Dry Mouth and Flaky Lips

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2009
It has been a busy day and tomorrow morning is an early morning. I get to be up and out of here by 7:30. So please indulge me a re-run. This message was given to us March 21, 2007, nearly two years ago. It’s a good reminder for me; for some of you it will be new; for those of you who have been with me a long time, I think it will refresh you again.

Not pleasant, but it happens and it happens to me more often now than it did. I think that is because at the beginning of this year I consistently significantly increased my daily intake of water and so now in the mornings when I awaken — I want water. My mouth is dry and sometimes, especially if I have neglected the day before to take in the usual amount … My lips are flaky too. But Water will fix that.
And with these thoughts I went to my on line text finder – thirsty – and the first reference that appeared was this:
2 Therefore the people contended with Moses, and said, “Give us water, that we may drink.”
So Moses said to them, “Why do you contend with me? Why do you tempt the LORD?”
3 And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”
4 So Moses cried out to the LORD, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!”
Exodus 17 (NKJV)
And my first thoughts on reading that was yeah, that’s the way it is all right when my intake of The Water of Life is decreased, I COMPLAIN! So if you find yourself complaining more these days, check your Word intake, you may be suffering from dry mouth and flaky lips. Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just telling you what came this morning.
And Isaiah 5:
12 The harp and the strings, The tambourine and flute, And wine are in their feasts;
But they do not regard the work of the LORD, Nor consider the operation of His hands.
13 Therefore my people have gone into captivity, Because they have no knowledge; Their honorable men are famished, And their multitude dried up with thirst.
It’s just truth, without The Water of the Word, we dry up. BUT look at this:
Isaiah 41:
17 “ The poor and needy seek water, but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
18 I will open rivers in desolate heights, And fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, And the dry land springs of water.
How beautiful! When we get dry mouth, flaky lips, when we find ourselves complaining more than we used to, and we have looked around and we can’t find a ‘water bottle’ anywhere — stop and cry out to Him and He will be there with a river, with fountains in the midst of our dry valley, in the midst of our wilderness we will find a pool of water, in our dry and parched land, He will bring us Springs of Living Water. Oh, my! He is AWESOME!
There are more, more Scriptures that give us precious promises to aid us in our condition of dry mouth and flaky lips, but this morning I am going to leave you with this one.
Isaiah 44:
2 Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
‘ Fear not, O Jacob My servant; And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring;
4 They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.’
It is happening my dear ones. The thirsty ones are finding Him just this way! And dry mouths and flaky lips are revived!

Internet Daughters Of the KING
Father God, Holy Spirit, You have delighted me with this today. Thank You. I will watch more closely now and when I complain I will by Your Grace remember that as lack of physical water brings on dry mouth and flaky lips so lack of Your Word brings on complaints. What a Word to us this morning. Thank You Father Thank You. You really are AWESOME. You alone are AWESOME. We have ones we love on our minds this morning. LORD it seems two years ago I was praying for Sharron and today I am blessed to continue to pray for her. New situations now, you have been so faithful. Thank You ABBA. And Steve, was praying for him and we still are and You have been so faithful. You have answered our prayers and You still are. Thank You. And Cathy we were continuing to pray for her as she forged a new life and I know You are continuing to be faithful to her, guiding and protecting and providing. Thank You ABBA. And there was our sweet Jennifer. LORD, she is with You and having the time of her life. Thank You that You have been faithful to Kevin and the Children and Dot and all who love her so dearly. LORD tell her we love her and thank You that we will see her again. Oh ABBA You are so AWESOME. Thank You. Thank You for the Water You are pouring on our families. Thank You for children and adults getting the help they need and we pray for success. ABBA, we are thinking of marriages that have become dry and more than flaky and we are asking You to send Your Word, to pour it out on the hearts of husbands and wives. We pray for miracles of Your Healing Word to saturate dry and parched souls and for them to drink in Your restoration of mind and heart. Thank You for Shay’s clean bill of health. Bless her with traveling mercies to Africa. Thank You that You have allowed her the privilege to return and we pray to hear of the mighty works You do through her with Emma’s Kids and others. There are so many needs in this ministry Father, so many folks You have brought to us for whom to pray. Thank You for that and now we bring them by name, each of them and for each of them we pray Your Very Best. Minister Your love and grace and protection to our IDOK Troops. Minister Your Grace and Mercy and Holy Conviction upon the souls of Americans and upon President Obama and his family and administration. ABBA, I pray You will put up roadblocks and stand men and women in the gap so the work that has been done for pre-born babies and families will not be undone. LORD forgive America and turn our hearts from our sins to Your Holy Face. Amen and amen. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Gina. Francis T. Cathy T. Cathie R and family. Emily. Walt. Phillip. Margie and Craig. Sandra. Terry and family. Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family. Carolyn. Mary. Mabel. Joan. David T’s Family. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. 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. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Erin. Alan. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. 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. Friends at work.
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. 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. John L. Richard M. Adam M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G.
Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08)
http://www.strafford1st.com/page25/page26/page26.html
Military at home – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G. Captain Tran Josh.
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.

