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Psalm 33

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IDOK DEVOTION for Tuesday, November 13, 2007

In whatever season of experience you are today I think you will find something in this Psalm to give you strength and hope. I think it is akin to that text that tells us ‘no weapon formed against us will prosper’ and when the plans of man pile up against us – He is fixing that and we are not to worry.
Father, I ask You to take this passage of Your Word and bathe the hearts of Your People this morning.
Psalm 33
1 REJOICE IN the Lord, O you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you upright in right standing with God]; for praise is becoming and appropriate for those who are upright [in heart].
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; sing praises to Him with the harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully [on the strings] with a loud and joyful sound.
4 For the word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.
6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all their host by the breath of His mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea as in a bottle; He puts the deeps in storage places.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord [revere and worship Him]; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nought; He makes the thoughts and plans of the peoples of no effect.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart through all generations.
12 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His heritage.
13 The Lord looks from heaven, He beholds all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks [intently] upon all the inhabitants of the earth–
15 He Who fashions the hearts of them all, Who considers all their doings.
16 No king is saved by the great size and power of his army; a mighty man is not delivered by [his] much strength.
17 A horse is devoid of value for victory; neither does he deliver any by his great power.
18 Behold, the Lord’s eye is upon those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe], who wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving-kindness,
19 To deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
20 Our inner selves wait [earnestly] for the Lord; He is our Help and our Shield.
21 For in Him does our heart rejoice, because we have trusted (relied on and been confident) in His holy name.
22 Let Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, in proportion to our waiting and hoping for You.
Father, where do we begin today? You are Awesome and we are grateful that You are on our side. That You are looking from Heaven and purposing all things for our good; grateful that You Holy Spirit are within us and grateful Lord Jesus that You have washed us clean and You keep us clean. Our words of thank You are not enough. Help us praise You with our lives.
Father, comfort Mr. Nash, only You can do that; ONLY You can heal hearts broken with loss and only You can heal hearts and minds filled with too much grief or sorrow or troubles or worries and concerns or fears and guilt and more. There are folks we love in these places Lord and we ask You to rescue them and deliver them to a place of rejoicing.
There are souls sick with disease and some just wondering what is the source of these illnesses and needing answers and remedies and we pray You will supply those answers and with the answers peace and remedy.
And as I look over the list Lord there are more . Thank You for what You have done for Callie; we are delighted and we desire to see her remission to go on and on. Others are recovering from procedures and we pray the recovery will go well and they will rejoice. We thank You for good reports we have heard and we trust they will continue.
We pray for IDOK Troops waiting for answers, Lord, You know our hearts on this – we are trusting You to move and hold steady as You know is needed. And we pray for all our IDOK Troops today that again today You will protect them and keep them safe in mind and body and spirit and that each of them will return home at the appointed time safe and sound and yes Lord we continue to pray they will love you more and more.
We pray for Peace of Israel and for the repentance of America. And Father as I am reminded, Lord surely it is not too late; the election is just a few days less than one year away, bring to light and forefront who YOU want for President; let us know and move us, move enough people to vote so he will be elected. Put YOUR FAVOR upon the ONE You have chosen. I don’t know how else this nation will survive Lord.
Guard us IDOKs today, give us strength to stand and grace and humility to kneel for Jesus sake.
The Peace of Israel Mr. Nash. Jackie D and family. Terri. DeLois. 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.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III. Joshua M.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. HectorHospitalized 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 73°F and sunny in Baghdad, Iraq & the time there is 3:51 PM AST – on November 13, 2007


