IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2008
Let me bleed on you a little bit today. As I have heard and watched presidential candidates, I have become more and more concerned, and today I am seized with gut grief. So grieved that I have written a prayer. It’s a prayer voiced in desperation, frustration, even a deep sense of what can I do – I’m only one and one of little significance, at best, in the grand scheme of American outcry. I do not know the future of America…glad I don’t. More and more I am longing for the Day when Jesus will come and set up HIS Rule here; when He shall be King and the sin and corruption and blindness and foolishness will be silenced. Oh, what a day that will be – a thousand years of days!! But until then, I must not lose hope, so I pray.
Revelation 20: 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
I have been ‘sitting’ on a letter I received a number of days ago via e-mail from a friend of a friend about six ‘generations’ removed. I do not personally know the author of this letter – I hope she will not mind an IDOK publishing of it. I think you need to know. And just this morning, I received another article I think you need to read too; maybe that one I will share tomorrow.
Mon. Feb 11, 08
Dear Friends,
We are home. I am home with this flu that is going around. I had it before we left and got it again in Egypt. I have really been sick. Sure is a waste of time. Our trip was physically very hard. I lost 10 pounds and got sick. I am glad I went, but I would not go back to Egypt. It is a dirty, ungodly country. The smog in Cairo Egypt, was terrible. There are 17 million people in that city, and they just throw their trash in the streets. The Nile River is polluted. I don’t know how such a people who built the pyramids regressed like they have. If the Arabs take over America, we will be a slum. And the noise pollution was terrible. They chant their Muslim prayers all day long. Our tour guide was a Christian, and he was a fine young man, but the Ungodliness of the population is everywhere. It was a real example of the difference of “light” vs “darkness.” Jesus is truly the Light!
Israel was clean and wonderful. We could eat the food and drink the water. They were kind and loved us. They may not believe in Jesus, but you can tell that God is in that land. It snowed in Jerusalem while we were there, and it was cold, but we still toured. The Sea of Galilee was stormy, and we went out on a boat for a short distance but came back to shore. The Bible is absolutely true about the fact that you cannot be out on the Sea of Galilee in a boat without the danger of dying. We were amazed at the big waves and wind on that Sea or lake. The weather cleared in Israel at the end of the week, and we went to the Temple Mount on a beautiful morning. We stood at the Golden Gate where Jesus will return. It is sealed because the Muslims are concerned He will return! They even have one of their graveyards outside the gate, thinking no King will come through a graveyard. But Jesus is coming! It shows the Muslims are concerned and may believe there is a possibility He will come. I stood and looked at that Gate, and was Very moved to think I was standing at the very place where Jesus will enter Jerusalem again!
We did go into Bethlehem. We had to let our Jewish guide out of the bus, and our Arab bus driver drove us through the security gate. That high wall that you have been hearing about on TV is there, dividing Palestine and Israel. We then got a Christian guide when we got into Bethlehem. I was there twice before, once in l980 and again in l999 and there is a stark difference in Bethlehem since the Arabs have taken it over. There were hardly any tourists. We ate in a cafe on the square where I ate before which was packed with tourists, but today it was vacant except for us. They have killed their tourist trade. The Christians in Bethlehem asked us to pray for them, because they had no income now. The Arab men on the Manger Square glared at us. We did not feel safe and clung together. There were beggar boys everywhere. They hate Americans and Israel!!!!
There is so much I could say about this trip. It has changed my life in some ways. I look at the lostness of the Arabs and the darkness. I look at Israel, that tiny country amidst such turmoil. If America does not continue to support Israel, I believe God will judge us severely as Americans. The Israeli soldiers were such fine young men and women. They are clean and disciplined and have great love for their land, which is something that is missing in America among some of our youth. I rode back to Lubbock from Dallas on an airline with an American Air Force career soldier. He said the Israeli pilots were the best in the world. They can fly planes like no one else!
Lastly, we were asked everywhere about the Presidential race in America. There was great interest. The Jews came up to us and asked us many questions. They said they do not want the Clintons again. They warned us that Obama is a Muslim, not a Christian. In Egypt, the Arabs said the same thing to us; they said Obama is Muslim, and they are amazed that Americans would consider electing a Muslim President of America!!
