Tag Archives: Christ

More (again)

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2010
MORE
            As you may have noticed, my timing is off this week; just have not gotten into the groove yet … I am planning to do that today.  As I took inventory this morning of what needs to be done around here it is a daunting task.  BUT what is that Scripture? Philippians 4:13 (New Living Translation) 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.   So, I can do this day.  You can do this day!
Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.   And whatever we are doing today, we are wise and we are obedient if we perform it as an act of worship unto our Lord and Christ.
Ecclesiastes 9: (New King James Version) 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might;   Yeah! Put my heart into it as well as my hands and feet! And if I just don’t have the heart for it and if you just don’t have the heart for it – pray for it!
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Be anxious for nothing – that includes wondering if something is too little to pray about it – it’s NOT! Pray! If it matters to you even just a little bit, it matters MORE to HIM! Pray!
So lets pray: 
ABBA, I got stuff on my mind and You know for sure but I think I am not the only one.  I think all our IDOKs and Readers have stuff on their minds, as well as stuff on their ‘plates’ to do.  And now that we are discussing it we have things on our ‘plates’ that You did not direct us to put on our plates, don’t we?  Help us rake that stuff off — even if it takes more than a few scrapes help us be willing and learn to do that.  And help us learn and be willing to be trained to do all we do as an act of worship.  I think this may be foreign to our emotions as well as our minds; but I want us to include You in all we do.  I don’t want to leave You out of anything.  I want to practice Your Presence as I do the laundry, make the bed, stitch up those pants, vacuum, cook, take pictures, read, shop, talk on the phone – everything I do I want You included.  I want You there not just as a Partner but MORE.  I want You as Guide and Protector and King.  You need to be the BOSS over what I do.  I need You to Boss me today, because if I boss, I will not hit that groove today and we both know it.  You are not only AWESOME God, You are Practical and Smart God too. I am acting just down right stupid when I leave You out of anything and I do mean anything.  And You are helping me practice this more, thank You.  I pray we will have some, a lot of IDOKs and Readers to amen this.  Right now I got breakfast to cook, come with me and bring me back here timely. 
Thank You for this ministry, thank You for letting us pray for so many and Holy Spirit make us fervent effectual pray-ers. We pray for Israel’s peace and prosperity and for the subduing of Her enemies. We pray for America’s repentance, for cleansing from the White House to every house and for You to raise up an army of prayer warriors.  We pray for Your missionaries around the world, for their safety and boldness to proclaim Your Gift of Eternal Salvation In Jesus and Jesus alone.  Amen and amen.
Kathie

 

Endings and Beginnings (again)

IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2010
Endings and Beginnings
            Because I am starting this at 1:25 on Wednesday afternoon and because I still have to make a visit to UPS for copying and to the store for elastic, I am hoping to be brief.  It’s not that I have not been studying today.  To the contrary, I think I have put in much more than I have digested.  But let me give you two points, I think, and then it’s out the door for me. 
            I finished my JESUS, 90 Days with the One and Only journal today.  I started it on April 6, 2009 and wrote my last entry a little earlier today.  I was happy and sad to reach the last page and I’ve already picked my next 90 day journal – who knows how long it will take.  It’s entitled, JOHN, 90 Days with the Beloved Disciple.  And following that will be 90 Days with David. So looks like Beth (Moore) may have about 2 years to get another one together as I’d like to have a least 4 of them done before I’m too old to do them.  But I’m off track here.  
            So here’s a paragraph that gave me some sweet emotions and I thought you might like to share them with me.
            “Thirty-three years earlier, the feet of God toddled their first visible prints on earth, a young mother’s footprints chasing close behind.  The walk grew rough, the path strewn with stones and thorns.  Now God incarnate stepped off this planet with feet scarred and bruised.  As God predicted at the fall, the ancient serpent struck Christ’s heel, but on the day He ascended, all things were under Christ’s feet.  Jesus Christ walked the way of humanity so that humanity could walk the way of God. How beautiful the feet that brought good news.”
            Amen and amen! How awesome is that on the screen of our minds?!
            Romans 10: (NKJV)15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
            Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
            Luke 24: 50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
            I said two but I think I’ll save the other one because this one is just too good to move on from – we need to linger over it for at least a day!  Sweet blessings to you my sisters and brothers in the name of our Holy Jesus!
            (Just as a side note – my Baby Girl’s name came from this passage.  I named her Bethany to always remind me and hopefully her that He left from a place called Bethany and He would return to a place called Bethany and for her – Bethany.  I am without words to say how grateful this Momma is that my Bethany is looking to ‘Bethany’ for His return… so’s her Momma.)
ABBA, You know even better than I how grateful I am that You have given my sister Beth such words to give me these pictures of You.  This is so good!  These 2000 plus years since Your nailed scarred feet were lifted off this planet that You chose to come to for us – it’s more than I can take it but I am so grateful for what I have been able thus far to comprehend.  My request to You is to comprehend more and more of You, to fully give You all my heart, soul and body, to be utterly head over heels, fully gone, ‘crazy’ in love with You and occupying myself with Your Business while I keep a watchful eye longing for You to come again.  And, Holy Spirit, I pray that too for our IDOKs and Readers.  Thank You that You are forever watching over us and that nothing touches us that You have not already made provisions to cover.  Thank You that no illness or disease or hurt or pain or wayward child, or bondage, or grief, or IDOK Troop, or family, or crisis in Washington or anywhere else or anything else we could name is beyond You – You have it all covered and redeemed for us if only we will believe.  And praise You, praise You we are learning to believe.  Thank You, DADDY.  Thank You in Jesus Name. Amen and amen.
Kathie

The Difference (again)

IDOK Devotion for Friday, March 5, 2010
The Difference
            I’ve attended two funerals this week – same place, different days.  At one I worshiped, at the other I sat heavy in my seat.  One was young, the other older. One loved gospel music, the other didn’t. One was a giver, the other a taker.  At one there were loud wails, the other quiet tears in confidence.  What made the difference?  At one Jesus was welcomed.  At one He was exalted.  And HE made all the difference.  He always makes all the difference. He is the difference. 
            I’ve decided if I must go by way of the under-taker rather than the Up-taker, I want a really good funeral.  I want Jesus to be front and center.  I want praise and worship.  I want clapping of hands, even raising them, please. I want the ‘mourners’ to leave there talking about Jesus instead of me.  
            My ‘Little Girl’ and I were talking recently about ‘old’ people and how sometimes they are just really cantankerous, just down right unpleasant to be around; and I said to be a sweet old person, you have to start practicing now while you are young (younger).  To have a really good funeral, we have to start practicing now too – dying to ourselves and living to Christ.  That will ensure us a really good funeral and it’ll keep us sweet when we are ‘old’ too.
Matthew 16:(New King James Version)
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
I Corinthians 15: (NKJV)
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:  “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O Death, where is your sting?   O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

            AMEN and AMEN even so come LORD JESUS and until You do grow us into men and women who are steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work You have called us to do for we know, LORD, any labor done for You will not be in vain.   No prayer prayed in Your Name will be in vain.  No deed done for Your glory will be forgotten by You or go unrewarded.  No life lived for You will be wasted.  ABBA, comfort the grieving I pray.  And inspire us to die to ourselves so we can really live.  Remembering all whose names will be spoken here; we don’t want to leave out even one; that all of them would know You touch.   You know our hearts, You know all the stuff represented here and in it all we just want You glorified.  I love you LORD.  Thank You for making it so. Amen and Amen.

Kathie