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Standing At A Distance

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2007

Good Thursday morning. Had the Myers young folks here again last night for supper and a movie — they are so GREAT!
On a sad and yet an occasion to celebrate by faith, a beloved member of Myers physically died yesterday – Marie Nash. We loved her – one of my favorite images of her that I am holding dear is Vacation Bible School and the way she manned the kitchen and refreshment time. I am so grateful to have known her these two plus years. Her sweet, mischievous smile will be greatly missed by Jerry and me.
In the early hours of waking up time I began to think about ‘fear’; something we do from time to time. And fear usually seizes us after we have entertained in the solitude of our minds some ‘what ifs’. So when I came to the computer I keyed in the words fear not at Biblegateway.com and this verse seems to be highlighted today. Exodus 20: 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
I am reading this over and over so it will sink in. The first admonition in the verse is DO NOT BE AFRAID. That’s hard sometimes. The second phrase of notice to me is the fear of God will be with you. To the natural eye that is a glaring contradiction, isn’t it? First we are told Do Not Be Afraid and then the fear of God will be with you. At this time, Moses had been given the Ten Commandments and God the Father had come ‘close’ to the camp:
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance
19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
We have some wrong fear going on here, don’t we? Not that I blame them because in my natural flesh I can guarantee you I’d be doing the same. On the screen of our minds, we can just see them as they see the thunder, lightening and smoke and as they hear the trumpet. The Scripture says they were trembling with fear. (Isn’t it GREAT how honest God is? He tells it like it is. HE is not afraid to tell us that His Children were afraid of Him — but that’s for another time maybe.)
You know what I think is the problem here? THEY STAYED AT A DISTANCE. Could it be that in the solitude of their minds they had been doing some ‘what ifs’ and some other things and these ‘what ifs’ and the like had generated a lack of Reverential Fear or TRUST in Father God so they stayed at a distance? Could the sins of the past and ‘what ifs’ of the day have beeen hindering them from exercising the Right Kind of Fear? Could that happen to us today, too? What else do we see in verse 20? “The fear of God will be with you to KEEP YOU FROM SINNING”. Is that great or what?! If we exercise the Right Kind of Fear, we will be kept from sinning! This is what I see here: a soul hears and sees The Holy Spirit of God (thunder, lightening, smoke and trumpet) expose within them certain sin and rather than admit this sin to Him, they choose to STAND AT A DISTANCE. Is it any wonder that people are afraid? And the more we stand at a distance the more we sin. Yes, the Right Kind of Fear will cause us to run to Him and the closer we stay to Him the less sinning we do. I want some more of this Right Kind of Fear. You, too?
One more thing in verse 20 quickly — I am already way late getting this too you – God has come to test you. How natural it is for us to FEAR when He tests us – and for us to STAND AT A DISTANCE. Don’t! When that TEST is upon you – RUN TO HIM in Reverential Fear; it will keep you from sinning (and failing the test). Prayers for Danny worked – He is feeling much better and is back at light duty.
Father, the hour is so late this morning with the Emailing. Thank You for this message; it bears much pondering; help me do this pondering and all our IDOKs according to the need. Comfort Mr. Nash and the family; help us be a comfort to him. Bless all these here in just the way You desire Father for Jesus sake and the growth and testing and helping and blessing of each of us. Keep our IDOK Troops safe in mind and body and spirit again today. Continue bringing Israel to Peace and America to repentance in the Mighty Name of Jesus.
The Peace of Israel 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.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III. Joshua M.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny.Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Lee. Mack. The 226. Troy. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
As I post this it is 84°F and sunny in Baghdad, Iraq & the time there is 5:06 PM AST – on November 8, 2007


HIS MINISTRY TO YOU

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Wolves, Serpents and Doves

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2007

Today my Baby Girl is 31! And she looks 15.

