IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2009

I heard the story again today (Tuesday); the story of the potter and the clay. John Hagee told that he and his wife watched as a Hebrew potter mixed dirt with water and after some patting, some molding and some spinning, the potter placed the clay pot in the fire (kiln). Mr. Hagee asked the potter how long he would leave the pot in the fire. The potter answered: “until it sings”. And the spiritual analogy is clear, isn’t it? When we are in the fire of adversity, we want out! And we want out QUICK! From this allegory we can reason that the quickest way out of the fire is a SONG. But not just any singing; no, the singing must be a sweet, sweet sound in the Potter’s Ear. Some of us sing alright when the fire is hot, but is it a sweet sound? Is it a sweet song from our heart or is it a song that we are feigning in hope that God will be faked out and get us out of the fire? Or is it that we would be honest and say: “Sing! Are you crazy? Singing in this fire is the last thing I can do.” And we would be right. We cannot sing in the fire BUT the Holy Spirit in us CAN. Or maybe we would be even more honest and we would say: “Singing is the last thing I WANT to do.” Now, that’s a problem, but it is fixable. I have often said God can work with an honest brat. It’s the dishonest ones that are the real problems. Isn’t it true that one who desires to sing well, usually takes ‘voice lessons’? They choose an Instructor they respect, they pay the fee, they submit to their Instructor and they LEARN to sing. Right? So it is with us and getting out of a fiery situation. We too can choose THE INSTRUCTOR (we DO respect Him, don’t we?), we can pay the fee (discipline and practice) and we can LEARN to sing. But this spiritual application gets better. When we go to a voice teacher, that voice teacher is not within us and that voice teacher has no POWER to enable us to sing; but the Holy Spirit, who is THE INSTRUCTOR, is within and not only will He enable us to sing, He knows just the song that will be a sweet, sweet sound in ABBA’s Ear! With voice lessons, we were told: practice makes perfect. And in the Spirit it is the same: practice makes perfect. Does that perfect mean perfect? No, I don’t think it means without flaw in practice (position, yes but not practice. Not yet anyway). I think for us it means ‘mature’. So, remember what the potter said: “until it sings”. So singing or lets say maturity gets us OUT of the fire! Am I saying that if we are in the fire and we are not singing, we are less than spiritually mature? Yeah, that’s what I’m saying and I don’t think I like it any better than you do.

I Peter 5:

10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

2 Timothy 3:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Now read this passage with your fiery trial in mind.

Psalm 42:

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.

(The Psalmist is talking to himself and he is making all kinds of good sense. We can do the same.)

6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan, and from the heights of Hermon, from the Hill Mizar.

(See that? He says I am well aware of the reality of this ‘fire’ BUT: I WILL remember YOU, Lord, in this fire.)

7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

(No doubt this is a ‘hot, hot fire’ for the Psalmist – maybe yours is too.)

8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—

A prayer to the God of my life.

(In the ‘day’ we can see His loving-kindness, but in the ‘night’ or ‘the fire’ we cannot see, therefore we MUST remember; otherwise we will NOT sing His Song.)

Bobbie’s friend made this request (Wednesday): Hey everyone, Please keep my husband, Doug in your prayers as he will be having surgery tomorrow to remove 2 disks in his neck. They have been bothering him for many years but not until an accident (loading a tiller on back of truck 2 weeks ago….long story) was it very serious to remove these disks because they are compressed on his spine and any wrong jerk or turn could mean paralysis. The doctors are amazed he is not paralyzed from the accident. He did have some brief numbness and his arms and hands are still in bad shape. We just hope and pray he gets some relief from all the pressure on his spinal cord. These last 2 weeks of laying around the house have been rough on him as he is used to working or doing something all the time. I would appreciate your prayers. Thanks, Jamie

And a report regarding Donna’s Dad: Hey,I wanted you to know that I just got an email from Donna. She is back at home. Her Dad went through his surgery fine and still has both legs. He went into congestive heart failure after the surgery but his doctors have that taken care of now. She said he is in a regular room now and is doing well. She appreciates all of the thoughts and prayers during this time. Shannon

ABBA, this is good I think but only You can make it live in our hearts and I am inviting You to do that, for me and for our IDOKs. Not that we want to be in the ‘fire’ but fires come to all of us, we know that. Living here in hostile land means there will be fires and we accept that and by faith we receive Your help to sing in the fire. We pray now for Doug and this surgery he is to have; we are asking for a textbook perfect procedure and recovery. And we pray for peace and comfort for Jamie and the family as they wait; waiting is tough and to do it well, they will need Your help.

We are continuing to ask that our other Doug improve too and that Claudia be able to realize her hopes and desires in this concerning Doug’s recovery.

Thank You for Your blessings upon Donna and her Dad. For him to have come through and still have his legs, that is great! Thank You.

