.

Kathie

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Seeing Not, Is Believing! (again)

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2010
Seeing Not, Is Believing!
I am thinking as I begin, that I will be brief today.  Hebrews 11:17 . . .for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
As seeing Him who is invisible.  Hmmm  – invisible – even in the Greek Lexicon, invisible means what you expect – you cannot see it.  The one not seeing but enduring here was Moses as described in Hebrews 11.  You will recall Moses was called to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt.  And he did so.  And he endured much in that holy undertaking: for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.  For a proper understanding let us go again to the Greek Lexicon and let us see that our English word ‘seeing’ as used here in verse 17 in Greek  is — horao, meaning to know; become acquainted with by experience. So Moses, he who could not see God with his physical eyes saw Him as he became acquainted with God – as he experienced God.  It’s the same for us. Faith when exercised gives way to experience, we can SEE the God we cannot See and when we do we too can endure pursuing enemies, dry and hostile terrain, and even the same old – same old day after day after day. Yep! That’s it. Seeing the God we cannot See makes life worth living. Hebrews 11: 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Thank You, ABBA, for allowing us to SEE You; thank You for allowing us the privilege of experiencing You.  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for taking up residency within.  And I pray we will be more and more yielded to You.    And there are these – many families with various needs; strife and discord that we pray will be forgiven and put aside; sin and rebellious children – rebellious parents too, we pray for repentance and restoration.  And our IDOK Troops, we dare not forget them; praying for their safety and protection and well being in spirit, soul and body.  Thank You so much for the way You have taken care of each one of them and I pray that each one listed here will come home safe and sound at the appointed time.  And I pray for Israel.  You know the love You have given me for Your People and I pray for their peace and safety.  I pray too for America.  Thank You for every Christ Believing American and I pray that we who SEE You will be available to minister so others can SEE You too.  I pray for exposure of corruption and repentance of it in this Nation.  I pray for more and more people to stand against the evil that is being pushed in this Government.  I pray that every elected official from the White House to the tiniest little village in America that does not desire to abide by Your Moral Law will be removed from Office.  I pray You will have mercy on America and that You will raise up an ‘Army’ of Christians that will not be silent, not violent, not cruel, but firm in Your Love and Truth and will be a mighty force to stem the tide of corruption and debauchery that is trying to smother and kill this Nation.  I ask You for mercy and grace and space to repent.   And now before posting this I ask You for rest and peace for our IDOKs and Readers. I pray whatever is troubling each one that she/he will be willing to lay it down and let You be exalted in it.  Thank You for another time to gather together and it is in Your Name LORD Jesus that we pray. Amen and amen.

Kathie

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Bluegills (again)

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010
Bluegills

I have decided I want to be a Bluegill (fish) – figuratively speaking, of course.  Reading Tuesday’s Our Daily Bread devotion is what started me in this direction. Bluegills have been ‘recruited’ to protect certain water systems here in the U.S.  Christopher Lee of the Washington Post penned an article September 18, 2006 that in part said: “The fish are extremely sensitive to minute changes in the source water quality, — end of quote. source: http://limnology.wisc.edu/courses/zoo510/2009/bluegill_on_guard_wash-post_18sept06.html

My understanding is that Bluegill fish are so sensitive to the water in which they are swimming that any minute change in the water causes them concern and they respond to that concern.  Their responses alert their ‘keepers’ to check the water supply for contaminates that would be harmful to consumers and take the necessary actions to protect their consumers. 
How grand would it be if we as individual Christians and Churches were so sensitive to sin that we would respond by sounding alerts — first in prayer and then as the Holy Spirit leads waving red flags and blowing loud whistles?   How different would the U.S. be today if ample alarms had been sounded and adequate responses had been made years ago?  Would abortion be legal? Would prayer be banned in school? Would the Name of JESUS be the only name in ‘religion’ that is censored? Would homosexuality be ‘glamorized’ as an alternative life style to not only be embraced but to be applauded and admired? Would thousands and thousands of children have fallen prey to pornography mongers? Would divorce be 1 out of 2? Would ‘sex’ be the most used advertising tool? Just how different; just how better would this world be if Christians lived holy lives?  Just how different; just how better would this community in which I live be if I were a ‘bluegill’?  How sensitive am I to sin?  How much slips passed me that I don’t even recognize as sin? How often do I betray my ‘Water Source’ by closing my eyes and my mouth to rampant sin filling and destroying families around me?  I can do nothing to change what has been done. Neither can you.  Today abortion is legal. Today the homosexual agenda is steadily advancing.  Today the name of JESUS is the most hated name in the world. Today pornography and sex trafficking is stealing the innocence of children and destroying men, women, even whole families. Today sex is used to sell hamburgers, toothpaste, you name it!  What can we do about?  I’m not smart enough to figure that out as to practical step by step actions to take.  I don’t think the answer is to become obsessed with campaigns and petitions (although those things within reason may have value).  I do think we can and we better start here:
2 Chronicles 7:
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
                I Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
            16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.  17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
You know, ABBA, when we began this devotion I did not anticipate the whole of it; but then I rarely I do, do I?  Point is we cannot change what has been and even what is today much of it cannot be changed in a day, maybe not even in many days; but I don’t want that to stop me from working against evil.  I don’t want the enormity of the war to stop me from being available to You to wage battle.  In this moment I don’t know what I can do as one person to overturn Woe v Wade; or to stop the advancing of the homosexual agenda; or shut down the probably billions of dollar pornography and sex trafficking industry; or the exploiting of women in media advertising; or the corruption of politicians; and so many more evils than these; but I want to be available to You for You to do something through me to storm the gates of hell and rescue people from these heinous strongholds. I’m here, LORD, whatever You can do within me to stand against evil, lets do it! This I do know to ask You and that is for You to raise up people of prayer to not only pray in their homes in their prayer closets but to come together as churches, small groups – men, women, youth, children, come together regularly, consistently, methodically even to pray.  Just prayer, not to socialize, not even for Bible Study but for prayer. Prayer to come before YOU seeking You for repentance and revival.  Holy Spirit, do this. Please do this.    And now in obedience we also pray for one another – for those spoken here.

And something we prayed yesterday in particular I’m not sure but You know, that one wants us to keep on praying it, so I am and I am trusting You to complete that work You have begun in that one.  I am trusting You to complete the work You have begun in all our IDOKs and Readers.  You said You would so I know You will, my prayer, Holy Spirit, is that we will cooperate with You speedily and not wait till You have to spank us to bring about our obedience.  I really am glad You let me do this.  I really am glad You let me be Yours.  Thank You, DADDY, in Jesus’ Priceless and Holy Name. Amen and amen.

Kathie