I’m getting a chance to practice what I preach today (Tuesday). Hardly before this day began I was angry! The bank we used for years sold and so our account was placed with the new bank. Continually this new bank disappoints me and now I have moved from disappointment to anger — messing with my money brings out a ‘weakness’ in me!
As I see it, I have these choices: I can continue in my anger, spout off to a bank employee and destroy an opportunity to demonstrate faith and trust in my Father or I can control my anger and be moved in holiness to take proper action regarding the bank and the finances Father has entrusted to our care. The Scripture that comes to mind is Matthew 10:16: Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
Yep! That’s the way I feel, that I have been sent forth in the midst of wolves. Father, loves the wolves too — got to remember that!! And so I read on and it says: (Now I must tell you this passage was written to our Jewish brothers about a coming time so serious that a banking institution that fails to get their act together and fraudulently withdraws fees from your account for the THIRD time, pales in significance; BUT I believe there is a word here for me and maybe you too in a similar situation.)
17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
18 You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
It is not wisdom for me to sit here and ponder and spew over what I want to tell someone in an official capacity about their offenses. It would behoove me to corral my anger and allow the anger to move me to take holy action. And as I am moved by the Holy Spirit to go, it will be given me by the Holy Spirit what to say. And by His Grace it will be so!
I have a Post Script for you. I had already put this IDOK away (except for praying with you later) to wait for Emailing and was standing and watching a little Christian television on my way to do something else when someone said that Father said He would rebuke the Devourer that it was not my job to do that. And I said Lord is that so? Does Your Word really say that? Does Your Word say YOU WILL rebuke the devourer that I don’t have to do it?? So I looked. AND IT DOES!!
Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” Says the LORD of hosts;
12 And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,” Says the LORD of hosts.
Hallelujah! I receive it – regarding the bank and the IRS!! And maybe today you have something about which you want to receive this Hallelujah too!
Father, thank You for all the Hallelujahs that You lavish on us each day. Help us recognize them more often and praise You continually. Thank You for my Baby Girl and what she means to me and our family and I ask special blessings upon her today.
And I pray for each and every IDOK today. Thank You for them; thank You for who they are becoming in You and I pray they will all find strength and courage and hope and joy today. I pray for our IDOK Troops for their protection and well being in mind and body and spirit and I pray for a successful end to this war soon Lord. And bring all our IDOK Troops home safe and sound and more in love with You than when they deployed.
We pray for Marie. Lord, You know her medical condition and You know the prognosis and You know it don’t seem fair to us and it is certainly not what we want, we want her healed and we know You can do that and we know You will … We just would like for it to be here but not our will Your Will be done.
And we come too with these listed here and we hardly know what to pray so we thank You for Your unfathomable love for each and we trust You to do what is needed and best for each of these no matter where they are today with You and with others and this we ask in Jesus name.
The Peace of Israel. Marie N. 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.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III. Joshua M.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. HectorHospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Lee. Mack. The 226. Troy. Danny. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
As I post this it is 90°F and mostly sunny in Baghdad, Iraq & the time there is 3:31 PM AST – on November 7, 2007

