IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

Hi Kathie—- Just wanted to update you on my niece’s little girl.  She is 6 years old and she has now been removed from her mother and is in a foster home.  We know the Lord has worked in this, because her life was in danger with all that she was going thru and the way she was having to live.  It is really heartbreaking that she is not nearby here where she could be around people that she knows and loves.  Just ask everyone to keep praying that the home she is in will be a good christian home.  Thank you and everyone for your prayers……….Love, Edie

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

Friends, I’ve been teary tonight following Fox News as they featured  reporting The Rise of Freedom – the rebuilding at Ground Zero. Not that I am opposed to rebuilding, not all; albeit, I would rather the rebuilding  be not necessary. And yet since it is, may the rebuilding inspire us to remember; remember that hatred destroys; love rebuilds.

Saturday will be 9 years since that horrific day.  I remember. I remember that Tuesday morning, that unfathomable Tuesday morning — it just could not be happening! But it was, it did.  I remember seeking a quiet office with my friend, Julia, and there we prayed.  We prayed the attacks would be stopped.

If only 911 had never been! Why did it happen?  And could it have been avoided?  And how?

Yes, perhaps. I do not wish to stereotype people of Muslim persuasion and I have to know that not all Muslims fly into buildings or strap car bombs to themselves, but some do. And yet I cannot deny that  natural born Arabs  are descendants of Ishmael and apart from a saving encounter with Yeshua, Arabs-Muslims are at enmity with Yahweh and those who have come to Him in saving faith.

This enmity began when Abraham and Sarah would not wait on the promise of God for a son and in rebellion and sin, Ishmael was born. And the world has never been the same. I am thinking that few single acts of rebellion engulf the world for millenniums; but this one did. To be sure though every act of rebellion, every sin affects/infects someone, many someones.

Let this be our Ground Zero: sin kills, hatred kills – only love heals; and it is Yahweh Who  is LOVE. And in Him we learn to love who He loves and hate what He hates and He only hates sin.  And John 3:16 is for EVERYONE – no exemptions.

John 3: (King James Version) ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2 Peter 3: (New American Standard Bible) ⁸But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.  ⁹The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

1 Kings 10: (New American Standard Bible) ⁹“Blessed be the LORD your God who delighted in you to set you on the throne of Israel; because the LORD loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, do justice and righteousness.”

1 John 4: (New American Standard Bible) ¹⁵Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.  ¹⁶We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  ¹⁷By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.

1 John 3: (New American Standard Bible) ¹⁰By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.  ¹¹For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;

ABBA, I ask You to deal with my sadness; use it to transform  me more and more into the image of Your Son and my Savior, JESUS THE CHRIST. Thank You for these Scriptures; I am comforted in them.  I am comforted that You are love; You are also justice.  I am comforted in Your Holiness.  I am comforted in Your mercy.  I am comforted that You are God and You are perfect and I can and do trust You.   I pray this for each soul reading this post. And You know the matters that are continually our prayer; collectively I bring them all and entrust them to You in JESUS NAME.  Amen and amen.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

Mon, September 6, 2010 5:50:53 PM Three Cheers for Jackson; report from Melinda: Yahooo!  Late this afternoon Jackson took 1-1/2 ozs. of milk…and so far he is keeping it down.  His Granny Betty went down and held him today.  Keep praying for the miracle we need; look how far he has come, thanks to all of you, and all the others, who keep him in constant prayer.  Hope to get a picture on sometime soon.  He’s a beautiful boy. With many thanks, and much gratitude,  Melinda

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

Well, ya’ll, Labor Day 2010 is coming to a close. We’ve enjoyed the day. For one thing went to the Movies and saw What If.  My Friends, that is an excellent movie.  Go see it before it’s gone, if it’s near you. Only place in Mobile County to see it is the Hollywood Theater on Satchel Page Drive.  It’s worth the money and the time.
Here’s a link to view a trailer.  What If!  I’m ready to see it again!

So what did ya’ll do to celebrate Labor Day?  Any takers on sharing with me?

So, now that Labor Day is done, is Summer done too? Do we really have to put away our white shoes?  Okay.  Before I get too silly here —  What’s The LORD speaking to you?  What’s it time for you to do?

What’s He speaking to you to do with the remainder of 2010?  With the remainder of your life?  With today, The First Day of the Rest of Your Life, and following?

