IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

Oh my goodness at your first opportunity, you’ve just got to read the 13^th chapter of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a man to be reckoned with! Do you remember in yesterday’s devotion there were two fellows giving Nehemiah and his people some trash talk? Well, in Chapter 13 I read that one of those fellows, Tobiah, had been catered to and fawned all over by the Levites prior to Nehemiah coming on the scene. In fact Tobiah, an Ammonite mind you, had been given, by the Levites, access to the Temple to store his stuff in one of the temple rooms. Can you imagine that?! Neither could Nehemiah and he said this in verse 8: And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. 9. Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense. I love it! What I really, really like about this is that Nehemiah didn’t throw the stuff out in a fit of rage; it was in grief, bitter grief that the House of God was being abused. Maybe we ought to get bitterly grieved and do some throwing out too.

Later on in chapter 13, you will read about the merchandizing that was being done on the Sabbath. Oh did he ever get ‘grieved’ about that too. And read what he did in verse 21: Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. What I am picturing here is the merchants were camping out ready to rush in like folks do these days waiting to buy concert tickets or to get some big ticket item for Christmas, and Nehemiah shut down that party. I love it! Nehemiah was radical. He radically loved God, the House of God, the people of God and he pitched out those things that harmed and hindered others from coming to radically love God, His House and His People. Do we have any Nehemiahs in the house? If we do, please stand up and start pitching.

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

ABBA, You are so God. Your Word is so AWESOME. Thank You for recording this for us. We are a long way from being as jealous and zealous for You as Nehemiah and I know that Nehemiah was Nehemiah and he had his calling and we have ours but I really think that we could do a lot better with this bitter grieving over the sins inside and outside Your Church. And I am praying right now that You will give us some holy bitter grief over what is happening in the Churches and outside the Churches. And You know I have been thinking lately that we have a lot more to be excited about than we have realized. I am thinking that there are a bunch more of us in this world that do love You than maybe I thought there were and so I am asking You to connect us and empower us to rock this place for Your Glory.

I pray for our IDOK Troops for their continued protection and for encouragement and correction, whatever is needed for them to be godly men and women and please bring them each home safe and sound. And for each name listed here, we pray their souls will prosper and their spirits to be renewed like eagles and for Your glory please heal them all as You will. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Sparky S. C David. Johnny McK and family. Katie H. Amber Johns. Joe-Ann. McCarver Family. Vickie 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. 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. 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

Ryan, Sarah, Josh & Caleb Bedenkop – missionaries in Costa Rica

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 77°F and partly cloudy in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time 4:31 AM AST on September 1, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2009

I am hoping to invest some time today in going over my notes, especially the starred ones, from the Simulcast and maybe I will have something to share with you from either Friday or Saturday’s sessions with Beth. I can tell you this much, it was GOOD to be there!

For this morning, let me pull something from My Understandings of the Word folder, and since my reading and studying right now is in Nehemiah, let’s go to Nehemiah 4.

Know what I love about Nehemiah? Here in the first three verses of chapter 4, Sanballat and Tobiah did their best to discourage him and the work God called him to do.

Nehemiah 4 (New King James Version)

1 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?”

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”

Talk about ‘trash mouthing’, these guys were doing it, don’t you think? BUT Nehemiah; did not enter into a debate, nor did he set himself to defend. No. He went straight to God. And as I think about it that was a point Beth made this weekend, not from this text, but another, that when people say things to us or about us that hurt, makes us angry or discouraged, rather than give them a piece of our mind, let us give our mind, heart, and mouth to telling Father just how we feel about it and He’ll take care of it the RIGHT way.

4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5 Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.

Yep! Nehemiah just laid it out there the way he FELT. And THEN he left it with the Father and went to work.

6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

I think that is a fine formula for dealing with trashy-mouth people, don’t you?

Father, thank You for lessons from Your Word and servants, and may we learn them and apply them well today as life gives us the opportunity. Thank You for each IDOK on the other side of this screen; love on them and bless them today, encourage them and me too, to do the right thing today and to come running to You first before we say things that will not honor You and will not build up the Body of Christ or storm the gates of hell.

Keep safe our IDOK Troops today in spirit, soul, and body; please bring them all home safe and sound at the appointed time we pray. And every name just read below I pray for them today, for their peace, for healing, for comfort, for pain relief, for new courage and hope, whatever it is that each of them needs individually, I know You have an overabundant supply for them, I pray they will come to You and receive in Jesus Name. I pray for Israel, for peace. I pray for America for repentance and for us, the Church, I pray we will war well today on our knees in the love and power You give us through our Savior and Lord Jesus. Amen and amen.