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Making Memories

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2008

Yesterday was one of those red letter days and I plan to write it in my daily activity journal (a misnomer of a name – since I don’t write in it daily – shame on me!); I want to keep these memories.
And this morning’s recalling of yesterday’s 40 minute road trip reminds me of Scripture; this one in Deuteronomy 11; particularly ‘teach when thou walkest by the way; albeit we were driving rather than walking.
18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
20 And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:
21 That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
Anyway, I was privileged yesterday to transport an 8 year old and a 5 year old from school to Satsuma – for most of the journey we talked about Creation, about Jesus, about God being One but yet a Trinity, about Heaven and about going there, (their choice of topics!). And I noticed the entire trip not a cross word was spoken between the 8 year old and the 5 year old. At one point they began to speak at the same time and my grandson said to his sister, “go ahead”. He did not continue to talk over her; he did not chide her for interrupting him – nothing like that; just genuinely and sweetly he let her go first. And as soon as it was my turn to speak, I told him how proud I was of him; of both of them. And then he said words I hope to never forget:’I’ve been praying about it and we are trying to get along better and not argue so much’. She even agreed. I praised them for doing so very well. And I am delighted to add the harmony continue for the remainder of our visit. To God be the Glory.
Choosing to live conscious of Jesus living within, speaking of Him when we are sitting down, rising up, walking in the way, having His Word written on the door posts of our hearts AND on the walls and doors of our homes, carrying His Word on our lips changes even 5 and 8 year olds — at least for an afternoon. And I think with practice it could even change adults for a lifetime!
Father, yesterday is a red letter day for me; thank YOU. Lord Jesus help me live today so very conscious that You are living within; help me carry Your Word on my lips today wherever I go and I pray all our IDOKs will do the same. And Father we come now with these as we have more days than we know and we ask again for blessings in just the right portion and kind for each one of these. And we ask for our IDOK Troops to be protected today in mind, body and spirit; we pray that You will see to it they all come home safe and sound. And we pray for a successful conclusion to this war; we pray especially now for the Peace of Israel and that leaders will not be foolish and ask Israel to do something that You have told them to NOT do – like give up their Land; and we pray for America that she will Repent; we pray for the election of your choice for President and we ask You Lord to revive Your Church. Amen and amen.
Lawson Family. Mrs. Dobbs. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Anita. 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 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. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Tiffany & Makayla. Andrew.
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.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.

As I post this it is 46°F and Clear in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 4:48 PM AST – on January 15, 2008


HIS MINISTRY TO YOU

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The Blank Page (again)

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2008

I am privileged to share the next couple days with my sister IDOK and friend, Bev. It was Bev and another IDOK, Daphne, that ‘insisted’ this ministry should begin.
Bev’s favorite of all IDOKs thus far she says is The Blank Page. So how about The Blank Page again this morning? It first appeared December 5, 2003.

Father, this is an unusual morning and I don’t know why the page is blank but I am choosing to trust You even with a blank page. I know You are good and kind in all Your ways. Your Word tells me so at Psalm 145: 17 and 18… One of the few places that I know exactly were the verses are found… Yet I can’t quote the verses. But I do know that You are righteous in all Your ways and gracious and merciful in all Your works and You are near to all who call upon You. So Father I am calling upon You. I read a few things this morning, varied things — read about Your attitudes, Lord Jesus; read about Your kindness intending to lead us to repentance; read that speaking the Good News is what we are to do; read that prayer should be our first response, not our last resort. How foolish we are when talking to You and sitting still to listen to You is our last resort; how foolish indeed. I think we are getting better though; sometimes we come earlier. Thank You for that. Still don’t know why the blank page this morning. I have feared a blank page. I feared breaking down in the tunnel too; I remember that day. You were there; You worked it out; You kept me safe and You even gave me with it a platform to praise You. You are so awesome! So this morning I sit here with a blank page something I have so feared but You know what so what. I remember that — so what; so how and so who… That was a great message that You gave us through Beth. I am really looking forward to what You have to say to us through her again in January. Thank You for the prayer guide. It is good I think to have prayer guides. Direction is a good thing and Your direction is the best. So I am praying for my sister, Beth, that you will empower her to speak to us; to speak boldly and with authority and conviction what You have for the peoples of Mobile and Baldwin Counties and from as far away as You bring them to hear from You. And I ask You to bless her family, Keith and Mandy and Melissa and the son-in-law, I confess I don’t know his name… But You do. How wonderful You are You know all our names and even the number of hairs on our heads … All of us. Father You are so awesome. And I pray for continued good health for Beth and her family and for safe travel for her and the team and help her to strike that good and perfect balance between her family and the ministry You have so privileged her with. And Father, all the tickets have been sold, now I pray that all the seats will be filled; filled with hungry and seeking women and yes, some men too. Especially the men.. Especially bless those wonderful men, those brave and humble men who would dare to come to a place so filled with a bunch of women. My time to sit here Father is just about up. Thank you that I have a job to go to and thank You that I have such a wonderful email family to send this blank page too and I am trusting You Daddy God that You will bless this blank page and that by the time it reaches their computer screens it will be filled to overflowing with AWESOME YOU. Amen and amen.