I came home loving America even more! Our country is a “light on a hill.” Our streets are clean. There are no chants all day. People are kind and take their turn. People over there pushed into line and were rude. They have never heard of the Golden Rule. They will stomp all over you if they want to get in line. I can see now why Jesus’ words of loving your neighbor and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you were strange words to the lost. The Koreans were the worst about walking all over us or trying to. We take our Christian heritage for granted here, in my opinion. We have the sanctity of human life. In Egypt, the Arabs don’t have any hope, so I can see why they would bomb people and commit suicide. They smoked cigarettes everywhere! I could not breathe in Egypt, and I think that is why I came down with the flu again. The smog was so bad at the pyramids, I could tell I was getting sick. I would gag on the fumes.
We need to pray for America and this election every day.
God bless,
Father, You know the alarm, You know the gut grief that welled up in me when I saw that scene just now – that young man, a teenager – so taken in. I could see it on his face. Lord, forgive us as a Nation; have mercy on us; forgive us for being so blind and foolish; forgive us for forsaking the teaching of Your Word to our young. And I know, as I record this prayer to You in print, I am risking the disdain of some, but I can only leave that to You. You know I want to tell somebody, anybody, everybody, but I cannot, so I am asking You Father to wake up this Nation. Before it is too late, show the true colors of all the Presidential Candidates. Wake up the People, Lord. Open blinded eyes. Obama says he is no longer a Muslim; I do not for one moment believe he has forsaken the religion of his people. Father, I have seen firsthand the radical transformation that happens to people who come from such darkness to the Light of Your Salvation. I don’t see that transformation in Obama – I see that he is still a Muslim; his words to the contrary are empty to me. Father, I am asking You to defeat this man from the Presidency of this Nation. I am asking You to defeat any and all candidates who are not Yours by Salvation in Jesus Christ alone. I pray Father that You will stir up Your Children and that You will bring Truth to the attention of every voter in America. Father, I am asking You to expose Your Enemies. Father, please forgive us; have mercy on us. Amen and amen.
And Father, in addition to the woes we feel for America, we especially bring today our IDOK Troops, and we pray for their protection in mind, body, and spirit. Guard them, Lord, and encourage them; we are numb, we hardly know what to ask – just love on them for us today. And the Peace of Israel is important to us, we love them, Lord, and we want for them what You want for them, and we wait to see it come to be. We dare not forget these closer to home. You know each one listed above, and we pray each will receive Your Best for them today. We commend this day to You, Lord, whatever comes, we confess You love us, and we pray for strength to abide in Your Love.
As I post this, it is 54°F and mostly cloudy in Al Asad, Iraq, and the time there is 4:15 PM AST – on February 26, 2008
Revelation 20: 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
I have been ‘sitting’ on a letter I received a number of days ago via e-mail from a friend of a friend about six ‘generations’ removed. I do not personally know the author of this letter – I hope she will not mind an IDOK publishing of it. I think you need to know. And just this morning, I received another article I think you need to read too; maybe that one I will share tomorrow.
Mon. Feb 11, 08
Dear Friends,
We are home. I am home with this flu that is going around. I had it before we left and got it again in Egypt. I have really been sick. Sure is a waste of time. Our trip was physically very hard. I lost 10 pounds and got sick. I am glad I went, but I would not go back to Egypt. It is a dirty, ungodly country. The smog in Cairo Egypt, was terrible. There are 17 million people in that city, and they just throw their trash in the streets. The Nile River is polluted. I don’t know how such a people who built the pyramids regressed like they have. If the Arabs take over America, we will be a slum. And the noise pollution was terrible. They chant their Muslim prayers all day long. Our tour guide was a Christian, and he was a fine young man, but the Ungodliness of the population is everywhere. It was a real example of the difference of “light” vs “darkness.” Jesus is truly the Light!
Israel was clean and wonderful. We could eat the food and drink the water. They were kind and loved us. They may not believe in Jesus, but you can tell that God is in that land. It snowed in Jerusalem while we were there, and it was cold, but we still toured. The Sea of Galilee was stormy, and we went out on a boat for a short distance but came back to shore. The Bible is absolutely true about the fact that you cannot be out on the Sea of Galilee in a boat without the danger of dying. We were amazed at the big waves and wind on that Sea or lake. The weather cleared in Israel at the end of the week, and we went to the Temple Mount on a beautiful morning. We stood at the Golden Gate where Jesus will return. It is sealed because the Muslims are concerned He will return! They even have one of their graveyards outside the gate, thinking no King will come through a graveyard. But Jesus is coming! It shows the Muslims are concerned and may believe there is a possibility He will come. I stood and looked at that Gate, and was Very moved to think I was standing at the very place where Jesus will enter Jerusalem again!
