IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2009

As I was intensely occupied with the inside shower curtain for the umpteenth time in a futile attempt to unfold the curtain, it having stuck to itself at the last ring on both ends from the top of the curtain all the way to the hem, a brilliant thought flooded the cells of my mind: Some Things are not worth the fight! The curtain is plenty wide enough to span from one end of the tub wall to the other end of the tub wall even with both ends of the curtain folded back against itself. Why get worked up over it? Why, indeed! Give that energy to weightier matters.

What’s going on in your life that has you so worked up? In the scheme of eternity is it worth the fight? No? Then let it go and move on. Stretch out that shower curtain from the middle to the ends and get on with splashing and administering THE WATER of THE WORD to people and situations that really matter.

Psalm 131

1 LORD, MY heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in matters too great or in things too wonderful for me.

2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me [ceased from fretting].

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever.

What do you think it means when the Psalmist says neither do I exercise myself in matters too great or in things too wonderful for me? Could he be saying he has learned to no longer ‘fight’ with certain things? Things like folded over shower curtains? Or things about which he knows (in truth) he is lacking information and skill to properly handle or execute? He says surely I have calmed and quieted my soul. Does he mean, he has made a fast and firm decision to let alone what he either cannot do or what would be an unwise use of time and resources and is now resting and trusting his God Who loves him? Can we do this today?

Father, thank You for another morning to meet with You and work with You here on the planet. We confess we are strangers and foreigners in this land and we desire to be HOME with You but while we are here we want to worship and fellowship and be useful in rescuing folks who are yet on the road to hell. We need Your help day by day to get better at refusing to fight with those matters that You have not given us individually and collectively to fight against. We need Your help to embrace and work with You in those matters that You have privileged us to encounter and assist in and through.

Thank You for Mother’s so much improved status. We are grateful and even amazed. Thank You. And now as she as requested, we pray for her continued recovery of mind, body and spirit. We thank You too that Darlene’s Sister’s surgery went better than expected and now we ask You for more. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to embrace losing my leg. So I pray for Leona that she will hear Your Voice and hear all the wonderful things You have to say to her in this time. Thank You for the excellent report concerning Alex and we pray for his continued improvement. We pray for Trisha and Jayden to continue to do well too, ward off infections LORD in each of these we pray. And Linda, I know she is strong but she is human too and I am asking You to undergird her and bring alongside her at just the right moment every tangible support she needs in these days and weeks ahead. Comfort the children and grandchildren too. And we bring the remainder of this list, each one for Your blessings and interventions as needed. We pray too for our IDOK Troops for their safety and protection in mind, body and spirit. We pray for the peace of Israel and that the Bride of Christ be revived. Amen and amen.

A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Rachel and family. Christopher H and his family. Darlene’s Sister. Mr. Matthews. Tammy B and Family. Jackie K. Brian T. Ricky M. Chloe Melissa. Linda and Family. Joe. Michael H. Linda W. Debbie W. Mike and Vickie. Natalie. Kathy and family. Tommy and Raye. Doug. Frank. Jeanette. Mia and family. Joy and Evan. 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. 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. Chad B (3/2009)

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 74°F and heavy in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) & the time there is 4:16 PM AST on March 30, 2009.