Monthly Archives: November 2009

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Unpleasant But Necessary

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009

Luke 9: 51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem,
52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him.
53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem.
54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”
55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.
56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.
Just a couple observations today – have you noticed that some folks seem to get things done and others don’t?  I think verse 51 gives us some helpful insights.  Notice first with me that Jesus sensed in His Spirit that the time of His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension was near.  And what did He do?  He set His face to go to Jerusalem; not in a frantic rush but a determined moving forward.  Also, notice that Jesus delegated tasks. In my sanctified imagination, I see Him sending a couple or more folks on ahead of Him to search out and secure a place for them to rest and a place for them to gather with the townspeople.  I think He wanted to go through Samaria on His way to Jerusalem to minister to the people there.  I think He wanted them to hear the Good News from Him. I think He wanted to ‘love on them’ but they were too full of prejudice and hate to receive.  How sad is that?!  And why was this? Because the people of Samaria understood that He would be crossing their countryside in order to get to Jerusalem and that He was a Jewish Rabbi.  I guess we could say this is another time when there was ‘no room in the inn’. 
So it seems to me Jesus knew how to get things done.  And we are blessed to not only learn from Him the principles of getting things done we can also ask Him to help us get things done His Way. 
We can ask Him for the courage and the will to set our faces toward the ‘Jerusalems’ in our lives – those things that are not pleasant, but oh so necessary to be completed. 
And we can learn to enlist others to help. 
And finally, in this journey of life when we happen upon folks who think becoming a Christian is the quickest way to spoil their fun, let’s offer to them Jesus’ own spoken word, making it personal: He did not come to destroy your life but to save it.  And then let us offer them this word too, telling them there is someone who wants to destroy them but it’s not Jesus.  Jesus says in John 10:10: The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Amen and amen.  Be blessed this weekend, Treasured Ones!
ABBA, we accept this good news with grateful hearts and we pray the treatments will eradicate the leukemia and that in these months ahead Vanessa will find Your Presence, Your Tending of her to be worth it all.   Lord, thank You that You set Your Face to Jerusalem.  Thank You that Your Face is also set to return for us and as surely as You went to Jerusalem as the Sacrifice for us You will return as King to receive us.  This gives us strength and direction and we are grateful.  I ask that You continue to turn this passage in our minds and that we will glean from it every lesson You would have us learn today.  And not only learn but apply it.   Thank You for our IDOK Soldiers and we pray for their safety and protection.  We pray too that each one of them will come home safe and sound at the appointed time.  We pray for Israel, for peace and safety, and for an awakening to You as their Messiah.  I love that That Day will come.   I long for them to love You, Lord Jesus.  And I pray this longing for people to love You will increase to every ‘man’ in me.  Thank You for our IDOKs, come and ‘love on them’ today; make Your Presence known to them in tangible ways today and all weekend.   And call we Your People to Houses of Worship this weekend where You are High and Lifted Up.  Draw the hearts of men and women, boys and girls to Yourself, Lord Jesus, and bless us with the privilege of ‘preaching’ the Gospel in Word and Action.   We bring now as we prepare to close and send this edition to every person listed here; we bring their sweet faces and their troubled, weary, and needy souls to You and we entrust them to You in Your Mighty and Holy, All Sufficient Name. Amen and Amen.
As I post this it is 61°F and Haze in Baghdad, IQ (Airport), and the time is 3:39 PM AST on November 20, 2009.
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Brats Can Be Re-Trained!

