You know it is a SOS day (an opportunity to practice what you preach) when you wake up late after incessant dog barking disturbed your sleep and before you can get to the kitchen you stumble over stuff you didn’t leave out. And the first word of Scripture you read is
6 Your speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.
Yep! That’s when you know Your Gracious Loving ABBA has snapped you back from the brink of a ruined day. :)
ABBA, thank You for Your Word and for accountability with Dear Friends and Loving Family! I pray for each who will come here today; that in You they will find strength to give an answer seasoned with grace to even the most exasperating soul they encounter today; even though they are tired and worn and stressed. I pray HOLY SPIRIT that You will refresh souls today at this page.
Kerri. Pleading for your intervention. Terri and family. For healing and restoration. Leslie. Continued healing. And others, ABBA. Many issues and circumstances beyond our control; we trust You in the Mighty Name of YESHUA. Amen and amen.
I have no explanation. It just does. This verse I mean. It settles soft and warm upon me (bold and underline emphasis mine).
11 They sang antiphonally, praising and giving “thanks to Adonai, for he is good, for his grace continues forever” toward Isra’el. All the people raised a great shout of praise to Adonai, because the foundation of the house of Adonai had been laid.
4 “Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. 5 Do you know who determined its dimensions or who stretched the measuring line across it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Do you recognize the passage? Job had been mouthing his case before Jehovah and ABBA responded. I, personally, recognize the tone. I shall spare you the details. Even so, as our initial verse promises GOD is forever good. And don’t you love the black and white clarity of Who it is that brought about this planet upon which we reside?
And one more. I just can’t leave this one out?
36 “Who put wisdom in people’s inner parts? Who gave understanding to the mind?
ABBA, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for wisdom; thank You for planting Your Wisdom within our inner parts. Thank You for bringing this planet to be; for setting boundaries and laws in place so we can learn to love You. Thank You that You are forever good and Your grace does not depart from us. Thank You. Terri. Thank You for Your Hand of mercy and healing upon her. Thank You for the plans You have for her; You know each need; you know the cry of our hearts; we trust You. Mission trips scheduled, just days away. So many needs, ABBA. Safe passage to and from; Your anointing upon Your servants and the people to hear and believe; health; protection; favor; supplies; climate; housing; food; water; insects; unfriendly creatures; in total, ABBA, every detail perfected to bring glory to Yourself and people to JESUS that is my prayer. And as other times, for each Reader to be encouraged as they visit here; to know Your Presence; to discern Your Will for them and with a willing and cheerful heart, obey. Ray. Thank You for allowing us to remember him as he grieves; again we pray for his heavy, heavy heart to heal. Stephanie. It’s a load and yet You are faithful. Thank You, ABBA. Leslie. Continuing to ask that You heal her. Dori. Kerri. Pam. Joy. Norman. Pat. Each we bring in like manner as the four brought their friend to You and we ask You to heal them. Thank You, LORD JESUS. Amen and amen.
It is Sunday evening as I type these words. Our Soul Detox study is complete. Now what?
Where to now with THE WHITE STONE or more affectionately known by long time friends – IDOK Devotions?
Our Home page says THE WHITE STONE is A Gathering Place for Christian Devotions and Prayer. And so we are. Can we be more? Is there a need to be more? Is there a need to be less? Shall we ponder those a while?
A Bible exercise this morning. I trust you will play along. Please read the following (redacted for ease of reading) Text and list the similarities and differences then and today when we gather for corporate worship.
