I’m still in Joel. Don’t know how long I will be there; it’s really not my decision. Okay. Moving on (and speaking of ‘moving along’, I hope you will use the link by Lukas’s name and check in on him).
So far at this writing today, I have read again Joel 1: 1 – 8.
1 THE WORD of the Lord that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.
2 Hear this, you aged men, and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing as this occurred in your days or even in the days of your fathers?
3 Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
4 What the crawling locust left, the swarming locust has eaten; and what the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten; and what the hopping locust left, the stripping locust has eaten.
5 Awake, you drunkards, and weep; wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the [fresh] sweet juice [of the grape], for it is cut off and removed from your mouth.
6 For a [heathen and hostile] nation [of locusts, illustrative of a human foe] has invaded My land, mighty and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and it has the jaw teeth of a lioness.
7 It has laid waste My vine [symbol of God’s people] and barked and broken My fig tree; it has made them completely bare and thrown them down; their branches are made white.
8 Lament like a virgin [bride] girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth [who has died].
It is my understanding that this book of Joel was written first to Israel but ABBA being Who He is can and does speak to others through it, we being some of those others.
Aged men, give a listen; all give a listen. This of course, is my paraphrase. How sad it is that we can come to a place that we think we have ‘aged’ to a point that we have all the answers and we don’t need any instructions. Oh, ABBA, guard us from such stupidity. Do you get the feeling that life had gone from bad to worse in verse 4? To bring it to a modern life, I see calamity following calamity and what one calamity didn’t wreck the next one did. Are you with me here? Don’t you know folks that just seem to live under such a cloud? Why that is, I am not ‘old’ enough to tell you. But if you feel this is you or someone you know, I would suggest – much prayer. Particularly LORD am I contributing to these calamities? If I am, put Your HOLY SPOT LIGHT on it and open my eyes to see it and give me the will to cooperate with You to cease sabotaging my own life. And if I am not if all is well between us, then I am expecting You to ride this out with me until You deliver me.
And the word drunkards immediately reminded me of a passage in the New Testament. Ephesians 5:
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.
We all well know that being drunk is giving over control of our being to something else. And in that state of drunkenness we are at risk for all sorts of calamities. We are even at risk for the enemy of our souls to force his will upon us. And who of us wants that? This we understand about physical drunkenness but do we stop to mediate that failure to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God subjects us to all sorts of spiritual calamities? That refusal to be filled with the Holy Spirit also puts us in a position to have Satan force himself upon us, spiritually? Could I be so bold as to say spiritually rape us? Can you think of any thing more offensive, more harmful, more of a calamity than that for a Christian?
And as I continued to read in Joel I thought okay if we the Church could be reckoned as ‘My land’, what has invaded the Church? And the answer I heard bouncing off the walls of my mind was what hasn’t invaded the Church? What hasn’t laid waste to the Church? What hasn’t broken Her down, stripped Her and left Her naked? What hasn’t invaded Her? What isn’t going on in local bodies of the Church? What evil in the world has not invaded the local bodies? And as I write that I am reminded that local bodies of the Church are made up of three groups of people:
Lost people, those who are just ‘church members’ who have never come to love and trust Jesus to forgive and save them; and
Carnal Christians, that would be precious souls who have somewhere along the way stumbled, fallen and have refused to repent and be filled again with the Holy Spirit; and, then there are the
Spirit-filled saints, those who moment by moment are obeying as best they know how for their level of maturity what the Holy Spirit speaks to them.
And what is the answer for this? Verse 8. Lament! Can you imagine the grief, the wailing, that a Bride would do having waited that whole year, having built their home according to Hebrew custom, having just come from the ceremony that would finally allow them to enter the wedding chamber, and the Groom is killed just outside the door? That is the grief and wailing we as the Bride of Christ must do over our sins and the sins of our brothers and sisters if we are to be delivered from the invaders, the calamities upon and within our local assemblies. ABBA, help us mourn, help us wail our sins as a Hebrew bride would for her dead groom.
Psalm 145:
17 The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth.
Internet Daughters Of the KING
Emma wrote in part: A praise! Josh on the list of Troops on Foreign Soil – is home! He arrived on Wed., greeted by his little wife and twin babies, Hannah and Josh Jr.that are 2. I know a lot of people have prayed for him/them and it is so appreciated. Thank you for your ministry! Thank you for caring about and not forgetting our Troops and their families and their sacrifices so that we have live free and safe.
