IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009

As I was out weeding the flower bed recently, you know what I noticed? There were more weeds around the flowers than there were in the open part of the bed where no flowers were growing. Hmmm, I said. Wonder why this is? And would you believe with this observation immediately my thoughts turned to IDOK? Do you think it could be if you are surrounded by many ‘weeds’ (that is tough stuff to deal with in your life), seemingly more than your fair share and certainly more than is found in your neighbor’s garden, maybe there is a reason for that? And just maybe this abundance of weeds indicates something good is going on in your garden. Maybe it means you are producing some ‘pretty flowers’ in Father’s Garden and the Enemy (the god of the weed world) is working hard against your ‘Beauty’ and just maybe that neighbor with less ‘weeds’ is not producing ‘pretty flowers’. This reminds me of Paul when he said he would glory in his infirmities. But you know what? Our dear brother LEARNED to glory in his infirmities. It was a process for him. He did not start out appreciating his infirmities. He wanted those ‘weeds’ gone. He wanted them out of his garden now! And then Jesus gave him a message.

2 Corinthians 12 (KJV):

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Ps. 37 (Amplified Bible):

7 Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself–it tends only to evildoing.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord [in the end] shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the evildoers will be no more; though you look with care where they used to be, they will not be found.

11 But the meek [in the end] shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

You know what I think? I think as long as we live here in these mortal bodies, we are going to have infirmities and tough stuff is going to invade our lives; there will be weeds attempting to choke the life out or at least mar the beauty of our flowers. But in Christ Jesus we can glory even among the weeds. We can even find glory in the weeds because it just may mean we are disturbing the ruler of the ‘weed world’. And that ain’t all bad, is it? Oh, one more word: this is NOT a license to just let the weeds grow unchecked. Be SURE you CHECK with Father regarding each and every weed in your garden – some of them He in you will pull up quickly and some others will die out in Father’s Time. But HE is the one who makes that decision; not you and not me. And either way He is with us! See you in the Garden!

Father, these are exciting days. Thank You. I do not know what You have in store for us but I know it is for Your Glory and our good and I know that in You we can Glory even when adversities come. Thank You that You are LORD over all and even the god of the weed world bows to YOU. Thank You for all my IDOKs and I speak Your Will over them today. I pray that they will experience more and more Your Joy and Excitement in these days and me too. And Father we bring our IDOK Troops, desiring Your Protection, Your Hedge about them. And Holy Spirit we specifically pray for any soul listed here that is lost that You will make being lost so undesirable to them that they will say Yes LORD forgive and save me. And beyond this we ask Your watch care over each one listed here. We trust You with their lives, their diseases, illnesses, debts, mortgages, food, clothing, transportation needs, legal battles, employment needs, conflicts, grief, anything and everything. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Linda W. Debbie W. Mike and Vickie. Family of Ann J. Moriah and her family. Natalie. Kathy and family. Tommy and Raye. Doug. Woman of Sadness. Frank. 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, Kevin and 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.

And specifically those emotional/spirit wounds that only God and Time can heal

The Peace of Israel.

Revival in America.

As I post this it is 55°F and overcast in Baghdad, IQ (Airport) & the time there is

6:35 AM AST on March 10, 2009