All posts by Kathie Whitestone Thompson

Follower of Yeshua. Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother. Some call me a teacher. Some say I'm a prayer warrior. A few accredit me with some writing skills. Me? I say I'm a work in slow progress, looking for perfection in eternity and until then having all the holy fun I know how.
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Dennis, Joey and the Umbrella

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IDOK DEVOTION for Monday, July 9, 2007

Friday, Dennis was right on target. Some days, there is a lot of wisdom in the “Funny Papers”.
Picture this: Mom is standing at the door; Dennis and Joey are stepping off the stoop into the peppering rain, and she hears Dennis say to Joey: “C’mon, Joey, if you wanna see a rainbow, you gotta put up with a little rain.”

How insightful is that?! As we live and breathe here on planet earth, unpleasant and downright hard stuff comes our way, but we can be sure that if we keep looking up, the rainbow will appear. However, there is one more thing I need to mention about Dennis and Joey and the rain … Dennis had the umbrella. I think the umbrella gave Dennis a leg up on his upbeat attitude, don’t you?

I think you and I have an umbrella against the enviable rain that falls upon each and every soul … His Name is Jesus. The question is, though — do we have Dennis’ attitude about our rainfall?

Matthew 5: (NKJV) 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

At first, I thought this passage fit perfectly for our illustration, but now I think the ‘fit’ needs some consideration. Obviously, Dennis and Joey’s rain was one of those ‘hard’ things that come to us in life since they were looking for a rainbow. Bad stuff is inevitable upon the JUST (that’s us, who are saved) and the UNJUST (that’s those who have not said yes to Jesus for Salvation). Before writing this devotion, I think I may have overlooked that in this passage, it is Father who is doing the SENDING, which gives me a whole new light on this. Father only sends GOOD STUFF, so the sun and rain in this passage are good and beneficial and pleasant, not bad; not something that we have to wade through and hope to find the rainbow. But rather the kind of rain that you stand out in with your head back, your mouth open, arms stretched out, twirling around laughing. And on top of all that glorious fun, you see the rainbow! It’s that kind of stuff He sends, and we the JUST benefit from it. The UNJUST do too, but just maybe they don’t know from Whom it comes. We do! We need to tell them!
Think about it this way: lost folks benefit from just walking around this planet with us, but they still need to come under our UMBRELLA for Eternal Protection, and we still need to offer THE UMBRELLA to folks getting rained on — be it pleasant rain or unpleasant rain. I sure hope I get to share my UMBRELLA with someone who doesn’t have ONE today. How about you?

Father, thank you for the weekend; for the sermons heard, for family and friends, for good food, for little boy birthdays, for mercy and grace. Thank You for the UMBRELLA picture, and as we see umbrellas and as we use them, help us praise You each time for the protection from hell and sin that You have given us in Christ Jesus, and it is in His name we offer this prayer.

As I post this, it is 86°F and clear in Balad, Iraq & the time there is 7:15 AM ADT – on July 9, 2007

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU

James, Uncategorized

Cost Counting

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IDOK DEVOTION for Wednesday, June 20, 2007

One of the books Jerry and I came home with from the SCWC is entitled Faithfully Fit, written by Claire Cloninger and Laura Barr. I am only a few pages into the book but I already know it is not like any other ‘shed those pounds’ books I have thumbed through or partially read. I can see right now that appetite and surrender are both the problem and the solution.

Additionally, I have decided I have been praying the wrong prayers before meals. Certainly, we are grateful for our meals, for the tables upon which they rest, and for the hands that prepare them. And certainly, we would like for the meat and the potatoes and the cheesecake to nourish our ‘temples’, but praying like that thus far has not made me Faithfully Fit. As I said, I have many pages to go to complete this book, but I already see a startling difference in it. It does not say START TODAY. It reminds me of the Lord when He said to count the cost.

Luke 14 (NKJV): 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?   source

Cloninger and Barr suggest their readers take a week to pray and to gather certain materials before setting out on their recommended 40-day journey to becoming Faithfully Fit. I think I just might learn something this time! But back to my mealtime prayer. I think I need to not only think before I eat but think before I pray that mealtime blessing. The prayer I am working on is this: Lord, You know I have a problem with appetite and apparently with ‘surrender’ too. So before I consume this meal, I am asking for the strength to surrender my physical appetite to You. And I am asking that I be willing to allow You to satisfy all my hungers so I will not go looking for this food on my plate to comfort me in ways it is not designed to do.

And that’s as far as I have gotten. How about if we revisit this one day next week? I should have learned some more by then.

In the meantime, maybe a little cost counting in other areas would be a good thing. A little figuring here, a little figuring there, maybe a little time to ‘sleep on it’ (wait 24 hours) would give us time to Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4: 16 NKJV and decide just whose idea is this anyway! Notwithstanding, if you have affirmation and confirmation from Father that He has given you a green light on any project, then go for it – no more waiting! Otherwise, I think we would be wise to Pray and Wait.

Father, we continue to be grateful for the doors of thought and ministry that You are opening to us and we continue to desire to be faithful to You. We ask You to guide us as we approach all projects, thoughts, and ideas that come to our minds daily; help us choose wisely, help us wait according to wisdom, and help us advance according to wisdom – grant to us this wisdom as You describe in James 1. And Father, as we call our prayer requests to You, we commit their needs to You in Jesus’ name.

As I post this it is 84°F and mostly sunny in Baghdad, Iraq & the time there is 8:38 AM ADT- on June 20, 2007

James 1 (KJV): 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU

Guests, Uncategorized

The Resume of Jesus Christ

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IDOK DEVOTION for Tuesday, June 12, 2007

This Resume was sent to me yesterday by a dear friend.
Perhaps you will give Him your consideration, in Light of His qualifications and experience.

The Resume of Jesus Christ

Address:     Ephesians 1:20

Phone:        Romans 10:13

Website:     The Bible.  Keywords:  Christ, Lord, Savior and Jesus

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Objective 

My name is Jesus -The Christ.  Many call me Lord!  I’ve sent you my resume because I’m seeking the top management position in your heart.  Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume. 

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Qualifications

I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19).

I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7).

I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7).

I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13).

The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14).

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Occupational Background

I’ve only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49).

I’ve never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.

My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17).

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Skills Work Experiences

Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).

I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33).

Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See 1 John 1:7-9).

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Educational Background

I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).

In me are hidden all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).

My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).

I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).

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Major Accomplishments

I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26).

I laid down my life so that you may live, (See 2 Corinthians 5:15).

I defeated the arch enemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15).

I’ve miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!

There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here.  You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot – the BIBLE.  You don’t need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

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References

Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration, and supernatural guidance.

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In Summation

Now that you’ve read my resume, I’m confident that I’m the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart.  I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47).  

When can I start?  Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).

Special note to readers:  Please, send this resume to everyone you know.  God’s supply of The Holy Spirit is endless, and everyone has an opening.  Hope is a promise in Christ.  If satan has deceived any of you into thinking you are at capacity, just ask Father God – in the name of Christ Jesus, to reveal the truth.  The Father can open up spaces within us that are beyond the imagination of man, (See Luke 1:37).

Always – pray, listen, and obey, (See 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22, James 1:22-25).  Thanks for your help.

Father and Lord, thank You. Impart all this to each and every soul who reads it.

As I send this email it is 96 °F / 36 °C and Clear in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 3:50 PM ADT – on June 12, 2007

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU