IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2009

Another weekend is behind us and a new day has dawned and gotten pretty well started already. As I begin to type, Moms and Dads are busy preparing for work and getting beautiful blessings ready for school. We spent the weekend with 5 of our 8 beautiful blessings (and their parents) and we boldly and with humble pride say we are BLESSED!

This is an update on Mike and Vickie wrote in part as follows: Monday the 13th, day after Resurrection Sunday: He went directly for a brain MRI, and his doctors read the results immediately. The scan showed a golf-ball-sized tumor on the top, back right side of his brain which had ruptured and bled into the motor skills portion of his cerebrum, causing the damage to the left side of his body. He was admitted, and Rachel and Joshua got there later that evening. Further testing was done on Tuesday; results showed that he needed to have brain surgery to remove/clean-up the tumor/bleeding, and to hopefully restore some use of his left limbs and prevent more seizures and damage.

Testing also showed extensive progression of tumor growth in his chest/abdomen/pelvis; we were left with the decision of whether to have the brain surgery since his overall condition is worsening at a faster pace. Mike made the choice to have the surgery…and the rest of us agreed.

He had successful surgery on Wednesday, which will be followed by cyber-knife radiation in 3 or 4 weeks. Believe it or not, he was discharged yesterday, and we were home at 6:00 last night!

Mike will now be getting physical and occupational therapy at home, and the neurosurgeon feels he should be able to get most of the use of his arm/leg back. He is also taking anti-seizure medication.

His oncologist has removed him from the Interferon study, but he will begin trying another regimen in about a month and a half. We are all aware of Mike’s prognosis, but he has promised to try to enjoy each and everything possible each day. We are “open for company” on a daily basis and would love to see you. Thanks for being in our lives and helping us on this rough road.

God bless, Vickie…and Mike

2 Thessalonians 3:

Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. The Lord [be] with you all.

ABBA, where do we begin? We are so blessed. Thank You. And we are suffering. Thank You. Thank You that You are with us in our suffering. That You never leave us and that You are well able to comfort us in our sufferings and You do. LORD we hardly know how to pray for Mike. Certainly to see him completely healed and restored here on the planet we would love that. And we know You are able and we have seen You do that and we have seen You not do that. There is so much we do not know, we are grateful that You know and that You are always loving in kind and right in everything You do and everything You allow. So for Mike we pray for Your Best for him and for Vickie. We pray Your best for each soul listed here, particularly our IDOK Troops, Israel and America. Love on our IDOKs today I pray. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Cathie R’s Family. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Emily. Stellan. Chandler. Mrs. Walker. 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. 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. Melissa and daughters. 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. 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 – Adam M. (great news, not only is Adam at home he is getting married!!!) Captain Tran. Josh.

As I post this it is 78°F and partly cloudy in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) and the time there is 4:21 PM AST on April 20, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2009

The house is quiet again. Three great kids are home with Mom and Dad again. I like the quiet but I like their voices too. I am a blessed woman!

His Tent

Just one verse this morning I think. Psalm 27: 6 And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Picture this: those enemies round about me (you) above whom I am lifting my head are those temptations, those things I have so much difficulty saying no to, but NOW today, He is lifting me above those IF I will in His tent offer sacrifices and shouting(s) for joy. HIS TENT. And where is HIS TENT? Within each of us who have been born again, That is HIS TENT. SO, for us to lift our heads above those things that plague us, those things that are SO hard to say No to, we are enable to say NO as we sacrifice; that is as we praise and shout for joy when we don’t FEEL like it! Truly the JOY OF THE LORD is our Strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)The psalmist said I WILL sing, yes, I WILL sing praises to the LORD. Today I WILL because I am HIS TENT. And if you have been born-again by the Blood and Power of the LIVING GOD, you are HIS TENT too! What more do we need to shout for joy than that?!

Oh to be Your TENT, it is beyond our comprehension that You would do such a thing and come and abide in us but Your Word says You did when we said yes to You in Salvation and so we believe it but I think we often forget and that glorious truth gets hidden under the troubles and sorrows of this world. Forgive us and renew us ABBA.

Thank You for giving us Scripture to encourage us to believe and lift our heads today. And I pray that each and every IDOK will lift his or her head above those things that trouble them today. That today they will have renewed strength to say NO to those things they have so often said yes to; may today it be NO. Me too LORD. Me too.

