IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

I am borrowing from Beth for today because I don’t think I can improve on it. In Week Two, Day One of The Patriarchs, we started with chapter 16 of Genesis. You may recall the story were Sarai decides God is wrong and she is going to fix what He has messed up. That is my paraphrase but nevertheless the truth.

1 Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

Can’t you just hear the distrust in her voice? Can’t you hear the accusation? ‘This is all God’s fault! He said He would give us a child and now He is keeping me from having one! He lied!’

We do this too. We may be more subtle than Sarai but we’ve done it. Have I ever worried? Have you? Then we’ve subtly accused God. And I am convinced that at any moment we ACCUSE God we have just messed up really, really badly and if we do not stop right then and there in that very moment and repent, we are setting ourselves and others up for some severe consequences. And a glaring example is Isaac and Ishmael – Hebrews and Arabs – still fighting.

But on to point two; you will recall that Hagar who was Sarai’s maid servant and whom she gave to Abram as ‘wife’ for the purpose of procreating. And when she did conceive a child, then Hagar and Sarai hated each other. Duh! Imagine that!! So Hagar ran away AND God pursued her! Oh, my goodness that makes me cry! Anyone of us who has at any time been pursued and found by God knows the absolute beauty of this!

7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?”

He asked her this not because He did not know but because she did not know. She needed to exam herself. Could He be asking you these questions? Could He be asking me these questions?

And Beth said: “Hagar gave God a name. No other character in the Old Testament, male or female, ever does such a thing. Only Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant.” And the name is El Roi which means God Who Sees.

And now to finish up with what I really want you to read: “The divinely initiated encounter between God and Hagar began with these words: “The Angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert.” How like God to become her Spring in the desert. El Roi. He sees when no one else cares to look. He sees through the smile we wear when we’re dying inside. He sees our hurt when we’re mistreated. He sees us when we cry into our pillow because we feel unloved. He sees beyond our sin into the depth of our need. He sees when we’re hiding. Running. He sees when we continue to sow the seed of His Word even in the floodplain of our grief.

. . . He is the God who sees you.”

Amen and amen! I so needed this today! El Roi. The God Who sees me! And loves me! And you too!!

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Remember Katelyn in particular today.

ABBA, I need to see You today as El Roi. I need to know You as El Roi, the God Who sees me. The God Who is pursuing me. Oh, Holy Spirit, stand me still to get caught! Amen and amen.

Our El Roi, we have many for You to see today. Katelyn and her surgeons and her family, see them and comfort and heal them we pray. And not only Katelyn but all these on our list, including our IDOK Troops, especially Matt, we pray for him to be healed.

And, now some hours later, thank You. Today all day You have been God Who sees me. And You have been faithful, You have been good, You have answered prayer. You have loved us. You have cared for us. You have protected us. You have been our God Who sees. And as I put this devotion to ‘press’ I ask You Holy Spirit to make this Word alive to each IDOK and each Reader that they will know in the depths of their ‘gut’ that You are the God Who sees and because You see, they (and me) can trust You with it all. Amen and amen in Jesus Name.

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.

Joyce, John & children. Sean. Susan R. Kay B. Louise. Sparky S. Rusty & Romney. 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. 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 Arizona.

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) Bill H. (added 9/24/09)

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) Matt P. (added 9/24/09)

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 82°F and clear in Kuwait, KW (Airport) and the time is 6:14 AM AST on September 25, 2009.