And to this I add: thank you IDOKs for praying so faithfully for our IDOK Troops. Praise the LORD Josh is home!!
Praise report from Dot:
We had x-rays done this afternoon and my arm is healing nicely! The next step is to start with 6 weeks of physical therapy trusting that healing will continue and that I’ll be able to be back on track by spring. Praise the Lord for this positive report! Thank you for all your prayers and we ask that you please continue to lift us in prayer until this ordeal is completely over. Dot B
DADDY GOD, thank You that You have already been hearing our prayers this morning. Thank You that You are answering us perfectly, in substance and timing. We bring these listed here. Thank You for Dot’s healing and we pray it will continue. Thank You for what You have already done for Lukas and we pray for bones and nerves and cells all to return to normal function and in all this we pray for You to be glorified. Thank You for Josh’s safe return home, bless his reunion now with family and friends and work here in the States. We pray for our IDOK Troops in every place for their protection. Keep them safe LORD from enemies, seen and unseen. Keep their minds stayed on You. Convince them to make holy decisions in duty and play. And please bring each of them home safe and sound at the appointed time. And as George and Laura embark on this new season of their lives I pray they will seek You in every phrase of it. I pray for the Obamas and this administration, You know what needs to be done and I pray it will be so. We pray for Israel, for peace, for wisdom, for protection, for allies to be steady and true. You know Your Plan for them and I pray it be so. I pray again for Rick Warren that his faith and strength be firm today as he stands before the people of America. I pray for America that You will give this nation of people space and grace to repent. And now to the CHURCH. We have been invaded. Forgive us. I’d like to see us all delivered but that won’t be, will it? Broad is the way and many, many have chosen it. But ABBA for those who have chosen You as SAVIOR and LORD, deliver us from our doubts, fears, strongholds, bondages; forgive us and make us firm and strong against Satan, the world and our own flesh. We need You, ABBA. We are helpless and hopeless to do right without You. Revive us LORD and educate us, empower us, motivate us and get us out there ministering Your Gospel to those You have prepared to hear. Amen and amen.
Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Gina. Francis T. Cathy T. Cathie R and family. Emily. Walt. Phillip. Margie and Craig. Sandra. Terry and family. Dot B. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family. Carolyn. Mary. Mabel. Joan. David T’s Family. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Bernie. Darlene and Torkel. Edie G. Rachel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Dylan. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. David & Allison. Jeanette and Earl and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Erin. Alan. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Lance. Candance and Family. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family, Mollie B. Friends at work.
Public and Private School Teachers.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.
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. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N. T. Palin. John L. Richard M. Adam M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G.
Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08) http://www.strafford1st.com/page25/page26/page26.html
Military at home – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G. Captain Tran Josh.
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.
As I post this it is 59°F and haze in Al Asad, IQ& the time there is 3:58 PM AST – on January 20, 2009.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=17849695
And since viewing it, I have stumbled and stammered for words to describe it — still can’t. A video with pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope and a message from Louis Giglio. A superb presentation setting forth that we have no idea of the HUGENESS of GOD! Obviously, atheists have never looked up. And by refusing to look up, refusing to see what is right there for ALL to see, is it any wonder they are non-responsive? With willful intent, choosing to be blind, is it any wonder the poor man held a sign, God is make believe? Oops. I was wrong. Atheists are not non-responsive, they have chosen to respond to the wrong being. They have responded to the Prince of Darkness rather than the Prince of Peace. Scripture is right!
Psalm 53: 1 The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none who does good.
But I can’t leave this devotion like this. I can’t end it here. Not with fools. Not with poor souls holding signs saying God is make believe. We must do more than pity them. More than look upon them as poor benighted souls. And neither are we to fear them or their numbers or their agenda. Our fear meeting their hate will only fan the flames of hell for them. Prayer is needed; prayer for us to exercise the wisdom of God when we encounter them and prayer for them. We can form a prayer for them from Ezekiel 36:
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness; and from all your idols will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them.
Will we be able to reach all of them? No. I don’t think so. Will we even have a platform or an opportunity to reach them all? Probably not. Are some of them too far gone in their delusions? Probably. But that is not for us to judge. That is ABBA’s call. He knows the heart of every man. (2 Chronicles 6:30 Then hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to every man according to all his ways, whose heart You know; for You, You only, know men’s hearts,) Do you personally know a ‘professing make-believer’ – one who is making believe God does not exist? I have one dear to me. His picture sits here on my desk. Intellectually compared to him, textbook-wise, I am a moron. His intellect is ‘off the charts’ so to speak. Yet he is still a professing ‘make-believer’. For all his intellect, he just does not get it. He just does not comprehend: ‘Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so’. And this I know, a spiritually condescending tone (attitude) will not evidence to him the love of God. Only God can lead me in this; only God knows his heart; only God knows the way to replace that stoney heart for a heart of flesh. My job is to pray, my job is to love. The Holy Spirit can do both of these things in me. Do you know a ‘professing make-believer’? Whatcha gonna do about it? You can’t be non-responsive, you know?
My love to you all. Be safe. Be holy in your conduct. Enjoy your weekend. We will be traveling. Prayers appreciated.
 Psalm 145:
17 The Lord is [rigidly] righteous in all His ways and gracious and merciful in all His works.
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. 
Internet Daughters Of the KING
Great news: Kay E went home from the hospital!!
Another one LORD. Another one giving us a call to action. And we want to act upon this. I do. And I am pretty sure that our IDOKs do too so I am praying for them and for me that we will respond to You, to any prompting You give us here. I pray we will not respond in fear or anger or disgust or in any condescending way but in holy love for Jesus sake and for the sake of every ‘make-believer’ we encounter. I don’t know the man holding the sign, don’t know where he is, don’t know the degree of hardness to his heart but this I do know if there is a spark left You will be gracious and You will speak and so I am counting on You to do that. And ABBA You know the precious one in my family who says You don’t exist. You know I don’t believe him. I think he is mad at You about something and rather than confront You with it, he just says You are not there. I think he thinks You were not ‘there for him’ in the multiple of tragedies that hit his family and so therefore, You must not exist. I know You have not forsaken him and so please continue to woo him LORD and if I can do more than pray just move me to do so. I tell You now by faith and grace I will obey You.
And we pray for our list. All of these here. Lots of stuff here, lots of needs, disease and pain, fears and much more; but, You are able and You are willing to do the best for each in the individual need. I just want them to know that with all their hearts so that is my prayer for them – Your Best and for them to believe You. And we are specifically naming our IDOK Troops. It is so special to pray for them and You have been so gracious to them, to all the families. And we desire to see this grace and protection continue today, keeping them safe in mind and body and spirit. You know our prayer for Israel, for America, for the leaders of this Nation – LORD Thy will be done. Amen and amen. Unspoken Requests – situations so close you can only speak to Father about. Gina. Francis T. Cathy T. Cathie R and family. Emily. Walt. Phillip. Margie and Craig. Sandra. Terry and family. Julia O. Ann C. Stan and Jowanna and Family. Carolyn. Mary. Mabel. Joan. David T’s Family. Kimberly. Shay and Emma’s Kids (orphanage in Zambia) Ministry. Susan D. Jason A and his mother. Wayne B. Melinda H. Trisha. Patti’s Family. Brennan and his family. Joshua. Branson. The O’Brien family. Kim and her Fiancee. Jonathan. Mabel’s Aunt Lou. Heather and Brandon. Bernie. Darlene and Torkel. Edie G. Rachel. W C and family. Maggie and Family. Dylan. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn and Family. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. David & Allison. Jeanette and Earl and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glyn and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa. Brad, Lindsay, Karah and Haley. Chuck. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Erin. Alan. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Lance. Candance and Family. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Andrew and Daughters. Lee. Sharron and family, Linda and family, Bev and Family, Mollie B. Friends at work.
Public and Private School Teachers.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family. Every IDOK church.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Brant W. Christopher R. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G. Kyle N. Michael K. Sgt. Bozicevich. Bay N. T. Palin. John L. Richard M. Adam M. Bobby G. (added 12/16/08) Tommy T.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Brandon B.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Lee. George. Travis N. Hawk. Justin G.
Injured: Lukas S. (11/30/08) http://www.strafford1st.com/page25/page26/page26.html
Military at home – Tim. Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J. Lyndon A. Jason G. Captain Tran
The Peace of Israel.
Revival in America.
As I post this it is 36°F and partly cloudy in Baghdad, IQ & the time there is 8:11 AM AST- on January 16, 2009.