Monthly Archives: April 2008

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What Ifs?

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2008

The Pharisees were there in all their finery, lavishly throwing into the Temple Coffers their meager amounts and the Poor Widow humbly placed all she had. This is the opening scene in Luke 21. And JESUS said of her that she had given more than them all. And Others were noticing the Temple Building, the construction of it, and they were in awe of it. Strange what we awe, isn’t it? The CREATOR was in their midst and there they were stunned by the stones and mortar of the Temple. And I have no doubt it was magnificent! So magnificent that in 70 AD just as Jesus said not one stone was left upon another as the Temple was burned and its gold and treasures were collected by greedy fools. And with Jesus’ foretelling of the destruction of the Temple, He finally had their attention and He began to tell of a time yet to come, a time of Great Tribulation. And then He gave them these instructions:
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Do you see verse 14? 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: There’s a colon there – very important punctuation! And I’ll get to that in a moment but first notice with me He told them to settle it in their hearts to NOT meditate BEFORE what they would answer when they were persecuted. I am by no means persecuted as is told here and yet I sometimes find myself running over and over in my thoughts imaginary conversations of what if. If she were to say this, I’d say this. Or if he dares say this, I’ll say this. And what does all this imaging do? Stirs up my flesh. What should I do? Settle it in my heart to rely on what comes after the colon. What comes after the colon? A Promise. A beautiful, glorious, wondrous promise. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
So today don’t be spending your time worrying and meditating on ‘what ifs’. When the time comes HE IS WITH YOU and HE WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO SAY AND WHAT TO DO!! Hallelujah what a Saviour!!
Father Lord, thank You for this IDOK message and help all us IDOKs embrace You in it. Thank You that You are with us in tribulation and all the ‘what ifs’ in our lives. Help us trust You and wait upon You for the wisdom You will give us in our ‘what ifs’. This morning bless these with the grace and peace as they wait upon You in their what ifs of illness, disease, misunderstandings, and much more. Comfort and protect our IDOK Troops in all ways, mind, body and spirit. Give America space and grace to repent; bring Israel to Peace and Lord as they are soon coming to Passover, bless their Observances and Holy Spirit convince at least one that You Lord Jesus are the Passover Lamb. Revive Your Church Lord. Amen and amen. Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. 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 family. 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. Chuck. 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. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
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. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
As I post this it is 78°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 5:03 PM ADT – on April 3, 2008
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March 31, 2004

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2008

I did something this morning that I don’t usually do early in the morning. However, I am thinking that I should make it a practice. This morning I opened the front door and stepped out onto the balcony. The birds were softly singing and the water in the fountain was quietly flowing and the air had Father God in it! Oh, it was beautiful! I did not want to come back in the house but raspberry and cream coffee and YOU were waiting for me… So I did. Step outside first chance you get and hear the “quiet”; just breathe in His Holiness.
I have read so much good stuff this morning I cannot get it all in but this one phrase from Our Daily Bread just shouts!! God always knocks loud enough for the seeking soul to hear. And there is more it says God is also a persistent lover. It says He is the Lover of your soul. Wow! And then we read:
Luke 19
41 And as He approached, He saw the city, and He wept [audibly] over it,
42 Exclaiming, Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace–your security, safety, prosperity, and happiness–depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
43 For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank [with pointed stakes] about you and surround you and shut you in on every side.
44 And they will dash you down to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, [all] because you did not come progressively to recognize and know and understand [from observation and experience] the time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time in which God showed Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ].
45 Then He went into the temple [enclosure] and began to drive out those who were selling.
46 Telling them, It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer; but you have made it a cave of robbers.
47 And He continued to teach day after day in the temple [porches and courts]. The chief priests and scribes and the leading men of the people were seeking to put Him to death,
48 But they did not discover anything they could do, for all the people hung upon His words and stuck by Him.
Did you read that? Oh, what a Saviour we have!! Look at verse 19 our Saviour cried out loud! He cried, He wept because the people, His people, did not have what He wanted for them – PEACE! Same thing He wants for you and me – PEACE. Peace with God, Peace of God! Can we imagine this. Our Saviour was so moved, He is such a Lover of our Souls – their souls – that He, GOD, cried for them, cried because they did not know, because they REFUSED to know HIM. We can do that you know; we can refuse to KNOW God. We can refuse to KNOW the Lover of our souls…. A mistake so HUGE that GOD CRIES over it. Not because He NEEDS us; He is completely God even without us; question is — WHAT ARE WE WITHOUT HIM? I can tell you what I am without Him … A BIG, FAT ZERO!! But back to the text. Verse 42, He exclaims He wanted them to know Him personally! Look at that! HE WANTS US TO KNOW HIM PERSONALLY! Have you heard of the “rule of first mention”? A Bible teacher that I so loved; he has been with the Lord now since 1985; he first introduced me to the “rule of first mention” and it simply means when you see something in Scripture look back to when it was “first mentioned” and that will help you understand it. Well, following that rule I think we see here that KNOWING GOD is a very, very personal act; it is an intimate relationship – akin to the “marriage relationship”. Yes, Father God is indeed the LOVER of our Soul! And He weeps when we are at odds with Him; because for us to be at odds with Him means we have NO PEACE. Verse 44 – this is a process — so don’t get discouraged –we progressively come to KNOW Him; we progressively come to recognize, and know, and hear, and understand. Sometimes it is as quiet as a softly singing bird or a gently flowing river — however is His Voice — IT IS LOUD ENOUGH FOR THE SEEKING SOUL TO HEAR. The Lover of our Soul is pursuing us — stop running! Lets be captured by the Lover of our Soul and sit in the quiet of HIS PEACE.