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Replacement

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2007

Joyce Meyer told me one day last week that when I recognize a weakness in me that I should replace that weakness with The Word. That’s not a new concept, is it? As I type this to you the word REPLACE is standing up for my attention. A definition of replace is to fill or take the place of. That’s pretty cool. The Word can fill or take the place of my weakness. When I become aware that a weakness is operating (that is I am considering doing that which I know is not wise and certainly not good for me), then I have two choices. One, I can ignore the Holy Spirit’s alarm and proceed to indulge myself or I can call upon The Word to come and stand in the place of my weakness and give me victory over it.
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Supper tonight (Monday) was homemade soup and cornbread muffins and I like soup and cornbread muffins, a lot! When I finished my bowl of soup, I noticed a weakness in me clamoring for its own way – my weakness wanted another bowl of soup, a lot!
Often I have submitted to the clamoring whether it is for more soup or more chocolate cake or more peanut butter cups or more fried chicken or more potato casserole, etc. Etc. But tonight I called upon THE WORD. I acknowledged my weakness and I expressed a desire (all this going on within, nothing said aloud). My desire was that my desire for more soup go away – that is to be replaced. And He did it! The clamoring ceased! And when the clamoring ceased, I had peace and was satisfied with just one bowl of soup. Oh! Did that feel good!!
This process will work for more than just food appetites. What if that weakness is looking at television too long, what can we do? We can acknowledge the weakness to THE WORD and we can quote This Word to THE WORD. We can say Lord, Your Word says in Jeremiah 33:3 that if I will call to You that You will answer me (3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’) so I am calling. Your Word also says that I must not set any wicked thing before my eyes (Psalm 101: 3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me.) so I am calling upon You right now to cause me to turn away from this, to cause me to hate this evil work so it will not cling to me.
Am I saying that looking at television is wicked? NO. But I am saying and I believe the Holy Spirit is backing me up here that viewing too much television or continuing to stand there in front of the T.V. When the Holy Spirit has already told you it’s time to go to bed, IS WICKED.
And we have other weakness; some more serious, some less but whatever the weakness there is an antidote in the Bible for it. And based upon Jeremiah 33:3, if I will call (if you will call), He will answer and show you and me a Word in The Word to REPLACE our weaknesses.
Prayer Request: Danny who is serving Stateside is experiencing some medical problems – let’s please pray specifically for him.
Father, thank You for this Word today. I am grateful. And I am grateful that it’s true and it works – You do replace our weaknesses with Your Word as we pray and as we submit. Thank You. And Father, as is our practice we pray for our IDOK Troops for safety for them, protection of mind and body and spirit and this morning we specifically pray for Danny that You will protect him medically and that You will remove the infection and heal him. We pray for confidence and strength to increase in Danny. Lord, make this a blessed time for Danny. We pray for all our IDOK Troops, protect each and everyone of them, on foreign soil and Stateside. Father, thank You for this Place called America. Thank You that You have ordained and allowed us to live here. Thank You that You birthed this nation; forgive us for failing to be all that You birthed us to be and Holy Spirit, please convict us and convince us and get us back on track and if You can use us IDOKs to do that, here we are – empower us and move us according to Your will.
We pray too for Israel. We acknowledge Father, She is Your Nation; and they are Your People and we pray for their Peace.
We pray for these; thank You for the privilege of praying; thank You that You are Lord, that You are our Provider, our Healer, and Savior, our Friend, our Comforter, our Brother, our Father, our Friend and our God. Thank You that You are our EVERYTHING. Help us in mind and body and spirit to proclaim this today for Jesus sake. The Peace of Israel 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.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III. Joshua M.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Lee. Mack. The 226. Troy. Danny. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
As I post this it is 86°F and mostly sunny in Baghdad, Iraq & the time there is 3:30 PM AST – on November 6, 2007
His Ministry to You
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BE

