IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

Today is Red Envelope day.

Psalm 139 Amplified Bible

13 For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, [could I count to the end] I would still be with You.

And every baby boy and every baby girl that has been murdered by abortion is with HIM but woe be unto those who sent (and do not repent) that Little One to HIM before the time!

The final quote in Our Daily Bread’s March 31 devotional reads like this: When we know that God’s Hand is in everything, we can leave everything in God’s Hand.

So why don’t we? What is the pivot on which the truth of this statement turns? It is KNOW, isn’t it? My online dictionary reads that KNOW means: To regard as true beyond doubt. And doubt? Well, that means:

1. To be undecided or skeptical about.

2. To tend to disbelieve; distrust.

3. To regard as unlikely.

4. To suspect; fear.

And we would not say with our words that we are undecided about everything being in God’s Hands, being controlled by Him.

And we would not say with our words that we have a tendency to disbelieve Him.

And we would not say with our words that it is unlikely that He is in control of all things.

And we would not say with our words that we suspect that He doesn’t have it all together.

Not with our words. No, I would not let those words escape my mouth and neither would you. But my actions have surely said it! ABBA forgive us and help us in our unbelief! And He is helping us. Day by day He is teaching us to believe! HOW AWESOME HE IS!!!

Philippians 1:6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

And among other things I believe that ‘good work’ is our faith and trust and love for HIM.

LORD FATHER, calm me before You this morning. I have hurriedly placed words on this screen and now I feel the pressure of time to send and the pending matters of the day are pressing in; quiet my soul O LORD. And quiet the souls of our IDOKs. I am surely not the only daughter or son who feels these pressings. Quiet us O LORD before You, trusting and resting that You control all things and that You will complete the job You have begun in us. And today we pray that enough Red Envelopes will flood the White House to get the attention of the Obama Administration. We pray for each woman who has murdered her child that You will pursue her with mercy and grace and we pray her heart will be tendered and convinced that You love her and You desire to make her whole. Thank You for all the people out there working day after day to put an end to the legalized murder of babies and we pray the murders will be stayed.

And we pray this morning for Jack as he recovers and Martha as she attends, strengthen them both in mind, body and spirit. The list is long and as I have looked over the names I am grateful that You do more than just look over a name. You, LORD, look into hearts and situations and You work miracles. Thank You for every miracle You will do today for these listed here. I am so relieved that when we don’t know what to pray that does not hinder You. You know what is needed and You do what is right and best. We pray specifically for protection and safety for our IDOK Troops, for the peace of Israel, for grace and space for the people of America to repent and for Your Church to be revived. And as I send this devotion, take it and make it a word of hope and encouragement and blessing to each reader and even though it feels so untimely to me, make it timely, I pray. 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. 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. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Trisha. 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. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Bay and family. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. 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.

The Peace of Israel.

Revival in America.

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) Kyle N. (3/26)

IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.

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, specifically those emotional/spirit wounds that only God and Time can heal – Captain Tran Josh.

As I post this it is 77°F and scattered clouds in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) & the time there is 3:53 PM AST on March 31, 2009.