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Christian Living

A Guest Writer Today: Joanie Yoder

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2009

A Guest Writer Today: Joanie Yoder

of RBC – Our Daily Bread from her Book, God Alone

2 Corinthians 12 NIV

7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

It is always a joy to talk to my old college friend Tom and get caught up on what the Lord has been teaching us since we last met.

One time Tom began with a sheepish grin, “You know, I can’t believe how many years it’s taken me to learn my latest lesson – and I’m a Bible Teacher!” He went on to list some of the trials and testings he and his family had been facing and how unworthy he felt teaching an adult Sunday school class. “Week after week I felt I was a total failure,” he confided, “and kept wondering if this might be my last Sunday before announcing my resignation.”

Then on Sunday Tom noticed a young woman who stayed behind to speak to him. She was a friend of his family, so she knew what they had been going through, “Tom,” she said, “I hope you won’t take this the wrong way, but you’re a much better teacher when you’re going through tough times!”

Another sheepish grin crept across Tom’s face as he told me, “Only then did I feel I grasped the Lord’s response to Paul’s thorn in the flesh: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’”

Weakness helps us to relate to others and lets God’s power work in our lives. That may be our greatest asset.

WE MAY FACE SITUATION BEYOND OUR RESERVES, BUT NEVER BEYOND GOD’S RESOURCES.

ABBA, we certainly feel the weakness but we have experienced Your Grace and we know that Your Grace is sufficient; abundantly sufficient for Danny and Tina, Sparkie, and our Sister here before us this morning. Holy Spirit help us pray fervently for these and all these listed here. And whatever You desire to do with IDOK hands and feet to alleviate and aid I pray we will hear Your Call and obey quickly. I pray for Holy Ghost discernment and urgings for all of us in all our situations and circumstances today. Please continue to protect our IDOK Troops today; please continue to have mercy on we the people of America; please continue to stem the tide of evil, particularly in Washington and State Governments and deliver us from sin in the Mighty Name of Jesus I pray. Amen and amen.

As I post this it is 99°F and clear in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time is 3:30 PM AST on October 16, 2009.

Christian Living

Got Clean Hands?

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2008

Twenty of Twenty Five – A Great Recipe:
20- However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

About a year or so ago, I think, I was sitting in the parking lot of a local store applying GermX to my hands before diving into a small bag of chips and you may recall that an IDOK came from that incident.
I think another IDOK is forming from another hand cleaning experience.
Recently I was attending a meeting and perchance one sitting close by retrieved a bottle of GermX from her purse and refreshed her hands. It was such a pleasant fragrance, a clean smell. And I thought of my own hands; they needed cleaning too. As the meeting continued, I continued to listen but the urge to clean my hands was dominating my thoughts. Even though I was listening and participating in the discussion – I wanted to clean my hands! It was like I just could not wait for a break in the flow of conversation so I could get up, get my own bottle of GermX and clean my hands. If my vocabulary were not so feeble I could convey to you the urgency I felt. It wasn’t that I could not function in the meeting, it wasn’t that I ignored the discussion; it’s just that getting my hands clean was just ‘so there’ in my thoughts.
No, this is not a lesson on the power of suggestion, although certainly it can be applied. It is a spiritual application that I hope to communicate to you here.
As I have continued to think about the occurrence, I really want the Holy Spirit to grow in me that kind of longing, that kind of ‘desperation’ for Jesus. It was so clear to me that day (and still is today) if I were as ‘set on’ Jesus, pleasing Him and knowing Him and obeying Him and hearing from Him as I was to get my hands cleaned, there’s no telling how satisfying and exciting and edifying and helpful to others my life would be!! Sitting there smelling that clean, lingering fragrance and seeing myself almost like a third party observer would, I am now treasuring the incident and praying for that kind of ‘gotta have it’ to be re-created in me again and again; but this time for Jesus, not a hand sanitizer. But come to think of it Jesus is the best ‘hand sanitizer’, isn’t He? And not just our hands but our minds, hearts, our whole being, isn’t He? Can you relate or have I just been smelling GermX too long?
James 4:
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
2 Samuel 22:
21 “The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
Psalm 24:
3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Job 17: (NCV)
9 But those who do right will continue to do right,
And those whose hands are not dirty with sin will grow stronger.
Please note we are adding Joan to our list today. Joan has been battling cancer for 2 years; her pain at this time is beyond description. Pray for her.
An update on Joshua – he too is battling for his life; his family says: PLEASE keep praying w/us, no matter where you are. It doesn’t look good for him, but I know that God can & does work miracles. Joshua really needs one right now.
ABBA, I don’t know what all You want to do with this devotion. You know it has come to mind often since it happened. I really think it applies. I think if I had such an urgency as that, such an ‘I want this’ drive in me for You, You could do so much more through me. Is this the answer to building a ‘fire’ in me; building a fire in Your Church? If so, confirm it; not just to me but to our IDOKs; to Your Body. And Holy Spirit – do this in us. We cannot do it ourselves. We cannot change us, only You can do this for us.
And do this too, Lord, comfort Joan and alleviate her pain; reveal Yourself to her just like she needs You to and Joshua too and his family. They are hurting. And they are not the only ones on our list who are hurting and seeking and wanting to be well and whole again. In one way or another we all are.
Thank You for clean hands; help us submit to more and more washings. Comfort and care for our IDOK Troops today – keep their hands clean in this war; direct their steps; guard their minds, bodies and spirits and as soon as possible bring them home.
And Lord, for Your own glory and for the good of the world, expose the dirty hands in this Country and bring them to repentance if at all possible. I don’t know the outcome of this November election; I am glad You do and I am glad You will still be my DADDY GOD however it shakes out. I pray enough folks will heed what You have said in Your Word and will vote that way, if they do McCain and Palin will win this thing. And if not, I know You will be with us. I know You are not worried and with Your help we will not either. Thank You for Israel; thank You for the Peace You have planned for them. It excites me that one day it will be so. Thank You for the reminder You gave me yesterday of the 144,000 of them that will one day preach Your Gospel. I love that ABBA. And Lord Jesus, You said surely I come quickly, even so come Lord Jesus. Economic conditions, especially the effects it has upon the minds and hearts of people. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. JOAN. Jodi H. David T. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Jason A and his mother. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. George. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Brooklyn. Families and communities hit by Gustav and Ike. Jacqueline and her boys, River and Jackson. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Bernie. Darlene and Torkel. Edie G. Rachel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Dylan. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. David & Allison. Jeanette and Earl and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance and Family. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family, Mollie B. Public and Private School Teachers.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N. T. Palin.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Richard M. Brandon B.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George.Travis N. Hawk.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony.
Hospitalized: Captain Tran
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G.
Still praying but no recent update: Hector. Corpl. Light. Bradley T. Albert R III.
Justin G.on his way home end of the month!!
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.
November’s Election.
As I post this it is 64°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 7:04 AM AST – on October 21, 2008
Internet Daughters of the KING
THE WHITE STONE
His Ministry to You

