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Copy Paste Chew Again

T and I (again)

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IDOK Devotion for Thursday, March 4, 2010
T and I
            What do you mean when you tell someone that you are thinking of them?  Do you say that to someone you don’t like? Do you say it to one that you do not wish well for?   Psalm 40:17 says (in part) . . . Yet the LORD thinks upon me.
My point?  When we express to someone that we are thinking of them, is it not to someone we love or at least care about?  Is it not to someone that we want good things for?  And if we are capable of such feelings, how much more our God? Why do we find it hard to believe that God likes us?  And I am using the word LIKE because who of us in the Christian Faith would not say Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.  Yet how often do our insecurities cause us to act out behavior and carry on thought processes that say loud and clear that we think He does not like us very much?  Yet here it says He thinks upon us.  I am suggesting to us that He thinks upon us because He LIKES us.  And not just when we have been good little girls and boys, but always.  If you are like me you have a tendency to think God likes you better when you have dotted your i(s) and crossed your t(s) just right and if you don’t, well He likes you a bit less.  Not so!  Lets look at the text again.  But I am poor and needy; Yet the LORD thinks upon me.  What makes you and me poor and needy? SIN – not crossing our t(s) and not dotting our i(s).  But here it is.  Right here in our Bibles He says He knows you (and, me) are poor and needy, He knows you (and, me) have sinned and yet He thinks upon you (and, me too).  We might as well face it!  He’s ‘crazy’ about us! The concept will take some practice for us to consistently believe it; but don’t you think we can do it?  Philippians 4:(Holman Christian Standard Bible)13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

            I suppose it could seem that I am being flippant here but You know I am not.  You know my heart and You know I want to know Your heart.  And I am thinking others do too.  We want to know Your heart for us, Your feelings and emotions for us and yet when I say that I am reminded of the cross.  How could I let my insecurities cause me to doubt that You are not only in love me, You like me; You enjoy my company; You delight in me? And not just me but every one that has said yes to You in salvation.   I’m sorry I say one thing and act another at times.  And thank You so much for teaching and training me to forsake those insecurities and believe the Truth.  Thank You for every progress we are making; we know it’s You in us – You in us is our hope of glory.   And now we are compelled, happily so, to bring our prayer charges to You; people we have accepted the call and responsibility to pray for.  Thank You for every one of them; thank You for the privilege of co-laboring with You for their good, for their needs to be met; for them to be healed; for their insecurities, strongholds and just plain old bad habits to be repented of and forsaken; for the Body of Christ to be free, free to love, trust and labor with You for the good of each other and this world in which we live.  I was thinking today that the political machine is throttled to strip us of the freedoms You birthed this Country to display, and to bind us with financial hardship.  And yet I know it is not Your will for us to be gloomy but wise; wise as serpents and harmless as doves.  I can see it would be wise of us to become as independent of this world’s system as reasonably possible while we become more and more dependent upon You.  Working for causes is a good thing, isn’t it? But working for a cause is not as effect as the conversion of sinners, is it?  Isn’t it true that every soul who repents and believes Your Gospel makes this world a better place?  Shouldn’t that be priority with us, being available and open to You to share Your Gospel with lost people?  Make it so in us, LORD, make it so. And before we close this, we pray for our IDOK Troops; for their safety, full protection – spirit, soul and body and please bring each one listed here home safe and sound at the appointed time. I pray for peace and rest for our IDOKs and Readers. Amen and Amen.

Kathie

 

Christian Living, Guests, KWT Paraphrasing, PDF attached

A Fresh Touch

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At the Beth Moore Simulcast on September 15 I accepted her counsel to daily review with JESUS certain Scriptures related to FEAR. I have some fears. And HE intends for me to come to freedom. By the way if you want this list of Scripture you can click HERE and get your own copy.

I loved yesterday’s TEXT. It was blunt, to the point and delivered with His holy, loving gentleness to my heart. I loved it!! I said that already, didn’t I?  Here’s yesterday’s:

“Say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Don’t be afraid or cowardly because of these two smoldering stubs of firebrands . . . “

Isaiah 7:4 HCSB

I’m telling you I love it! “Calm down and be quiet – that’s nothing! I got this!”

That’s what it said to me. I can hear HIM saying it. I can see the love in His eyes and the loving grin on is Face when He said it to me! He is so AWESOME!!

