IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2009

Another something from Breaking Free, Day by Day (Author, Beth Moore), page 221: “If you bask in knowing God and dare to believe Him—whether or not you are even aware of the effectiveness of your testimony—I promise you that someone has seen truth through your witness. It is our reason for being here: to show forth the truth and glory of God.”

And upon typing that for you to read, a verse of Scripture comes to mind: John 8:32. And you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.

Isn’t that a grand calling? What did Beth say — That if we are basking in knowing God and dare to believe Him, someone has seen truth in us. And what did Jesus say — That the Truth will set us free. Again, I say what a grand calling! Can you imagine it? God has called you and He has called me to co-labor with Him in setting people free! Whom did He work with to bring you your first freedom – freedom from the penalty of sin? Who was it that worked with the Holy Spirit to introduce you to Jesus? If that someone is still living here on planet earth, have you thanked them lately? Maybe you should. And wouldn’t it be great to have someone else feel that way about you – to know that you were a co-laborer (a mid-wife) with God to birth someone into His Kingdom?

Now before we get too far from the initial statement, I want us to look at the word BASK because I think that word is so very descriptive of what our lives must be like in order for Truth to be revealed to others through us. Here’s the definition as found at free dictionary dot com. Write this definition on the walls of your mind and see what comes of it.

1. To expose oneself to pleasant warmth.

2. To take great pleasure or satisfaction:

1. to lie in or be exposed (to pleasant warmth or sunshine)

2. to enjoy (approval or favourable conditions)

On the walls of my mind I see that taking great pleasure and satisfaction in God would without a doubt send forth the testimony of truth to people that I may not even notice are watching. I like that.

If we are enjoying God every day, I am certain His Truth is being revealed to people we interact with whether that interaction is a lot or a little.

Don’t you think if we KNOW that we have the approval and favor of God, it will be evident to others in our faces, our mouths, our hands and our feet? Won’t we wear a steady smile? Won’t the words we speak be Christ-like? Won’t our hands and feet be consistently about ‘doing good’? I think so too and I like this and I want this and the GREAT news is I can have it and so can you. Did I see a smile? Lets do some basking today.

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

From Martha: Please pray for our son, Jack, who is wheelchair bound. He has a pressure sore and they can be deadly. He has been in bed for 2 1/2 weeks and it has gotten some better but now he has another infection and his body is struggling to catch up. He still does his work at home on the laptop but needs to get this resolved. I know our God loves him and has brought him through many trials. God has given him a sweet wife and two precious adopted children. You have prayed for Micah their son before. Please lift him up and his wife who takes care of him. Pray for peace and healing. Thank you so much. In Christ’s holy name.

ABBA, I like this and I pray You will be able to use it to encourage our IDOKs and any other readers we are privileged to serve. I think basking in You is a process, right? Something we must be willing to allow You to develop in us, I think and I pray we will. It has been a long day and I am tired but I pray that even when I am tired, even when my sisters and brothers are tired that we will choose to take our pleasure in You and be satisfied in You. Thank You for the people that have stepped life’s path with us today and we pray we have been a blessing to them. And now we pray for Jack, his wife and children, bringing his mother’s requests just as she has asked, for peace and healing. We pray to for fresh and acute situations and long standing ones, for resolutions, for healings, directions and provisions as You see fit for each of these listed here. We pray for Israel for peace and prosperity and for our IDOK Troops to be safe and protected and to return home safe and sound. And I am personally asking You to defeat this present health care Bill and every other Bill that exalts man’s knowledge and will above Yours, ABBA. Please expose the secret things on Capital Hill that are detrimental to our spiritual and physical health and well being. And please protect and lift up those Senators and Representatives who have had the faith and courage to refuse to compromise Your Word. And for those who have so cheaply sold their souls, I pray if there is a spark of hope for redemption remaining in their hearts that You will send a laborer to them to share Your Gospel with them and I pray Holy Spirit they will allow You to give them the gift of repentance and faith. Speak love and wisdom to all our IDOKs as they pray here. Amen and amen.

A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about.

Jack. Melanie and Jay M. Susanne M. Alice T. Elaine W. Joni and Todd. Roy and Julee. Glenn R and his family. Holly. Donald 2. Ed G. Debra B. Jon E. Katie B. Brian. Donald 1. Loyce McM. Marzelle. KC. Neolle T. Mary F. MH and J. Caleb and his family – Rob, Vaughn, Whitaker and Donoghue. Dora. Mattie. Jarrod. BETTY. Billie Joyce and family. Stack Family. Brenda and her family. Joshua A. Kim T and her parents. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Darlene’s Sister, Leona. 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.

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 removing this ‘posting’ for the Cleansing of America and leaving it with You.

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. Kyle N(3/09). 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 Al Taji, IQ (Airport) and the time there 6:07AM AST on July 31, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2009

Isaiah 65

24 “It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Psalm 91

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. Amen! He does!!

Psalm 86

6 Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works.

Amen and amen!

I was late Wednesday morning getting on the road; my own self imposed schedule, mind you. I told myself I would be in the truck, backing out of the drive by 8:45. I wasn’t. And I wasn’t because at 8:15 I was full blown into obsessing over a trivial matter and just would not let go of it, would not shut down the computer until I got it just like I wanted it; which means by 9:30 when I was backing out of the drive, I had some really harsh words for myself. However, due to some good work that ABBA has been doing within, I knew me, myself and I were not going to do this all day! So I turned on the radio, skipped over Christian Talk Radio, hearing about the latest antics of Obama WAS not what I needed, even from a Christian perspective. So first I tuned in for the Contemporary Christian sound. I like it and it has often blessed and lifted my spirit, but not today. I knew of only one more radio choice, a traditional station with traditional hymns. Hmmm. I had not listened to that one in a while, a good long while; but I found the station and began to listen, — the gang, the radio and Him. In moments I was no longer telling myself anything about how stupid I had been but I heard myself saying, ‘Thank You, Jesus. Thank You. Thank You.’ He was there in the music, in the words of a hymn and for the life of me I can’t remember the name of the hymn but I do remember how Sweet and Awesome and Loving and Kind He was to me there, just me, myself and I and HIM. What a Gang!!

I could have stayed mad at me all day and I could have spread a foul mood all over Baldwin County, but today I didn’t. Today, I made a better decision and our God did the rest! And what is my point in sharing this with you? Next time you gang up on yourself for something that you did, even when your choice really was a stinker, don’t keep on with the bad choices; grab hold to whatever (within Godly reason, of course) is at hand to turn you from focusing on you to focusing on HIM. You can even send up a SOS and ask Him to give you some suggestions – He will!

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

ABBA, even now many hours later I am still thanking You for Your Goodness to me. When we call You answer. When we fall, You pick us up. Thank You. I pray as this edition reaches the screens of our IDOKs, my silliness will somehow be useful in Your Hands to them. As the names and faces of these listed here come to mind I know there are troubles and trials, heavy burdens and unfathomable losses among them and I pray for them to be helped, for them to be able to rest and find comfort and relief in Your Presence. I pray for our IDOK Troops, that You will continue to keep them safe from harm in spirit, soul and body. I pray for Israel to come into the Peace and Position that You have for them. I pray that Your Gospel will be preached in all the world and that sinners will be converted to Jesus and that we Your saints will be saintly in our daily living. I ask You to forgive this Nation as a whole, to be merciful and to pour out Your gracious gift of conviction and repentance upon us. I want to pray for the House and the Senate and the Bills before them but I don’t know what to say except not their will, not even my will but Your Will be done. Amen and amen.

A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about.

Melanie and Jay M. Susanne M. Alice T. Elaine W. Joni and Todd. Roy and Julee. Glenn R and his family. Holly. Donald 2. Ed G. Debra B. Jon E. Katie B. Brian. Donald 1. Loyce McM. Marzelle. KC. Neolle T. Mary F. MH and J. Caleb and his family – Rob, Vaughn, Whitaker and Donoghue. Dora. Mattie. Jarrod. BETTY. Billie Joyce and family. Stack Family. Brenda and her family. Joshua A. Kim T and her parents. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Darlene’s Sister, Leona. 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.

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 removing this ‘posting’ for the Cleansing of America and leaving it with You.

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. Kyle N(3/09). 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 78°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) and the time there 6:26 AM AST on July 30, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2009

This is a Word for someone. It comes from Beth Moore’s Book Breaking Free Day By Day, page 218 and she said, paraphrasing Mark 12:30: “Love Me with whatever physical strength you have. Offer Me your temple for My full habitation in weakness or in strength, in living or in dying.”

This really stands up and shouts to me! In our living or in our dying, He desires FULL HABITATION within us! This Word is worthy of some pondering!!

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

And another Word came from Christian Talk Radio, I don’t remember who but he said that ‘miracles are not for our entertainment, they are to reveal Who God is.’ And in my wild thoughts I came up with remember how the Pharisees were after Jesus for a sign (miracle)? Mark 8: 11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. 12 But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.”

