IDOK Devotion for Thursday, April 15, 2010

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Updates and Requests:  LeGrand is still amazing the doctors, one has even suggested that he should write a book to inspire people.  There’s still a long journey ahead for Grand and Carrie and our prayers are helping.  Thanks for praying.

Sisters

I woke up thinking this: patience is a virtue and procrastination is a sin.

And what’s the first Scripture verse that comes to mind?

James 1: 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (KJV)

Are we also familiar with the preceding verse?

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (KJV)

Translation: The acquisition of patience comes by overcoming the temptation to NOT have patience.

But what about procrastination?  Some of us are so good at it that you’d think it was a virtue too!  Case in point: it’s 4:50 AM and I’m beginning to pen today’s devotion.
What was I doing yesterday?  Obviously not writing!

Here’s the official definition found at my online free dictionary: To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.  To postpone or delay needlessly.

And when the word patience is keyed into the search window of Bible Gateway, 33 Scripture references appear, and only in the New Testament.
What is the word patience missing in the Old Testament?
Obviously, in the King James, it is.  Hmmm — that’s interesting.   Ahh ha!  Change translations and there are 3 references for OT patience in the New American Standard Bible.

Ecclesiastes 7: 8b . . . Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.

I don’t know about you but that one smarts. It tells me that when I refuse to exercise patience when patience is needed, I am exhibiting haughtiness of spirit.
Now that’s a reason to hone my skills of procrastination if I ever heard one … (Big Smile) I’m kidding.

What we need is prayer, asking Father to reveal whether is this exercising Patience or indulging her perverted sister – Procrastination? But then some of us have been around this mountain enough times, I suspect we are well acquainted with both sisters and can spot them a mile away! Can’t we? Okay.  I’m done.

Father, You are so good to us, even when we are negligent, careless, and postponing.  Thank You.  Immediately Perry and the family come to mind this morning as the memorial service for Elaine will be today.
It’s bittersweet I think. So wonderful to think of her with You, knowing she is fully well and more alive than ever but missing from here.
I miss knowing that she’s not down the street from me. And oh how it must be for Perry and Brittany, especially, and Wesley and Jennifer too.  So I am asking You Holy Spirit to comfort them and give them strength for this day and the coming days.
Thank You that Grand is progressing and we pray Carrie will improve too.  And a book?  If that is from You, Father, I pray for the skills and helps for Grand that it can be so.
As many mornings, we have a whole list of people on our minds and with the lateness of the hour I am presenting them collectively in our list asking You to individually see each heart and each need and meet them where they are today and I know You will.
And, I dare not close without asking You to keep safe our IDOK Troops and their families.  Thank You, LORD.  Bless our IDOKs and Readers today in JESUS’ Name. Amen and amen.

IDOK Devotion for Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Evaporated Milk Christianity

I played hard yesterday with two GRANDS, ages 10 and 7, and worked hard last night, so hard I went to bed without having written an IDOK Devotion.  And at this moment I smell coffee . . . I’ll be right back!

Hmmm. That’s pretty good, but I miss my cream – fat free evaporated milk in my coffee may be healthier for my heart but I miss the richness of the cream (actually it’s half & half but for this devotional thought I’ll say cream.  You’ll see why in a moment.). Evaporated Milk Christianity looks about the same in the cup as others view our lives; perhaps they see it as acceptable, even worthy of admiration, but if we have known Sweet Cream Fellowship with ABBA, Evaporated Milk will not do!

I think the message for us today is guard well our fellowship with the Father.  Keep that line of communication open.  Don’t let it get junked up with little sins of irritation and aggravation.  Keep His Word before us and living in us.  And when irritations and aggravations sneak in, as soon as we notice them, let us take them to JESUS immediately. Let us rigidly guard against taking those irritations and aggravations to those whom we might deem the source of them before we speak with Jesus about it.  Now, that’s the difference between Evaporated Milk Christianity and Sweet Cream Fellowship.  I want the Sweet Cream Fellowship and by His Grace, I shall have it — today!  Yesterday’s ‘cup’ has already been poured.  Today’s a new day.  Whatcha say about it?