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2007

Well, FALL is really upon us – clocks have been rolled back!!! I did not ‘realize’ a real benefit from the roll back on Sunday morning – Sunday mornings are always steady. But Sunday night Jerry and I came home from church, resisted television, laid our heads on our pillows and caught some ZZZzzz.
And this morning the week day life begins again. I almost called it a routine but somehow routine sounds like something you don’t want to do and that’s not the case here. Especially after this weekend — today’s the day to RECEIVE this day and REJOICE.
I think it was yesterday morning I was sitting here in my office going over some of the conference messages and this thought came to rest with me. I am continually chiding myself that I do not DO enough for Father’s Kingdom and I am certain that is true BUT after the conference I am thinking the DOING is the wrong focus BEING is the proper focus. Just LET JESUS BE in me!! Just LET Him BE Himself in me!! Stop fretting over the doing and relax and abandon yourself (myself) to HIM. He NEVER pushes too hard and He is NEVER late. I think I could live a lot better with that than what I have been. How about you?
Colossians 1: 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.
27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Here’s a story (below) that I think you will enjoy. Some of you may have read it already — I know one of you has because One of you sent it to me.
ENJOY and BE today!
Please add Leah as she recovers from her serious injuries from an automobile accident.
Father, there’s so much going on this morning. First we say thank You and we pray for strength to just relax and let You BE in us today. And we pray for Leah that You will mend her and restore her from the injuries sustained in the automobile collision and we pray that since You have allowed this collision that whatever purpose You have in it will not be hindered and Leah will be enabled to receive ALL the Blessings You have hidden for her in this pain. Bless her Holy Spirit and help her receive from You health and healing and strength and new vision for her future. And we are praying this morning too for W.C.and his Dad. You know the concerns and You know the needs of each and we are depending on Your Father to make Your glory known in these two and not just them but all the family. And Father we thank You this morning for our families. I thank You specifically today for my beloved Jerry, for our four daughters and sons in law and all 7 beautiful grandchildren. Lord, THANK YOU!
And as many many morning before we ask You to guard and protect our IDOK Troops wherever they are, keep them safe and sound in mind and body and spirit and at the appointed time please bring them home to us safe and sound and more in love with You than when they deployed.
And as I look over this list of names, there is so much – so many precious souls and so much hurt and yes rejoicing and gladness too. And the thank You that YOU ARE LORD over it all and we TRUST You.
And Father, I just cannot fail to pray for the upcoming holidays – Thanksgiving and Christmas – Lord, I want to do, oops … I want to BE right where You want me and BEING who You are in me in these Holidays for Your Glory. Thank You for each and every IDOK and Father love on them for me today as only You can in Christ Jesus.
The Peace of Israel Leah O. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Brenda D. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’ s Mother. Janie B. W.C. The Ellis Family. Ed Litton and family. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. Kathy. 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. 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.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III. Joshua M.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Tim. Lee. Mack. The 226. Troy. Danny. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.
As I post this it is 82°F in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 4:10 PM AST – on November 5, 2007
His Ministry to You
MAGNOLIAS
By Edna Ellison
I spent the week before my daughter’s June wedding running last-minute trips to the caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty miles away. As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I felt laden with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle . . . So many details, so many bills, and so little time. My son Jack was away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he’d wanted to give her away since she was about three years old!
To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church.
After the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, we banked the Podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just before Midnight , I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any
Bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception – and Especially the flowers – would be remembered for years.
The big day arrived – the busiest day of my life – and while her Bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiancée Tim, walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check. When we opened the door and felt a rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them – all the Beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm During the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on That hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.
I panicked, knowing I didn’t have time to drive back to our hometown, Gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding.
Tim turned to me. “Edna, can you get more flowers? I’ll throw away These dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements.”
I mumbled, “Sure,” as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cuff links.
Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in The arched ceiling. “Lord,” I prayed, “please help me. I don’t know Anyone in this town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers – In a hurry!” I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing of White magnolias, courage to find them in an unfamiliar yard, safety from any dog that may bite my leg, and a nice person who would not get out a shotgun when I asked to cut his tree to shreds.
As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I approached a house . . . No dog in sight. I knocked on the door and an older man answered. So far so good . . . No shotgun. When I stated my plea the man beamed, “I’d be happy to!”
He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to me. Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, “Sir, you’ve made the mother of a bride happy today.”
“No, Ma’am,” he said. “You don’t understand what’s happening here.”
“What?” I asked.
“You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday . . He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes. “On Wednesday I buried her.” He looked away. “On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday – yesterday – my children left.
I nodded.
“This morning,” he continued, “I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried,
‘Who needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody!’ I began to cry louder. ‘Nobody needs me!’ About that time, you knocked, and said, “Sir, I need you.”
I stood with my mouth open.
He asked, “Are you an angel? The way the light shone around your head into my dark living room . . .”
I assured him I was no angel.
He smiled. “Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those
Magnolias?”
“No.”
“I decided I’m needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flower ministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They’re all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches – all sorts of places. You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!”
I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy’s wedding day, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, I would have said, “Forget it! It’s my only daughter’s wedding, for
goodness’ sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today.”
But God found a way. Through dead flowers.

“Life is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s the way it is. The way
you cope with it is what makes the difference.”

We are glad you are here; stay a while, look around, and be encouraged. We estimate there to be over 3,000 posts here at The White Stone Blog. Please know my hope is ALWAYS to help and NEVER harm. I have voiced many opinions and thoughts here since 2007 and by now I MAY NOT EVEN AGREE with all of them and some of my grammar and punctuation likely needs editing. But this is changeless: JESUS is our ONLY Savior and Hope. Do you KNOW Him?