Nehemiah 8 Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
1 all the people gathered with one accord in the open space in front of the Water Gate and asked ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moshe, which Adonai had commanded Isra’el. 2 ‘Ezra the cohen brought the Torah before the assembly, which consisted of men, women and all children old enough to understand. It was the first day of the seventh month. 3 Facing the open space in front of the Water Gate, he read from it to the men, the women and the children who could understand from early morning until noon; and all the people listened attentively to the scroll of the Torah. 4 ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher stood on a wood platform which they had made for the purpose; beside him on his right stood . . . . 5 ‘Ezra opened the scroll where all the people could see him, because he was higher than all the people; when he opened it, all the people rose to their feet. 6 ‘Ezra blessed Adonai, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate before Adonai with their faces to the ground. 7 The Levites . . . explained the Torah to the people, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read clearly from the scroll, in the Torah of God, translated it, and enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read.
ABBA, thank You for the privilege of reading Your Word and sharing it here in this forum. I pray we will have eager hearts to read, to hear, to pray and to obey. I pray for each one who gathers at this screen to read and to pray that, HOLY SPIRIT, You will encourage them, will give them answers to the questions they have and the quandaries they face; I pray You will strengthen them in their love for You and their trust in You. I pray You will heal their diseases and prosper their homes and their families as they seek You with their whole hearts — and me too, ABBA, in the Mighty Name of YESHUA, our Savior and coming King. And in particular I pray for Leslie’s recovery and steady gaining of strength and practices for health; Kerri – always holding her up before You and Dylan too; Dori – she blesses me so, broaden her boundaries I pray; and I pray for those whose names I am not privy to but who are held close in the hearts of our Readers here; that You will make them whole, LORD JESUS. Amen and amen.
Another way to handle toxic relationships is to end them. The Bible is full of examples of people who cut off their toxic relationships such as Joseph and Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39.
In what types of circumstances do you feel it would be necessary to end a toxic relationship?
Obvious from today’s TEXT, there are some relationships we flee. There are some circumstances wherein we do the right thing and we still suffer; in fact, we suffer BECAUSE we did the right thing. Even so fleeing what is not honoring to our ABBA is always the right thing to do; even if it hurts. We need to hear this!!
And we need to hear something more. Please note with me that GOD was with Joseph in the good and the bad.
2 Adonai was with Yosef, and he became wealthy while he was in the household of his master the Egyptian.
I’d say that was pretty bad, wouldn’t you? Joseph went to prison for a crime he DID NOT commit. Joseph did not wind up in prison because he did evil; he went to prison BECAUSE he did not do evil!
BUT GOD – don’t you love those two words: BUT GOD?!
In the good times and the bad GOD was with Joseph. Is He not the same with you and me? Reminds me of a song. Here. Enjoy the words, the music and scenes of ABBA’s creation.
ABBA, in the good times and the bad, You are faithful; You are GOD and that’s just the way it is. Thank You. ABBA, we know some having some bad times and here and now we proclaim You are good! And here and now we ask and trust You to intervene. A heart cath for Leslie. Recovery and then more surgery for Terri. Various needs for Kerri, Dylan and Dori. Comfort for BT and others grieving. Wisdom and knowledge for exams to take. Family chaos. Stubborn and wayward souls refusing to repent. New babies needing a chance to live to know You. Children discarded and abandoned. Wives thrown away like refuse. And these are matters near by, ABBA, no doubt others coming to this page have faces on the screens of their hearts just as tender and desperate. BUT YOU are faithful and You are our Help, our Source and our Strength; our Defender and Provider. We praise You and trust You with them all in YESUHA’s Name.
We are glad you are here; stay a while, look around, and be encouraged. We estimate there to be over 3,000 posts here at The White Stone Blog. Please know my hope is ALWAYS to help and NEVER harm. I have voiced many opinions and thoughts here since 2007 and by now I MAY NOT EVEN AGREE with all of them and some of my grammar and punctuation likely needs editing. But this is changeless: JESUS is our ONLY Savior and Hope. Do you KNOW Him?
ABBA, thank You for Your Word and for accountability with Dear Friends and Loving Family! I pray for each who will come here today; that in You they will find strength to give an answer seasoned with grace to even the most exasperating soul they encounter today; even though they are tired and worn and stressed. I pray HOLY SPIRIT that You will refresh souls today at this page.