IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2009

Let me give you the Seven (7) Facts that Beth gave us in Three (3) sessions this passed weekend.

1. Nothing dictates our lives like our desires.

What is a desire? It’s a longing that does not go away, emotions do not change it, time does not alter it. That’s a desire. And she said in the final analysis people do what they want to do. She’s right.

2. Beneath the desires of our hearts is the heart of our desires.

3. Delighting in God adapts our desires into inevitabilities.

4. Nothing external can steal our right to delight.

Here she said when delight has disappeared, check our JAW by asking these questions: Am I jealous over something or some person? Am I Angry about something or someone? Am I Worried about something or someone? If we answered yes to any one of those questions our delight has disappeared and we need to go to the next step.

5. To make room for delight we have to commit.

Here she said, Commit means to roll that thing over on Jesus; so when that JAW is acting up and our delight has vanished, the question she asked us is this…are we in or out? Are we gonna do this thing (called life) in Jesus name or not? It’s time to commit, she said. Or was it ABBA that said that? Yes, I believe it was!

6. Nothing is passive about patiently waiting for desire to turn into delight.

7. Till faith becomes sight, trust God and do good!

I learned today that a download of the Simulcast will be made available for purchase (I assume) in a few months … I plan to do that! It will be a blessing to hear all three sessions again and again. May our daily prayer be: O LORD grant to me a heart to delight in You.

Forgive the length of today’s devotion, but I want to give you one more thing before we go to prayer.

1 Timothy 2:1 (New King James Version)

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

Lets take a look at these words as defined at my online dictionary:

Supplication

An appeal for help

Prayers

Reverent petitions made to God

Intercessions

A word for intervention and meditation

In Christian practice, intercessory prayer is the act of one person praying for or on behalf of another. The prayer intercedes on behalf of the subject, believing that God will answer the prayer according to His will. (bold emphasis, red color and underline is mine) That’s why praying His Word is a key part of intercession. The prayer person is not creating new ideas or requests, but presenting God with His own ancient and Holy words contained in the Bible. One prays “Your will be done” not “my will be done” in a given circumstance. The focus is not on the person or circumstance; the focus is on the Lord, His words, His will, His influence, His impact on the person’s life or situation.

Let me remind you this definition was retrieved from a SECULAR place. I am thrilled by it and doesn’t it resoundingly say to us that we must be praying God’s Word back to Him for others? I want to do this! But I have to know the Word to pray it, don’t I?

Giving of Thanks

An expression of appreciation or gratitude

Yes! Yes! He answers prayer!!

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

An update on Kyle: He is still in Kuwait and has been extremely busy. He doesn’t talk much about his job assignments but is none too happy to be there. His health is better but his weight is still down 25 lbs from when he left in March. He has learned to play the guitar and ukulele since he has been gone and played a little for me when he called so that tells me he is doing something to keep his mind occupied. He said tell everyone hello and keep praying for all their safety. He keeps getting the phone number wrong when he calls home but has made good friends with an older guy named Ted that he somehow keeps calling when he tries. The guy encourages him whenever he gets him on the phone. Strangers can make a difference….. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. Rachel.

Update on Sparky: They did a CAT scan on Sparky this morning, but don’t have results yet. Lisa, his daughter, told me on the phone that he is still with us and of course we’re praising God for that. Love, Rose

ABBA, Thank You again for the teaching You gave to Beth to share with 90,000 women this passed weekend and thank You that the teaching will go on and on. I cannot imagine what works could be done in this dark world if all 90,000 of us had hearts that delighted in You. I want that. And I want that for our IDOKs. I want that for every man, woman, boy and girl who has been washed in the Blood of Jesus. Inspire and motive me to receive that heart from You for You. And I’m not asking just for me but any soul praying along with us here. Thank You for this encouragement regarding Kyle; thank You that he wants us to keep praying for all our IDOK Troops and so we do, for them to be safe and protected from the evil one and all his cohorts; for them to have courage and hope, for them to desire to be faithful to You and this Country. We pray this Country will be faithful to them. I pray for the peace of Israel; for allies to be faithful and for Israel to receive every promise You have made to them. We pray now too for each person named here, You know their needs even better than we and we pray Your Will be done. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. 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

Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.

Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.

The Peace of Israel.

Revival in America.

