Monthly Archives: January 2008

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Some Really Good News!

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008


I am hard on me, usually harder on me than others — most likely there is some subtle pride in that. I often scold me for my immaturity in the faith. I am wrong to do that. And if you are doing it, you are wrong too. I should celebrate more the progress that Father is making in me; so should you — He does! Listen to what Beth (Moore) has written in her Study entitled Stepping Up. She uses her beloved grandson, Jackson, as an example.
“I don’t sit over Jackson impatiently and wish he were suddenly grown. I celebrate every step he takes. Why do we think our Heavenly Father, who designed our bodies, souls, and spirits to operate just as they do, would be any different? No, God doesn’t enjoy a child’s stubborn unwillingness to grow up any more than I’d enjoy Jackson still crawling at six years of age. But I am convinced God thoroughly relishes every hint of maturity even if we feel as if we’re not making progress.”
She goes on to say: “As you study Scripture, God is accomplishing something in you. As long as you keep your heart exposed to it and don’t compartmentalize everything you’re learning in your head alone, you can’t help but make some level of progress as you give this kind of time to study. Just think what can happen when we become intentional about it!”
Did you hear what she said? God IS accomplishing something in you! God IS accomplishing something in me! Not maybe, or hope so, or will some day but IS. Today He IS accomplishing something in us.
I Chronicles 19: 13 Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
Isaiah 55: 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
As long as we continue to expose our eyes, our ears, our minds and our hearts to Scripture – a difference is being made in us! We have Father’s Word on it. That is GOOD NEWS, even though we have heard it before.
Father, when I open Your Word for more than just a quick read or a quick Word to write to our IDOKs, something warm and wonderful happens inside — why don’t I do it more? Please help me stop giving in to do other things that are not nearly as important or rewarding or pleasant and good. Help us taste Your Word and see that it is good, very good.
And now we are continuing in our prayers for these listed here. We pray for peace and comfort for those grieving and those undergoing serious medical treatments and not only for peace and comfort but healing of hearts and bodies.
We pray for our IDOK Troops for safety and protection in mind, body and spirit; for the Peace of Israel, for the Repentance of America, for the election of Your choice for president, for the revival of Your Church, for a Hunger for Your Word that compels us to eat of it daily and not sparingly but enough to get holy fat on it. Thank You Father for Jesus sake. Amen and amen.
Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Lawson Family. Mrs. Dobbs. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. Anita. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. 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. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. 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. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Tiffany & Makayla. Andrew.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Justin G.
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. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.

As I post this it is 41°F light showers, rain mist in Balad, Iraq & the time there is 7:16 AM AST – on January 23, 2008

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU

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HAPPY?

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2008

Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8 NASB
I hope you won’t mind Beth is stopping by for a visit with us this morning from her book Breaking Free Day by Day.
How happy you are, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? Deuteronomy 33: 29
I fear we may have become so legalistic in many of our Christian circles that we’ve drooped the word happy from our “religious” vocabulary. But sometimes God just plain makes me HAPPY! Call me immature, but picture me smiling.
Sure, I know that people are starving on the other side of the world. I’m deeply concerned for hurting people, and I pray for other nations every single day. But I also enjoy a happy moment in Jesus when it comes. Happiness is inappropriate when it’s our goal, but not when it’s God’s momentary gift to us. Open it. Enjoy it. And remember it when times get tough.
I like that – a people saved by the Lord! Reason enough for us to be happy in the good times and reason enough to have JOY in the sad times.
Proverbs 17: 22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
These, in part, are the words of a friend of Rick and Sherri Burgess: Please pray diligently and savor your moments with your family. We never know…Thanks for keeping this awesome family in your thoughts and prayers.
Father, it’s early but we are praying in advance for Sherri that as days go by You will convince her it is okay for her to have a merry heart once again – don’t let her spirit be so broken that her bones get dry. And help Rick to continue in Your Strength, don’t let his testimony fail. Thank You for friends, close enough to care for Rick and Sherri – may there be an abundance of them Lord, we pray.
As I look over this list, I am privy to lots of hurts, some physical, some emotional, some spiritual; some things we can help with – we can come along side and give some comfort as YOU guide us and we want to do that in accordance with Your will. Some things YOU ALONE can handle and we are trusting You to do those. I am thinking especially of Gina today – another hard blow for her; she has had so many; it does not seem right but I am refusing that and I pray You will enable her to refuse it too along with the rest of the family. I don’t know what You have in mind allowing this but we KNOW Your Goal is good and so we pray Your Will be done.
Thank You for Hawk and Lyndon’s time at home for some rest and relaxation and we pray it will be a time of blessing for them and their families. Help them include You in their celebrating. And we pray for our other IDOK Troops for safety and protection and uplifted spirits today. And we pray for a successful conclusion to this war; we pray for Peace for Israel; we pray America will stand by Israel; Lord, forgive leaders who are blind and help them see the truth contained in Your Word and have the courage to abide by what You have said; we pray for Repentance for America and for the successful election of Your Choice for President and Lord, revive us Your Church. Amen and amen. Rick Burgess and family. Lawson Family. Mrs. Dobbs. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Anita. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. 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. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. 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. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Tiffany & Makayla. Andrew.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Hawk is due home on the 25th for some R & R. Lyndon A is also home for some R & R.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Justin G.
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. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
As I post this it is 57°F with smoke and haze in Al Taji, IQ & the time there is 4:49 PM AST – on January 22, 2008

