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Not Just a Fish

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2008

You and I are the creatures He prizes above the rest of His creation. We are made in His image and He sacrificed His Son that each one of us might be one with Him, sparrows are sold at two for a penny; we were bought with a much higher price. John Fischer
Today’s quote seems especially fitting to me today. Jerry woke me with sad news this morning: RD wasn’t sleeping this time. Some of you may recall an IDOK some months ago when I told you that RD (our Beta Fish) gave us a scare. He was sleeping so soundly that we thought he was dead – it was traumatic for us but on that occasion with a good thump to the side of the vase, RD swam to attention and we were relieved. This morning he didn’t. And I heard myself say to myself: ‘He is just a fish’ and he is but what made him special was ‘he was ours’.
All it takes to make us special is to belong to someone. And we do. Bought with the Priceless Blood of Jesus, we BELONG to God — that makes You (and me)special. When you feel like a ‘fish out of water’ or when you feel like a no-body, remember you are not a ‘just’ anyone – Belonging makes you special and if you have said Yes to Jesus in Salvation, YOU Belong Big Time!! You are a Daughter (or Son) of the King of the Universe. You are an IDOK. You are Special and you are Loved!!
Matthew 10:
30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
Father, thank You for the many, many, in-numerable blessings You have given us this weekend and this day already. Thank You that we belong to You. Thank You Lord Jesus for making sure that we are not ‘just’ anybody that we are Yours. We do not know what this day holds but we are sure You are holding us in this day and that is enough for us. Thank You Father. We ask that You again hold our IDOK Troops, keep them safe from all harm in mind and body and spirit and we ask that You do that for these listed here too. Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron 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. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
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.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
And we pray for the Peace of Israel and the repentance of America and the revival of Your Church for Jesus sake.
As I post this it is 85°F and mostly cloudy in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 4:52 PM ADT – on April 7, 2008

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Two Horses

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2008

Galatians 6: 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
The following is not original with me; came to me via email and I am sharing it with you today as our devotion; hope it will be a blessing to you.
And may your weekend be all about sweet accomplishments, rest and worship!

Two Horses
There is a field with two horses.

From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing.

If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.

Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two horses, you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.

Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way….

Good friends are like that… You may not always see them, but you know they are always there.

Please listen for my bell and I’ll listen for yours.

Father, thank You for those You have placed in our lives to ring a bell for us; thank You too for the privilege of being a Bell Ringer in Your Name. And for these listed here we come on their behalf and we pray that You will place just the right bell ringers in their lives; give them comfort and peace today with all the material, emotional and spiritual provisions necessary to glorify Your Name and grow them up in Your Image. Please protect our IDOK Troops today in mind and body and spirit. Forgive America for her sins; have mercy on us. We are still concerned about the Presidential election and we ask for wisdom and discernment to vote according to Your Will. Bless Israel with Peace and revive Your Church for Jesus Name sake.
Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron 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. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
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.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
As I post this it is 62°F and haze in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 8:39 AM ADT – on April 4, 2008

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What Ifs?

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2008

The Pharisees were there in all their finery, lavishly throwing into the Temple Coffers their meager amounts and the Poor Widow humbly placed all she had. This is the opening scene in Luke 21. And JESUS said of her that she had given more than them all. And Others were noticing the Temple Building, the construction of it, and they were in awe of it. Strange what we awe, isn’t it? The CREATOR was in their midst and there they were stunned by the stones and mortar of the Temple. And I have no doubt it was magnificent! So magnificent that in 70 AD just as Jesus said not one stone was left upon another as the Temple was burned and its gold and treasures were collected by greedy fools. And with Jesus’ foretelling of the destruction of the Temple, He finally had their attention and He began to tell of a time yet to come, a time of Great Tribulation. And then He gave them these instructions:
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. 13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
Do you see verse 14? 14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: There’s a colon there – very important punctuation! And I’ll get to that in a moment but first notice with me He told them to settle it in their hearts to NOT meditate BEFORE what they would answer when they were persecuted. I am by no means persecuted as is told here and yet I sometimes find myself running over and over in my thoughts imaginary conversations of what if. If she were to say this, I’d say this. Or if he dares say this, I’ll say this. And what does all this imaging do? Stirs up my flesh. What should I do? Settle it in my heart to rely on what comes after the colon. What comes after the colon? A Promise. A beautiful, glorious, wondrous promise. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
So today don’t be spending your time worrying and meditating on ‘what ifs’. When the time comes HE IS WITH YOU and HE WILL TELL YOU WHAT TO SAY AND WHAT TO DO!! Hallelujah what a Saviour!!
Father Lord, thank You for this IDOK message and help all us IDOKs embrace You in it. Thank You that You are with us in tribulation and all the ‘what ifs’ in our lives. Help us trust You and wait upon You for the wisdom You will give us in our ‘what ifs’. This morning bless these with the grace and peace as they wait upon You in their what ifs of illness, disease, misunderstandings, and much more. Comfort and protect our IDOK Troops in all ways, mind, body and spirit. Give America space and grace to repent; bring Israel to Peace and Lord as they are soon coming to Passover, bless their Observances and Holy Spirit convince at least one that You Lord Jesus are the Passover Lamb. Revive Your Church Lord. Amen and amen. Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron 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. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell.
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.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
As I post this it is 78°F and clear in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 5:03 PM ADT – on April 3, 2008
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March 31, 2004