We pray that Delana’s recovery is coming along nicely too. And we pray for Amy’s upcoming surgery, for her peace of mind and again for a textbook perfect procedure and recovery for her and for help for ‘Grandma’ as she cares for the children. We pray for the Walker Family in these days following Mrs. Walker’s Memorial Service. It has been a sweet time of remembering for them and we’d like for it to continue that way as they walk out their grief. And we continue to think about these others listed here, wanting and asking for Your Best for them. And the same for our IDOK Troops too; safety and protection and safe and sound returns home; the cleansing of America, the reviving of the Church and I am thrilled and grateful and yes Lord even amazed that close to 120 women have registered for the ESWM Summer Bible Study. Oh I want this to be just the beginning of You working in us to equip and inspired us to live in obedience and to spread Your Good News of Salvation and Deliverance so much more effectively and consistently than we ever have before. Guard these women, protect them, protect their families, protect their schedules and keep the evil one from deterring any one of them from attending; me included, Lord. And if You will Father, bring more. Bring more women to hear Your Word. Fill us and send us out, I pray. Amen and amen.

A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Dora. Mattie. Jarrod. Donna P and her Dad. BETTY. Stack Family. Brenda and her family. David Y. Joshua A. Kim T and her parents. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Stellan. Darlene’s Sister. Tammy B and Family. Jackie K. Brian T. Ricky M. Linda and Family. Joe. Michael H. Linda W. Debbie W. Mike and Vickie. Natalie. Jacqueline and Sons (River and Jackson). Sandra Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family Mary. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Melissa and daughters. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Darlene and Torkel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. DeLois. Katelyn (B) J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Bay and family. Bill and Judy. Doug. Larry and Claudia and family. Callie. Ruth. Cynthia. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Chuck. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Mollie and family. Andrew and Daughters. Mollie B.

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.

ABBA, I am posting this here in prayer as a daily prayer and I am praying as pure in motive as I know how today, asking that You by whatever ways and means You choose, see to the removal from office of every elected Official in Washington and all 50 States that is not sensitive to and is not inclined to work to preserve Judaeo-Christian values and the Constitution of this Nation in its Original Intent. Lord, I am so sorry that many (and thank You not all) offices of this Nation are filled with corrupt, reprobate-minded people who have no regard for You or Your Word and if I have done anything that has contributed to the election of these people, please forgive me and stop me from any further actions that will damage and bring this Nation to complete ruin. I pray Holy Spirit that You will stir the hearts and prayers of enough people to bring this Nation to repentance and will clean and cleanse the offices and the Officials of this Nation. Father God, please have mercy on us. Lord Jesus, clean Washington even as You did the Temple if need be. And Lord some weeks later since this prayer began we have word from one of those Alabama officials that he wants our prayers, that he is mindful of You, that he does love You and obviously he is well acquainted with Your Word. And ABBA I am so delighted and grateful for this man and for others like him, so for each of them (and You know who they are, Lord) we pray that You will anoint and empower them to stand firm and holy in these places of service You have given them and Lord please bring others alongside to stand with them and help them. And as he suggested move us to be involved in the political process with more than just our prayers according to the individual will You have for each of us. Again, Lord, thank You for this news, thank You for what You are doing. Amen and amen.

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. Justin G. Michael K. Bay N. T. Palin. Richard M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T. Chad B (3/2009) Kyle N. (3/26). Jessica D. (4/09) Sgt. Vince Barrientos (5/2009)

IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.

Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G. Tommy W.

Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08)

Military at home, specifically those emotional-spirit wounds that only God and Time can heal – Adam M. Captain Tran. Josh. John L. Drew.

As I post this it is 77°F and haze in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) and the time there is 6:07 AM AST on June 4, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2009

 

The following is an excerpt from a book I do not have. I have only read (online) a little more than this excerpt. To me, it’s track-stopping. The title is Mastering the Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success by Andy Andrews.

“I am where I am today – mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially – because of decisions I have made.

My decisions have always been governed by my thinking. Therefore, I am where I am today – mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially – because of how I think.”

Are you still with me? Is it just me or does that step on you with a big foot?

Does that mean that I am first and foremost fat not because of what I eat but because of the way I think? Do I think my way into eating this or that? I know the answer. In this moment I am rolling the tape. I can hear the conversations I have had with myself and I see the results on the walls of my mind and, yes that’s not the only place. Did I ‘think’ my way into not walking yesterday? Will I think my way into walking today? I know the answer to that one too. I’m moving on now.

Does Mr. Andrews’ statement mean that our financial status hinges first on the way we think about money?

Does my state of happy or not happy originate in my thoughts? Does my mental alertness or drowsiness depend on the way I talk (think) to myself?

Does my spiritual maturity level rest upon how and about what I think?

There would be exceptions to this, wouldn’t there? Like genetics or beyond our control disease or accident, right? But that would be all, wouldn’t it?

So now what? Again, he said: “ . . . Therefore, I am where I am today – mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially – because of how I think.”

And he wrote: “Today, I will begin the process of changing where I am – mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially – by changing the way I think. . . . The buck stops here. . . . I control my thoughts. I control my emotions.”

Do I? Do you? Shall we take Andy’s word on this or shall we look to Another?

Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. . . . .

That’s putting it plainly, isn’t it?

What about this?

Ecclesiastes 8:17 Then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun–because however much a man may toil in seeking, yet he will not find it out; yes, more than that, though a wise man thinks and claims he knows, yet will he not be able to find it out.

