Tag Archives: Joyce Meyer

Friday Notes (again)

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2010

Friday Notes

I heard Rebecca St. James say today thatwhat you are watching and what you are hearing is feeding what you do.

I heard Joyce Meyer say (my paraphrase, of course)that my purpose (your purpose) for being here on this planet is not to get a husband, or a promotion, or any of those ‘things’ that you or I might be seeking or wanting; my purpose, your purpose, for being here on this planet is to get to KNOW God.   What is staggering about this to me is this purpose is not given to you and me at our salvation in Jesus Christ; it is given to EVERY person EVER conceived. What God wants when He breathes life into every embryo is for that person to get to KNOW Him.  And in that moment, at conception, I believe ALL HELL takes notice and begins to set in motion events and happenings to destroy, corrupt, intercept, stop, foil, and absolutely make it ‘impossible’ for that person to come to KNOW GOD.   This is HUGE to me! This single paragraph sends my thoughts into overdrive, overwhelmed to contemplate all it means and all the ways this knowledge should motivate me to KNOW Him and how this KNOWING Him would affect the way I think, feel, act and re-act to and about everything!  I usually say I encourage you but today I am saying I challenge you to ponder this.  I challenge you to take this ‘paragraph’ to Him and ask Him to reveal to you what this means for you personally – how He wants to personally affect you with it.  

Ecclesiastes 12: (Amplified Bible) 13 All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man. [source]

1 John 5:20 (New American Standard Bible) 20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ This is the true God and eternal life. [source]

1 Corinthians 10: (Holman Christian Standard Bible) 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God’s glory. [source]


Lord and Father, the song that was sung tonight is true — even though the wrong seems so strong, You are the Ruler yet.  I don’t know how I could live if I did not know that You are Ruler of all. Thank You.  Not only that it is true but that You have given me faith to know it is true. Thank You. Thank You.   You spoke messages to my heart today through Your servants in the pulpit and through prayers You have answered.  Thank You.  I pray You will take this word here and make it helpful to people.  I pray You will apply Your Word and I pray that we will KNOW You as You desire to be known by each of us. 

I pray for ________, for revelation and for remedy; for strength and restoration for _______.  And the needs spoken here are as varied as the names; meet them where they are and rescue them.  And our IDOK Troops are always our concern, that they be safe; that they be protected from harm and so we renew that prayer yet again.  No doubt they each have needs that we are not even aware of nor can enter into with them, but You can and we pray for You to do that. 

I am continuing to pray for America, for grace and space to repent; for the voice of the godly to be heard and for the voice of the ungodly to be exposed for what it is – ungodly. And we still have the people of Haiti on our minds too and the great need there and the great opportunity for You to show Yourself Mighty and for we Your people to show ourselves compassionate – make it so, LORD.  And we have not forgotten, nor shall we forget Israel, Your beloved people and we pray for them, that they come to know Your Peace and I pray You will subdue all their enemies.  And, Father, I ask You to help me digest what is written here and what I have heard today and to be faithful with Your Word and to be faithful to apply myself in pursuing You, to know You, to love You, to glorify You within and without, but, Father, I ask this not for me alone but for every IDOK and every Reader.  Amen and amen.

Kathie

Just Wondering (again)

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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

 

Questionable Relationships

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Day 34 of 35  — Soul Detox

Acts 15:22-41; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Deuteronomy 7:1-6

Devotional

Even though it may not be easy, your toxic relationship may grow to such a dangerous point that you may have to end it. Today you will read more from God’s Word about why it is sometimes necessary to end a toxic relationship, and examples of toxic relationships that ended.
Why do you think we tend to have more toxic relationships in our lives instead of healthy ones?

via Soul Detox | YouVersion.com.

That is a probing question. Do you have an answer?

Why do we allow toxic relationships to continue?
And what is a toxic relationship anyway?
What makes a healthy relationship?
And do we have the right to pitch a person out of our lives just because they irritate us?

In this moment as I type these questions I am reminded of something Joyce Meyer said and I think it answers at least a couple of these questions. She said that she will associate with anyone as long as she is INFLUENCING them and they are not INFECTING her.  I understand that to mean as long as she has confirmation from the HOLY SPIRIT that she is influencing them to focus on JESUS, she continues with the relationship; but if she hears the HOLY SPIRIT checking her Spirit and she realizes she is being adversely affected by them (my examples: praying less, reading The Word less, disobedient to the WORD we know already; negative, short-tempered, unwholesome language, and the list could go on and on), the relationship must be distanced or stopped.

Does that help anyone?

ABBA, again I am thankful for this Soul Detox study; I am grateful for the clear message it gives; I am grateful for the practicality it gives so we can see changes we must make. And so, ABBA, I pray for myself and for every person who comes here to read and to pray that we will have the courage and the necessary love for You to make these changes. And as yesterday, there are people and matters all around us crying for Your intervention. In particular today I am mindful of sex trafficking. I pray You will raise up an army of holy people to co-labor with You to rescue these enslaved in this plague of evil. I pray You will educate us and arm us with tools and means to rescue and deliver them from this bondage. Thank You for hearing our prayers, individually and collectively. Melinda comes to mind. I particularly ask for favor and blessings of just what she needs today. And there’s a list of others – many, ABBA, and others joining in prayer here have lists too. We are so grateful that You hear and You care and You are willing and able to answer and help us. We confess and proclaim we have no question, no matter, too small or too large for You. Thank You, ABBA, in YESHUA’s Mighty and Holy name.

Reading

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I’ve been reading this morning. I was determined to finish before I laid it down again. And I did. And I am recommending it to you.  The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews.

Allow me to give you an excerpt from page 160:
“Sometimes when I sit with our Father and watch the movements of your civilization as the time shifts, I am astounded at the arrogance I see displayed in your people. On several occasions, I have asked permission to teach you a lesson, but so far, His patience has greatly exceeded my own. ”

And how about this on page 103:
“My life–my personality, my habits, even my speech–is a combination of the books I choose to read, the people I choose to listen to, and the thoughts I choose to tolerate in my mind. . . . “

And page 155:
“Circumstances are rulers of the weak, . . . “but they are weapons of the wise.”
“Circumstances do not push or pull. they are daily lessons to be studied and gleaned for new knowledge and wisdom.”

One more. Page 149: “All men are driven by faith or fear . . .    Faith or fear is the expectation of an event that hasn’t come to pass or the belief in something that cannot be seen or touched.
“Faith is to believe what one has not seen. The reward of faith is to see what one has believed.”

I am reminded of something Joyce Meyer has said many times. Fear is

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

And just off the top of my head — does this work?  Faith is

Finding
Assurance and peace
In
The
Here and now (for what will be because our GOD said so.)

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
via Romans 10:16-18 KJ21 – But they have not all obeyed the – Bible Gateway.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
via 1 John 4:17-19 NASB – By this, love is perfected with us, so – Bible Gateway.

Philippians 3:13-15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
via Philippians 3:13-15 NASB – Brethren, I do not regard myself as – Bible Gateway.

And there you have it.

Blessings to you this Wednesday. I have prayed for each of you by name, email or blog name (whichever way you have identified yourself).

ABBA, thank You for servants who write so well and give us insights and much to ponder. And thank You for Your Word that is TRUTH and able to set us free. I pray this day for TRUTH to prevail in the lives of all my people. That Truth will take hold in their hearts and minds and hold sway over our lives, be believed and will set free and transform each one in JESUS name. And as before we bring our sick and afflicted, Dori and Sheila, specifically, along with others named, asking You to heal them. And as always until it be seen we pray for the rebellious for grace and space to repent. Amen and       .

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