ABBA, I have removed the ‘posting’ for the Cleansing of America but I know the prayer is eternal with You.

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 77°F and haze in Al Sahra, IQ (Airport) and the time is 5:59 AM AST on September 3, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2009

Psalm 119

51 The proud have me in great derision,

Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.

52 I remembered Your judgments of old, O LORD,

And have comforted myself.

Oh this is neat. The Psalmist was being scorned, folks were against him, but instead of feeling sorry for himself and turning away from God, instead of turning from doing good or from believing; he REMEMBERED the Word he knew and he comforted himself. He did not have to frantically go to a meeting or turn on the TV and find a preacher. Not that any of that is bad; it is good if that is where we are in our walk with Christ, by all means lets do it. But don’t we want to get to the place we can and will REMEMBER the Word we already know and comfort ourselves? Oh, that is good!

And I want to show you something else in Psalm 119. It delights me to see this word picture of repentance.

59 I thought about my ways,

And turned my feet to Your testimonies.

60 I made haste, and did not delay

To keep Your commandments.

Can you see? Beautiful, isn’t it?

I posted the following at Kat’s Meows on Tuesday but in case you missed it let me share it with you here; it’s entitled

Shrink Wrap

Is this an analogy or what?! I sat trying to open a CD, the shrink wrap around it, I mean. Sometimes those wraps have a little lip or start flap and if you can find that then the wrap comes off easily. IF you cannot find that little start lip, you can turn that CD every which way but loose and getting into it is well, it just ain’t gonna happen. Unless you get some sharp instrument and puncture the wrap. And when you do, well the struggle is over, and you’re in. I did that today and with it came this thought. Wouldn’t it be great to be so wrapped in the Word of God that Satan and his evil darts just could not find a place to get in? Wouldn’t you love to know he was wearing himself out tearing and racing around your life looking for that little opening and he just could not find one! Oh my goodness! I’d love to torture him that way!!! But then I think: no, that cannot be my motivation for feeding on the Word or suiting up in the Armor of God; no, that cannot be my motivation, but it wouldn’t hurt to enjoy it as a perk! Would it?

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

This came in at 2:21PM Tuesday: Sparky is in surgery to have his leg amputated. Hopefully, this will get the infection from his body and he can start to get well. He had improved enough for the surgery. Thanks for your prayers. Please keep praying. God is good. Janet

Thank you for your prayers for my brother, Donald. His surgery went fine. The doctor removed three lymph nodes to be tested for cancer cells. One was really deep and he is sore from the surgery. We will not know the results of the pathology report for two weeks. Please continue to remember him. Love and thanks, La Juanna

ABBA, I love it when an idea comes together! Thank You! And thank You for Your Word, given and preserved for us; thank You that Your Word is as alive today as it was before the initial ink was dry. Thank You for the grace of repentance, I need it so often. I pray now for each of these listed here, You know their names, their faces, their lives, everything about them, what they need and how to get it to them and that is what I am asking, every need to be met. Give peace and hope to Donald and the family as they wait for news and we’d so like for it to be no cancer news and we’d like to hear that Sparky is free of infection and recovery will be forthcoming. We pray for our IDOK Troops for their safety and well being in spirits, souls, and bodies; we pray for their safe returns home to family and friends. We pray for the peace of Israel, protect and open doors for Your Missionaries and, Lord, connect Your Body and empower us to minister Your Gospel in our homes, congregations, workplaces, shopping areas, playgrounds and school houses; wherever we go shape us into ministers of Your Salvation. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. 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

Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.

Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.

The Peace of Israel.

Revival in America.

ABBA, I have removed the ‘posting’ for the Cleansing of America but I know the prayer is eternal with You.

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 81°F and clear in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time 5:34 AM AST on September 2, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2009

Oh my goodness at your first opportunity, you’ve just got to read the 13^th chapter of Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a man to be reckoned with! Do you remember in yesterday’s devotion there were two fellows giving Nehemiah and his people some trash talk? Well, in Chapter 13 I read that one of those fellows, Tobiah, had been catered to and fawned all over by the Levites prior to Nehemiah coming on the scene. In fact Tobiah, an Ammonite mind you, had been given, by the Levites, access to the Temple to store his stuff in one of the temple rooms. Can you imagine that?! Neither could Nehemiah and he said this in verse 8: And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room. 9. Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense. I love it! What I really, really like about this is that Nehemiah didn’t throw the stuff out in a fit of rage; it was in grief, bitter grief that the House of God was being abused. Maybe we ought to get bitterly grieved and do some throwing out too.