And Father, for these we pray all the blessings of the blank page. Protect in mind, body and spirit our IDOK Troops; bring each of them home safe and sound we pray; please bring this war to a successful conclusion; protect Israel, especially in this time of discussion as to Jerusalem and Father, give wisdom to George and others that Jerusalem regardless what others think belongs to them – You gave that land to them and wise souls will honor You in this. We pray for Repentance for America and for the election of Your choice for President and Lord for the revival of Your Church. Thank You Father for what You have for each of us today. Lawson Family. Mrs. Dobbs. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Anita. 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 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. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Tiffany & Makayla. Andrew.
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.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.

Amen and Amen.
As I post this it is 50°F and clear in BALAD, Iraq & the time there is 4:18 PM AST – on January 14, 2008

HIS MINISTRY TO YOU

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Hitching Posts

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2008

January 11 already! I’m still on track with controlling my food intake, not doing as well with a daily 40 minute exercise, and I am way off course with the reading I intended BUT it’s only 11 days — Lord willing, I have 355 days to go. Who knows what He in me can do in that many days!!
About reading — I was doing a little of that this morning in my Journey and this I think you will find helpful.
Journey has a section each month entitled ‘Rest Stops’ and one of the books recommended this month is Restoring Order to Your Home by Vicki Norris. Let me ‘read’ you what it says about the book that has prompted today’s IDOK: “Getting organized is not about tidying up or finding a home for things. It’s not about having a picture-perfect home that looks as if it should be featured in a magazine,” Norris explains. “Ordering your life and your environment is about one thing: reclaiming your life.”
Reclaiming Your Life. That one statement is enough to claim my interest. How many times have we searched and searched for something checking our watch every few seconds because we need to be out the door but we can’t because we can’t find our keys?! Well, actually that has not happen to Jerry and I in a good long while — we have a cute little ‘hitching post’ on the wall by the back door and both of us have become consistent at ‘tying’ our keys there each time we come home. Now if we just had a ‘hitching post’ for everything else.
So what does timely finding your keys have to do with reclaiming your life? Picture this: you are expected to sign in at 8:00, it’s a 20 minute drive and it’s 7:40 and you have no idea where you laid those keys! Can we honestly say we are in control (we live in Order) when we are held hostage by an object that we cannot locate when we need it?
I have not read Vicki’s book (and I think I would like to) but I am wondering if the KEY to Reclaiming our Lives is TIMELY CONSISTENCE? Timely fold, hang and store the clothes, timely put the dishes in the cupboard, timely return the scissors to the drawer, timely schedule and keep Reading, Writing, Studying, Cleaning, Calling….appointments – CONSISTENTLY! I think if I were to RECLAIM MY LIFE I would not be sitting here at 7:30 with only half this IDOK done!
Exodus 40:
22 He put the table in the tabernacle of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil;
23 and he set the bread in order upon it before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
And there are 92 other passages that speak of ORDER. (here’s a link to read the whole chapter of Exodus 40 – our God IS a God of Order —

