Monthly Archives: December 2007

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At the Death Of

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2007

As I looked at the media presentations regarding the death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and heard it purportedly stated that the boys who killed her had done an excellent job; it would seem some are rejoicing with her demise.
Immediately I thought of Father. His Word says in Psalm 116: 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
If Father deems the physical death of His Own to be precious, what does He deem the death of those who are not His Own?
And I thought about me – would I rejoice at the death of Osama bin Laden? And if I would, would that make me any different than those who are rejoicing at the death of Benazir Bhutto?
Would the end of Osama bin Laden’s terrorist reign give me cause to celebrate? Yes it would. Would his death? I don’t know – I don’t think so but if a rattlesnake were poised to strike me dead most certainly I would be glad to see the snake struck with a fatal blow. And in some ways I see Osama bin Laden as just that … A viper that wants nothing more than to mortally wound all Americans, most particularly all Christians. And it is at this point that I am so glad I am not God. Only God knows the heart of Osama; only God knows if Osama has passed the point of no return. Only God knows if each day Osama breathes he makes HELL hotter for himself. Can I rejoice if he gets there sooner? No. I can only pray – Lord, stop his reign of terror however You choose.
So the Home Going of all Christians is precious to Father – He rejoices as He receives each one HOME and I believe He grieves at the death of every soul who perishes to a devil’s hell. 2 Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
If we are truly in love with Father, we are endeavoring to do the same.
I John 2:
22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
I John 5:
1 EVERYONE WHO believes (adheres to, trusts, and relies on the fact) that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah) is a born-again child of God; and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of Him (His offspring).
I John 4:
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Father, thank You for the year passed and the year coming; thank You that the Home-Coming of Your Saints is precious to You; we have witnessed several this year leave us for their Home with You; for them we rejoice, for us we pray for comfort.
We also come with these and we pray for Your Best for each of them. We pray for encouragement, for the easing of pain, for comfort, for employment-s, whatever is needed individually for this precious group of souls. And we ask You for protection for our IDOK Troops, keep them safe today in mind and body and spirit; bring them home safely at the appointed time; bring this war to a successful conclusion, bring Peace to Israel, Repentance to America, Hope and Vision to Your Church, bring to pass the election of Your Choice for America’s President and today Lord as we as IDOKs close out this year 2007 help us reflect with wisdom and look forward to 2008 confident of Your Love, Your Mercy and Your Grace for each of us. And this we ask solely upon the merits of Jesus. Amen and Amen. The Peace of Israel Mr. Smith. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Taylor. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. A care-giver for Emily Grace. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. Wheeler Family. Mary Ann. Mr. Nash. DeLois. Terri. Leah O. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Janie B. W.C. & Family . Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. 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. Jessie L. 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 & Family.
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 – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
As I post this it is 35°F and clear in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 9:08 AM AST – on December 31, 2007

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU
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Sober

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2007

Seri Jennings said: “We are somehow all sisters in this great big world of problems. So learn to listen to your heart by loving those in need, those who need encouragement, and most importantly, love the unlovable. For love covers a multitude of mistakes.”
I Peter 4: 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
Serious and watchful in our prayers … What does that mean?
In the King James Version the word ‘serious’ is ‘sober’. I looked at the word SOBER in the Greek Lexicon and it has multiple meanings but this one caught my attention: to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance
I keep reading that phrase.
Is it our privilege to pray in such a way as to hinder Satan from blinding the eyes of and to interrupt his plans to keep not only our Jewish sisters and brothers from accepting Jesus The Messiah but Gentiles as well? Could we really do that? Oh, I would LOVE to!!
The word SOBER also means: to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
Is it really my (and your) responsibility (and privilege) to pray in such as way as to rescue people; to keep folks safe and sound in these days when the end of all things is at hand? Could we really do that? Are we doing that? Maybe we are. I hope so.
And where does all this SOBER praying dwell? According to the Greek Lexicon – here: the parts of the heart The mind The faculty of perceiving and judging
What a powerful word is the word SOBER!
And now on to the word WATCH. The meaning to our word WATCH in the Greek Lexicon is this: To be sober, to be calm and collected in spirit To be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect
Again that word SOBER – Father is serious (sober) about this, isn’t He?
We must WATCH over one another with calmness; with our thoughts and emotions collected (under control – not flying all over in a tizzy). Circumspect is a good word too. It means, according to a good ole American dictionary: Heedful of circumstances and potential consequences; prudent.
Does that mean it’s A God Thing for us to look after one another and to warn and advise one another when we see another behaving or about to behave in a manner that will reap unhealthy consequences? What do you think? I do too.
This is much food for thought today. Love you all and will plan to ‘see’ you again on Monday – may take Tuesday off — we’ll see – as THE LORD leads.
Father, I think these is a sober word today, a serious word for us to consider and take to our heart, to our faculties and perceive and judge ourselves and with Your Spirit do these things. Help us do this. And Lord since You said we could we pray for our IDOK Troops today to keep them safe and sound from harm. We ask You to rescue them from any potential danger, guard them in mind and body and spirit and bring them home alive and well. And again today we pray for the Peace of Israel, for the Repentance of America, for the election of Your Choice for President; for the Revival of Your Church; and for every provision that each and every IDOK needs today. And for these souls listed here we pray for all their provisions too and we thank You for the privilege and the responsibility of prayer. Holy Spirit don’t let us fail in this; keep after us, prodding and reminding as only You can and this we ask based solely upon the Merits and Blood of Jesus our Christ. Amen and amen. The Peace of Israel Mr. Smith. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Taylor. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. A care-giver for Emily Grace. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. Wheeler Family. Mary Ann. Mr. Nash. DeLois. Terri. Leah O. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Janie B. W.C. & Family . Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. 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. Jessie L. 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 & Family.
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 – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.