Oh, Father, is that anywhere near as beautiful on paper as it needs to be for my people, Your people, my sisters and brothers, to just bask in Your Loveliness. Oh, I hope so! Oh, Jesus — I love you, I love you, I love you and my heart follows wholly after you — that song is still playing — may it play for ever. Thank You for Your Peace to us; thank You that You weep over us but help us love You so much that You don’t weep anymore. Father, You know the hurts, the fears, the doubts and the cries of my family, Your family. I thank You for your interventions into our needs; help us see and embrace You in everyone of them and help us share Your Peace with our hurting world for Jesus sake. amen and amen.
Father, thank You for such a sweet reminder this morning. I see You are still the Quiet Lover of my soul today and I know You shall be forever. As we prayed four years ago we pray today for these listed here and for our IDOK Troops, may they KNOW today that You are the Quiet Lover of their souls and they can trust You today and we can trust You today with them. We come on behalf of America; again we ask that You forgive her and give her space and grace to repent and we offer ourselves in service to You to minister to our fellow Americans. We are continuing to think of the Presidential Election and we confess we are weary with it and we pray for new hope. More and more we think of the things an Judaism, we love Your People Lord and we want them to love You and find their Peace in You; if we can help, we are trusting You to position us for that helping. Thank You for the day that is before us; help us use it well for Jesus sake. Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. 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 family. 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. Chuck. 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. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell. 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. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
As I post this it is 73°F and haze in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 4:28 PM ADT – on April 2, 2008
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No Joke!

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2008

James 1: 12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Revelation 2: 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
And these two are the only King James verses wherein I found the phrase ‘crown of life’. I located 84 references to ‘crown’ but this morning I want to share with you what I have learned about the ‘crown of life’.
The Greek word for crown is stephanos and it means a mark of royal or in general exalted rank; also the wreath or garland which was given as a prize to victors in public games; and eternal blessedness.
And the Greek word for life is Zoe and its meaning is the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate; absolute fullness of life; life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous. And this word Zoe is a derivative of the Greek verb ZAO which means to live, breathe, be among the living, to enjoy real life, active, blessed, endless to be in full vigour, to be fresh, strong, efficient; active, powerful efficacious.
The Greek word for LIFE used here lays to rest any idea that Heaven will be a place of sitting on a cloud plucking a harp for eternity. Yesterday as I studied these words I was thinking of those I love who have already passed from this life to LIFE there. They are NOT dead they are more alive than we. They have absolute fullness of life. They are strong and active, powerful and efficacious. And we have that to look forward to!! Every Soul that LOVES JESUS has this to look forward to. Do you see that in James 1: 12? Which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Do you see that this Crown of Life, this exalted rank, this royal prize is worth it all? Lets look at that Greek word for Love just a moment.
In James 1:12 the Greek word used is Agapao and it means to welcome, to entertain, to love dearly, to be well pleased, to be contented at or with. Associated Greek words are Phileo meaning to love, to approve of, to like, to sanction, to treat affectionately or kindly, to welcome, to befriend. And philos meaning to be friendly to one, wish him well.
Lets look at the whole verse again. Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. This crown of life is promised to those who Love Him. And who loves Him? Those who are well pleased with Him, contented with Him; those who welcome Him; those who love Him dearly; those who endure and overcome the temptation to ‘love’ themselves instead of Him; the temptation to be their own god and do their own thing rather than receive His righteousness and abide in Him. That is the temptation that keeps a soul from salvation and that is the temptation that keeps a Christian from experiencing fullness of life.
Meditate on this today and I believe you will know even more that Heaven is more exciting, more alive, more efficacious (I looked it up that word means: Producing or capable of producing a desired effect; producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect; marked by qualities giving the power to produce an intended effect) than we can comprehend or imagine. In Heaven, our creativity will ‘explode’ in holy pleasure! A Crown of Life — and that’s NO JOKE!!
Mom was released from the hospital to a skilled facility for rehab. Please keep praying for her as you will. And me too; I am human and I am sad that all this is necessary. Thank you for your loving prayers.
Father, thank You for what You are telling and teaching us here. Thank You for the Home You are building for us and for the Universe of Creativity that You have for us to do when we get there with You. We can only imagine. Thank You.
This morning we come with this list and we entrust each and every name and situation to You for we KNOW You are Able and Willing. Thank You Father. Keep Our IDOK Troops safe, return them to us, forgive America, bring Israel into Her Peace and revive Your Church for Jesus sake. Amen and amen.
Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. 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. 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. Chuck. 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. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
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. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
As I post this it is 82°F and sunny in Baghdad & the time there is 5:17PM ADT- on April 1, 2008

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