Christian Living

Lord, Teach Us To Be Offended!

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2008

Fifteen of Twenty Five – A Great Recipe:
15- No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

Well, if I had any doubts that Sarah Palin was God’s woman, which I didn’t, I certainly don’t now. Satan has brought out one of his viler tools to persecute Sarah. I heard via Fox News this morning that Larry Flynn has made a porn film with a Palin look alike. A porn parody I believe it is being called. The name of the film I cannot tell you as according to Fox it is so vile they cannot even speak it on the air. My prayer continues to be for Sarah that she will be as wise as a serpent and as harmless as a dove when she deals with the lost souls who so eagerly give themselves to the causes of Satan. May Sarah find comfort and strength in the Words of Jesus. Matthew 5: 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(PM update: Various Hollywood personalities are also from the cesspool openly before cheering crowds breathing out vile, reprobate verbiage against Sarah Palin.) Oh do I wish I could upset Satan as much as she is!!
I hope Sarah will not even give this ‘sewage spewing from hell’ the time of day. I hope she will stand firm in her faith and allow ABBA to fight this for her.
You know the amazing, mind boggling thing about all this? Even though Jesus hates the sin of pornography, the production of it, the selling of it, the viewing of it, any and all participation in it; He loves the sinner – even Larry Flynn, this Palin ‘look alike’, certain Hollywood personalities and the sin-sick souls who will give their eyes to viewing it. What a GOD He is!!
May I again remind us all that we have a mandate from our God to come out from among them and be separate? There was a movie made some years ago entitled The Time Changer. It was a good movie. It depicted the horror and disbelief a 19th Century Christian would experience if he encounter 20th century Christians. Yes, I said Christians. It was and is no surprise that sinners sin. What was so appalling to the 19th Century Christian Time Traveler was how much like the ‘world’ was the professing church in the year 2000.
Do we have the courage to be ‘different’? Do we have the courage to be ridiculed? Do we have the courage and the desire to live holy? Do we have the courage to walk circumspectly?
Lets read from Ephesians 5. We can only walk circumspectly if we are committed to imitating our God.
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Verses 3 through 6 describe the practices of the unsaved. Hear Father’s command to us in verse
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Do this and we shall live victoriously – do not do this and we are deceiving no one but ourselves.
Father, let not one IDOK be deceived. If we are partaking of any form of darkness, please expose it and reprove us of it. LORD, cause us to put away from us any unfruitful work of darkness. Lord Jesus we know Your Righteousness makes us holy in position but Holy Spirit it takes You washing us with Your Word to make us holy in practice. Holy Spirit somehow, however You will, turn us every way but loose. Don’t let us look even remotely like Satan’s crowd. Please put just a really bad taste in our mouths for the things of this world. Lord, teach us how to be offended. Teach us to hate sin like You hate sin. Teach us to hate it so much that to practice it is as repulsive to us as going for a swim in a septic tank. Lord, when people met You they changed. They either said Yes to You and came to love You or they hated You and turned away. We leave people like we found them, don’t we? I want to learn to do it Your Way – teach me Lord. Teach me to imitate You. And I pray for every willing IDOK, teach them too.
And Lord, love on our IDOK Troops for us today. Please keep them safe from harm in mind, body and spirit and bring them home safe and sound as soon as You will. Every name listed here has a face, Lord, and You know each face perfectly. Look upon their faces today and help each to look up in faith and see You today; see You providing for them just what they need. We still pray for Israel to be protected and come to the Peace You long to give them; we still pray for mercy for America, for grace and space to repent. We do not know if there is a spark left in Larry Flynn or these others; we don’t know if they have reached the point of no return – if they have not, Holy Spirit, we pray somehow, Lord, they will be yet saved. ABBA, my heart is troubled and I am weary. I think there are others like me and so I pray for us a better attitude, more praise, less worry and a whole lot more excitement about how Great and Awesome You are. Renew our strength and forgive us for our failure to rest these mortal bodies. I am sorry ABBA; help me and I will learn and do better. Amen and amen.
As I post this it is 75°F and smoke haze in Baghdad, IQ & the time there is 7:16 AM AST – on October 14, 2008
Internet Daughters of the KING
THE WHITE STONE
His Ministry to You