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19 2009

Another day of catch up in my Patriarch study and Joseph has been our person on the scene to educate us as to our own nature and the Nature of our God.   In his younger days Joseph, I think, can best be described as a BRAT, but God had a plan and He worked His plan well and Joseph became a man of integrity, honoring God and saving a Nation from death by starvation.  And, no, we have not gotten to all those scenes yet in our study, but I know from previous studies some of the highlights of Joseph’s journey with Jehovah and I know the ‘brat’ finished well.  That means there is hope for me and per chance in days passed you could have been described as a brat there is hope for you too.
In particular Joseph sat in prison 2 full, long years waiting to be remembered by the Butler in Pharaoh’s house. And this is what Beth, in part, said on page 189 of the work book: “Beloved, what human are we trying to make omnipotent?  Who on this earth have you decided is all-powerful in your life?  Who do you feel dependent upon for a good, solid future?  God means for you and me to cast our utter-dependency only on Him.  His plan does not depend on any human, and certainly not on human memory!  God loves you.  He has well-planned a fruitful life for you.  Nothing and no one critical to your God-planned future can fail to come through once God says it’s time.  No human has the power to overlook what God determines to oversee.  Oh, Beloved, if we get anything at all out of the Joseph saga, it must be the trustworthiness of God’s sovereignty!” 
I love this!  I love the affirmation that God has a well-planned fruitful life for me and for you.  He has commanded for us to be fruitful and He has it all planned out as to how it is to be accomplished. And since ABBA has planned it, He in us CAN DO IT!!  Isn’t that great news on a Thursday morning in 2009?
Genesis 41: 1 Then it came to pass, at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh had a dream; and behold, he stood by the river.  9 Then the chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: “I remember my faults this day.  12 Now there was a young Hebrew man with us there, a servant of the captain of the guard. And we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; to each man he interpreted according to his own dream.  14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; and he shaved, changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.
In the fullness of time when God knew Joseph was trained and ready, he was called out of the dungeon.   It is the same for us.  The CALL will come when we are trained and ready; we have God’s Word on it.  What more do we need?
Praise Reports and Prayer Requests
Kathie – Please be in much prayer for Donald Nicholas.  He is having surgery this (Wednesday) a.m. to have a port placed for dialysis.  He is 53 and has congestion heart failure and kidney failure from obesity and diabetes.  He needs comfort that only the Lord can bring him.  In His Name.  Rachel
ABBA, thank You for Your faithfulness; thank You for Your sovereignty; thank You for the plans You have for each of us.  Thank You for this message; I don’t want to forget it; make it alive and active in me I pray. 
We pray again for Donald and ask for mercy; we ask for procedures and medications to do what they are intended to do and for Donald to be relieved and grow stronger and live.   We pray for our IDOK Troops to be kept safe and sound and to come home to their family and friends at the appointed time.  Thank You for the good things we have experienced today and we pray for strength to process and release the hard and bitter experiences.   We pray for each one listed here, we only know a portion of their needs and since You are fully aware, we pray for Your Will to be accomplished.  Amen and amen.
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. 
Donald N.  Vanessa. W.C. and family. Mary M.  Danny and Tina. Ken and Della.  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. 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. Brenda and her family. Joshua A. Kim T and her parents. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Susie.  Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Darlene’s Sister, Leona. Tammy B and Family. 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. 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.. Maggie and Family. Katelyn (H). J Lloyd. Janet and Steve. Bay and family. Bill and Judy.  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) Brandon B.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Joey H.   10/21/09.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. 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. Richard M. Matt P.  (added 9/24/09)  
As I post this it is 46°F and overcast in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) and the time is 7:19AM AST on November 19, 2009.
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Play Invitation

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2009

You know what just occurred to me as I was exercising with Beverly?
She said JOY is Jesus, Others, and Yourself – we know that!  But do we know there really IS a Y in joy?!
It is last BUT it is there!!
There is a time for us to think of ourselves!   Joy does not mean that you are to never do something for YOU.  It’s okay to think about YOU.  Can you believe it?
It really is okay for you to think about YOU!!  It’s okay to make plans for YOU to actually enjoy YOU.   Joy, in its third analysis is about you doing something for yourself.
And, yes, of course, there is a prerequisite. As you consider a ‘me’ activity, can you answer this question in the affirmative?
Will this focusing on me enable and position me to honor and bless Jesus and others more than I would if I did not do this for myself?
Hmmm – something to ponder, isn’t it?

Mark 6: 30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
 (obtained from Biblegateway.com)

This may be wild to our thinking but try it on for size.
If we listen carefully, we just might hear the LORD JESUS say to us: ‘Son, let’s go play a round of golf.’ or ‘Sweet Girl, let’s go shopping.’
Don’t play golf and you got all the clothes you need?
How about softball, tennis, basketball, jogging, gardening, fishing, boating, hiking, mountain climbing, an afternoon nap in a hammock, painting, taking in a museum or a clean, wholesome movie, reading a book just for the fun of it, skipping stones on the riverbank, a walk to the pier, a walk around town or your neighborhood, taking a photography class?
And the list could go on and on.  The key is hearing HIM say LET US do ____________.
We’d be oh so foolish to say ‘no I don’t have time’ to such a glorious invitation.  Wouldn’t we?  JOY!  There is room for YOU in the holy calling of JOY!!

