Monthly Archives: October 2007

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Apple Tree

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IDOK DEVOTION for Wednesday, October 24, 2007


I’ve had this on my mind since Sunday evening but I have hesitated to share it but this morning I think I’ll be brave.
The song was recorded on February 18, 1942 and if you have some Glen Miller recordings you may have it. It reads in part:
Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me
Anyone else but me, anyone else but me
No! No! No!
Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me
Till I come marchin’ home

The story goes that the recording was made just two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. And pretty soon it was playing everywhere. The song is a plea from a young Soldier Boy to his girl back home to be faithful and wait for him.
The song reminds me of Scripture. This Scripture:
Song of Solomon 2:
1 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
2 Like a lily among thorns,
So is my love among the daughters.
3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the woods,
So is my beloved among the sons.
I sat down in his shade with great delight,
And his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4 He brought me to the banqueting house,
And his banner over me was love.
Any way you read it, the book Song of Solomon is an intimate book (one of the reasons for my hesitation). Certainly it is a book of romance; it’s a book if embraced by BOTH husband and wife they can expect, shall we say a delightful marriage. But I don’t want to talk so much about that. Rather I want us to think about Jesus and His Bride (which would be us – every born again soul). Now read it again.
Can you image an intricately beautiful white lily growing among fields of thorns? Is not that what we are to Him? Among the souls of the world sharp and gnarled with unrepentant sin are we not an intricately beautiful white lily? And can you imagine yourself days and nights lost in a forest, no food, no shelter from either the heat or the cold and then when you are losing hope of surviving, there before you (why had you not seen it before?) is the most beautiful apple tree. It’s branches are full and lush with foliage for shade and fruit for nourishment. So you rush to the tree and there you find shelter and great delight and the fruit of that tree is the greatest taste you have even known. Is that not a description of Jesus when you ran to Him in salvation? And from there He is taking us to His Banqueting House and His banner over us – His declaration over us is that HE LOVES US.
Remember the song? Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me – till I come marchin’ home again. Could Jesus in this Song of Solomon passage be saying to us – don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but ME till I come marchin’ to take you home with ME; keep yourself FAITHFUL to ME; don’t take and eat the fruit of another; stay TRUE to ME; My Proclamation is that I LOVE YOU; I was faithful to you when I waged the war for your soul; I am forever faithful to you; be faithful to ME – don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but ME.
Lord Jesus, develop this picture for our IDOKs, develop it for me, Lord be intimate with us; draw us to intimacy with You so strong that we WILL NOT sit under the tree of temptation but will come to ONLY YOU for fruit to satisfy us. We come this morning with these and we pray that each of them will be satisfied with You and only You. We pray for a safe trip home for Matt and Stephanie and the others. We pray for our IDOK Troops for safety for them both on foreign soil and places of service on home soil. Woo each of them to love You more and more and to be faithful to You. Keep Israel safe from all her enemies and bring America to repentance and Lord Jesus come soon and take us to Your Banqueting House. Amen and Amen.
The Peace of Israel Mat and Stephanie. Patsy B. Joey and Kathy and family. Kim T. Krystee. Sybal W. Brenda D. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. The Ellis Family. Ed Litton and family. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. Kathy. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops -Shaun. Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Travis N. Albert R III. Joshua M.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Lee. Mack. The 226. Troy. Danny. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country-Mike
As I post this it is 91°F partly cloudy in Balad, Iraq & the time there is 3:37 PM AST – on October 24, 2007

His Ministry to You

New Look to Pics We Like
New Card B17 – One of a Kind
10/11/07
http://www.whitestonephotographyart.com/

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Psalm 23

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IDOK DEVOTION for Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Eastern Shore Women’s Conference on November 3, 2007
Need to get your tickets now – so Chick Fil A knows to bring a lunch for YOU.
www.easternshorewomensministry.com/news.HTML

Father, as we gather here this morning, thank You. Thank You for this ministry. Thank You for every precious IDOK. And as each of them reads this familiar, so familiar passage of Scripture I am asking You to make it fresh for them. I remember one time in particular that You spoke these verses to me – make them that precious, make this reading of Psalm 23 at least that precious to them today. And thank You for health and strength today. Thank You that You are our Shepherd.
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want.
Know what key words I like here? IS and SHALL NOT. Since He IS my Shepherd today – no matter what comes tomorrow or the next day I SHALL NOT want – I SHALL NOT go lacking, all my needs will be met. And that’s true for you too – all who know Him as Shepherd can depend upon the SHALL NOT lack any good thing when they know HIM as the IS.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He is restoring every thing about us – our whole being, from every cut, bruise, hurt or injury He is restoring when we follow Him.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
He is leading, we are following and even when we follow closely and we live holy, sometimes the valley of the shadow of death in on that righteous path.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
I really like this. The rod and staff are COMFORT. The rod and the staff are tools of discipline. They were used to either deter the sheep from leaving the path or to rescue the sheep who had left the path and they are a COMFORT! Oh yes the Hand of Jesus is COMFORT especially when I am in need of discipline. I am SO grateful when He corrects me. It is proof that I am HIS. Oh and one more thing, they were also used to defend the sheep from predators.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Don’t you know this just rips it for the Evil One. Jesus rescues me from some stupid snare set up by Satan that I stupidly fell into and then Jesus prepares a table with all the blessings I can hold (to give me strength against the next snare) and then He pours on the OIL of healing to restore and refresh me from the wounds suffered in the snare from which He just redeemed me. And Satan has to watch it all!! I love it!!
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.
Oh yes. All this is true and all this being true GOODNESS and MERCY come along with us everywhere, all the days we live here on planet earth and THEN we get HEAVEN too!!