Today.
Well, today is just as loving, just as kind, just as wonderful and just as blunt and correcting!

Isaiah 35:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

4 Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.”

via Is 35:4 HCSB – Say to the cowardly: “Be strong; do – Bible Gateway.

Cowardly.
I don’t care much for that word. Not at first blush. Perhaps you don’t like it either. HOWEVER, it does fit. King James translation uses the word fearful. New American Standard uses the word anxious. And I checked a few other versions each uses either fearful or anxious. And we get the meaning, right?

Cowardly is not flattering. But neither is JESUS. He is Truth.

Cowardly does mean fearful. Anxious. Timid. And so on.

However. In the middle of my heart came a sobering message. It bites a bit but it is freeing when applied.

Say to the cowardly – the timid, the fearful, the anxious . . .

What is often the hallmark of anxious, timid, fearfulness? Is it: Negative, complaining words leading to negative, complaining, anxious countenance? Yeah.  I’m Afraid so. :)

So could it be that our complaining, negative, ‘what now!’ words are actually announcing that we are acting in a cowardly way?  Could it be that our complaining, negative, ‘come on now!’ words are actually saying:

“I am afraid, GOD.”
“I am afraid of what is happening right now.”
“I am afraid of what will happen.”
“I am afraid, GOD, that You really don’t have my back here.”

And to the cowardly, The HOLY SPIRIT of GOD says: “Be strong; do not fear! Here is your GOD; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; He will save you.”

Now how’s that for a loving correction?!  And in the words of my Pastor: “Get it? Got it! Good!”

Today I am first of all praising and thanking ABBA for this message. And I am here with not new requests but the same. All the same. They are not old – to Him or me – just ready for a fresh touch today.

ABBA, thank You. Thank You for Your Word that is forever fresh, forever alive to give a fresh touch each time we read. Thank You for Your personal touch to every open heart. Thank You for the touch You have for each one who comes here to read and pray today. It is my prayer each will accept and receive what You have for them. Mindful now, of many: Nicole and Matt; Dori, Kerri, Pam, Debbie; others grieving and adjusting to a new kind of normal; hard-willed children, grandchildren and spouses. Israel. America. November’s Election. Arrogant, blindness. And the BODY of CHRIST.  All matters important to our beings. In each of our individual places, we come believing You, loving You and entrusting them and us to You in JESUS Mighty and Holy name.

Blessings to you Dear Friends    +++

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

Assurance - Promise, Guests, Political awareness

Chicken

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Today is support Chick-fil-A day.  It has been my prayer this morning that all 1600 stores will have a most successful day; that the Army of the LORD will show up in numbers and enjoy lots of chicken today. May the Body of CHRIST be bold in love and truth. May the Body of CHRIST be not ‘chicken’ today to reflect the LIGHT.

For sure. For sure it is DARKNESS that took, added to, and twisted the words of Dan Cathy for the purpose of calling attention to the deeds of reprobate minds. And in case you missed my post FYI click  HERE to read it now.

1 John 1:4-6 21st Century King James Version (KJ21)
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard from Him and declare unto you: that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.

via 1 John 1:4-6 KJ21 – And these things write we unto you, – Bible Gateway.

You may recall our prayers on the 30th for Richard and Jeri.  Richard’s surgery was a success! We are expecting a complete recovery and to our GREAT GOD will give glory and praise and thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff for being instruments in His hands of healing.

ABBA, thank You, thank You for Richard’s healing and for the skill and care of medicine. Another is having surgery today too and we ask for textbook perfect results today as well. And today  I pray that not one child who You have re-birthed will be cowardice or arrogant as we support this family business that has named Your Name. LORD JESUS, even as the unregenerate mind did not understand You when You cleansed the Temple, today they still do not understand and they continue to reject You. Thank You for continuing to love them anyway and thank You for continuing to hate the sin. I pray that blinded eyes will be opened and Your Gospel will dawn upon those groping in darkness. We continue to bring our sick and afflicted, our rebellious and oblivious to You for healing and rescue. I continue, ABBA, to pray for Your beloved Israel, asking for Your Peace to be upon them and for You to subdue their every enemy and, DADDY GOD, for America I pray You will be merciful; raise up Statesmen and Heroes of Your Gospel and save this Nation I pray.  Thank You, ABBA.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,
Praying (PFT)!