Tag Archives: Bible Study

Just Wondering (again)

Posted on by

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2010

Just Wondering

I don’t know if I am going any where with this; just making a note right now.  Why do I think I have to do everything important first thing in the morning – reading, writing, praying, drink a bottle of water, exercise, get out of my pjs, brush my teeth, take a shower, wash my hair, dry my hair, etc. etc.?  So I don’t have to think about it the rest of the day? Maybe.  But that won’t work with meditating on Scripture or praying.  I need conversation with Daddy God ALL day long!

And two, I am big on lists, making them but not doing them and then feeling like a failure because I didn’t.  So then I spend time NOT making lists and then find important things go undone and then I feel like a failure.  Where’s the happy medium? I am wondering if today a means to a happy medium is forming.  When I teach and on those rare occasions when I used to speak, I did not use notes.  Sure I wrote the message as I studied The Word and I read it over and over but when I stood to speak, I just opened my mouth and the Holy Spirit drew upon what I had put in and I was as surprised as the audience at what I said.  And you know what? I loved it!  I couldn’t do it any other way.  So I am wondering if that is who I am and the way I am to operate on a day to day basis.  You know…study to show myself approved and just go from minute to minute working with Him from what I have studied?  That would include His Word and notes I make to myself in Sunday School class, in Worship Service, riding in the truck, standing in line, sitting at a basketball game – just anywhere a good thought comes to mind; and then meet with Him with all my notes when I wake up and go from there each day.  My notes and lists would still be useful but I would not feel tied to them and like a failure if everything on the list didn’t get done everyday.  I wonder? 

And three, something that Joyce Meyer said today – we cannot make our lists, prioritize them and be done with it once and for all.  Emotionally, I think that is what I have been looking for.  A one size fits all — once and for all list of do this, do this, do this and you will be skinny, happy and productive. Duh!  She said, and I am, again, paraphrasing, of course, that I might as well get used to it – re-evaluations on a regular basis must be a part of our lives.  Get over it and get on with it!  Life is messy – just do what you know to do day by day to live holy and stay in touch with God; and all the rest will work out – body, soul and spirit.  Hmmm. 

Is this making any sense to anybody? Is there anybody out there like me? Just wondering. And now that I am reading this over a second time… these concepts would be called living in the Spirit rather than the flesh, wouldn’t they?  Ouch!

Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (source)

2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. (source)

Guess I am not wondering any more.  Daddy God has spoken!

P.S.  And ladies and gents, I lie not!  I went from putting the finishing touches on this before beginning the closing prayer, to read an email that just came in and it is a devotional entitled Renewed Day by Day!  I’m not kidding!!  Indeed DADDY is speaking and I am listening!

Thank You, DADDY GOD, for the progress today and thank You that even the failures when given to You become stepping stones to victory. Thank You that I have some stepping stones today and I have some victories too and I couldn’t have done it without You.  Thank You.  Thank You for the good reports I have received today and thank You that You are LORD over the bad ones too.  Thank You that You are tending all that have come to us for prayer today.  You are teaching us the power of prayer and we are grateful.  Doing what I know to do for spirit, soul and body says I should now ask You to bless our IDOK Troops, protect them and guard them and bring them home safe and sound; bless our IDOKs and Readers with peace and rest and wisdom and desire to love You and serve You more; forgive and grant space and grace for the lost to repent and for the saints to grow into consistent obedience and trust You for a good night sleep for us all in Jesus Name.  Amen and amen.

Kathie

 

Bluegills (again)

Posted on by
IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2010
Bluegills

I have decided I want to be a Bluegill (fish) – figuratively speaking, of course.  Reading Tuesday’s Our Daily Bread devotion is what started me in this direction. Bluegills have been ‘recruited’ to protect certain water systems here in the U.S.  Christopher Lee of the Washington Post penned an article September 18, 2006 that in part said: “The fish are extremely sensitive to minute changes in the source water quality, — end of quote. source: http://limnology.wisc.edu/courses/zoo510/2009/bluegill_on_guard_wash-post_18sept06.html