John 15:4-6 (NAS) 4″Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

Matthew 5: 7″Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  [SOURCE]

Thank You, ABBA.  You are forever faithful to us. You are so good to us! We continue to pray for all these on our list; we have some serious illness here; some waiting for test results and wanting so much to get a report of ‘all clear’ or ‘this is fixable and you’ll be as good as new’.  That’s what we want and that’s what we ask You for  and yet life and times have taught us that in every case what we want does not come to be.  It is then that we KNOW You are good, Your are kind and Your Will is best even when it does not ‘feel’ that way.   So for every precious saint and every beloved sinner we pray not our will but Your Will be done.

Please continue to watch over and care for our IDOK Troops in spirit, soul and body; as well as their families. And, LORD, I pray in Your Blessed Name for strength and courage today to do right when doing wrong would feel (for a moment) so much better.  I pray for strength and courage to live in Sweet Cream Fellowship with You and to settle not for Evaporated Milk Christianity. Amen and amen.

IDOK Devotion for Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Updates and Requests:  Carolyn is not 100% recovered from Friday’s out patient surgery, but she’s close she says. Jimmy Cantrell: He has improved so much but does have a long way to go.  He was at church on Easter.

Hard Nosed?  Don’t You Believe It!

Ezekiel 18:32 NASB “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.”

I don’t have a deep and great theological thought to give you (like I ever do) with this passage – I’m just offering it for your reading pleasure and for us to have a verse to ward off the darts of the enemy or unregenerate man who says that our God enjoys seeing us suffer.  All ABBA has wanted for us since Eve and Adam sinned was for us to turn and live.  I am convinced He loves seeing us enjoy living. I am convinced He is the most fun in the Universe.  But that was not always so of me.  I’ve had some serious doubts in days gone by — like He was pretty ‘hard nosed’ and fun was not something He appreciated.  Thanks to Him, I know better now.

Let me give you another couple verses.  These are two of my very favorite. The Holy Spirit used these over and over bringing me to the place of staying in love with Jesus during a very hard time when my mind was so afflicted with darts from the enemy and the consequences of forsaken sin.  Yes, you read it right.  DADDY does not erase the consequences of sin even when we have forsaken it. Although, I have experienced Him dousing the flame so it was not as hot as I deserved.  He is so Awesome!

Psalm 145 NASB: 17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.    18The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.

It’s been a really sweet day here – hope it has been for you too on the other side of this screen.  Love and holy hugs!

To review the list of names for prayer, please click here. Thank You, LORD JESUS, Your Presence is the greatest joy we have and You are AWESOME.  I am so glad I finally know it and I am looking forward to knowing it more and more and I pray this for our IDOKs and Readers as well.  Thank You for taking care of Carolyn and Jimmy and giving them a steady recovery.  And we pray now for the rest of the list too.  It’s a long list.  Thank You for entrusting us with each name.  We are learning to take this business of prayer more and more seriously and we are glad about it.  You too, huh?  I ask You now to continue to keep watch over our IDOK Troops to protect them and keep them safe from all harm in spirit, soul and body. And we pray for their families – for courage and strength and hope and practical things like mortgage and rent payments, utilities, the grass getting mowed, lunch money – whatever is needed.  And, ABBA, WC comes to mind. I just get the feeling You are doing some good things for him – thank You.  You are doing some good things for every one of us.  Thank You.  Holy Spirit, please don’t let up on us – teach us, train us in Your Word and in praying – empower us to pray down a revival of the saints and the evangelizing of the lost.  Thank You for Israel, bless and keep them I pray.  And I ask You to turn the heart of America to You again. Amen and amen in Jesus Name.

This change over to Word Press has opened a new world for IDOK and I am thrilled!  I want to thank each of you for every email subscription.  What a blessing!!  I don’t know what’s in store for us but I am confident our DADDY GOD is leading and you know that is just what we want.  Holy Hugs!