IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2009

I suppose we all know how delicate is the bloom of a ginger lily, and I suppose we all know how harsh and prickly is a holly bush. I could not have imagined that the two would demonstrate Scriptural truth to me; until today (picture attached, I hope.)

I have ginger lilies growing in close proximity to a holly bush hedge. And I know from hands on experience how vicious holly can be; it can make a grown man bleed and flee! But not a ginger lily determined to do what her Creator gave her life to do – bloom. Picture this: the ginger shoot made her way through the soil, pushed her head up, up, clearing the ground and as she begin to stretch and reach, reach for the sun, wham she gets hit with prickly, tearing opposition. The holly leaves with his deadly points tore at her leaves and her stalks, but still she pushed on, higher and higher she reached; some of her leaves in the process were torn to shreds but still she kept on. And then it happened. She reached the top of the hedge and shot up a stalk so firm, straight and tall; the tallest, straightest one in the garden. Not only did the holly bush fail to choke her out, not only did he fail to keep her from blooming, he actually served a purpose – his opposition kept her reaching up, his opposition actually aided in keeping her straight. The other lilies in the garden without the harsh and prickly opposition are bent and stooping while she stands firm and tall, her white blossoms beautifully displayed and giving fragrance to all who come near.

Now, lets say in this little ‘parable’ that you and I are the lily and the holly bush is the flesh, the world and Satan, and the creator is God and the sun is the Son. Do you get the picture? All those adversities coming against us from whichever source, our own flesh, the world, or Satan himself, if we keep believing and pushing and reaching, determined to bloom for our Creator, we will! If we are determined to see the Son in every adversity, if we are determined to keep our eyes on Him, if we are determined to believe that He has called us to His Garden to bloom, we will! And as we do we will give fragrance and beauty to ABBA’s whole garden. Are we game?

1 Peter 1:5-7 (New King James Version)

5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

James 1: (NKJV)

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

We are adding Art and Sula today. Art has been diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer and from what I know, Art was NOT a smoker. He and Sula are good people, faithful and loving. Please pray for them as often as the Holy Spirit prompts you.

ABBA, I appreciate this message. I appreciate the ginger lily blooms, I appreciate the straight and strong stalks. I appreciate the fragrance and the pure, delicate beauty and I appreciate the spiritual analysis demonstrated in this for us. And in all this I pray for will and determination for all our IDOKs and Readers to bloom where we are planted in Your Garden. I pray that even today we will be a sweet smelling fragrance to You.

And now based upon Your Word to us we come praying for Art and Sula, Rudon, Kelly, Henry, Roy and Julee, Rusty & Romney, Kay B, Elaine, Alice; all of these, each one on our list. ABBA, there are times when we are just overwhelmed with the magnitude of suffering represented in these names and we grapple for words day after day to pray, how many ways can we say, LORD, please heal them? But that is what we are asking. And we are continuing to ask that You intervene and rescue children who are traveling a destructive path and don’t seem to have any desires to turn around and go Your way; we pray somehow You will put holy roadblocks in their paths that You will arrest their unholy behavior and turn them around. We pray they will be saved. And there are other needs listed here too and we pray for those needs to be met. I pray now as we send this out that our IDOKs will have a restful night and will awaken refreshed to love You and obey You all day. We pray too for our IDOK Troops, please protect them in spirit, soul and body and please bring them home safe and sound at the appointed time. The news media is not giving us any better news regarding the conduct of Washington Officials, so we pray again for mercy. ABBA, please have mercy on America. Please forgive us. Somehow wake us up and spare us from destruction I pray. Thank You for hearing us, thank You for answering us in the Mighty Name of Yeshua. Amen and amen.

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.

Art and Sula. Rudon. Kelly C. Henry P. Dana and Joey and Children. Tracey M. Vicki and Bob. Brady and Chloe. Patti and family. Joyce, John & children. Sparky. Sean. Susan R. Kay B. 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 (H) 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. 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. 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. Richard M.

As I post this it is 68°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) and the time is 5:11 AM AST on October 14, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2009

Sometime in the morning hours before dawn something was going on it my head, not really a dream; a conversation maybe, and Scripture too. Something about hiding what we are ashamed for others to see. And something about the comfort of knowing that it is not our outward appearance at which ABBA looks, but our hearts. I Samuel 16: . . . for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Admittedly, there are things about this frame of mine that I hide; why else would I try on 3 changes of clothes before I finally leave the house? And I suspect I am not the only one. I suspect that we all have things we’d like to hide from the view of others. And you know in some cases that’s not wrong – some things need to be hidden! In fact I would like to see our young ladies hide a lot more ‘stuff’ than they do! Please do not miss-read me here, there is nothing shameful about our anatomies, unless we take what is designed for exclusion and present it for public viewing. A mind to do less ‘advertising’ would indicate the young lady was a little more aware of her great value; but that’s another ‘sermon’.

Sometime shame is appropriate. Sometimes shame lets us know that something is wrong and changes need to be made. Genesis 3: 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

Now with Adam and Eve the changes they made were not sufficient; more was needed. So Father in His enormous love and mercy sought them out and made the proper change available to them. And they accepted.

So! When ‘shame’ shows up, wisdom says we need to perk up and question why. Why am I feeling ashamed? Have I sinned? Am I about to sin? Where is this shame coming from? Is it appropriate? Is it alerting me that I need to change course? Is it old? Have I been feeling this way a long time? Is it new? Just when did this start? Am I in violation of Scripture when I participate in these thoughts or this conduct? Do I need to talk to someone?

Proverbs 19:

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,

That you may be wise in your latter days.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,

Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.

Shame. For Adam and Eve it made them ready to receive God’s provision of forgiveness. For us, if we have already forsaken the conduct and accepted His forgiveness and shame is still hanging around, then we can know Satan has picked it up and is using it against us. Send him ‘packing’ today! I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

Vicki is home and doing well after surgery; thank you for your prayers.

Shame, a gift and a curse I guess we could say, depending upon its source; I pray we will learn to easily recognize the origin of the shame we experience and that we will come to You early, ABBA, to accept Your forgiveness and cleansing and cease to live in shame. I pray You will do all that You desire with this message. Thank You for another day to live right; may we do it. And we pray now for our list of people, some are improving and we are so grateful; some are still facing the enemy of disease and we pray for their courage and victory. We pray for our IDOK Troops to again be protected in spirit, soul and body today. And I pray for each IDOK and each Reader that today will be a shame-free day because we have seen all our iniquities laid upon You, Lord Jesus. We pray for faithful eyes to see You, LORD, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Amen and amen.

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.

Rudon. Kelly C. Henry P. Dana and Joey and Children. Tracey M. Vicki and Bob. Brady and Chloe. Patti and family. Joyce, John & children. Sparky. Sean. Susan R. Kay B. 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 (H) 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. 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. 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. Richard M.

As I post this it is 73°F and scattered clouds in Kabul, AH (Airport) and the time is 3:30 PM AFT on October 13, 2009.