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I Think (again)

IDOK Devotion for Thursday, March 11, 2010
I Think
I am admitting to you that I am a poor speller.  Often words that I should know escape me.  Today was one of those days and sovereign was the word.  It won’t escape me any more though.  As I keyed into my browser window the beginning of the word, it gave me choices and reign was cast in bold type and a light bulb came on!  Sove reign.  Bear with me now.  I’ll admit my mental computing is often a stretch, and I am strangely wired, but it works for me – and quite honestly, I like it.  SO!  Sove for some reason reminded me of the word ‘solve’ and I said: ‘uh hu if I allow the Holy Spirit of God to REIGN in me, all my issues, problems, conflicts, all the bits I am dealing with will be SOLVED’.  And might I add, spelling the word sovereign is solved too!   Just a little trivia.  I’ll get back to my study now.  Catch ya’ll later.
Matthew 14has been a portion of my reading today. Please share it with me.
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
I am assuming Jesus sent the multitude away before dusk so they could make their way home and then He went to pray and His disciples as He instructed them got in a boat to make their way across the Sea of Galilee.  (Their next appointment with the people was in the Land of Gennesaret.  Here’s a link to a map if you liked to visualize this better. http://www.bible-history.com/geography/ancient-israel/lake-gennesaret.html )
If I understand this correctly, the ‘Boys’ had made it to the middle of the Sea by evening and they were getting tossed around pretty good by a severe storm and about 4 AM, I believe, Jesus decided to take a walk.  (He and ABBA must have been having a really good time there on the mountain since dusk.)
Let me tell you something else I really like about this Text. Jesus walked to them, not around the sea but across it and don’t forget – it was not a calm sea.  As the God-Man don’t you think He could have just popped in on them rather than walking?  But He didn’t.   But He did start walking toward them in plenty of time to reach them at just the right time.  I think He still does that.  I think He still takes the shortest distance to us (not going around the storm but through it).  I think He does not cause us to wait in our storms any longer than is absolutely necessary for us to KNOW Him best.  And I think that storm scared the daylights out of those Guys on that boat, but I think they would not have missed the Presence of Jesus in the storm for anything in the world.  I think Jesus wants us to love Him so much that His Manifested Presence with us in the storm makes the storm worth it to us.   What do you think?
 

           Holy Spirit, thank You that more and more You are making Your Word alive to us.   I am loving it!  And I pray our IDOKs and Readers are too.  I pray meeting You on the pages of Scripture will be so special to us that going a day without reading Your Word will be unthinkable and unbearable to us.  And for all names spoken here, we pray for Your will to be done for each of them.  We pray each one will sense You coming to them; we pray their faith will not fail.  We pray they will count their storms worth it just to see You present with them.  Please continue to protect our IDOK Troops, watch over them and keep them from harm spiritually, physically and emotionally.  Help their families be strong and trust You.  And we are still mindful of the political climate and still rejoicing that people are waking up and I ask that our awareness of what is right and wrong will continue to grow and that we will be determined to do what is right regardless who says its wrong or politically incorrect.   Please keep on raising up prayer warriors and evangelists until every one hears and has the opportunity to exchange their sins for Your righteousness, Jesus.  Amen and amen.

Kathie

 

Many – A Little Bits

Thank you to many friends who through various social medias have sent us heart warming condolences.  We appreciate you so much! We are comforted. Jerry’s request is for composure as he returns to the office today. Walking from the back door to the car door was not without tears for the both of us this morning.

Susie was special. She is still teaching us even now.

Yesterday we said Life is Fragile. If you missed the post click HERE. And it is. And none of us get out of this life unscathed by grief. And when grief comes it brings gifts. Gifts of memories, reflections and encouragement. It encourages us to seize opportunities to be a little kinder. A little more thoughtful. And slow down just a little bit more. There were a few times, not many, but still too many, that I rushed past Susie either to get to the truck or in the house without saying hello to her and giving her a pat on the head.

She was so smart. Outspoken. She knew what she wanted and she was not shy in asking. Why do I say that? Glad you asked. You see weekends were often outside work days for Jerry. Susie watched from the backyard. Often I’d step outside to lend a hand or watch too; and when I did Susie would notice. She’d wait a moment or two and then she would bark, looking square at me. That was her outspoken request. Come pat me. And I would. And she’d be satisfied. And I was blessed to be so loved by such a smart and loving creation.

