Oh I wish I had a funny story for you. Something that would cause you not just chuckle but ‘cackle like a hen’ as some senior country folks are fond of saying. But I don’t think I do. These are sober times. And the more I hear, the more I read, the more sobering this journey seems to become. Christian Talk Radio today shared with me the plight of Christian brothers and sisters as they wage war for the souls of their children in public schools. It stems from a push in San Francisco to begin as early as the first grade, I think, to indoctrinate students with the lie that same sex marriage and homosexual relationships are normal, acceptable and any show of disagreement is to be censored; even ‘punished’. Just more evidence that it is not just okay but applauded in America to be anything or say anything as long as it only violates or makes ‘sport’ of Jesus Christ and His followers! The only thing in America that is to be censored is Jesus! Every kind of debauchery is protected by some Amendment!
But Scripture tells us the Joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10).
Thus far I can still write these IDOKs and thus far you can still read them and thus far you can still pass them along to others. Thus far we are not forced ‘underground’ as our Christian brothers and sisters are in other countries. Thus Far! And ‘underground’ Christian Churches in America may be years away – maybe it will never be. But I am not resting comfortably in that ‘maybe’ and you probably are not either. In fact, we dare not rest comfortably in anything except worshipping Jesus and sharing His Gospel of Salvation as often as He opens a door of utterance for each and every one of us.
Colossians 4: 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
First let me draw out two words: thanksgiving and chains. We must maintain and increase the thanksgiving in our praying and in our daily living. And one of those things for which to give thanks is we are not yet in ‘chains’. At this penning, Paul was in prison for preaching and ministering the Gospel. As I write, I am reminded of one of Paul’s imprisonment(s) and how he handled it. No doubt the JOY of the LORD was his strength. Acts 16:24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. Look at the next word. It is an amazing word. It is a comparative word. It compares the events in verse 24 with the events of verse 25. Its very presence in the text tells us that what occurred in verse 25 is supernatural because nothing in the natural man of Paul or Silas would do this. 25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
There is no doubt in my mind if Paul and Silas had given into their natural flesh and at midnight were moaning and groaning, accusing and maligning God, there would have been no earthquake, no open doors – not to the jail and certainly not the heart of the Philippian jailer and his family. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
If we prayed and sang hymns to our God through every hurtful, frightening, grievous, maddening, circumstance we see going on in America today and in our own individual lives, would an ‘earthquake’ break off shackles and strongholds; would the rusty hinges holding fast the doors of men’s hearts swing open to deliverance and salvation? Someone might say, ‘well, we won’t know until we try’. Actually that’s not so – we won’t know and we won’t see till we RELY on the same Holy Spirit that Paul and Silas relied upon.
Lord, start this prayer; bring us a revival of reliance. Put an end to our anticipating gloom and doom; put peace on our faces and supernatural giddy expectation in our hearts of seeing Your Glory to be displayed on our behalf. And even as I ask this I know this cannot be our work; we cannot conjure this up within ourselves. If You don’t do it in us, it won’t get done. Individually, speak to each of us and reveal to us that You are willing and able, if we are just willing. It will take practice, won’t it? And we won’t always be successful, will we? You will remind us when we turn from relying on You and again fall prey to our own flesh and the evil one, won’t you? I know You will. Our burdens are heavy; thank You for entrusting them to us. Thank You for counting us worthy. Thank You for Your Steadfast patience with us. Something else Lord, show us that we have reasons to rejoice even in the depths of sorrow and grief. Open our eyes to Your creation; cause us to be WOWed with Your Awesomeness. Make the scales fall from our eyes so we can see the Beauty of Your Holiness and crave to practice Your Holiness. Lord, teach us to laugh as You laughed with Your disciples. Teach us to stand in AWE of You. Move us to holy hatred for sin and agape for the sinner. DADDY GOD, thank You that in every penny lost in the market You have a plan to take better care of us than the money could have provided. Thank You that there in not one thing that politicians can do to us that You will not over compensate us. Thank You that there is no lie or act of hate that can destroy us as long as we rely on Your Love and Goodness. Thank You for making us winners and conquerors. And as is our custom, here are our names again, our IDOK Troops, this Nation, Israel, the election, the economy, illness, disease, depression, financial obligations, needed supplies and provisions, unsaved folks, worried moms and dads, grieving moms and dads – grandparents too, fraud in voter registration, rigged polls, public and private schools, un-disciplined students and hostile or at least miss-guided teachers, addictions of every kind, minds that need rest, hearts that need mending and souls that need to receive and give forgiveness. All this Lord we bring and even more in the unspoken(s) and in it all we proclaim our hope is in Your Lord and we thank You for teaching us to rejoice. Amen and amen. Economic conditions, especially the effects it has upon the minds and hearts of people. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Jodi H. David T. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Jason A and his mother. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. George. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Brooklyn. Families and communities hit by Gustav and Ike. Jacqueline and her boys, River and Jackson. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Bernie. Darlene and Torkel. Edie G. Rachel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Dylan. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. David & Allison. Jeanette and Earl and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten 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 and Family. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family, Mollie B. Public and Private School Teachers.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N. T. Palin.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Richard M. Brandon B.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George.Travis N. Hawk.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony.
Hospitalized: Captain Tran
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G.
Still praying but no recent update: Hector. Corpl. Light. Bradley T. Albert R III.
Justin G.on his way home end of the month!!
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.
November’s Election.
As I post this it is 71°F and mostly cloudy in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 5:26 AM AST – on October 15, 2008
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