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.

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.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009

Today’s Prayer Calendar verse is Colossians 3:12 (New International Version) Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. This verse immediately reminded me of Wednesday’s study with Beth.

Session Two of the Esther Study is tremendous. In Chapter 2, Esther was enthroned as Queen and the King presented her with a big party. No sooner than Esther settled in, Chapter 3 opened with stuff happening. And so in our study, Beth presented relevant issues for our consideration. The primary focus was It’s tough being a woman in a mean world and that when we witness meanness or participate in it ourselves that meanness has a history. She gave us some really good stuff and she concluded telling us that meanness is curable. She also jumped right into a touchy subject for some women, particularly the younger ones and it is that subject that came to mind when I read Colossians 3:12 — modesty. She encouraged us to cover up our ‘secret stuff’ but do it cutely. I loved it! Without a doubt our Father expects His Girls to cover up their stuff and yes I think He is all for us dressing these frames as cutely and attractively as we can within the means He provides. Where I think some go wrong in this is thinking that attractively and cutely means ‘alluringly’. How does that relate to meanness? Meditate on it and I believe the Holy Spirit will tell you. And if not, maybe you can find an Esther study to join. It will be worth your time and effort, young or older.

So Father expects His daughters and His sons to dress our bodies modestly. And He expects us to dress our spirits with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And you know what I think? I think if we are dressing our spirits in this way we will surely dress our bodies modestly, cutely and attractively — for Jesus sake!

Sit tight, we are almost done. IF our spirits are clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience as we are walking around in that world out there and we see a young or older woman dressed in ‘meanness’ of any flavor, we will NOT condemn her. We will PRAY. And if that ‘mean’ girl is in our sphere of influence, we will pray even more and we will love on her with all we got within us and with NOT a speck of condemnation. We will hold our words (including body language) until if and/or when those words are re-shaped by the Holy Spirit, THEN we will speak them in lovely holiness. And by that time, she just may be ready to listen. So be on the lookout, there are ‘mean girls’ in all our lives. Lets just be sure we are NOT one of them. Put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, love and patience and you just might hear Father say: I like that. That looks so ‘CUTE’ on you!

Psalm 145:

17 The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works.

18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. 

Of all the things we could be Father, we don’t want to be mean girls (not mean boys either). We want to wear compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, love and patience as though they were tailored garments just for us and we are certain they are. Holy Spirit we are certain that You are ready, willing and able to clothe us just this way. Thank You for the progress we have made in this and for the progress we will by Your grace continue to make. I am grateful for the improvement Natalie is experiencing but I understand she is still a very sick young woman and I pray You will bring a full recovery to her. I pray for Emma Claire too. Cause her body system to stand up and fight, bring her body temperature to normal and restore her fully and quickly I pray. The news about Davis is encouraging and it is terrific that all the family is together and LORD You know my heart’s cry for this family and I pray it be so. I pray too for Bernie that You will comfort him, encourage he and Linda and the family; give him strength to serve You. That would please him so much. We pray for J. Lloyd, whatever he needs, cause it to be. And we pray for each one written here, for however they need You, for whatever will glorify You in this season of their lives. We specifically pray for our IDOK Troops, for their safety and protection of mind, body and spirit. We pray for conviction and repentance for the people of America. The more we hear on television, the more we know ABBA that You are our only hope. I am so sorry for the sins of we the people and I can only pray Your Will be done. I pray that we Your people will be faithful in the face of evil. I pray we will come out from among them and be Your holy people just as You have told us to do. I pray for Israel, for protection and for the defeat of Her enemies and ours. I pray for Christian missionaries everywhere to be protected and to be successful in sharing the Gospel with those who want to hear and receive Your forgiveness and eternal life. I pray for our IDOKs that their knowledge and spiritual maturity will advance daily and all this we ask in the Name of Your Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ the Righteous. Amen and amen. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Natalie. Kathy and family. Tommy and Raye. Woman of Sadness. 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 47°F and overcast in Al Asad, IQ (Airport)& the time there is 6:47 AM ASTon February 20, 2009.