Tag Archives: Gospel of Luke

Done Before It’s Done (again)

IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2010

Done Before It’s Done

Let me share with you how little it takes to excite me and make me smile.  A couple days this week I have read the same words at two addresses in Scripture: Luke 19:32 and Luke 22:13.  These are the words: went and found it just as He had said. 

Here are the texts in entirety: Luke 19:32 So those who were sent went their way and found it just as He had said to them. Luke 22:13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.  [source] [source]

In Luke 19, Jesus sent His disciples for the colt upon which He would ride into Jerusalem.  He told them just where the colt would be and just what to say to the master of the colt.  They went and it was just as He told them it would be.  In Luke 22 He told His Disciples to go and prepare for Passover.  This is what He said in context.

7 Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. 8 And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”  9 So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”  10 And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. 11 Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”  13 So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover. [source]

I love it!  He told them, they obeyed, and as they did they found it just like He said they would.  Look what they would have missed if they had refused to go!   But that’s not what is making me smile.  I am smiling because I just LOVE to read how my Savior is always right and what He says is as good as done even before it is done!  Is He AWESOME or what?!!

These Words mean so much to me.  I can only imagine how it was for them to hear and see You say it will be this way or that way when you get there and then go and there it is just as You said. They must have had so much fun with You.  It must have been so good to hear You laugh; to see You laugh; to see You sit the little ones on Your lap and see them just adore You; to see You tell stories; to see Your Face when You talked about ABBA.  It must have been so good.  Thank You that I won’t miss out on all that; that I will see You laugh; I will see the love and kindness on Your Face.  Thank You, Jesus.  And, Holy Spirit, I pray this Word will minister to our IDOKs and our Readers.  I pray we will all love You more; that we will become more intimately acquainted with You today.  And our IDOK Troops I don’t want to go a day without remembering them and asking for their protection and safety, so protect them, ABBA, please.  And You know how I feel about Israel, You know they are dear to me but oh so much more to You.  I trust them to You.  And I am trusting America to You too.  You are not finished with us yet; thank You.  Move us and shake us however You want.  You are the Potter and we are the clay.   I suppose I better say amen here so our IDOKs and Readers can say amen too and get to it – whatever You are sending or allowing their way today.  I pray we will act and react in ways that will bless You and give You pleasure. And yes I love You too.  And Jesus, I am looking forward to seeing You, come quickly.  Amen and amen.

Kathie

Tight Spots (again)

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2010

Tight Spots

I am still in my 90 Days with Jesus, the One and Only, and up to Day 76 and in today’s session Beth asked me this question:  What do you think He would say to you when you’re in one of life’s tightest spots?  She asked me that because we were reading in Luke.  Luke 22:14-22 to be exact.  That is the portion of Scripture were Jesus told His Disciples in verse 15 that He with fervent desire desired to eat this Passover with them before He suffered.  There’s something special in that for me.  I don’t have words yet to explain but in my spirit something stirred when I read it.  I know this much I am more in love with Him for it and I want to be more like Him in that fervent desire to serve and commune with Him and my sisters and brothers.  But back to the question.  This is hours before the Garden of Gethsemane and being the GodMan, He had emotions going on within.  Love was one for sure and I think sorrow and grief too.  So all that being said what do you think He would say to you in your tightest spot?  Before you answer, read this:

Luke 22: (New King James Version)

14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him.
15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer;
16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves;
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.
21 But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table.
22 And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”   [source]

This was my answer: I know! I know how you feel. I also know how this is going to turn out – trust Me.  Trust Me that I am with you and trust Me that I know how to help you through this. 

And if you are inclined and want to share … I’d be honored to hear what you think He would say to you. 

Again, You have so delighted me!  You make life here good, ABBA! Thank You. 

And now that much of the day has come and gone, prayer requests and reports have come it. Thank You.

ABBA, show Yourself Mighty on behalf of all that are spoken here; many heavy hearts, much pain and uncertainties, but You are the God of all comfort and the God who sees and heals and provides and knows best and who is always loving and kind, always right, always holy and always on time.  So we trust You.  Again, we pray for protection and safety for our IDOK Troops, and for their safe returns home.  We pray for Israel to be protected and for their enemies to be subdued.  We pray for mercy and grace for the American People.  We pray for those missionaries detained in Haiti, asking that You intervene, expose and reveal truth and bring about Your will for them.  I pray for each of our IDOKs and our Readers for rest and peace, refreshing sleep and a hunger and thirst for You that exceeds anything we have known to this day.   And all this I ask in the Mighty and Precious Name of Jesus. Amen and amen.

Kathie

Warm Hearts and Homes

We are thinking of you as this year of 2012 wanes its way to the place of memories. Some we will hold fondly; others will bring tears and praise that HE brought us through!

