IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2009

The 11th chapter of Genesis reveals to us that Abram was the son of Terah, and the brother of Nahor and Haran. As closely as I can read, Haran who was the father of Lot, died before the family left Ur to travel to Canaan. As of today, I cannot tell from the text if Nahor joined Terah and the family on this journey to Canaan. And in time Terah died and Abram appears to be the lone son caring for the Terah family. And then GOD. Then GOD looked over the whole of the peoples and for reasons that only GOD knows HE chose Abram. And you know the story. He chose Abram to be the Father of Israel. He chose Abram to begin the lineage to bring The Messiah into the world. This is the promise Abram received when he accepted GOD’s call: Genesis 12

1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

And as surely as God chose Abram, He chose YOU. As Abram did not know the land that GOD would walk him across, neither do we BUT we know HE, GOD is with us. We know we have been chosen to bless the earth in Christ Jesus. So go forth and bless today knowing that you are chosen. Not only chosen but in CHRIST JESUS, you are holy and dearly loved. Seize this day for Jesus sake and LIVE it!

Colossians 3: 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Prayer Request from Edie: Kathie, please put my cousin Ann J on the prayer list. She is very low at this time with heart problems, lots of congestion and fatigue. She has a pace maker and she has diabetes. Besides all that she has cancer on her liver. She is not expected to overcome this…..I just pray that she will not have to suffer very long at all…She said she is ready for the Lord to take her home…………….Thank you.

Kathie, Please add Frank to our prayer list. He called me at work yesterday & asked me to come home. We went to the ER & he was immediately transported to the main hospital for a heart cath. He did have a “mild heart attack” & has one stint. He is doing well. Thank you. Beverly

Father, we do not thank You for the crises that causes us to add Doug, Frank and Ann to our list today but we thank You that You are GOD over these crises; not only GOD over them but God who loves, God who is perfect, God who can do all things and does all things in love for we Your people. And in that truth we bring Doug and Frank and Ann and each of these listed here and we entrust them to You and we trust You with them to do for them what they most need and what will give them the greatest opportunity to glorify You and to best experience Your Presence with them. We trust You to protect our IDOK Troops today. We trust You to do what You will for the American People, for the future of this nation. We trust You to protect and defend Israel. We trust You to protect and advance Your missionaries in all places in this world and we trust You to love Your Church and grow us up into the image of Jesus our Savior and Lord. Amen and amen.

Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Natalie. Kathy and family. Tommy and Raye. Doug. Woman of Sadness. Frank. Ann J. Jeanette. Mia and family. Joy and Evan. Gina. Francis T. Cathy T. Cathie R and family. Jacqueline and Sons (River and Jackson) Emily. Walt. Phillip. Margie and Craig. Sandra. Terry and family. Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family. Carolyn. Mary. Mabel. Amy and her Girls. 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 and Linda. 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. 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. 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. Kyle N. (3/26)

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 68°F and mostly cloudy in Baghdad, IQ (Airport) & the time there is 4:27 PM AST on February 23, 2009.