IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

Thursday morning report on Jackson: Good morning to all!  Yesterday Jackson got the line in his belly button removed and Ashley not only got to hold him but to dress him in an outfit and change his diaper.  How happy the smallest, normal thing can make a mama.  He is still on room air oxygen and has other wires but the parents get to hold him more now.  The nurse has to hand him to them but they can have him in their arms.  Steve says that they are going to request another vision/hearing test.  Jackson flinched when the nurse made a noise when she hit one of the machine arms yesterday.  He still squints in the light when it shines in his face.  We will wait and see and let God and his little body do the rest.  Praying for miracles; knowing the Lord can provide them; leaning on Him, Melinda

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

John Maxwell said: “There are a lot of things in life that are difficult to understand. Faith allows the soul to go beyond what the eyes can see.”

(HCSB)Isaiah 7:⁹ . . .   If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.

Acts 26: (New American Standard Bible) ¹⁶‘But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you;

I’m not Paul and I dare say none of you are either but surely these Passages are speaking to someone this morning.

What if with every hard and difficult ‘gift’ that comes into our lives, what if we by faith took a stand and would allow ourselves to  believe and apply: for this purpose I have appeared to you (I have allowed this to come to you) to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you?

If you will share your thoughts.

I am quiet and sober here, ABBA, so much so that I really don’t want to disturb what You are speaking to our hearts now.  Holy Spirit do all as You will in JESUS NAME.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

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

I am grateful to say the day started off well. I was walking by 5:38 and had thoughts forming for Thursday’s devotional before then.  And as life would have it not everything went according to MY plans but all is well despite it.  And now it is nearly 4:00 — here’s hoping morning thoughts will come together this afternoon.

A question arose this morning at Romans 8:35.  Will it? Yes, that’s the question.  Will it?

Lets read.

Romans 8:35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Good question, wouldn’t you say?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Will it? Will we let hard times ‘inspire’ us to doubt the love God is and has for us? To be sure our doubts do not separate us from Him; nor do they change His love for us; but don’t we sometimes  allow ourselves to FEEL less loved?   Don’t we often equate love with getting what we want from Him, when we want it?

So, will it?  Will we let hard times drive us to feeling estranged from Him?  Lets read on.

36. Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” 37. But (This is a really important word here — BUT) in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. This is some serious persecution, wouldn’t you say?  Yet our Penman, Paul, confirms he is loved. Why is that? 38. For I am convinced (and there is the key.  He is convinced; he does not doubt JESUS LOVES ME) that neither death, nor life, no angels, nor principalities, no things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39. nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So what it comes down to is Paul was convinced that getting his brand new car scratched to the metal in a parking lot, or finding every checkout lane has 3 or more in line waiting, or being excluded from the lunch click because he prays before eating, or  having  worked all day and there’s not a thing in this house to eat, or not having a ‘thing’ to wear to Mary’s party — none of this would  cause him to entertain the idea that God was holding out on him. None of this would be reason enough for Paul to say woe is me I think I’ll just have a flesh fit.

Neither will it us … will it?

ABBA, You know You delighted me so this morning when You began to form this lesson as I read the TEXT.  And I am so grateful that nothing will ever separate me from You and yet I know that I am susceptible to the darts of the Evil One who would have me believe this is not so.  Who would have me believe that You quickly and easily turn Your Back on me and maliciously withhold good things from me just because You can.  It’s the same old lie he spoke to Eve  and many of us have bought into it even as she did. But Praise You JESUS we are learning better and we are grateful.  Thank You.  So I ask You know to encourage each IDOK and minister this Word as You see fit.  And before we put this post to rest we pray for our IDOK Troops; for peace of mind and for safety and protection for spirit, soul and body of each one of them.  And collectively and individually we pray for Your Will for all those named on our Praying For These list.   We remember too Israel, praying for peace, praying for protection, praying that nothing You have given them will they give over to another. And we pray for America, asking You to forgive us and bring us to repentance.  And praying for Your Church, asking You to revive us, refresh us and consume us with holy love for You and people, desiring above all that they be saved and we be useful to You and them in the rebirth process.  And since Elaine comes to mind, I just lift her up; You are doing a wonderful work in her.  Thank You, ABBA.  My prayer is for her physical comfort as much as possible and for her soul and spirit to display You.  All this we ask in the Name and Merits of JESUS. Amen and amen.

The doctor came with more information for the family regarding Jackson — he gives no hope for a ‘normal’ life for Jackson.  BUT until God says the doctor report will stand, we continue to ask ABBA for healing and wholeness for Jackson.

Please use this link for a full report.

Thank you for your faithfulness.    kwt

IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010

FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE:

Edie has asked that we pray for members of her family.  Her Sister is having a difficult time with her daughter and granddaughter.  A heartbreaking situation when doing the tough thing may be the only right thing to do.

And prayers for the McCrary-Biggs family would be appreciated. Loyce McCrary closed her eyes in Eight Mile this morning and opened them in Heaven.  A memorial service will be Friday.

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

Well then, why are you yelling at Me?  She was quickly silenced and then broke into a sheepish grin.  She was sure He did too.  It was a corrective, yet loving moment.

Imagine it with me.

She had determined doggone it today I’m gonna get some stuff done and the day started off well.  She got the bed made and a load of laundry in the machine and took a phone call.  That was okay.  She was expecting that one and had made allowances for it.  She’d go on with her day.  And she did.  But then another call and another.   By late afternoon she was in a real snit!  And so she began to discuss the matter with the LORD.  She told Him how insensitive the callers had been. She poured out how unfair it was and on and on she went and with each bemoaning her volume got louder until she heard that Sweet, Sweet Voice say, Well, if you are so mad at Susie, why are you yelling at Me?

Why indeed!

It’s just a story,  but it reminded me how often I have done that.  To be angry at one and take it out on another.  I’m not suggesting that we ‘take it out’ on the one we are really angry with either; but I am suggesting that we examine our anger under the Leadership of the Holy Spirit; locate the source and let Him defuse it. Who knows we might break out in a sheepish grin and HE might too.

I do so like to make Him grin!

James 3 NASB:  ¹⁰from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Ephesians 4 NASB:  ³¹Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.   ³²Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

ABBA, I could be slightly bias but I think the story is cute and I hope it is entertaining but more than that I hope it will encourage us to see more intimately that You are our Glorious Father.  That You are not distant from us but closer than our breath; that You mean for us to behave as You have outlined for us in Your Word but that You are more gracious and understanding and FUN than we have thus far imagined.

There are many things on my mind this evening; Jackson and his family, JoAnn, The McCrary and Biggs Families, Troubled Families, Children enslaved to substances that won’t let them go and children suffering because of it and parents without strength or courage to do what is right to do.  And our IDOK Troops and our Praying for These list and family and friends and more — You know, ABBA, and I am entrusting it all to You.  And trusting You to give direction and correction and step by step instructions to do what we as Your people can do and must do in JESUS Name.

We continue to think of Israel and pray for Peace and Protection. We continue to pray for this Nation and the need for repentance and pray Holy Spirit that we will yet see You pour out life transforming conviction upon this whole Nation of people.   And now I pray for rest and peace for our IDOKs.  And, ABBA, marked improvement and reduction of pain for Steve by morning, please.   There’s so much more but You will still be listening even when we rest this post.  Thank You, ABBA.  You are so good to us in JESUS NAME.  Amen and amen.