While my beloved and I were sitting on a bench at Steele Creek enjoying the last rays of Monday’s light, we talked about the rest of our  lives.  We said life is not meant to be lived accidentally but  rather on purpose.  We think we live  too much accidentally, not enough on purpose, yet.  I proposed a meeting with ABBA.  A meeting to ask Him for plans.  His plans for us as to actions, ministry, fun, saving, spending, sharing, giving, helping, etc. etc.  We are certain He was listening as when we got into the truck a tape of one of Adrian Rogers’ sermons was being re-broadcast.  And what was it about?  The very thing we had spoken about as we were walking to the truck.  Yes.  He listens! And He confirms!  And I so love it when He does… it’s one of the ways I feel His love for me.  You too?

So how do you meet with God as a family?  A couple? Or single? How do you discern His plans for you to live this life on purpose and not accidentally?  I’d love for you to share.  You may share privately by email or comment publicly at the Blog.  As always, there’s no obligation — but your comments, observations and questions are welcomed!

Jeremiah 29 NASB¹¹‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 33: NASB ¹¹ The counsel of the LORD stands forever,  the plans of His heart from generation to generation.
¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,  the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

Proverbs 16: NASB ³ Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established.

ABBA, would You take this writing and minister it to our IDOKs – to comfort and encourage them? Would You impress upon us Your Plans for us to live our days on purpose, on point for YOU, for Your Kingdom, for Eternity sake?  Thank You.

Bob comes to mind.  Mrs. Martha’s memorial service is set for tomorrow.  I pray it will be a time of celebrating and a time of witness to any lost family and friends who might attend … that it’s time to make the most of the time we have here.  Not just so we can live a good life here but so we can prepare for a GREAT Eternity and help prepare others, as many as possible, to come along with us to the HOME You are preparing for us.

I really am delighted with this movie we saw and I pray You will use it to get the attention of others.  I pray souls will be saved as they view this film.  i really am glad it was made and I pray the rewards are so sweet others will be made too.

Thank You for what You are doing with Jackson and his family.  We pray he will yet be completely healed and that all his life he will honor and exalt You.  We pray for his parents and family, for peace and rest.

We pray for our IDOK Troops for safety, for protection and safe returns home for each of them.   We pray for America that we as a people will yet repent and be saved.  And for our Praying for These list, strength equal to their days and hope enough to weather every storm and though it all to give You glory.  Thank You for every answered prayer.  Amen and amen in JESUS NAME.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

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

Labor Day!

As I sit to write in hours it shall officially arrive.  A day for the American Worker to be recognized, and today,  many American Workers are taking the day off… my beloved being one of them.  If you are interested here is a link to read about the origin of Labor Day. And here is a link to the ORIGIN OF LABOR.

And before I get too secular here,  let us be reminded that work was not suppose to be LABOR.   Were it not for SIN, all our activities of tending the Universe would be FUN.  But alas sin came.  And Praise GOD one day sin will GO and so will the LABOR!  But until then JESUS has given us this promise (and many, many, many more!):

Matthew 11 NKJV:²⁷ All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. ²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

ABBA, thank You for a day recognized to honor honest labor.  Thank You that we can celebrate with family and friends.  And I pray all our IDOKs will utilize this day in the way that YOU will lead us.  And, LORD JESUS, thank You that in YOU we have rest from the LABOR of trying to earn our way to a Right Standing with You, since we could NEVER achieve it however hard we labor.  Thank You  LORD JESUS for giving us Eternal Life.

And before we close we pray for our IDOK Troops, please keep them safe and strong in spirit, soul and body.  And for our Praying for These list, we commend each of them to You in just the way and for the things they need.  And, ABBA, bless America  with conviction and repentance I pray.  Amen and amen in JESUS NAME.

Sat, September 4, 2010 4:54:38 PM

Jackson’s Saturday Update from Melinda: We were so happy to find yesterday that Jackson’s therapist is Kelly, who was Gracelyn’s therapist for so long.  She remembered us and we certainly remember her–she was wonderful with our girl.  She told them that Jackson had improved since she had last seen him.  Thursday Ashley and Steve were shown the massage to use for an hour each day for Jackson.  They are snuggling up with him today and doing the things they are supposed to do and loving him.  Yah!  And, he took his pacifier for an hour yesterday!  What grace he has been given!  Thank the Lord for the good He has done and keep those prayers comin’!  Love to all!  Melinda