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2008

I did something this morning that I don’t usually do early in the morning. However, I am thinking that I should make it a practice. This morning I opened the front door and stepped out onto the balcony. The birds were softly singing and the water in the fountain was quietly flowing and the air had Father God in it! Oh, it was beautiful! I did not want to come back in the house but raspberry and cream coffee and YOU were waiting for me… So I did. Step outside first chance you get and hear the “quiet”; just breathe in His Holiness.
I have read so much good stuff this morning I cannot get it all in but this one phrase from Our Daily Bread just shouts!! God always knocks loud enough for the seeking soul to hear. And there is more it says God is also a persistent lover. It says He is the Lover of your soul. Wow! And then we read:
Luke 19
41 And as He approached, He saw the city, and He wept [audibly] over it,
42 Exclaiming, Would that you had known personally, even at least in this your day, the things that make for peace (for freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin and upon which your peace–your security, safety, prosperity, and happiness–depends)! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
43 For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank [with pointed stakes] about you and surround you and shut you in on every side.
44 And they will dash you down to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, [all] because you did not come progressively to recognize and know and understand [from observation and experience] the time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time in which God showed Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ].
45 Then He went into the temple [enclosure] and began to drive out those who were selling.
46 Telling them, It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer; but you have made it a cave of robbers.
47 And He continued to teach day after day in the temple [porches and courts]. The chief priests and scribes and the leading men of the people were seeking to put Him to death,
48 But they did not discover anything they could do, for all the people hung upon His words and stuck by Him.
Did you read that? Oh, what a Saviour we have!! Look at verse 19 our Saviour cried out loud! He cried, He wept because the people, His people, did not have what He wanted for them – PEACE! Same thing He wants for you and me – PEACE. Peace with God, Peace of God! Can we imagine this. Our Saviour was so moved, He is such a Lover of our Souls – their souls – that He, GOD, cried for them, cried because they did not know, because they REFUSED to know HIM. We can do that you know; we can refuse to KNOW God. We can refuse to KNOW the Lover of our souls…. A mistake so HUGE that GOD CRIES over it. Not because He NEEDS us; He is completely God even without us; question is — WHAT ARE WE WITHOUT HIM? I can tell you what I am without Him … A BIG, FAT ZERO!! But back to the text. Verse 42, He exclaims He wanted them to know Him personally! Look at that! HE WANTS US TO KNOW HIM PERSONALLY! Have you heard of the “rule of first mention”? A Bible teacher that I so loved; he has been with the Lord now since 1985; he first introduced me to the “rule of first mention” and it simply means when you see something in Scripture look back to when it was “first mentioned” and that will help you understand it. Well, following that rule I think we see here that KNOWING GOD is a very, very personal act; it is an intimate relationship – akin to the “marriage relationship”. Yes, Father God is indeed the LOVER of our Soul! And He weeps when we are at odds with Him; because for us to be at odds with Him means we have NO PEACE. Verse 44 – this is a process — so don’t get discouraged –we progressively come to KNOW Him; we progressively come to recognize, and know, and hear, and understand. Sometimes it is as quiet as a softly singing bird or a gently flowing river — however is His Voice — IT IS LOUD ENOUGH FOR THE SEEKING SOUL TO HEAR. The Lover of our Soul is pursuing us — stop running! Lets be captured by the Lover of our Soul and sit in the quiet of HIS PEACE.

Oh, Father, is that anywhere near as beautiful on paper as it needs to be for my people, Your people, my sisters and brothers, to just bask in Your Loveliness. Oh, I hope so! Oh, Jesus — I love you, I love you, I love you and my heart follows wholly after you — that song is still playing — may it play for ever. Thank You for Your Peace to us; thank You that You weep over us but help us love You so much that You don’t weep anymore. Father, You know the hurts, the fears, the doubts and the cries of my family, Your family. I thank You for your interventions into our needs; help us see and embrace You in everyone of them and help us share Your Peace with our hurting world for Jesus sake. amen and amen.
Father, thank You for such a sweet reminder this morning. I see You are still the Quiet Lover of my soul today and I know You shall be forever. As we prayed four years ago we pray today for these listed here and for our IDOK Troops, may they KNOW today that You are the Quiet Lover of their souls and they can trust You today and we can trust You today with them. We come on behalf of America; again we ask that You forgive her and give her space and grace to repent and we offer ourselves in service to You to minister to our fellow Americans. We are continuing to think of the Presidential Election and we confess we are weary with it and we pray for new hope. More and more we think of the things an Judaism, we love Your People Lord and we want them to love You and find their Peace in You; if we can help, we are trusting You to position us for that helping. Thank You for the day that is before us; help us use it well for Jesus sake. Maggie and Family. Josh. Donnie S. Smith and family. Renee’. Cathy’s friend and son. Jeremy H. Pastor’s Widow and four children. Martin Family. Odessa H. Margie & Duncan. Kearley Family. Kathy S. Glen Beck. Bev and family. Tonya and family. Rick Burgess and family. Dall T. Dylan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Taylor & family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Cynthia. Martha F and Bob. Allyson and Glen and family. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron 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. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Andrew. Cindy, Sharron and Tonya’s houses to sell. 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. IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops (foreign soil) – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M. Brent. Drew. Justin G.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Albert R III. Bay N.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside:
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light. Bradley T.
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi. Edward J.
Civilian in Country – Lee.
As I post this it is 73°F and haze in Al Asad, IQ & the time there is 4:28 PM ADT – on April 2, 2008
His Ministry to You

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?