No home and no heart is perfect but let us give a good faith effort to make both our hearts and our homes places where JESUS will feel welcomed and actually enjoy living with us today and all of 2013.

Luke 12: 33  . . . make for yourselves purses that don’t wear out, riches in heaven that never fail, where no burglar comes near, where no moth destroys. 34 For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.

35 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit,

via Luke 12:33-35 CJB – Sell what you own and do tzedakah — – Bible Gateway.

Happy, Holy New Year!

Curious

I am curious as to what you think about these two thieves? I am curious if you see mankind represented in them and why.

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”
40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
41 And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”
43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
via Luke 23 NASB – Jesus before Pilate – Then the whole – Bible Gateway.

One thief went to paradise. One went to Hades. Why? Both thieves got the same sentence; both were hanging on a cross, one on one side of JESUS and one on the other side of JESUS. Both heard JESUS speak the same words; both were in pain; both thirsty and dying – what do you think made the difference in their approach (response) to JESUS?

Like I said, just curious. And preparing for Sunday School — :)

Will be thinking about you this weekend. Find your way to a place of corporate worship with other Bible believing-practicing Christians.

We have the God-given Right to do right in this wrong World,

Resurrection Sunday!

Some time before dawn the stone was rolled away! Not so JESUS could get out but so we could see that He had!!

Matthew 28:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
via Matthew 28:2 NASB – And behold, a severe earthquake had – Bible Gateway.

And so the Women who loved Him so much went to the tomb while it was still dark.  Would anything  but a powerful love send a woman to a cemetery in the dark? 

John 20:1 New American Standard Bible (NASB) The Empty Tomb
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene *came early to the tomb, while it *was still dark, and *saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.
via John 20:1 NASB – The Empty Tomb – Now on the first day – Bible Gateway.

See Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1 for the details of the women’s visit to the tomb.

See Luke 24:9-12; John 20:2-10 as Mary Magdalene reported to the Disciples that JESUS’ body was missing from the tomb. Peter and John immediately ran to the tomb to see for themselves. 

There were a lot of going(s) to the tomb that Resurrection Morning and it was Mary who was first privileged to encounter JESUS after His resurrection.

Mark 16:9-11 specifically identified this Mary but it is John’s account in Chapter 20 that is my favored account. It’s the one I identify well with.

John 20:11-18 New Century Version (NCV)
11 But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she bent down and looked inside the tomb.
12 She saw two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and one at the feet.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
She answered, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have put him.”
14 When Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus.
15 Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Whom are you looking for?”Thinking he was the gardener, she said to him, “Did you take him away, sir? Tell me where you put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”Mary turned toward Jesus and said in the Hebrew language, “Rabboni.” (This means “Teacher.”)
17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, because I have not yet gone up to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going back to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
18 Mary Magdalene went and said to the followers, “I saw the Lord!” And she told them what Jesus had said to her.
via John 20:11-18 NCV – But Mary stood outside the tomb, – Bible Gateway.

As surely as Mary heard JESUS speak her name, I have heard Him speak mine.  To be sure Mary heard His audible voice with physical ears and I have not (yet). But just as assuredly the ears of my heart heard Him call, ‘Kathie’, and I answered! There have been many great days in my life but no day (so far) compares to that one!But there is a day coming that will far exceed that lovely day in November 1975! Verily, verily without this Resurrection Sunday we are remembering today there would be no great days for any of us.

JESUS also appeared to the other women: Matthew 28:9-10And to the two men on the Emmaus Road: Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-32. And in the evening, He ‘popped in’ on the Disciples :) : Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:25. And for 40 days JESUS at various times and places met with His disciples teaching and preparing them for His Ascension to Heaven and His Commission to them and us to carry on His work: Acts 1:3; Matthew 28:19-20.

Many passages, many happenings we have read this week, ABBA, every Word true and faithful. Thank You, LORD. Thank You, LORD, for Your mercy, Your grace and patience as You wait for souls to believe. Thank You, HOLY SPIRIT, that we are not left on our own to believe; that You call us, help us and empower us to believe You. Thank You. For without You we surely never would.  You know I am thinking particularly of one near and dear to me, You know the diagnosis, it scares us and we cling to You for peace and ask You to heal her. And there are others, many others with illness and diseases; and as scary and hard and life altering as these things are You defeated death and hell so we proclaim what our brother Paul said, “we are afflicted, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; struck down, but not destroyed by these things; we trust You and we desire first and foremost that You be glorified in us. HOLY SPIRIT, pour out upon us as we gather to worship, anoint Your Messengers in worship centers and Sunday School classrooms, exalt JESUS and draw men, women, boys and girls to worship HIM. Amen and . . .   .

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