My understanding is that Bluegill fish are so sensitive to the water in which they are swimming that any minute change in the water causes them concern and they respond to that concern.  Their responses alert their ‘keepers’ to check the water supply for contaminates that would be harmful to consumers and take the necessary actions to protect their consumers. 
How grand would it be if we as individual Christians and Churches were so sensitive to sin that we would respond by sounding alerts — first in prayer and then as the Holy Spirit leads waving red flags and blowing loud whistles?   How different would the U.S. be today if ample alarms had been sounded and adequate responses had been made years ago?  Would abortion be legal? Would prayer be banned in school? Would the Name of JESUS be the only name in ‘religion’ that is censored? Would homosexuality be ‘glamorized’ as an alternative life style to not only be embraced but to be applauded and admired? Would thousands and thousands of children have fallen prey to pornography mongers? Would divorce be 1 out of 2? Would ‘sex’ be the most used advertising tool? Just how different; just how better would this world be if Christians lived holy lives?  Just how different; just how better would this community in which I live be if I were a ‘bluegill’?  How sensitive am I to sin?  How much slips passed me that I don’t even recognize as sin? How often do I betray my ‘Water Source’ by closing my eyes and my mouth to rampant sin filling and destroying families around me?  I can do nothing to change what has been done. Neither can you.  Today abortion is legal. Today the homosexual agenda is steadily advancing.  Today the name of JESUS is the most hated name in the world. Today pornography and sex trafficking is stealing the innocence of children and destroying men, women, even whole families. Today sex is used to sell hamburgers, toothpaste, you name it!  What can we do about?  I’m not smart enough to figure that out as to practical step by step actions to take.  I don’t think the answer is to become obsessed with campaigns and petitions (although those things within reason may have value).  I do think we can and we better start here:
2 Chronicles 7:
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
                I Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
            16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.  17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
You know, ABBA, when we began this devotion I did not anticipate the whole of it; but then I rarely I do, do I?  Point is we cannot change what has been and even what is today much of it cannot be changed in a day, maybe not even in many days; but I don’t want that to stop me from working against evil.  I don’t want the enormity of the war to stop me from being available to You to wage battle.  In this moment I don’t know what I can do as one person to overturn Woe v Wade; or to stop the advancing of the homosexual agenda; or shut down the probably billions of dollar pornography and sex trafficking industry; or the exploiting of women in media advertising; or the corruption of politicians; and so many more evils than these; but I want to be available to You for You to do something through me to storm the gates of hell and rescue people from these heinous strongholds. I’m here, LORD, whatever You can do within me to stand against evil, lets do it! This I do know to ask You and that is for You to raise up people of prayer to not only pray in their homes in their prayer closets but to come together as churches, small groups – men, women, youth, children, come together regularly, consistently, methodically even to pray.  Just prayer, not to socialize, not even for Bible Study but for prayer. Prayer to come before YOU seeking You for repentance and revival.  Holy Spirit, do this. Please do this.    And now in obedience we also pray for one another – for those spoken here.

And something we prayed yesterday in particular I’m not sure but You know, that one wants us to keep on praying it, so I am and I am trusting You to complete that work You have begun in that one.  I am trusting You to complete the work You have begun in all our IDOKs and Readers.  You said You would so I know You will, my prayer, Holy Spirit, is that we will cooperate with You speedily and not wait till You have to spank us to bring about our obedience.  I really am glad You let me do this.  I really am glad You let me be Yours.  Thank You, DADDY, in Jesus’ Priceless and Holy Name. Amen and amen.

Kathie

GOD Waits Too (again)

