Monthly Archives: December 2009

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A Little Late this Monday Morning

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009

I am way late but I am here; have not been up long and as I begin, we are in the midst of Jerry preparing for work so allow me to give you a quick hello and share with you what Max Lucado had to say yesterday in his book Grace For the Moment, page 371.  It may be just right for today too.

A Heavenly Affirmation
2 Corinthians 6:18 (New King James Version)
18 “ I will be a Father to you,
      And you shall be My sons and daughters,
      Says the LORD Almighty.”
Each of us has a fantasy that our family will be like the Waltons, an expectation that our dearest friends will be our next of kin.  Jesus didn’t have that expectation.  Look how He defined His family: “My true brother and sister and mother are those who do what God wants” (Mark 3:35).
When Jesus’ brother didn’t share His convictions, He didn’t try to force them.  He recognized that His spiritual family could provide what His physical family didn’t. . . .
We can’t control the way our family responds to us.  When it comes to the behavior of other toward us, our hands are tied.  We have to move beyond the naïve expectation that if we do good, people will treat us right. The fact is they may and they may not – we cannot control how people respond to us. . . .
Let God give you what your family doesn’t.  If your earthly father doesn’t affirm you, then let your heavenly Father, take his place. . . .
[And] don’t lose heart.  God still changes families.   He Still Moves Stones.
Thankfully this may not apply to all of us as to families and if not let us praise the Lord.  But you know, even if all is well within the home there are offices and school rooms wherein we have people with whom we rub elbows 5 days a week – they may not always be kind. They may not always appreciate or approve.  They may even expect more from us than we can or should give.  When that happens, remember Jesus and move on. 
I love you all. Thank you for your patience.  Sweet Heavenly blessings on you today!
Praise Reports and Prayer Requests
Update on Suzi:  my last word is the surgery appears to be successful and she and the family are waiting to see how recovery comes along.
ABBA, You know our needs; thank You for meeting them within families, within offices, within school rooms and every other place our IDOKs may be this day.  Thank You for Suzi’s surgeries and we pray she will recover and be whole.   Thank You for our IDOKs and I pray for them today that each will know that they know that they know You are with us and in You all is well even when all does not look well with our health, our families, our finances, whatever anyone of us is experiencing, You are God and You are doing all things well for we Your people.  Thank You.  Please protect and keep safe our IDOK Troops today and bring each of them home safe and sound and more in love with You than when they deployed.  Thank You for the privilege of praying for each specific unspoken, each general unspoken, Moms and Dads and Grandparents who have children and grandchildren concerns and every other person listed here by name, ABBA, we pray For Your Will to come upon each in Jesus Matchless and Holy Name.   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. 
La Juanna. Ed G. Tammy and family.  Ms. Page.  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. Alice T. Elaine W and Family. Joni and Todd. Roy and Julee. Glenn R and his family. Holly. Donald 2. 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. Martha McC. Tamra and Family. Suzi.  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 56°F and haze in Al Asad, IQ (Airport) and the time is 5:13 PM AST and on December 7, 2009.
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Tea Cups

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2009

As I was driving across the Bay on Tuesday mulling over recent days a picture formed on the wall of my mind and I want to share it with you.  I want to share it because I really believe the Holy Spirit of God gave it to me for me and for you.  I believe it will help us. 
When we first begin to bring our thoughts into captivity unto Christ; you know what thoughts I am speaking about.  Those thoughts that Scripture calls fiery darts; those that begin with ‘what if’; those thoughts that can send us into an emotional heap – those kind! And so when we first begin (or maybe, begin again) to resist those thoughts rather than laying in an emotional heap beneath them, it can FEEL like we are standing before the mouth of hell with a teacup of water trying to put out the fire. And as we are about to pitch that teacup of water on the fire, we are hit with more fiery darts, like: ‘What’s the use? Who do you think you are? And what good do you think this is going to do?  This is too much, you can’t win this.  You can’t put this fire out with a teacup! And then what he hopes to be the clincher: You know if God really loved you, He would not allow you to suffer this way!’  Please refuse to listen to that trash!  Please don’t give up.  Let us keep on keeping on with our teacup of water pouring every drop we got on those raging fires and the Holy Spirit WILL come in and He WILL turn our teacup of water into a FLOOD and He WILL extinguish those flames.  And YOUR victory will be oh so sweet!! 
Here are some verses to put in our tea cups.
Psalm 27: (New King James Version)
 13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.        
What a confession is this one!  The Psalmist knew unless he believed, he would lose heart, he knew he had to keep on keeping on with his ‘teacup’ until he SAW the Goodness of the LORD in his ‘here and now’.
 14 Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!  Look at that promise!  If we will wait on HIM (and the wait means trust, rest upon, lean back on; curl up in His Lap, so to speak, and rest our head on His Heart), HE shall, not maybe, but SHALL strengthen us.
Hebrews 13: (New King James Version)
5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Deuteronomy 31: (New King James Version)
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
Philippians 4: (King James Version)
 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Psalm 37:(New King James Version)
 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
         For the LORD upholds him with His hand.
Amen! Stuff is going to happen and we are going to get cut and bruised and wounded BUT we shall NOT be utterly cast down!! AMEN!          
 25 I have been young, and now am old;
         Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
         Nor his descendants begging bread.
I’ve seen the time that this one got me through some really lean times but in HIM we knew we would NOT starve.  And today you and I can know, we may not always be comfortable but in HIM we will get through any hardship, even debt and financial losses. Amen!  And this one.  Now this one in years passed I wrote it and others out on index cards and taped them over my kitchen sink, the bathroom mirror and various other places, as well as carried them around with me so I could read them again and again.  Sound radical?  Maybe so but when one is desperate, desperate measures get the job done.  And at the time I didn’t even know Beth Moore.  :) I’ve since learned she does the same.  
This one I particularly like in the NASB  Psalm 145:
17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways  And kind in all His deeds.
18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
This one said to me that even though what I was experiencing was not right and certainly was not kind that my GOD was Right and He was Kind even though He was allowing me to stay and stay and stay in that season.  If I had not chosen to believe those two verses moment by moment, I don’t believe I would not have kept on loving Him in that season of my life.
Today we may want to pick up 17, 18 AND 19 to put in our tea cup.
  19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.
As I complete this writing I am so excited about it that I am having to curtail myself to keep from posting it early.   I so want you to have His Word to sustain you, encourage you and lift you higher than you have imagined.  I love you all, my dear, dear IDOKs.
A P.S. from later in the day from page 209, day 4, week 9 (The Patriarchs by Beth Moore): Remember, the goal of all true discipline is to disciple.  God never chastises His child past the point of teaching.  He never punishes just to punish.
As I post this it is 43°F and partly cloudy in Baghdad, IQ (Airport) and the time is 7:24 AM AST and on December 3, 2009.
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Eyes