1 Corinthians 8: 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

Ugh oh! Do we have a problem here? Not one that cannot be fixed … by thinking.

I Corinthians 2: 16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

Look closely at the last sentence. We have the mind of Christ (the Messiah). Have we read and heard it quoted so many times; it has become so familiar that it has lost its wonder to us? That wonder can be revived. And just maybe the ending phrase of this verse is not so ‘familiar’ and will indeed put us onto ‘thinking’ to good health – mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially.

And do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

Your feed-back most welcomed.

Holy Spirit, I am asking You in this moment and in the moments as our IDOKs read that You will feed us these passages, interpret them and apply them; in particular, this phrase: that we hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of Your heart. There was a warmth, a peace, just a blessedness in my spirit as I read that phrase. I am asking You to grow it in times to come, to shape my thinking around it and with it. And not just me but every willing IDOK and if any of us be not so keen on it, bring us to willingness, I pray.

As I post this it is 77°F and clear in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time there is 5:07 AM AST on June 3, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2009

Delana is having hip surgery today, June 2. Dora, having a lot of back pain, age 88. Mattie, almost 91, has always been a care-giver, now she needs care. Doug is back in the hospital – esophagus closed up.

Encourage us, ABBA, we have many burdens; help us give them over to You. For Delana we ask for a textbook perfect surgery and recovery and for peace of mind and heart for her and her family. We pray for relief for Dora and for Mattie. We understand these are two elderly saints, much loved and have given themselves in service to others so we are asking that You give comfort and relief to these precious ladies. And comfort Emma too with her concerns regarding Dora and Mattie. And, Doug, we are bewildered; please give the doctors answers and remedies; please give relief to Doug and to Claudia. Words fail me to think of what this is like for them. Help them lean hard on You and experience Your faithfulness. And I am thinking of others needing help to lean hard on You and to experience Your faithfulness and Your Joy in their sorrows and burdens; You know who they are, draw them near, pull them up close, Lord, I pray. Comfort and protect our IDOK Troops I pray and return them home safe and sound at the appointed time. Remember our request for cleansing. Favor us in the elections. Comfort and encourage us; help us praise our way into Your Presence and find the help we need today.

Hebrews 4:

15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

ABBA, help us trust right now that You are already answering prayer even before this IDOK is mailed. That this perforation in Doug’s esophagus can be repaired; keep him safe during this surgery; please restore him and hold Claudia close tonight as she waits.

A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Jarrod. Donna P and her Dad. BETTY. Stack Family. Brenda and her family. David Y. Joshua A. Kim T and her parents. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Stellan. Darlene’s Sister. Tammy B and Family. Jackie K. Brian T. Ricky M. Linda and Family. Joe. Michael H. Linda W. Debbie W. Mike and Vickie. Natalie. Jacqueline and Sons (River and Jackson). Sandra Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family Mary. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Melissa and daughters. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Darlene and Torkel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. DeLois. Katelyn (B) J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Bay and family. Bill and Judy. Doug. Larry and Claudia and family. Callie. Ruth. Cynthia. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Chuck. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Mollie and family. Andrew and Daughters. Mollie B.

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.

ABBA, I am posting this here in prayer as a daily prayer and I am praying as pure in motive as I know how today, asking that You by whatever ways and means You choose, see to the removal from office of every elected Official in Washington and all 50 States that is not sensitive to and is not inclined to work to preserve Judaeo-Christian values and the Constitution of this Nation in its Original Intent. Lord, I am so sorry that many (and thank You not all) offices of this Nation are filled with corrupt, reprobate-minded people who have no regard for You or Your Word and if I have done anything that has contributed to the election of these people, please forgive me and stop me from any further actions that will damage and bring this Nation to complete ruin. I pray Holy Spirit that You will stir the hearts and prayers of enough people to bring this Nation to repentance and will clean and cleanse the offices and the Officials of this Nation. Father God, please have mercy on us. Lord Jesus, clean Washington even as You did the Temple if need be. And Lord some weeks later since this prayer began we have word from one of those Alabama officials that he wants our prayers, that he is mindful of You, that he does love You and obviously he is well acquainted with Your Word. And ABBA I am so delighted and grateful for this man and for others like him, so for each of them (and You know who they are, Lord) we pray that You will anoint and empower them to stand firm and holy in these places of service You have given them and Lord please bring others alongside to stand with them and help them. And as he suggested move us to be involved in the political process with more than just our prayers according to the individual will You have for each of us. Again, Lord, thank You for this news, thank You for what You are doing. Amen and amen.

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. Justin G. Michael K. Bay N. T. Palin. Richard M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T. Chad B (3/2009) Kyle N. (3/26). Jessica D. (4/09) Sgt. Vince Barrientos (5/2009)

IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.

Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G. Tommy W.

Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08)

Military at home, specifically those emotional-spirit wounds that only God and Time can heal – Adam M. Captain Tran. Josh. John L. Drew.

As I post this it is 81°F and clear in Kuwait, KW (Airport) and the time there is 10:18 AM AST on June 2, 2009.