20 Aug 2009 – The White Stone

IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 2009

And giving you some personal thoughts: As I was washing dishes this morning, I was speaking to the Lord and I said to Him I want to long to see You but not because this world is so bad and so messed up but because You are so good.

And Bing Cherries; oh, my goodness I have a thing for them. It is only when the season is waning, though, that I get to enjoy them because I am too cheap to pay $5.00 a pound for them. BUT when I find them for $2.00 a pound, well, then I indulge myself. And so it was today as I finished off the last one, I thought, ‘Lord, I really hope these things are ‘year round’ in Heaven.’

I know, I know, there will not be seasons as we know them now in Heaven but I really hope Bing cherries will grow there and be ready to eat whenever we want them. As I said I’m being silly today, but I’m having fun and I hope you all don’t mind sharing my silliness with me.

This statement from the book The Ragamuffin Gospel (page 28) by Brennan Manning: “Never confuse your perception of yourself with the mystery that you really are accepted.”

And, of course, The ONE having done the accepting of us is God. Don’t you think the comfort of this truth is better than a goose down comforter on a cold night after a hard day’s work? Yeah, me too.

You know what I have decided? Working at home is one of the most challenging places to work.

And in further prayer conversation I sent this up today: ‘Lord, I don’t want to just KNOW Your Truth, I want to FEEL it too. I want to be passionate about it. When appropriate I want to be down right giddy about it!’ What brought on this conversation you may ask — reading little tidbits about the vastness of this universe in The Ragamuffin Gospel. But the most challenging and the most freeing (if we will do it) statement of my reading today is found on page 36 of the aforementioned book: “The greatest honor we can give Almighty God is to live gladly because of the knowledge of His love.” (Julian of Norwich).

Live gladly, not because our plans never go awry, and not because stuff never rains on our parade BUT because even when it does HE LOVES US. Let us aspire to live gladly!

Ephesians 1 (New King James Version)

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

ABBA, Live gladly. Yes, I can see that would bless You. I can see that would delight You. And now when events and occurrences come that make living gladly as a foreign language to us help us remember You have accepted us in the Beloved and You love us perfectly. I pray my silliness today will bring some serious encouragement to our IDOKs. We pray again for Richard and Emma and the family as they attend to matters with Walt’s home-going; please comfort them and be glorified in them especially at this time. And the McCarver Family, especially Conner and Anna Belle, we pray for Your under-girding at this time; this did not take You by surprise and You know the plans You have for these two children, Holy Spirit, lead them even now, teach them now how to lean on You. ABBA, as I read over this list, there is some really, really tough stuff here, but You are enough, You are able and I pray each one listed here will experience You being more than enough for them today, tomorrow and forever more. Please continue to protect our IDOK Troops, bring them home safe and sound we pray. Continue to give Israel the Promises You have made to them. Please pour out mercy upon this Nation we call America, forgive us and grant grace and space to sinners and saints to repent. Supply a fresh anointing to Your missionaries around the world and one by one speak to us, Your Sons and Daughters, convince us to live gladly for Jesus sake. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Katie H. 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 88°F and clear in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time 5:15 AM AST on August 21, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009

One’s faith cannot rise above one’s obedience. (Spoken to my by Sharron Lanham) I knew when I heard it, it was worthy of note taking and passing along to you.

If we think we are lacking in faith, she said, we must check our level of obedience. If our faith level is low, so is our obedience level. I can’t argue with that. Nor would it be wise to.

I am reminded of Scripture as I type. Romans 10:17 (New King James Version)

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

And James 1:22 (New King James Version)

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

And since the typing of the above, hours have elapsed and through no planning of my own comes this: Deuteronomy 4:27 And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.

We are servants; all of us; all mankind serves. We just do. There is no one on the planet who does not serve, that’s just the way it is. From verse 27 we know the people of Israel were disbursed and they were disbursed because of their disobedience and I am convinced and I believe the Whole Counsel of The Word bears out that their disobedience was due to unbelief. Unbelief will destroy a people, a group or an individual. So their unbelief sent them away from God, away from following after Him, away from serving Him. BUT they still served. See that in verse 28. They served little g gods. Little g gods made of wood and stone, little g gods created by man. That was then. What do we do now? Name a little g god that today’s people serve. A career, the power of a political office, a spouse, children, a hobby, pleasure, and the most popular one, the one upon which more money and time have been lavished than any other is SELF. We are servants and we are going to serve period the end. We will either in unbelief and disobedience serve the little g god of self or we will serve the ONE True God, The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, Hosea, Peter, Paul, Timothy, John, Martin Luther, C.H. Spurgeon, Billy Graham, Beth Moore and the list could go on. We are servants; no soul you will see in your mirror, on the street, or across the yard will not be serving today. And if that servant is serving the little g god of self that soul is in that act of service doing so in disobedience brought on by unbelief … a lack of faith in the one and only big G Triune God – Father, Son Jesus Christ and Holy Ghost. Am I His servant? Yes I am whenever I am not serving myself. Am I tired of serving me as often as I do? Yes I am. And when I confessed it, He told me this:

29 But if from there you will seek (inquire for and require as necessity) the Lord your God, you will find Him if you (truly) seek Him with all your heart [and mind] and soul and life.

In the moment I wake up (that is come to myself) and find myself serving myself if I will, from there, that very place begin to seek Him, I will find Him and I will begin again to serve Him in obedience and my faith will grow. One’s faith cannot rise above one’s obedience.

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

ABBA, I pray to wake up today and serve You and others rather than myself. May it be that we have no little g gods before us today. May it be that we will exercise obedience in what You have already taught us and grow this gift of faith You have invested in us. We count it a privilege to bring this list to You again for today’ measure of grace and strength more abundantly than we can use up. As we review the names of this list, ABBA, words fail me to describe the straits of emotions some are experiencing but You know and You are there to help and see them through. Thank You. And we still pray for all these to be heal, some physically, some emotionally and some so in need of the new birth. We pray they will receive the gift of life You have for them. There is a pending surgery for one dear IDOK, she said with other folks having such grave conditions, she wouldn’t mention hers for the list; she deemed her need as less important; but it’s not to You and I pray for this surgery to be textbook perfect and to do just what it is suppose to do and for her to be restored to health. Thank You for Your loving and kind attention to her and to every name on this list. Thank You for continuing to protect and keep safe our IDOK Troops. Thank You for continuing to perfect Your plan for Israel. Thank You for continuing to spread Your Gospel throughout this world; thank You for continuing to pour Your grace upon we Your Church; correct us and fill us I pray. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Katie H. 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.