Oh! Ladies (and Gentlemen), Day 1 of week 3, Esther study! So Good!!

From Deuteronomy 33:25, Beth prayed a prayer for each of her students via our work books and I wrote this in the margin of the page: ‘Lord, I receive this.’ This is what she prayed: ‘My beloved sister, may God be allowed to work such steadfastness of mind in you that “the bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days”.’ Deuteronomy 33:25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, And your strength will equal your days.

And when I read the text in my Amplified Bible, I believe a Word came for you (and me too) my dear IDOKs. Look at the text with me: Your castles and strongholds shall have bars of iron and bronze, and as your day, so shall your strength, your rest and security, be.

Earlier on the page Beth had told us we will respond to temptation or situations in one of two ways; we either are in the ‘mood’ to sin and we will or we with our made-up mind will be stronger than our mood and we will stand. The prayer and the verse assures us that a steadfast mind stayed on Christ Jesus will be equal to the strength needed for the day. And I believe the Word to us goes on to say that not only will a steadfast mind, a pre-determined mind to do the right thing, equal whatever comes our way today calling for strength, but also rest or security will be there for us. A steadfast mind will refuse to doubt the love and security we have in Jesus even when our ‘mood’ is to feel unloved and afraid. A steadfast mind will refuse to keep on pushing and pushing our frames even when our ‘mood’ says we must or else it won’t get done. A steadfast mind will heed the Word and find strength, rest and security equal to the day. Is that good or what?!

Isaiah 26:3You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Mark 6:31 And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

Moody or not? Truth is we ALL have moods we either slip into, jump into or get pushed into. BUT the Word to us is even in a mood, with a made-up mind determined to do the right thing, the Strength of God is equal to it. To HIM be ALL the praise!

Father, thank You for allowing us the privilege to pray for these listed here. And specifically I am again thinking of Moriah and her family. I pray for their strength today and for many days to come as they work through their grief and the releasing of their loved one to You. Please bring alongside them practical helps and comfort as they visit with family and friends and lay to rest the body she inhabited just a few days ago. Even though we know from Your Word that for believers to be absent from their bodies they are with You, we are so human and we are so attached to seeing them and hearing and loving them, it hurts so much. But You know LORD and You are able to succor them as no one else can. And You are ready and there to do this for them. Thank You LORD. And LORD we pray too for the remainder of this list, each of these, each IDOK Trooper, missionaries, churches, pastors, families — all of it and we declare in faith that YOU are able and YOU are doing what is best and right and holy and loving for it all even in this very moment. Thank You ABBA. Amen and amen. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Moriah and her family. 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 69°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) & the time there is 4:58 PM AST on February 24, 2009.