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.