As I post this it is 50°F and mostly cloudy in Baghdad, IQ (Airport) and the time is 7:24 AM AST  on November 18, 2009.
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Fat Hearts And All

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2009

I’m still off my beaten path this morning and I have my doubts that I am firing on all pistons (hmmm, that’s not much of an explanation; when am I ever firing on all pistons?)  But ABBA always is.
I read Psalm 17, among other passages, and one verse in particular I read over and over, but before I leave you with that one let us consider a portion of David’s Prayer recorded for us to see the heart of David here.
6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
         Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
 7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
         O You who save those who trust in You
         From those who rise up against them.
 8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
         Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
 9 From the wicked who oppress me,
         From my deadly enemies who surround me.        
 10 They have closed up their fat hearts;
         With their mouths they speak proudly.
 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps;
         They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,
 12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey,
         And like a young lion lurking in secret places.
These should be comforting words to us whatever the source of opposition or pain.  Our God is well aware of the ‘fat hearts’ around us; He is well aware that the guns have been aimed and Christians are in the ‘site’ of the ungodly BUT 14 . . .   From men of the world who have their portion in this life,
Have their portion in this life; and then David said:        
 15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
         I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
As for me, I will.  As for you, you will Choose to see that our God is righteous in ALL that He allows and in ALL that He does and the more like Him we yield ourselves to be the more satisfied we are in the here and now AND one day when we AWAKEN at HOME we will be like HIM!
Remember our promise: Deut 30:6 And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.  Amen and Amen
Praise Reports and Prayer Requests
Remember the Stowe/Thompson family today and the Kirk/McCrary/Biggs family today.
ABBA, I sense a rushing in me today and in this moment I am convinced this is no time to rush.  And I would be surprised if I were Your only child sensing a fleshly rush at this moment.  Some of our IDOKs are already busy at work and this mailing did not make it to their email boxes timely; You know I grieve over that; You know I have this sense of responsibility and accountability to them and I am grateful for it.  Only You know where I’d be if You had not given me this ministry, this accountability with them.  And this morning, here I sit ‘rushing’ to meet MY deadline; thank You for Your sweet forgiveness and loving kindness not so much because I am late but because I think MY deadline is so important.  This is Your Ministry and Your Word is true so I am trusting that ALL things work together for good for we who love You and are called according to Your purposes.
Dear and loved people are preparing for memorial services today for Servants that have been enjoying Your Presence since Saturday like they never have before; help these families and friends hold on to that as we say goodbye for now.   And we have others in need; Rudon and his family; may he and all who love him remember that You are righteous in ALL that You allow and You have an Eternal Purpose for the suffering we do in the here and now.   Some Saints come HOME to You in our estimation by ‘easier’ means than others but Praise You we all do get HOME to You because of You, Lord Jesus.  You alone get us HOME.  Thank You.  And I pray that while we are here we will yield to You so that our HOMEGOING is as sweet as it can possibly be.  We are leaning on You for our today and our Eternity.
Please protect and keep safe our IDOK Troops today and please bring each one of them home to family and friends safe and sound we pray.   And again as to every person listed here we pray for Your loving-kindness to be evident to them today.  We pray for faith and strength to embrace Your Glory, Your Goodness today in the Mighty and Holy Name of Jesus Christ the Righteous.   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. 
Vanessa. W.C. and family. Mary M.  Danny and Tina. Ken and Della.  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. 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. Brenda and her family. Joshua A. Kim T and her parents. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Susie.  Rachel and family. Joe and Rose. Darlene’s Sister, Leona. Tammy B and Family. 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. 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.. Maggie and Family. Katelyn (H). J Lloyd. Janet and Steve. Bay and family. Bill and Judy.  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) Brandon B.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Joey H.   10/21/09.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. 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. Richard M. Matt P.  (added 9/24/09)  
As I post this it is 61°F and thunderstorms in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time is 5:24 PM AST  on November 17, 2009.