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU

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Yesterdays and Knots!

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2008

It was a beautiful weekend in Atlanta, cold temps, white snow and precious family! God is SO good!!
And as we made our customary stop at Priester’s, I saw a quote by Will Rogers – I like it a lot: Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today. I think it is sound advice. Don’t you?

I am still enjoying a recently learned activity: knitting. And as with many of my activities sooner or later they render an IDOK. Every knitter has a first project. Some knitters hold on to their first handiwork for the memories and others when they notice their stitches have become prettier choose to unravel the first project and use the yarn again. However, in the unraveling process one may encounter knots. Some of these knots are released with very little effort but others may be tight and jumbled. And so the knitter picks and pulls, twists and turns for what seems like an eternity and still the yarn is knotted. Finally she picks up the scissors and cuts her losses.
I think this can happen with people too. Some of us have yesterdays that are snarled, twisted, AND knotted, and we so much want to make something new and different of them. So we work and work to loosen the knots, hoping the ‘yarn’ will lend itself to a new and prettier, more useful ‘garment’. But alas we determine to give up and it’s hard, really hard – but we do.
I think with knitting and with life the key is knowing when you have worked enough and it’s time to cut off that stubborn knot and move on.
The amazing thing with life is even when you don’t judge it just right Father somehow works it all out in the Masterpiece that He is knitting — YOU.
2 Corinthians 5:
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Romans 8:
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
So if you have wrestled with a knot too long already, don’t worry. Just ask Father for the scissors and cut your losses! And when you do, stand back and see what HE and you together can create! Or should I say knit?
Remember, Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today — in life or knitting.
We have some prayer requests:
Kathie, just wanted to send you this update on Janie. (Janie has started a 9 month program, including chemo. She needs our prayers.)
Also, put the Rick Burgess family on our prayer list — he’s Rick of Rick and Bubba. His 3-year-old drowned yesterday (Saturday)
Father, I can only imagine the grief the Burgess family is feeling right now and there is no doubt in my mind that You are with them in this tragic loss. This is too hard for any mortal to bear – only You can hold them up in this and it is for this that we pray. We also pray for Janie as she begins this 9 month regiment, grant wisdom and skill to the medical teams and patience and hope for the family. The doctors intend for this to heal Janie and we pray it will be so. We pray too for Tressa and Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley – this is a troubled family Lord and have been for a long time now. Lord, only You know what needs to be here and so it is for Your Will that we pray. And Father, we pray for the others here too whether it be illness or disease, debts and un-employment or under-employment, broken hearts, troubled souls and minds, lack of purpose, direction and ambition, incarceration, and more; we pray for Your Presence to be known with each. Father, I don’t have one doubt that You care and You have the answer and You are willing to do what is right and best for each one and so it is for this we pray. And as for more times that we know we come with our IDOK Troops praying for their protection of mind and body and spirit; asking too that You bring each one home to family and friends, safe and sound and that You help families keep it together and enable them to lean hard on You while their soldier is away. And we pray for the Peace of Israel and Father please help America’s leaders to steer away from participating in something stupid like encouraging Israel to give up any part of the land You gave them. And we pray for the Repentance of America and the Election of Your choice for President and for the revival of Your Church, especially this writer, Lord. Thank You Father. We love you. Amen and Amen. Rick Burgess and family. Lawson Family. Mrs. Dobbs. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Anita. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. 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. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. 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. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Tiffany & Makayla. Andrew.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
The Peace of Israel
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Justin G.
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. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.

As I post this it is 35°F and partly cloudy in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 7:14 AM AST- on January 21, 2008


HIS MINISTRY TO YOU