IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2009

Today I determined it was time to choose my next memorization passage, and with trepidation I have settled on 2 Corinthians 10:4-6. It’s a mouthful and quite ambitious of me I think.

I don’t often quote here for you from the Message Bible but today I want to give you two translations of my memorization passage. First the New King James Version which is the version I intend to memorize.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (New King James Version)

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Now this is the Message Bible version. I want to give it to you in this version because — well, it just reads like a ‘Message’ to us for today and tomorrow and all our remaining times here.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (The Message)

3-6The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

Is it not so? Is not this society in which you and I breathe in and out unprincipled? Is it not dog-eat-dog out there? Does the world fight fair? Heck, no! But we will never change the minds of the world’s people by being like the world; or fighting like the world or ‘loving’ like the world. Ooh, I like this because this is headed some place I did not know it was going when I started. I only knew it when I typed ‘but we will never change the world by being like the world’ … okay, so that’s a paraphrase of what I just said. The grandson of Billy Graham, Tullian Tchividjian, has written a book and as he was giving an interview regarding the book he said something like I just said. If we Christians (Churches) want to make a difference in this world then we must STOP competing with the world and start being different, so different that honest God seeking people will come knocking on our doors; so different that even those who did not know they were interested in God will come asking what makes us so different. The book is titled Unfashionable. (Be sure to scroll down the web page and watch the video.)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Unfashionable/Tullian-Tchividjian/e/9781601420855

For once in my life and for the rest of my life, I’d like to become REAL unfashionable! You too?

And before we go to prayer, a side note; just because I am so tickled about it. My mouse has been dragging. I mean it has been such a drag that it was an effort to get ‘him’ to move around the pad. So today I took out my Clean Safe Dust Remover, turned ‘him’ over, opened him up and sprayed his inside cavity real good; put him back together and WOW he just glides effortlessly over that pad. What’s that have to do with today’s devotion? Nothing. Unless we could say maybe it’s time we allow the Holy Spirit to open us up and blow in some of His Clean Safe ‘sin’ remover. Maybe these verses could get us started. Let us see just how unfashionable we can become!

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Update on Donald 1: Dear Friends & Family, Thank you for your prayers for my precious brother. He got his pathology reports results yesterday afternoon and I am just praising the Lord! No cancer cells were found in the three lymph nodes. He will see the oncologist every three months for the next year to check his remaining lymph nodes for swelling. Please remember him in your prayers as the Lord brings his name to mind. Love and thanks, La Juanna

Update on Roy & Julee: Roy is doing o.k. Lots of trauma to his body from the 11 hour surgery. The pain level is higher now since they have weaned him off the IV and giving him pain pills. He is nauseated and so they are giving him pills for nausea. I think they are going to discharge him today to the Rotary House which is the hotel that joins Anderson. God has been so good and we certainly appreciate your love, prayers and concern. Please pray for me, too! Julee.

Update on Sparky: Folks from the very words of the man himself, “its been a wonderful day.” You read it right Sparky told Kathleen that earlier this afternoon.

Doctors are stunned, amazed, and unable to even comprehend this man’s recovery.

The MRI he had yesterday did not show any problem. So, the left side’s slower response will according to the doctors be improved with therapy.

Now for the bigger news, Sparky has been transferred to a room tonight, #3309 and will still have monitoring but, not a one on one nurse. He has improved that much…..Praise God in all He has done in this remarkable recovery. But we still need to pray, no fever, no infections to develop.

ABBA, Thank You for this wonderful news from Donald! No cancer in the lymph nodes! We are so grateful. Thank You that Your Hand is upon him and shall continue to be.

We would love to have similar good news soon for Roy too and give strength to Julee we pray.

ABBA, I enjoyed writing this devotion; thank You for allowing me to do this since 2003; You are awesome! Now about this unfashionable challenge; I am inviting You to make it so of me and as many IDOKs as will, I pray this for them too; that we become holy unfashionable to display Your Goodness to the world. We pray for our IDOK Troops for their safety and protection, for their wellbeing in spirit, soul and body and for their safe returns home.

I am not pleased with the stuff I am hearing regarding Palestine, the United Nations and President Obama; I don’t want this Nation’s relationship to Israel to be jeopardized; I don’t want this Nation to curse Israel, but rather bless and bless and bless. I pray You will intervene in this. I pray You will continue to expose corruption and I pray for grace and space for leaders and supporters to repent. Holy Spirit, You know for sure but it seems to me there are hundreds of thousands of women and men, boys and girls in this country who actually do love You and I pray for us that we will be the people upon whom You do as You said in Joel and in Acts, pour out Your Spirit upon us, make us bold to prophesy in Your Name for the saving of the lost around us. I think this is an exciting time to live, I see the troubles, I see the trials, I see the corruption, but it’s a really good stage for You to display Your Goodness and Greatness, and, ABBA, I want to be a part of that. I want to do my part in this end time drama. Don’t let me be stale and stymie; don’t let me fail to do this thing while I can. I see some changes forming, thank You. Okay, before we close this for now, we must remember every one listed on this page, each one needs You in a particular way and we want them to experience You, to experience Your Goodness and Your faithfulness and we ask that they will in Jesus Name. Amen and amen. And… that wonderful news about Sparky just came in! His left side will improve with therapy! You are AWESOME! Thank You. Thank You!! And, yes we pray no fever, no infection and for him to be back to ministering to others soon.

A Specific Unspoken.

Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about.

Children and/or Grandchildren about whom Moms (& Dads) are concerned that their salvation profession may not be true.

Louise. 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

The Ministry of IDOK

The Peace of Israel.

Revival in America.

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 75°F and clear in Baghdad, IQ (Airport) and the time is 6:04 AM AST on September 11, 2009.