Father, what can we say to all this. Thank You. Oh Lord help us follow You so closely in the path of Right Living that we get caught in less and less of those snares of Satan. Thank You for the GOODNESS and MERCY that is always with us even in the valley of the shadow of death. We continue to ask You to bless Mat and Stephanie and their group as they minister on foreign soil and bring them home without sickness or disease we pray. We continue to think of Patsy and pray that she will hear and see You lifting her. And we pray for Rachel B that You will rescue her and that she will surrender to You in rescue. And as we read over the list of names we remember each are more than just names; Lord be real to them, just help them right where they are to get to where they need to be with You, with family, with friends, with neighbors, with possessions, with jobs, with chores and duties. Help us we pray. And protect our IDOK Troops; keep them safe in mind and body and spirit and bring them home safe and sound at the appointed time. Protect Israel and help us join You in that protecting. Bring America to repentance, and use IDOK in that if You will. Thank You for being our SHEPHERD; thank You for allowing us to be Your Sheep.
The Peace of Israel. Mat and Stephanie. Patsy B. Joey and Kathy and family. Kim T. Krystee. Sybal W. Brenda D. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. The Ellis Family. Ed Litton and family. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. Kathy. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam.

Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops -Shaun. Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Travis N. Albert R III. Joshua M.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Lee. Mack. The 226. Troy. Danny. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country-Mike
As I post this it is 91°F and hazy in Balad, Iraq & the time there is 3:14 PM AST – on October 23, 2007

His Ministry to You

New Look to Pics We Like
New Card B17 – One of a Kind
10/18/07
http://www.whitestonephotographyart.com/

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Fence Building

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IDOK DEVOTION for Monday, October 22, 2007


Eastern Shore Women’s Conference on November 3, 2007
Need to get your tickets now – So Chick Fil A will know to bring a lunch for YOU.
www.easternshorewomensministry.com/news.HTML

Do you know what is imperatively important when building a fence?
Well, not only building a fence but just about any construction project? Keeping it level. And ‘eye-balling’ it is not enough. Because what looks level to the eye most likely is not. There’s an instrument called a Line Level and using it will ensure that all the fence posts are cut to the same height. And for making sure the posts are vertically aligned… well, I’m not sure what you call it but there is a ‘Level’ for that purpose too and then to make sure that your joints at the gate are square there’s a ‘Square’ for that.
So in watching my hubby (and our Young Folks from Myers – what Treasured Gifts they are to us!) build a fence, I noticed there’s a lot of measuring and leveling and checking that goes on to get the fence just right.
And when these thoughts came to me I thought about us and that we are buildings of a sort too. We want to be level and straight. And eye-balling it is not enough for us either. What’s that Scripture – seems right to a man?
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
And my confidence is that since you take the time to read these IDOKs you don’t want to be ‘dead right’ in your own eyes either but you want to be square, level and balanced before the Father. And in Christ Jesus we are! Isn’t that great news?!
But between here and that ‘building’ He is building for us (John 14: 1-3) there’s a lot of cutting and leveling and squaring for us to do here and the best and greatest instrument to make sure we are a straight, level, sturdy, good looking fence is
2 Timothy 3: 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
So how level are we at this stage of our ‘fence building’? Better than we were? That’s good!
Father, help us today to look at what we are building and look at it through the LEVEL of Your Word; help us not look at ourselves with our own eyes but Yours. Help us see as You see, not only ourselves but others too. Help us judge not our fences by our standards but by Yours. Help us to not determine the heights and depths we build in this life by the way it looks to us but by Your Word and what You lead us to build and do here on this earth. Lord we want to be good and sturdy, level, and balanced; we want to be useful to You. And speaking of fences we want to build the right kind, the kind that keeps out of our lives those things that should be kept out and we want a wide open gate to receive what You want to give us and we want to give out to others as You will. And so this morning we pray for good fences and we pray for protection and Your anointing upon Mat and Stephanie and their group as they minister; keep them safe and bring them home with many ‘sheaves’. And as we look over this list we see blessings as we read certain names, we remember good reports we have received and we remember sweet conversations that told us You are intervening in the lives of these. And yet we see the need for so much more – jobs to be had and health restored and loneliness and discouragement to be replaced with comfort and courage and hope and Lord we know that only You can do this for these. And we pray their hearts and mind will be open to receiving; that if it takes an action on their part that they will be willing to work with You Lord and not against You for their own well being. We pray for courage for parents and not only courage but discernment that fathers and mothers too not provoke their children to wrath but rather to good works. Bless Pretty Girl today especially since it is her birthday; thank You for her and what she means to me. Lord draw her up close today and whisper to her how precious she is to You. And Father we pray for our IDOK Troops, keep them safe; help them make right decisions today; help them step circumspectly today; guard them from all evil and harm; protect them in mind and body and spirit and again we ask that all our IDOK Troops come home safe and sound and more in love with You than when they deployed. And watch over Israel, keep Her moving toward You and forgive America and revive us we pray for Jesus sake.
The Peace of Israel Mat and Stephanie. Patsy B. Joey and Kathy and family. Kim T. Krystee. Sybal W. Brenda D. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. The Ellis Family. Ed Litton and family. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. Kathy. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America. IDOKs Military Families. IDOKs Troops -Shaun. Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Travis N. Albert R III. Joshua M.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Lee. Mack. The 226. Troy. Danny. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country-Mike

As I post this it is 91°F and sunny in Baghdad, Iraq & the time there is 3:41 PM AST – on October 22, 2007

John 14: 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

His Ministry to You

New Look to Pics We Like
New Card B17 – One of a Kind
10/11/07
www.whitestonephotographyart.com