Oh to be like Susie. To know our own needs and desires. To make them know to our MASTER and be content with what HE gives. And to know HE was blessed by His smart and loving creation.

Philippians 4:6 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

via Phil 4:6 NASB – Be anxious for nothing, but in – Bible Gateway.

Regrets? Yes. But refusing guilt. And embracing good memories, reflections, and encouragement.

Perhaps there is a friend, canine or human, that you might not rush pass today. Perhaps there is a need to lay before our DADDY GOD and when HE responds, be content.

Joy to you,

Life Is Fragile

Today my beloved and I are painfully aware again that life is fragile.  In a moment life is swallowed up and there’s an empty space. This time it’s in the backyard.

Susie.

We miss her. The backyard is bare without her. She was an exceptionally good companion.  Playful. Excitable. Obedient most of the time. Non-malicious all the time.  Unconditional love. That’s what she gave us. A yellow lab named Susie, her little heart so big with love went quiet today and our hearts are more than sad. As we gave her a resting place of honor in the side yard we thanked her and her Creator for the memories.

9 The Lord is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made.

via Psalm 145 NIV – Psalm 145 – A psalm of praise. Of – Bible Gateway.

Susie

We miss you, Susie.

Thank You, Father, for creating companions that teach us about You.

Joy to you,

A Find

Just wondering if you enjoyed the Seeing is Believing video? Click HERE if you missed it and would like to see it.

Got a recipe for you this morning. Really. A real food recipe. I made it yesterday. Would load a picture for you but the last of it went with my beloved to work this morning.

Italian Meatballs

1 package Johnsonville Mild Italian Sausage (ground or links)

I was delighted to find a package of ground with NO preservatives, NO fillers and minimally processed – actually that FIND was the reason for trying the recipe.

1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup of dry bread crumbs (I used Japanese-style Panko Bread Crumbs – again no preservatives)
1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese (yes, I grated from a block of Parmesan cheese :)
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup finely chopped onion (actually I grated red onions – I mean I had already grated the cheese – so why not :)  )

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the egg, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, milk and onion. (If using links – remove sausage from casings) Add sausage to the bread-crumb mixture and mix well. Shape into 20 meatballs. Arrange meatballs on a shallow baking pan (I lined pan with parchment paper – easy clean up). Bake for 20 minutes or longer until meatballs are cooked through (and browned to your liking). Serve with your favorite  sauce and spaghetti.

If I had any left I would be making meatball subs for supper tonight. :) Got some flat bread that is just begging to be baked with meatballs, sauce and cheese. Oh well … next time. :)

1 Corinthians 5:New King James Version (NKJV)

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

via 1 Corinthians 5:7-9 NKJV – Therefore purge out the old leaven, – Bible Gateway.

I am praying today for Nicole and Matt Teague FamilyAnd as many of you, there are others that daily come to my ‘JESUS, please help list’.

ABBA, thank You. Your blessings are more than we can number and none of them are small – they are all huge and wonderful. The blessing of recipes and happy FINDS at the market, the strength and privilege of cooking and eating and serving family and friends. What a wonderful blessing You gave us when You created food and the eating of it. Help us see You in it and learn more about who You are in our everyday blessings. Nicole and Matt and the children and other family members – this is a tough one. Thank You that You are right there with them, walking every step of this with them; and, JESUS, I am asking You to heal Nicole to allow her the privilege to raise up her children to honor and love You and bless her husband for many years even beyond that.  Thank You for hearing our prayers for this beloved family. And others: Pam, Kerri, Dori, Doylene, The Hughes Family as they grieve and celebrate Lillian’s life; Debbie as she looks for a new vision and a new path with You; and wayward children and wayward spouses – all these people and matters – thank You for hearing and answering. Israel. Still asking for peace and protection; trusting You to protect them, trusting You to subdue their enemies. America. Remembering Your grace and mercy and trusting You for repentance in this Land.  And as I close to post this, ABBA, thanking You and loving You and praying that every dear one who comes here to read and pray will open their hearts to believe You and experience Your blessed, holy, perfect, kind and gentle Manifest Presence with them today. Thank You, ABBA, in JESUS Mighty Name.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

Remember YOU have the God-given RIGHT to do right in this wrong world!