IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2010

Praise Reports, Prayer Requests and Updates:

I had a confrontation with some watermelon last night that put me out of commission early and kept me up late. However, it lends well to today’s message.

As I was doing some Sunday School prep on Saturday from the Explore the Bible Leader Guide I made this note for us:  Removing Options!  What a difference it would make in our day to day living.

Last night I removed an option from my future food list — watermelon.  It was not removed because I don’t like it.  It is  removed because  of the effect it has on my internal system.

Yesterday’s Sunday School lesson focused on I Corinthians 7 — some heavy stuff there.  The introduction in the Leader Guide and what prompted this devotion read like this: They needed to remove divorce from the options list. And with that I was off and running.

There are some things Christians just need to remove from their options list.  Some of them might not in and of themselves be bad, some may even be  fun — we might like them as I do watermelon.  But watermelon doesn’t have the same appeal to me this morning as it did yesterday afternoon.  In time I may forget and long for watermelon again.  BUT taking watermelon OFF the options table settles the matter.  It removes the temptation.  It’s off the Options for me Table.

In like manner, when we discover by practical experience that certain activities (I’m not talking about moral sins set forth in Scripture — Of course those are off the Options Table for us! But other things that) hinder and disrupt our Internal System (our Spirit Walk with Christ) we owe it to ourselves, to the Body of Christ and most importantly to JESUS to take that OFF our Options Table.   Taking it off the Options Table ends the debate.  It sends the Evil One packing with his suggestions.

Let me give you example.

Shoplifting.

That is not on my Options Table and since it is not, I legitimately shop in peace at any store I go into.  Shoplifting is NO temptation for me.   And there are other actions set forth in Scripture that have been removed from my Options Table.   It’s a freedom thing.  I like it.

So my point is this.  All things set forth in ABBA’s Word as sin, we need to take off our Options Table — remove them, give them no further consideration – we just ain’t doing it. Some of these were really easy for me to remove.  And I dare say that is true for you as well.  Others may be not so easy to remove from the Table, but with prayer, JESUS and we can do it!

Be of good courage today and if some ‘watermelon’ has offended you – Rejoice, take it off the Table and Live!

Romans 13: (New American Standard Bible) ¹⁴But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

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

ABBA, You are so good to me!! Thank You for this devotion.  I doubly thank You for it.  For the message it is, for the encouragement, for the practical help it is and for the flow of it.  You streamed it.  Thank You.  And I ask You now to encourage our IDOKs and Readers.  To bless them and bring them to their Options Table to know and have courage to remove those things that are hindering them from Knowing You better, from working with You better, from loving others better.  And me too, ABBA, me too.

And please tend as You will to each one named on our prayer list.  And protect our IDOK Troops from all harm today we pray.  And we acknowledge and gladly proclaim we pray in the Mighty and Holy, Blessed Name of JESUS CHRIST, our Savior and our Lord. Amen and amen.

As occurs from time to time in the IDOK Ministry, we have a prayer request that is so private I have been asked to withhold names and details; but prayer is much desired and needed. One sister in the Light is wanting her sister in the dark to come to the Light.  Please ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray for this ‘lost sheep’.

A blessed weekend to you — Holy hugs, Kat…

IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2010

Praise Reports, Prayer Requests and Updates:

I am expecting to be brief this morning since it is 6:04 and I am just getting started!  The Grands are still asleep and I hope I don’t shock any of you by my beloved is accustom to taking care of himself for breakfast — I come in for packing lunch.  Enough of that!

Before coming to the screen I read my Journey (A LifeWay Publication) and one statement in particular I want to share with you.

He is always working for the greatest good for the most people for the longest time.

In paraphrase, the piece goes on to say that we should and we can trust the Heart of God.  We may not like or even know what His Hands are doing in a season or moment, but we are safe trusting His Heart.

I urge you to follow the link to this you-tube.  It’s a God-thing, I believe– finding it this morning was quick and easy …the first one!

Trust His Heart.

Psalm 37: ¹Do not fret because of evildoers,
Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
² For they will wither quickly like the grass
And fade like the green herb.
³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
⁴ Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.
⁵ Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light
And your judgment as the noonday.
⁷ Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
⁸ Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.
⁹ For evildoers will be cut off,
But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.

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

Thank You, ABBA, for Your Grace and Your Love for us, so much more than we have yet to experience.  I pray we will be willing to experience more and more of Your Love for us and that we will stand still long enough in Your Presence to KNOW You more.  And then to be faithful long enough in obedience to experience more and more of You.

I pray this morning for our IDOKs and our Readers, speaking LIFE over them, praying they experience You today in real and tangible ways.  I pray for our IDOK Troops for their safety and protection today.  And for each name on our list – precious souls, needy souls, rebellious souls, LORD have mercy and grant space and grace for repentance.   Not only for those near and dear to our hearts but for those in places of power and leadership.  I pray for Israel, thank You for that great Nation and I pray for peace and safety for them.  And, ABBA, I thank You for America and I pray You will forgive us.  I pray we will turn from our wicked ways; help us Holy Spirit to repent from the ‘Church House’ to the ‘White House’; for Your Word promises if we will repent and turn You will hear and You will forgive and heal our land.  This land so needs healing LORD.  Please Holy Spirit send revival to Your People so this Land can be healed.  Amen and amen in JESUS NAME.

(Forgive the blunders — not much proofreading time this morning)