As I post this it is 61°F and sunny in Baghdad, Iraq & the time there is 4:51 PM AST – on December 28, 2007
His Ministry to You

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Tick Tock

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2007

The New Year is close upon us, just a few more days and we can say goodbye to 2007. Say it again … 2007… I can hardly believe it! Remember when we said goodbye to 1999 and the Y2K thing brought so much panic? And the New Year dawned and the power stayed on and the telephone rang and the ATM still dished out money, if you had some for dishing. We are not expecting a Y2K this New Year; we are expecting a smooth transition from 2007 at 11:59 P.M.on Monday night to 12:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, January 1, 2008. Just a tick and tock of the clock and we are there. Reminds me of a twinkling of the eye.
I Corinthians 15: 51 Behold, I shew 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 trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
This passage of Scripture describes The Rapture of the Christian Church – that time when those who have not experienced physical death – won’t – they will be caught up to see Jesus without passing through physical death. Some we love have experienced physical death in 2007 and in spirit they are already beholding and rejoicing with Jesus. And this one writing and you all reading, we wait.
I have a little story for you this morning; it’s not mine (that is I did not write it) and it is not known if it is a true happening or just something written to give us a sentimental moment — see you at the end for a closing word and prayer.
A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Target. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.
We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Target. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.
The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in ‘Mom let’s run through the rain,’ she said. ‘What?’ Mom asked. ‘Lets run through the rain!’ She repeated. ‘No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit,’ Mom replied. This young child waited about another minute and repeated: ‘Mom, let’s run through the rain,’ ‘We’ll get soaked if we do,’ Mom said. ‘No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,’ the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom’s arm. This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet? ‘Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, ‘If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!’
The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith. ‘Honey, you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If GOD let’s us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing,’ Mom said. Then off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.
Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories…So, don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday.

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven.

We have a few more days in this year to make memories — don’t waste them! And who of us does not need a ‘washing’? As best you can take all the stuff of 2007 in these days we have remaining and take them to Jesus – let HIM wash away all the gunk and stuff of hurts and anger, poor choices, and out right rebellion and start 2008 clean and fresh and newly in love with HIM. And then when the tick and tock of the clock brings in 2008 – you’ll be ready.
Father, it’s okay with us that we do not know what will be in 2008, we are secure in You. Thank You. With all that has occurred in 2007, some things wonderful, some things so hard we were not sure we could breathe through it but with You we did. Thank You. And in these last few days of 2007, help us prepare ourselves for 2008. Help us release to You all the gunk and stuff that has built up; help us stop putting off today what we can do today to make tomorrow a better day. Help us receive from You Your plans for us in the day to day living and act on those plans in our day to day living. Help us embrace a budget of money and time and resources and stick with it for Your Glory and our good. Thank You for what You have done in us and for us this year. Thank You for the illnesses and diseases we did not get and thank You for the ones that we did, that You have healed and those You are yet growing us through. Thank You for the homes and families You mended and restored and thank You for those still pending on which You are still working. Thank You for this year 2007, all of it; not that all of it was ‘good’ but that You were there with us through it all. Thank You. And today as all those days passed we bring these and we pray for them, for their strength to be renewed so they can walk and not be weary and for those with broken limbs, carry them and nurture them Lord until they can stand and move again for Your Glory. Bless and keep safe our IDOK Troops today, in mind and body and spirit and bring them home to us safe and sound when they have finished their courses there. We continue to pray for a successful conclusion to the war; for the Peace of Israel, the Repentance of America, the election of Your Choice for President; the Revival of Your Church, beginning with me, and today’s provision for all our IDOKs in Jesus name. Amen and Amen. The Peace of Israel Mr. Smith. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Taylor. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. A care-giver for Emily Grace. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. Wheeler Family. Mary Ann. Mr. Nash. DeLois. Terri. Leah O. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Janie B. W.C. & Family . Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. 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. Jessie L. 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 & Family.
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 – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.

As I post this it is 61°F and clear in Balad, Iraq & the time there is 4:40 PM AST – on December 27, 2007

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU