IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2009

Staycation update: going well; having fun; realizing it will be over too soon. As to a re-share for today, this one seems good to me this morning. It is from October 24, 2005.

Scaling Mountains

How many times have we talked about Father’s delays in answering our prayers? How many times have we talked about His Eleventh Hour Interventions – even that He does not show up with relief until 11:59? Doesn’t sound too loving does it? No, not Him — us! Not so loving of us to visualize and articulate Him as One Who Delays. And you say, Well, doesn’t He tarry at times? And Yes He does; sometimes He tarries LONG!!! He is soooo longsuffering with our sins and holding off on the woodshed, giving us plenty of time to repent. But on with what brought me to this place this morning; Psalm 138:

3 In the day when I called, You answered me; and You strengthened me with strength (might and inflexibility to temptation) in my inner self.

So even if Father “waits” for that which we have asked, in that nanosecond that we call He answers with STRENGTH. So what if that mountain is still standing awhile longer? Could it be we NEED the THRILL of climbing it MORE than the instant gratification of seeing Him lift it immediately out of the way? And why does HE do it this way? I think because of verses from Ps. 57: 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever–forsake not the works of Your own hands. AND 2I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me [Who brings to pass His purposes for me and surely completes them]! And in Philippians 1: 6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.

Yes, Father answers immediately with strength and if need be to perfect us continued strength until 11:59 when we have scaled that mountain that we thought He just had to remove immediately. Imagine those first few moments at the top — the accomplishment, the sheer delight of it, the rest, and the SIGHTS — look around, oh what you can see from that height!

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Brittany M. in the hospital this morning, needing our prayers.

ABBA, words fail me to describe what can be seen and felt from the mountain top in those first moments so I ask You Holy Spirit to take our beloved IDOKs there — give them a glimpse of what You have for them, for us if we will just believe and trust You to be GOD for us and in us and through us. Thank You. And Father, Brittany and WC and others come to mind today with health situations and we trust You with this. And Father as best we can at where we are today in our climbing we TRUST You to provide EVERY need and give every good and perfect gift to us that is necessary to mature us. Protect and keep safe our IDOK Troops and thank You for IDOK, for each and every one, bless them for Jesus sake. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. 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. 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 113°F and Blowing Widespread Dust Haze Al Taji, IQ (Airport) and the time 3:59 PM AST on August 6, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2009

Pencils, Pens and Concrete

August 15, 2006

Proverbs 16 is about the plans of man and it is good to make plans. Have you ever said ‘I’ll pencil that in’? And by that we mean I’ll think about it and unless something else comes up, I’ll plan to do that. However, if we ‘ink in’ an event on such and such a date that means we intend to be there and participate. According to Proverbs 16, ‘inking’ in our plans without checking with Father is not wise. 3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

We should always take our plans, our imaginings to Him before we set them in ‘concrete’. And when all of Proverbs 16 is said and done I found this to be comforting … maybe you will too. 33 The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly of the Lord [even the events that seem accidental are really ordered by Him].

And as it was with Adam even before he set wrong plans in ‘concrete’, so it is with us, Father is not surprised, nor is He scratching His Head wondering how He will get us out of this ‘fine mess’ we have created. No, even before we cast the lot, even before we poured the concrete that lays the foundation for faulty framing, HE has a Plan and ALL who will believe and receive will succeed.

I Peter 1 (KJV):

9 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

21 Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

ABBA, I offer again a prayer prayed three years ago – You heard and You answered and yet today we can pray it fresh again. Today we have other names, and yet some may be the same. Father, thank You that it is set in concrete that if we will submit our plans to You, and will build only on the Foundation that You have laid, we will succeed. Thank You. And today we desire to build a day that will succeed … tell us Your Plan for this day and by Your Grace we will do it.

Again today we have our IDOK Troops on our hearts and we thank You for the things You have set in motion for them to benefit them, to keep them safe, to protect them and to make Yourself known to them in more depth than they now know. Again we ask You to bring them home to us safe and sound and more in love with You than when they deployed. And Father, there are young men and young women we know that have pain and they don’t function well and You know well what and who we mean and for them we ask that You take the instruments needed to cut away the rebellion, the hatred, the lies, and whatever else that is keeping these ones we love from becoming holy and godly in their day to day. And now we bring more names but these are more than names they are people we know, people we have never met but for them we intercede and we are grateful and praise You that we can for Jesus sake. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. 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. 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 85°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) and the time there 6:11 AM AST on August 5, 2009.

A Special Note of Interest: One of our IDOK Prayer Requests is for a lovely Christian woman who is battling stage 4 cancer in at least three places in her body; medical bills are many and increasing; her husband is seeking to sell their 5^th Wheel (camper) to address some of these expenses. If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing a camper, please let me know and I will send you a link to pictures of the camper. Thank you in advance.

Scripture passages retrieved from Biblegateway.com.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2009

Day 2 of Stay-Cation

Actually, as I type, day 1 is nearly complete and it has been a wonderful day! Hope you all enjoyed the pictures and following those projects, we went on to other things and then to the first Marvelous Monday in August at Satsuma First and it was just that – Marvelous! Supper with friends was a hoot; and now I am here, offering you an IDOK from August 22, 2006.

Pineapple Bowls and Driving Tips

Yesterday was Monday, all day long it was Monday. And so about 5:15 as I was in the midst of preparing supper, I opened the frig, and right there on the third shelf was a three-fourths empty bowl of pineapple with no lid, just plastic wrap and not the plastic wrap that seals either. A ‘quiet voice inside’ said: ‘the pineapple is now too old to enjoy and besides you don’t have a lid on it — take it out now before it spills’. Did I listen? NO! I closed the door and went on to other supper details which in moments brought me back to the frig. And you guessed it — Reaching in for something else, I bumped the pineapple bowl and sticky, sticky, pineapple juice made its way down the refrigerator shelf onto the floor, and chunks of pineapple dotted the rug. Yucky!

That ‘Quiet Voice’ didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to (and besides He’s too much of a Gentleman to chide) — I was thinking plenty!
You may ask, why do you say He? You don’t really believe that ‘Quiet Voice’ was the Holy Spirit of God, do you?
Yes, I do.
I believe He loves me so much and that He is so much into walking this life with me that He sometimes even gives notice that bowls of pineapple are going to tip over.
But let’s move on with a more serious ‘Quiet Voice’ moment.
Our oldest red-haired daughter and our 4-year-old Princess were traveling I-65 yesterday and it was raining.
As Andria looked to her right she saw another vehicle right beside her and in that moment that same ‘Quiet Voice’ cautioned: ‘that vehicle is going to come over in your lane without looking’. I am relieved to tell you that Andria instantly reduced her speed and when the driver changed to Andria’s lane, without looking, Andria began praising aloud our Great and Awesome God. I am so glad she heeded that ‘Quiet Voice’. Because she did, she and our little Princess made it home safe and sound.

By now it is obvious why I am sharing these moments, isn’t it?
Yes, there is no doubt in my mind, that Quiet Voice is Our God. He speaks to us daily about little things and big things, and we do well when we listen. Now I would be the first to say that He does not always give pineapple bowl warnings and He may not always give driving directions on rainy days but whatever He speaks, if we will listen we just may avoid a little mess, or a big hurt and maybe even death.

John 14 (KJV): 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Obtained from Biblegateway.com

Father, three years ago I prayed: And as we think about our daily ins and outs, thank You that You do walk with us in the little and the big, the important and the mega important stuff, and thank You that You speak and we pray that You will tune our hearts to listening more and more and that we learn to be less and less disobedient to Your Voice. For our IDOK Family, we bring them now, each and every one and those still quiet on our hearts and we entrust all their needs to You for You to grant and lavish as You know is best for each individual.
It’s still a good prayer and we renew it today. Our IDOK Troops have increased in three years and You have been faithful day after day and year after year. Thank You. And we pray again today for their protection and safety in spirit, soul, and body; still asking that You bring them all home safe and sound and more in love with You when they arrive home than when they deployed. Thank You for this day that Jerry and I have enjoyed; guide us and help us make the most of these days for Your glory, our good and holy fun. And Father, help our IDOKs do the same. Amen and amen

As I post this it is 97°F and clear in Kuwait, KW (Airport), and the time there is 7:09 AM AST on August 4, 2009.