IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2009

Matthew 7:12-14 (New King James Version)

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

And the last stanza of Robert Frost’s Poem – A Road Less Traveled reads:

http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/2940/frost8.html

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence

Two roads diverged in a wood

And I took the one less traveled by

And that has made all the difference

Oh, I hope I can do this justice. At Satsuma First we are continuing with Marvelous Mondays and this Monday night was more than marvelous. There was a holy hush as Phil Winningham gave us a Word from God in three major points.

First, God NEVER, NEVER, NEVER calls us to take a chance, but if we choose to take the Road Less Traveled with Him, He may require us to be willing to take some risks. Phil defined chance this way: Foolish decisions based on feelings. And risk he defined this way: Carefully calculated decisions based on past experience.

What a difference, right?

And his second point was that God has called us to be Leaders not Managers.

He said a manager is someone who does things right. And I thought okay, so what’s wrong with that; should not we do things right? And then he said a Leader is someone who does the right thing. Ponder that a moment and I think you will see the glaring difference!

And his third point was we are to leave a legacy when our time here is done, and that legacy should be that we have lived such a life that when we die others can keep on growing.

And then in summary, I wrote myself a note: Leaders don’t manage their days or their time, they just do the right thing moment by moment, day after day.

Can you imagine the difference this would make in the Church – to have leaders rather than managers?

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

I have no recent updates to give – so lets just keep on praying.

ABBA, I have taken some ‘chances’ in my life and in days passed I have taken the road well traveled, I don’t want to do that any more. When I get to the end of this road and I come up to where You are I do want to leave here the kind of legacy Bro. Phil talked about last night and if that means being willing to take some risks, help me be willing to do it. You know I am coward at heart, it is only by Your strength that I ever do anything worthwhile. And as I think about it that’s good because anything else would be taking a chance – don’t want to do that anymore. Don’t want to manager time or life anymore either, just want to be a leader who FOLLOWS You. And I think we may have just gotten some amens to that from our IDOKs. I pray so. And now this morning, may we be leaders who pray, leaders who intercede for others. We have some others listed here who need support, they need to lean hard on You and we pray they will. Some are really ill, Lord, and we know the outcome unless You heal them and that is our prayer, we want them to be healed but You have already told us the hard truth, it is appointed unto man once to die, thank You that in Christ it is only once and that in You, Lord Jesus, we will not experience the second death, that eternal separation for You, so we pray again that in our living or dying we exalt You by doing the right thing. Thank You for our IDOK Troops and we pray again for their safety and protection today. We pray for them to be encouraged and for them to be leaders, to be men and women known for doing the right thing even in hostile environments. We pray for the Peace of Israel, the spreading of Your Gospel in all the world and that sinners will repent and saints will live saintly for Your glory alone. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Amber Johns. Joe-Ann. McCarver Family. Vickie and Family. Brittany M and family. Dennis and Lisa J. 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 have removed the ‘posting’ for the Cleansing of America but I know the prayer is eternal 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 117°F and clear in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time 3:08 PM AST on August 18, 2009. Oh ABBA that is hot, keep them hydrated and safe.