Posted on by
IDOK Devotion for Monday, March 8, 2010
God Waits Too
            Good Morning, Dear Friends who keep me accountable; meeting with you daily at this screen is a privilege I do not take lightly as without you ABBA only knows where I’d be.  As my beloved says from time to time, “thanks for putting up with me.”
            We’ve had a busy weekend around here, starting on Friday and so on Friday I didn’t sit to write, nor Saturday nor Sunday.  And this morning 45 minutes have already slipped by and this page is still nearly blank. 
            I often, perhaps you too, think of myself as waiting on God.  This morning Psalm 65 has reminded me that God waits too.   And He’s been waiting longer than you or I ever have or ever shall wait on Him. 
Psalm 65:1 Praise is awaiting You, O God, in Zion;
         And to You the vow shall be performed.
            My Bible study notes tell me this verse describes a time to come for which God has been waiting since the fall of man, when Eve took a bite into sin and mankind and all creation fell beneath the curse.  This event is also described in Romans 8:(NKJV) 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
            Allow yourself as best you can to imagine how long ABBA has been waiting to see His creation restored to what He made and what He intended it to be before we messed it up.  Are you in AWE of His patience? I don’t know how the Holy Spirit might individually apply this to each of us today, but I am trusting He will.
            Let me give you a little more of Psalm 65 – I urge you to go on-line or pick up your own treasured copy of ABBA’s Word to you and read the whole Psalm but until then here’s a few more verses to whet your appetite.
2 O You who hear prayer,
         To You all flesh will come.
 3 Iniquities prevail against me;
         As for our transgressions,
         You will provide atonement for them.        
 4 Blessed is the man You choose,
         And cause to approach You,
         That he may dwell in Your courts.
         We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
         Of Your holy temple.
                Ain’t that the truth!
            Holy Spirit, I ask You to apply this Word to us individually as you will.  You certainly know about waiting and surely You will empower us to wait.  You never ask of us anything that You have not already done.  You really are AWESOME. 
            As we begin this new week, help us begin well and finish well.  I’m starting off with my ‘scheduling’ off, redeem it I pray.  And for anything that is ‘off’ for any of us this morning, I ask You to redeem it.  For Moms whose morning may start off rushed and chaotic I ask You to redeem it.  Somehow sing us a song or recite a portion of Your Word, something that will enable us to step back from jumping into a flesh fit with both feet and instead hold onto Your Peace and refuse to let it go.  
            And now we pray for all  our IDOK and Reader families; as I pray for my own, ABBA, that hedge of protection around my daughters and my sons and my grandchildren, that hedge to keep out anything that would eternally harm them, and those prickly thorns on the inside that is just enough to remind them to back away from sin, that is just enough to remind them to do the right thing today for Your Sake, Jesus.
            We also pray now for each one spoknen here; You know the cry of their hearts and we ask You to be merciful.  We ask You to comfort them; sit and speak peace to them – pour out Your Grace and Sweet Presence to them.  And we don’t want to leave out anyone here.  We pray for strength and help and healing for each one just the way You want to do it, ABBA.  I pray for the peace of Israel and for the redemption of Your Creation just as You have been waiting all this time.  And, thank You, Jesus, for saving us.  Thank You for being the Atonement we had to have to enable us to love You and call You, ABBA. Amen and Amen
Kathie

 

My Find

Posted on by

A find I didn’t know I had.

Off and on for much of this fleeting Saturday, I have invested in studying for tomorrow’s Bible lesson during Sunday School hour at First Baptist Satsuma. And in the process I chased a number of rabbits. 🙂 I do that often with the various study tools I have. This one is Logos. Isn’t it delightful when you find you have something you didn’t know you had?

So reading, clicking and exploring my Logos Library I found the following and decided I’d post a small portion of my find here. I am thinking of my grandchildren. Perhaps you have children or grandchildren that will come to  mind as well:

Selecting a Mate

Many young people have a romantic expectation of meeting someone who is erotically attractive and elicits a mysterious sense of compatibility. “Falling in love” hits like a powerful religious experience and is taken to be the voice of God: “This is the one for you.” Christian young people are sitting ducks for this deception.

They need compelling instruction that identifies Christian love as service love, founded on a decision, drawing from the emotions but not grounded in them. They also need wise criteria for selecting a spouse. We suggest they consider questions like the following:

—What kind of life is God calling you to live? What kind of spouse would support that?

—What kind of person would likely make a good father or mother for your children?

—What personality traits would put additional stress on your personal weaknesses?

—What are the important qualities in a spouse “for the long haul”? How do attractive appearance and an urbane sense of humor rate over time with a trait like faithfulness?[1]

I wonder how many divorces would have been avoided had the marriages been predicated on these criteria?  I also wonder how many godly homes would have been established?  It is not too late for this generation if our generation will make some changes. 

Food for thought.

Happy Saturday, my Friends,