Later on in chapter 13, you will read about the merchandizing that was being done on the Sabbath. Oh did he ever get ‘grieved’ about that too. And read what he did in verse 21: Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. What I am picturing here is the merchants were camping out ready to rush in like folks do these days waiting to buy concert tickets or to get some big ticket item for Christmas, and Nehemiah shut down that party. I love it! Nehemiah was radical. He radically loved God, the House of God, the people of God and he pitched out those things that harmed and hindered others from coming to radically love God, His House and His People. Do we have any Nehemiahs in the house? If we do, please stand up and start pitching.

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

ABBA, You are so God. Your Word is so AWESOME. Thank You for recording this for us. We are a long way from being as jealous and zealous for You as Nehemiah and I know that Nehemiah was Nehemiah and he had his calling and we have ours but I really think that we could do a lot better with this bitter grieving over the sins inside and outside Your Church. And I am praying right now that You will give us some holy bitter grief over what is happening in the Churches and outside the Churches. And You know I have been thinking lately that we have a lot more to be excited about than we have realized. I am thinking that there are a bunch more of us in this world that do love You than maybe I thought there were and so I am asking You to connect us and empower us to rock this place for Your Glory.

I pray for our IDOK Troops for their continued protection and for encouragement and correction, whatever is needed for them to be godly men and women and please bring them each home safe and sound. And for each name listed here, we pray their souls will prosper and their spirits to be renewed like eagles and for Your glory please heal them all as You will. Amen and amen. A SPECIFIC UNSPOKEN. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. 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

Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.

Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.

The Peace of Israel.

Revival in America.

ABBA, I have removed the ‘posting’ for the Cleansing of America but I know the prayer is eternal with You.

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 77°F and partly cloudy in Balad, IQ (Airport) and the time 4:31 AM AST on September 1, 2009.

IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 31, 2009

I am hoping to invest some time today in going over my notes, especially the starred ones, from the Simulcast and maybe I will have something to share with you from either Friday or Saturday’s sessions with Beth. I can tell you this much, it was GOOD to be there!

For this morning, let me pull something from My Understandings of the Word folder, and since my reading and studying right now is in Nehemiah, let’s go to Nehemiah 4.

Know what I love about Nehemiah? Here in the first three verses of chapter 4, Sanballat and Tobiah did their best to discourage him and the work God called him to do.

Nehemiah 4 (New King James Version)

1 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish—stones that are burned?”

3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall.”

Talk about ‘trash mouthing’, these guys were doing it, don’t you think? BUT Nehemiah; did not enter into a debate, nor did he set himself to defend. No. He went straight to God. And as I think about it that was a point Beth made this weekend, not from this text, but another, that when people say things to us or about us that hurt, makes us angry or discouraged, rather than give them a piece of our mind, let us give our mind, heart, and mouth to telling Father just how we feel about it and He’ll take care of it the RIGHT way.

4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity! 5 Do not cover their iniquity, and do not let their sin be blotted out from before You; for they have provoked You to anger before the builders.

Yep! Nehemiah just laid it out there the way he FELT. And THEN he left it with the Father and went to work.

6 So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

I think that is a fine formula for dealing with trashy-mouth people, don’t you?

Father, thank You for lessons from Your Word and servants, and may we learn them and apply them well today as life gives us the opportunity. Thank You for each IDOK on the other side of this screen; love on them and bless them today, encourage them and me too, to do the right thing today and to come running to You first before we say things that will not honor You and will not build up the Body of Christ or storm the gates of hell.

Keep safe our IDOK Troops today in spirit, soul, and body; please bring them all home safe and sound at the appointed time we pray. And every name just read below I pray for them today, for their peace, for healing, for comfort, for pain relief, for new courage and hope, whatever it is that each of them needs individually, I know You have an overabundant supply for them, I pray they will come to You and receive in Jesus Name. I pray for Israel, for peace. I pray for America for repentance and for us, the Church, I pray we will war well today on our knees in the love and power You give us through our Savior and Lord Jesus. Amen and amen.