As I post this it is 45°F and mostly cloudy in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 7:12 AM AST on January 27, 2009.

Suggestions

IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2009
There’s a little soft cover book entitled Walking in His Garden (Spending Quality Time with God). It is a collection of four study pamphlets: ‘Keeping Our Appointments With God’ by Dennis Fisher; ‘Jesus’ Blueprint For Prayer’ by Haddon Robinson; ‘Praying With Confidence’ by David Egner; and ‘How Can I Understand The Bible’ by RBC Staff. The compiling is a resource of RBC Ministries Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512 (Discovery House Publishers).
So far the book is reemphasizing what we already know. A daily quiet time with God is not about the King of the Universe demanding our attention or about us feeling better about ourselves. It’s about Building a Relationship with Him which no doubt WILL make us feel better about ourselves. Page 24 reads in part:
“Two people who love each other are intentional about spending meaningful time together. To do this, both discipline and love must work together. Taking time requires deliberate planning.” On pages 15 and 16 it is suggested we one, reserve a daily time to reconnect with God; two, that we determine how much time to spend; three, that we find a quiet place; and, four that we set up realistic expectations. And those suggestions are not new either, are they? But this excerpt just might give us food for thought.
“Find A Quiet Place
We all concentrate or are distracted in different ways. C.S. Lewis brings up a surprising suggestion in his book Letters to Malcolm. His admonition on the “quiet time” is to make sure we have “just the right amount of distraction” to help us concentrate. Lewis tells the story of a man who would have his devotional time in a railway compartment because complete silence left him open to inner distractions. Ironically, his focus was enhanced when it was challenged just slightly. The point is that we’re not always going to find a place that is as quiet as an undiscovered cave. Invariably, minor distractions are likely to occur. But we need to look for a place where we believe it is sufficiently quiet to help us concentrate. Now jot down in your calendar the place for reconnecting with the Lord.”

And within the guideline of Set Up Realistic Expectations, the scenario is set up that you have the time and the place and you actually show up for your quiet time but when you arrive you are not in the mood – what then? Insightful question, wouldn’t you say? And the statement that answered it for me just jumped up and waved wildly at me. It’s found on page 17. “The Christian is not suppose to stir up his or her willpower but instead to exchange human energy for divine energy.” Is that liberating or what?! I absolutely love it!! Then the author related a personal experience to illustrate. Let me summarize it. He was a sophomore in college and it was difficult for him to discipline himself to study. There were so many distractions! So he talked with a one of his professors and came to the conclusion that his devotional time had to be his top priority of the day. And so the next morning as he came to his new commitment, he was not in the mood. However, he determined he would claim Isaiah 40:31, becoming transparent with the LORD and exchange his strength for the LORD’s strength. He told the LORD his heart was cold and he felt little motivation to spend time with HIM. He confessed his apathy as sin and then thanked the LORD for His forgiveness. And in that moment he chose to surrender his mood to God and asked Him to change it. He said after about 20 minutes he began to pray over other projects that needed his attention later in the day and he told God about his assignments and that he did not want to do them and he asked for the necessary strength to do them. And then he said: “By the time my feet hit the asphalt on my way to class, I began to feel an energy, a focus, and most important, a discipline that I had previously lacked. My grades went up that semester, I had found a way of exchanging my strength for that of the living God.”
How cool is that?! I hope you find this as helpful to you as I do.
Isaiah 40:31But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
Internet Daughters Of the KING
ABBA thank You that You have already been hearing our prayers. Thank You for the good actions You are establishing within us. Thank You for others, Brothers and Sisters, that we have not met yet that write into our lives thoughts from You. Thank You. And we pray blessings upon them and their continued ministry to thousands upon thousands. I pray again for our IDOKS, each and every one of them and their families, for this day that they are embracing and I pray embracing it with joy because You are our strength. You know the plans You have for each of them and I pray those plans be fulfilled. We know You will do Your part, we pray we will cooperate with you and do our part. We bring these listed here and we entrust them and their wellbeing to You for You love and care more than we can even comprehend. Amen and amen.
Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Gina. Francis T. Cathy T. Cathie R and family. Emily. Walt. Phillip. Margie and Craig. Sandra. Terry and family. Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family. Carolyn. Mary. Mabel. Joan. David T’s Family. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. 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. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Erin. Alan. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. 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. Friends at work.
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. 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. John L. Richard M. Adam M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G.
Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08)
http://www.strafford1st.com/page25/page26/page26.html
Military at home – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G. Captain Tran Josh.
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.

As I post this it is 64°F and mostly cloudy in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is on 4:59 PM AST January 26, 2009.