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It’s Our Duty? !!

IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2007

That was a fast weekend! And a full one too.
A good time on Friday night with sweet friends, a memorial service on Saturday morning, a Christmas tree, new knitting needles and a visit with family and on Sunday, Sunday School and Freedom Salute at the Armory for the 226! And now it’s Monday again! And this morning I am later getting started here with today’s IDOK.
Confession time. Often here lately I have not written our IDOKs during the day hours for sending to you in the morning or late p.m. Hours and I have been sitting here at the computer as Jerry was getting ready for work (including breakfast by himself). But this morning I said No, not gonna do that. And so we began this morning with a duet of ‘This is the Day’ (no, I’m not kidding – not a concert for the ears of anyone else but we loved it) and devotional time with our breakfast.

W.C.Dobbs, Sr.’s memorial service was – I am paused here looking for words to describe it – wonderful, a pleasure, a blessing – not words we normally associate with a memorial service but it was. I never met Dr. Dobbs but after Saturday I feel like I know him and I am helped by him. I am encouraged by him and this morning I am still thinking of ways I can practice some of the things he practiced. Like more prayer, much more prayer – he and the Dobbs family take this matter of prayer seriously. And not just prayer but Bible study and other reading material and current events and on and on. And this morning’s decision to let IDOK wait a little bit and have breakfast with Jerry? That was a decision coming from Saturday’s memorial service too. Dr. Dobbs has given me a lot to mediate upon. And to our God and Savior be the Glory!!

A quote from my calendar:
“To act lovingly is to begin to feel loving, and certainly to act joyfully brings joy to others,
Which in turn makes one feel joyful. I believe we are called to the duty of delight.”
Dorothy Day.

Okay. I think we have a message here this morning and none of it has been planned by me!
This is the Day the Lord has made, I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.
Dr. Dobbs prayer and singing and reading and rejoicing and setting priorities.
And now TODAY’s calendar reading.
Yes, I think the calendar is right we have a DUTY to Delight – To delight ourselves in our God and Father and those in our homes, across our computer screens and outside our doors. And you know what? I have been doing a poor job of this lately!! But this morning is a new day!

Deuteronomy 16:10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you.

11 You shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide.
12 And you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

In EVERY situation in whatever place we are today, we are ALL called to rejoice in our God and Savior because each of us however hard or soft our place today, we who have been saved have been delivered from Egypt. And Father’s Word to me today is ‘Little Girl, you have a Duty to ME to Delight yourself in ME and rejoice!’ And all I can say to that is ‘Thank You Daddy and Yes, Sir!!’

Thank You Father. You are AWESOME and so good to me, to all of us. Thank You. Thank You for corrections and admonitions straight from Your Throne to me. Thank You and Holy Spirit by Your Grace it will be done today!
And Father, we have some people we want to talk with You about today. First, Jason. Thank You that he is improving and we pray continued improvement and not just improvement but complete restoration, restoration so great that he and Vicki stand in awe of You and bow in praise and surrender to You anew and afresh, greater and better than ever before. Give Sharron and Vicki strength today to work. And we think of the Toomey Family and Wheeler Family and these too with so many needs but this we know YOU are Able Father and You are willing to supply. Thank You. And so we commend this to You for this day. And this day we pray for our IDOK Troops and we ask You to protect them in mind and body and spirit and to bring this war to a successful conclusion and bring each of our IDOK Troops home safe and sound and more in love with You than when they deployed. And we pray for the Peace of Israel and thank You for our kinship with them and we pray for the Repentance of America and we pray that You will move on the behalf of the Man You have chosen for the Presidency of America and that each and every person who has You Holy Spirit dwelling within will listen to YOU and vote according to Your Instructions and all this we ask in Your Name Lord Jesus. Thank You. Thank You for this day. Amen and Amen.

The Peace of Israel Joseph Toomey and Family. Wheeler Family. Mary Ann. Mr. Nash. DeLois. Terri. Leah O. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Janie B. W.C. & Family . Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Jessie L. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.

Psalm 37: 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

5 Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

As I post this it is 63°F and sunny in Baghdad, Iraq & the time there is 5:o1 PM AST – on December 3, 2007

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU

The Question!

IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2007

November 30, 2007 can you believe it?!
I was listening to a young preacher yesterday and he had some good things to say. This statement stays with me the most:
There is nothing wrong with asking the question IF the question does not hinder us from obedience.
He did not elaborate the question but I can imagine. Could that question be WHY? Why God? Why did You allow this to happen? Why did You not stop this from happening? Why?
Folks have been criticized by well meaning friends for asking that question; for asking any form of that WHY question. But according to the young preacher’s statement well meaning friends may be wrong in their counsel to us. And we may be shouldering an unnecessary burden of guilt. We may be condemning ourselves for asking Why and maybe we should not.
Have you continued to obey even though that question of WHY keeps popping up? Have you continued to Praise Him, Trust Him and Love Him even though you don’t understand the happening? Yes? Then unload your burden of guilt today – there’s NO SIN in asking WHY. There’s only SIN when we ask why AND refuse to walk humbly with our God even though He does not tell us WHY!
Micah 6: 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
Father, thank You that You are not offended with us or troubled when we ask why and continue to walk with You, continuing to obey and continuing to trust You. I pray You will use Your Word today to comfort and give strength to us.
And we come this morning again with the Wheeler Family as they participate in a Memorial Service for their daughter; comfort the family and friends and give Brandon strength as he sings, may it all be for Your Glory.
We continue to remember all these and our IDOK Troops asking that You protect them today in mind and body and spirit and that You bring them home to us safe and sound and that You bring this war to a successful conclusion. That You place in the Presidency of this Nation in 2008 who You have chosen for us – Lord, we want ‘David’ not ‘Saul’. Thank You Father and I pray that we as your people will KNOW and vote according to Your Direction to us. We pray for the peace of Israel and the repentance of America. Thank You for this day before us and help us live better today than yesterday for Jesus sake.

The Peace of Israel. Joseph Toomey and Family. Wheeler Family. Mary Ann. Linda P. Mr. Nash. DeLois. Terri. Leah O. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. & Family . Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Jessie L. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
As I post this it is 59°F and mostly cloudy in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 4:07 PM AST – on November 30, 2007

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU

Thanksgiving Should Linger for a New Look

IDOK DEVOTION for Thursday November 29, 2007

Please accept a re-run this morning from November 28, 2003

I hope you all are having a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. I slept until the sun woke me up this morning! Of course, I did not go to bed until about 1:00 am this morning … Just enjoyed the quiet of the house after all the children and grandchildren had gone home and started those extra domestic things I wanted to do … Like re-arranging stuff on the kitchen counters and etc. -there is still more I want to do this weekend but this morning I got up to a “new look”. I like “new looks”. And you know and since the mercies of our God and King are new every morning:
It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant Is Your stability and Faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22 and 23)

Amen. Great and Abundant is His STABILITY and FAITHFULNESS! Lean on Him today!
We can have a “new look” every day; every day is a fresh start for each of us. Every new sunrise is a new opportunity for us to begin again. Every morning is a “resurrection” of sorts for us. Yesterday has passed and this morning we get to begin again with Jesus. We have a brand new, clean day before us and we can write, and paint, and create on this new canvas of life a beautiful blessing, if we choose to do so. And something I read this morning in my Day Spring Newsletter and which sparked this IDOK hello will help us write and paint and create on our canvases today something beautiful!

One of the great indicators of true spirituality is not measured by how many times we go to church, how big our Bibles are, or how long we pray, but it is measured by the level of gratitude that is in our hearts. When we are ungrateful, the heart of God is saddened, the Holy Spirit is grieved, and the joy of the Lord is quenched within us.
“When ye will offer

a sacrifice of thanksgiving
Unto the Lord, offer it
At your own will.”
– Leviticus 22:29 KJV
Being thankful sweetens you, grumbling sours you; being thankful brings sunshine to your countenance, being ungrateful casts a shadow; being thankful brings a melody to your words, criticism makes you sound like a clanging cymbal; being thankful keeps your feet on the pathway of celebration, complaint takes you down the road of despair.

Hey, this turned out to be pretty good stuff this morning!
Father God, You are so good to me. Thank You; thank You for being You and thank You for a brand new start today; for a brand new day; for a brand new page; a brand new canvas; one that is washed clean by the Blood of Jesus; thank You. And thank You that even if and when I flub up today You have already forgiven me the penalty for flubbing up and when I draw close to You I can start over today as many times as I need to. Thank You Lord. Amen and amen.

And now 4 years later and many new looks and pages and canvases, we are still beginning again.
We have special prayer requests this morning.
Also, will you please ask for prayer for our son Jon and wife Elizabeth. That God will help their marriage to grow strong. Also for a job for Jon. Not just any job. A job that will let him know that only God could get him that job.Thanks, CarmenI like the way that is phrased: will let him know that only God could get him that job! And Our God can do that!!