We did go into Bethlehem. We had to let our Jewish guide out of the bus, and our Arab bus driver drove us through the security gate. That high wall that you have been hearing about on TV is there, dividing Palestine and Israel. We then got a Christian guide when we got into Bethlehem. I was there twice before, once in l980 and again in l999 and there is a stark difference in Bethlehem since the Arabs have taken it over. There were hardly any tourists. We ate in a cafe on the square where I ate before which was packed with tourists, but today it was vacant except for us. They have killed their tourist trade. The Christians in Bethlehem asked us to pray for them, because they had no income now. The Arab men on the Manger Square glared at us. We did not feel safe and clung together. There were beggar boys everywhere. They hate Americans and Israel!!!!
There is so much I could say about this trip. It has changed my life in some ways. I look at the lostness of the Arabs and the darkness. I look at Israel, that tiny country amidst such turmoil. If America does not continue to support Israel, I believe God will judge us severely as Americans. The Israeli soldiers were such fine young men and women. They are clean and disciplined and have great love for their land, which is something that is missing in America among some of our youth. I rode back to Lubbock from Dallas on an airline with an American Air Force career soldier. He said the Israeli pilots were the best in the world. They can fly planes like no one else!
Lastly, we were asked everywhere about the Presidential race in America. There was great interest. The Jews came up to us and asked us many questions. They said they do not want the Clintons again. They warned us that Obama is a Muslim, not a Christian. In Egypt, the Arabs said the same thing to us; they said Obama is Muslim, and they are amazed that Americans would consider electing a Muslim President of America!!
I came home loving America even more! Our country is a “light on a hill.” Our streets are clean. There are no chants all day. People are kind and take their turn. People over there pushed into line and were rude. They have never heard of the Golden Rule. They will stomp all over you if they want to get in line. I can see now why Jesus’ words of loving your neighbor and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you were strange words to the lost. The Koreans were the worst about walking all over us or trying to. We take our Christian heritage for granted here, in my opinion. We have the sanctity of human life. In Egypt, the Arabs don’t have any hope, so I can see why they would bomb people and commit suicide. They smoked cigarettes everywhere! I could not breathe in Egypt, and I think that is why I came down with the flu again. The smog was so bad at the pyramids, I could tell I was getting sick. I would gag on the fumes.
We need to pray for America and this election every day.
God bless,
Father, You know the alarm, You know the gut grief that welled up in me when I saw that scene just now – that young man, a teenager – so taken in. I could see it on his face. Lord, forgive us as a Nation; have mercy on us; forgive us for being so blind and foolish; forgive us for forsaking the teaching of Your Word to our young. And I know, as I record this prayer to You in print, I am risking the disdain of some, but I can only leave that to You. You know I want to tell somebody, anybody, everybody, but I cannot, so I am asking You Father to wake up this Nation. Before it is too late, show the true colors of all the Presidential Candidates. Wake up the People, Lord. Open blinded eyes. Obama says he is no longer a Muslim; I do not for one moment believe he has forsaken the religion of his people. Father, I have seen firsthand the radical transformation that happens to people who come from such darkness to the Light of Your Salvation. I don’t see that transformation in Obama – I see that he is still a Muslim; his words to the contrary are empty to me. Father, I am asking You to defeat this man from the Presidency of this Nation. I am asking You to defeat any and all candidates who are not Yours by Salvation in Jesus Christ alone. I pray Father that You will stir up Your Children and that You will bring Truth to the attention of every voter in America. Father, I am asking You to expose Your Enemies. Father, please forgive us; have mercy on us. Amen and amen.
And Father, in addition to the woes we feel for America, we especially bring today our IDOK Troops, and we pray for their protection in mind, body, and spirit. Guard them, Lord, and encourage them; we are numb, we hardly know what to ask – just love on them for us today. And the Peace of Israel is important to us, we love them, Lord, and we want for them what You want for them, and we wait to see it come to be. We dare not forget these closer to home. You know each one listed above, and we pray each will receive Your Best for them today. We commend this day to You, Lord, whatever comes, we confess You love us, and we pray for strength to abide in Your Love.
As I post this, it is 54°F and mostly cloudy in Al Asad, Iraq, and the time there is 4:15 PM AST – on February 26, 2008
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