We pray for protection for our IDOK Troops, for courage and joy to be within them today. We pray for each of them to come home safe and sound at the appointed time. We pray for those already home that may be having difficulty adjusting. We ask You to lift their heads today. We pray they will take Your Word to heart and rise above those troubling emotions and troubling circumstances and disturbing memories. Heal them we pray.

We pray too for those listed here that are sick that You will heal them. We pray You will comfort those grieving. We pray You will pursue those that are running from You and that they will slow down, stop and be overtaken by You. And we pray for those of us who are waiting for others to stop and allow You to overtake, to have hope and keep on praying and waiting.

We pray for the peace of Israel; for the repentance of America and the revival of Your Church. Amen and amen.

A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Cathie R’s Family. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Emily. Stellan. Chandler. Mrs. Walker. 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. 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. Melissa and daughters. 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. 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 – Adam M. (great news, not only is Adam at home he is getting married!!!) Captain Tran. Josh.

As I post this it is 75°F and haze in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time there is 3:48 PM AST on April 17, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2009

A Re-run from 2004.

If I have not told you before, let me tell you this morning… FATHER GOD IS AWESOME!!

Confessing time….and time is short this morning… It is after 6:00 and I have less than 30 minutes to get this from my screen to yours… . I spent a lot of time this morning reading articles about war on terrorism and THE CARPENTER and the Journey and then Nehemiah 1 and you know what it is ALL tied together! That amazes me! HE IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!

Nehemiah 1

4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept and mourned for days and fasted and prayed [constantly] before the God of heaven,

5 And I said, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, Who keeps covenant, loving-kindness, and mercy for those who love Him and keep His commandments,

6 Let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to listen to the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You day and night for the Israelites, Your servants, confessing the sins of the Israelites which we have sinned against You. Yes, I and my father’s house have sinned.

I am thinking we need to sit down and weep and mourn and fast and pray for America, for our President, for our men and women who are diligently defending us with their very lives.

7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, statutes, and ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.

Sound like any nation you know?

8 Remember [earnestly] what You commanded Your servant Moses: If you transgress and are unfaithful, I will scatter you abroad among the nations;

I’d like to see this Nation survive… How about you?

9 But if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though your outcasts were in the farthest part of the heavens [the expanse of outer space], yet will I gather them from there and will bring them to the place in which I have chosen to set My Name.

Father still has His Hand on Israel and He will keep ALL His promises to her… He will to us too.

10 Now these are Your servants and Your people, whom You have redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.

11 O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere and fear Your name (Your nature and attributes); and prosper, I pray You, Your servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was cupbearer to the king.

What does all this have to do with THE CARPENTER? We ARE His cupbearers! We are commissioned by HIM to bear the MESSAGE of His BODY broken and His BLOOD poured out for Israel, for the world… For you, for me, for our next door neighbor. I have some praying to do and as my Momma says “putting feet to my prayers”.

I love you all.

Matthew 28

17 And when they saw Him, they fell down and worshiped Him; but some doubted.

There is still doubting going on

18 Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Shall we break our silence?

19 Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you] all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).

Shall we obey? Please pray for me; pray that I fail not to bear HIS MESSAGE even to my next door neighbor.

Father, I don’t know all that is going on here but I know You have a plan, tailor-made for each us, for how we, individually and collectively will bear Your Gospel to the world and I know that I have to get better at following Your plan for me and I pray for holy boldness. Sitting here at this screen it comes easier; next door I am not so bold. So I pray for holy boldness but more than that I pray I will love You and people so much that holy boldness would be impossible to not have. Father, I need lots of work; thank You that You are up to the challenge. I love You. Bless my people today.

ABBA, I am still in need of holy boldness, next door and down the street. Thank You that America is not worse than She is in these 5 years that have passed. I am continuing to ask You to grant grace and more space for repentance for the people of America. Thank You for those who are now speaking up. We pray for their strength to increase and their love for You and this Country to increase. Protect our IDOK Troops, keep them safe in Spirit, Soul and Body and bring them home safe and sound at the appointed time. I don’t know what each one on this list needs but I pray they will find it in You this very day. Keep our IDOKs close to You, correcting us, convincing us, and growing us for Your glory. Amen and amen.

A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Cathie R’s Family. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Emily. Stellan. Chandler. Mrs. Walker. 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. 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. Melissa and daughters. 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. 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 – Adam M. (great news, not only is Adam at home he is getting married!!!) Captain Tran. Josh.

As I post this it is 79°F and partly cloudy in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time there is 3:29 PM AST on April 16, 2009.