Father, thank You for the new looks we have experienced these 4 years, thank You for the innumerable times we have ‘begun again’; thank You that Your Mercies are NEW each morning and throughout the day as we call upon You. And this morning we are calling on behalf of Jon and Elizabeth, for a steadiness, for strength to the fiber of their marriage and for more holy fun and we ask for a job for Jon and as Carmen said Lord a job that is such a ‘dream’ that only YOU could pull it off and I know YOU can do that; You did it recently for another and we are so grateful Father. Thank You. And this morning we are calling on behalf of these too. You know every need and desire of the hearts of these and You know what is best and it is for Your best that we ask for these.
The Peace of Israel Mr. Nash. DeLois. Terri. Leah O. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. & Family . Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Jessie L. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
And we pray for our IDOK Troops today, for protection in mind and body and spirit. We pray for strength to make right decisions and to follow after You today and we ask You to bring them home to us safe and sound at the appointed time and we ask that You bring a successful conclusion to this war. We pray for the Peace of Israel, for the Repentance of America, for the presidential election that the ONE You have chosen will be elected. Thank You Father in Jesus Holy and Mighty Name.

AN OPPORTUNITY, PLEASE TAKE NOTE:
“Operation Christmas Calls,” is a charity event to benefit deployed Alabama soldiers and their loved ones.

This event provides soldiers and their loved ones a 1/2 hour video conference session at no cost to the family or deployed soldiers stationed at:
Camp Taji
Camp Fallujah
Camp Taqaddum
Al Asad Airbase
Camp Victory
If you or anyone you know would be interested in participating, contact
Prudential Nichols Real Estate at 251.626.2030
prior to December 16th. This will be an all day event and scheduled appointments are necessary.

As I post this it is 66°F and mostly cloudy in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 3:53 PM AST – on November 29, 2007

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU

Jack Frost – Real or Fiction

IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2007

Are you aware that the Father takes delight in you and that He thinks about you all the time? .. Jack Frost

Names are important and what is associated with a Name is crucial. The quote today was spoken/written by Jack Frost. If you go to your Internet browser search window and type in just ‘jack frost’, the first page of links you receive has nothing to say about the author of our quote. But if you type in ‘jack frost author’, up comes Jack Frost – Christian writer.
Jack died this year on March 5 leaving his wife, children, grand-children and a couple books behind.
Experiencing the Father’s Embrace’, and ‘Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship’.
Strange, isn’t it? Hardly a person is not familiar with the elfish creature who personifies crisp, cold winter weather and there’s a movie by that name as well. I believe Michael Keaton portrays him.
But how many of us heard of Jack Frost, Christian writer, before today?
Most of the people who occupy (past, present or future) this planet, live and physically die with little or no recognition, certainly not as much as Jack Frost, an imaginary creation.
Isn’t it GREAT to know that Father God has RECOGNIZED you and shall NEVER forget you?
Enjoy a portion of Psalm 139 and acknowledge by your thinking, talking and ‘walk’ today that YOU are on the Mind and Heart of the Creator of the Universe, even if only a handful of people know your name!
1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
5 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.
We are in Awe of Your Father Lord. You know each and every one of us, nothing about us is hidden from You and You love us still! Thank You Father. And this morning we continue to think of and pray for WC and the family as they prepare a memorial service for his Dad. And we continue to think of the Wheeler Family and Joseph Toomey and his family and many others as listed here and we pray for them – that they will be made strong in faith and their love for You will deepen even today. And we trust You too to provide every need of each one. And we bring our IDOK Troops for protection – mind, body and spirit and we ask You for safe returns of each and every one of them. And we pray for a successful conclusion to this war soon. And Father, we pray for families in need, in need of a place to invest time and energy for dollars to support and care for their families – Lord, open those places to them and give them peace in it and enjoyment I pray. And I am continuing to think of the Presidential election next year and again I ask You to bring to the forefront and cause Your People to vote in the Man You have chosen to occupy the office of the Presidency for this Nation. Lord, we are doomed with out and we pray for Your Intervention in this matter. And we pray for the Peace of Israel and the Repentance of America and all this we ask in Jesus Name.
The Peace of Israel Mr. Nash. DeLois. Terri. Leah O. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. & Family . Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Jessie L. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.

Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
As I post this it is 68°F and partly cloudy in Balad, Iraq & the time there is 3:59 PM AST – on November 28, 2007

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU