IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2009

This is an adjustment! The house has been keeping us and today I must return to keeping house; my beloved (as I begin) is on his way to the office – staycation is over. Retirement is looking better all the time!

Psalm 23 (Amplified Bible)

A Psalm of David.

1THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

2He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.

3He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him–not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.

4Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

6Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

This is the text from which my Pastor preached yesterday. He gave us word pictures and even though the psalm is so familiar, I listened with sweet tears as he told us about the oil on the head and the overflowing cup. Oh how great is our God, our Shepherd! Pastor told us about the ancient custom of the cup; that when your cup was empty it was time for you to leave the table. He said imagine being seated at the King’s table and your cup is nearly empty, just one more sip and you will have to leave, so you linger over that sip not wanting to take, not wanting to leave the table. And then an arm comes around you with the pitcher in hand to fill your cup but it’s not the arm of the waiter it’s the robe-clad arm of the King Himself and he pours into your cup and he keeps pouring till the cup overflows. Pastor said that robe-clad arm is the arm of our Shepherd-Savior-King pouring an everlasting cup for us. We never have to leave the Table of our Savior! And as the Pastor spoke, an additional picture formed for me and I thought of quiet times, times of study and devotion as the table and the cup when the fellowship is so sweet, sweeter and more delicious than the best wine (not that I drink wine, mind you) and as you drink and drink and talk and talk and listen and listen then you notice the cup is getting low signaling it’s time to go and you think no, no I don’t want this sweet time to end I want to keep sitting here leaning on Your Heart and then you realize your cup is full but it’s a TO GO CUP and He is inviting (commanding even that) you go and prepare a table in His Name to serve others, inviting them to come to HIS TABLE. Can you see it? Is that good or what!?

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

For those of you who may not have already heard, Mike passed away last night (Saturday) about 7:30. He was at home and surrounded by family. Arrangements will be finalized later today. Thank you all for the love and support you’ve shown us during the past couple of years; it did keep him going and gave us comfort. Bless you all, Vickie

ABBA, thank You for this beautiful, beautiful picture that speaks so clearly and so sweetly to me, I pray Holy Spirit You will anoint it and speak it into the hearts of our IDOKs as You will. I pray for Vickie and her family this morning as they grieve this temporary separation from Mike. Thank You for the sure knowing they have of seeing him again. Thank You for the sure knowing that he is more alive now than he has ever been and he shall now never die again; I pray You will comfort them with this and in the appropriate time give Vickie visions and dreams of her calling to serve You here until You call her to come there and join You and Mike there. And we pray You will give such other dreams and visions for each and every soul on our list today that we may serve You in our living or our dying. We pray peace and safety for our IDOK Troops and for Israel and for each one of us in and for Jesus Name sake. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Vickie and Family. Brittany M and family. Dennis and Lisa. Jack. Melanie and Jay M. Susanne M. Alice T. Elaine W and Family. 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. DeLois. Mollie B. Marzelle. KC. Neolle T. Mary F. MH and J. Caleb and his family – Rob, Vaughn, Whitaker and Donoghue. Dora. Mattie. Jarrod. BETTY. 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. Natalie. Jacqueline and Sons (River and Jackson). Sandra. Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family Mary.. 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. Katelyn (B) J Lloyd. 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.

Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry

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 106°F and haze in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time 4:33 PM AST on August 10, 2009.