They demanded a ‘sign’ from Him to ‘test’ Him. I wonder are we ever guilty of this? Do we ever demand (claim) certain miracles in an attempt to ‘force’ Him to prove to us He loves us? Such as getting us immediately out of an impossible or uncomfortable situation or maybe preventing the death or debilitating injury or disease of someone we love? If ABBA gave us a miracle (that is intervened and changed the natural order of the thing) for any reason other than for His glory, would not that say to us that His Arm can be twisted by our unbelief and/or temper fits? I can tell ya sister (and brother) that ain’t gonna happen and I for one am glad it isn’t. I wrote a poem some years ago that in summary asks the question what good is a god who bows to me? Okay, back on track here. ABBA’s miracles are not for our entertainment but are to make Himself known to us. We can be sure He is not is a sugar daddy or a magic lamp we rub to make our wishes come true. Neither does He contribute to ‘Brat Making’. His Miracles, Signs and Wonders are to demonstrate that He is our Loving Father and as our God and Father, He is Holy, Just, Loving, Kind, All Powerful, All Knowing, Without Fault, Incapable of making a mistake, Eternal and that is just for starters. Eternity will tell us the rest.

Ouch! I just figured out how these two Words tie together; if we have given our ‘temple’, that is our mind, body and soul to Him for His FULL habitation, we will not be ‘testing’ Him as the Pharisees did. If we are loving Him with all we got, when the miracle we prayed for does not come in the way we prayed, we will love Him anyway; we will praise Him through our tears and unanswered questions. Make it so in us, LORD, make it so! Oh, got to tell you one more thing. I checked the word through via my Microsoft Word Thesaurus and you know what it says? Through means ‘from beginning to end’ — Wow! That means when we love ABBA with all our soul, mind and strength we will praise Him from the beginning of our tears of disappointed until the end of them.

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Vickie and Mike update–Mike has another brain tumor and it is inoperable. The ones in his liver are growing ever larger and pressing on his other organs and nerves. They had a hospital bed brought in and he still couldn’t rest so what sleep he gets now is on their new sleeper/sofa that has an air mattress. Vickie has to give him medicine to sleep and the pain is ever-worsening. Please pray for him to be able to bear this pain. He is such a fighter!! Still trying to have a good quality of life even now. Also, please pray for Vickie as she cares for him and her family. How hard it is to see the one you love go through this! Please pray for the whole family as they are in this together.

ABBA, These are good Words I think. You are helping me understand some things that I have been asking You about for a ,while now. Thank You. Keep teaching, I want to learn, I want to be trained to be Your faithful, humble servant. I want that for our IDOKs too and as many of them as will agree herein I pray for them too that they will take in these Words and allow You to apply them individually as YOU see fit and as needed. Only You can do that. Only You know. So glad You do. And in this Word we pray for Mike that You will in mercy relieve his pain and we pray that in this time that You will fully inhabit him and that Your Glory will shine brightly, that in him Jesus will be lifted up and all those around Mike will be drawn to You. We pray for Vickie for a welling up overwhelming strength (spiritually, emotionally and physically) and peace that even amazes her. We pray for others experiencing similar trials and we pray their faith and trust in You will not fail. Thank You for Alice’s report, it was not a clean bill but it was better than it could have been and we are grateful. Thank You. We pray for Mollie B (Mamaw to some); she’s tired LORD, and I pray You will rest her and I pray her children will know Your Wisdom and act in it. And for the rest listed here, we pray they will know Your Presence today. We pray for our IDOK Troops, for their safety, protection, and well-being in spirit, soul and body. We pray for Israel’s Peace and Prosperity in the Land You have given them. We pray for mercy and grace on the American People. We pray for the revival of Your Church and the spreading of Your Gospel around the world. Amen and amen.

A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about.

Melanie and Jay M. Susanne M. Alice T. Elaine W. Joni and Todd. Roy and Julee. Glenn R and his family. Holly. Donald 2. Ed G. Debra B. Jon E. Katie B. Brian. Donald 1. Loyce McM. Marzelle. KC. Neolle T. Mary F. MH and J. Caleb and his family – Rob, Vaughn, Whitaker and Donoghue. Dora. Mattie. Jarrod. BETTY. Billie Joyce and family. Stack Family. Brenda and her family. Joshua A. Kim T and her parents. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Darlene’s Sister, Leona. 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.

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 removing this ‘posting’ for the Cleansing of America and leaving it with You.

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. Kyle N(3/09). 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 91°F and Blowing Widespread Dust in Baghdad, IQ (Airport) and the time there 5:36 AM AST on July 29, 2009.

Redeemed to Serve,