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2009

Without viewing previous devotions I cannot say how long it has been since we were encouraged to personalize the Scriptures, yet today I am inclined to say it again after reading Beth’s comments relative to Genesis 43:15.
I am again encouraging us when we read Scripture to take it personally; to put ourselves in the place of the person in the passage. Today in lesson 3 of week 9 of the Patriarchs’ study it is Jacob.
11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. 14 And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”   15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph.
This is what Beth said: “My heart aches for Jacob as we reach the end of our reading today.  Can you imagine his sorrow as his sons, including “the boy”, disappeared over the horizon?  Read verse 15 slowly and carefully as we conclude.  Don’t miss the order of things taken on the journey back to Egypt.  “So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also.” And Benjamin also.  The agonizing phrase almost seems postponed until the last possible second.  “The ‘and Benjamin’ hangs like the resigned sigh of a father trapped between the need to live and the possibility of a life made utterly empty through another loss.’ ” I can almost hear the father’s prayer: “Have mercy, God Almighty. Have mercy.” 
My eyes are spilling tears as I hear Jacob cry, “Have mercy, God Almighty. Have mercy” because many times I have cried ‘Have mercy, ABBA, have mercy’.  And no doubt if life here continues I will cry it again – ‘Have mercy, ABBA, have mercy.’
And I have one more cry from seeing Jacob this way and that is ‘ABBA, teach me this way of seeing the life, the emotions, the pain, the joy, the encouragement, the hope, the struggles, the triumphs, the failures, the instructions, and on and on in Your Word in the faces and lives of our Spiritual Ancestors, real people who lived and died and who yet live with You and who we will one day see and talk with.  Train me Holy Spirit, to see what You have written on these pages for us. Amen and amen’. 
ABBA, thank You for Your Word and for Your Servant, Beth, who ministers so well to us; I pray that her love and knowledge of Your Word continually increase; I pray You will protect her, and her family, and all of Living Proof Ministries from all enemies and that she will remain a faithful servant filled with Your Spirit to every good work that You have called her to.    Thank You for today’s message to us; hear our cry and fill us with wonder at Your Word; fill us with Your Word that we will not sin against You.  Thank You that Suzi’s surgery has been approved and scheduled and we pray that it be textbook perfect and that Suzi will receive the relief she is seeking.  We pray too that this experience will inspire and yield a new lease on ‘Life’ for Suzi.  Lord, so love on Suzi that she ‘falls head over heels in love’ with You I pray.    Again, today, we thank You for our IDOK Troops and we ask You to continue to protect them from harm in spirit, soul, and body, and it is still our desire that each of them come home safe and sound at their appointed time and added to that we pray that their love and devotion to You will grow and grow.  We pray for each one whose name is written here; in particular, Roy and Julee come to mind this morning, oh, Lord Jesus, be so there for them; be so there for them that they can feel You holding them there in the room where they are.  And, we are still waiting for word on Logan, so we are still praying for that precious little boy asking You Lord Jesus to touch his little frame and restore him to his family.  And, we still have specific unspokens fresh with us this morning giving You praise that You are Good and You are mindful of every need and You are meeting our needs day by day.  Thank You, ABBA.  And as we bring this to closure and as we send it to our treasured IDOKs and Readers we pray each of them will hear Your Word individually and personally and especially for them; that each of them will just know that they know You are for them; You are with them; that You will not leave them or forsake them or fail them; that Your Word is true; that You can be trusted; that You are worthy of our love and trust; that You are in love with us; that we are Your Dear Children in Christ Jesus, Your Only Begotten Son. We love You, ABBA, and we pray when this day is done that we will be more in love with You than we are right now in this moment. Amen and amen.  
As I post this it is 66°F and clear in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time is 3:33 PM AST and on December 2, 2009.

Please understand this is not a blanket endorsement of the aforementioned Author or all the works coming from her pen.