Hebrews 13:
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Yes, I think I can Reclaim my Life with TIMELY CONSISTENCY. I think I shall need a few more ‘hitching posts’!
Father, help me live consistently with those hitching posts You have already set in place in my life and help me locate the other ones You have for me and not just me Lord but each and every other needy IDOK. Thank You for these names listed here; thank You for the privilege You have given us to pray for them and with them. Bless each today as You will; grant jobs to the unemployed or under-employed, give peace of mind, renewed health, release from disease, and appetite control of various kinds to us all. And protect our IDOK Troops from harm of any kind in mind, body and spirit. Please keep them safe and bring them home to family and friends and bring this war to a successful conclusion we pray. We pray for the Peace of Israel, the Repentance of America, the Election of Your Choice for President – move Your People Lord to get out and vote for the One You have Chosen – and Lord, I think above all Revive Your Church. Amen and Amen.
Lawson Family. Mrs. Dobbs. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Anita. 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 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. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Tiffany & Makayla. Andrew.
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.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.

As I post this it is 42°F and partly cloudy in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 5:25 PM AST – on January 11, 2008
HIS MINISTRY TO YOU
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Stinking Situations

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IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2008

Ephesians 1:
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength,
20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
Would you like to know what these verses said to me today? Good, ‘cause I’m gonna tell you.
The FIRST thing a soul needs to KNOW about God is ‘He raises the dead.’
And I believe this is true AT salvation and throughout the Christian Life. A lost soul must come to believe and KNOW that God Almighty can raise the dead; that He did raise Jesus The Christ from the DEAD. Let me be BLUNT: any and every accountable soul that does not KNOW God the Father raised His Son Jesus Christ from the dead to live again, that soul is lost. Moreover, unless that soul has their mind changed prior to their physical death they will spend eternity in a place called HELL. It’s as simple as that. The FIRST thing we MUST know about God is He raises the dead.
But I said throughout the Christian Life, didn’t I? Remember Martha? Remember when her brother Lazarus was ill and she and her sister Mary sent for Jesus and Jesus did not show up until after, four days after Lazarus had died? What did Jesus say to her when she was ‘disputing’ with Jesus (Have we ever disputed with Jesus? No, not gonna chase that rabbit today.) about taking the stone away from the cave where Lazarus’ body had been laid?
Lets get in on a little of that conversation, starting in verse 23 of John 11: Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Did you see that?! Just believing that Jesus is the Christ and that He came into this world IS NOT ENOUGH!! Lets listen to more of their conversation in verse 39: Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
What was it that Martha needed to believe? Didn’t she already believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Go back to verse 25. Jesus said to her, I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE.
Again I say, in all our Christian Life if we will KNOW that our God raises the Dead; that our Savior, Jesus the Christ, is ALIVE from the DEAD – we can then believe ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH HIM – and even if our situation has been DEAD and stinking 4 days already – still ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH HIM.
By the way the number 4 in Biblical Numerology means Creation. Could it be those stinking situations in our lives are there to raise something in us? Could it be Jesus waits ‘4 days’ when we call on Him regarding a certain matter in order for a new Creation to come alive in us or someone else?
Yes, I am certain the first thing we MUST KNOW about our God is HE RAISES THE DEAD. We must know that to be saved and we must know that to live this Daily Christian Life. Hallelujah! Father raises the DEAD!

P.S. This post script is added a few hours after I put this devotion ‘to bed’ to wait for mailing to you tomorrow (Thursday) morning. At the writing of this P.S. I just moments ago received a video via email and I am passing the link on to you. When you view this Internet Video, even more than before you will KNOW that our Father raised our Jesus from the dead and IDOK is His Ministry to You and to me. Praise Him! Praise Him!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NaSROohLzs
I love crying holy, grateful tears!! See you back here for prayer in just a bit. The video is about 6 minutes. — Thanks Betty for being Father’s instrument of confirmation and blessing to me!!!
Thank You Father that You raised Christ Jesus from death to life for us; thank You that You are still raising the dead; that each time a heart says yes to salvation in Jesus You raise the dead again. Thank You that the mortal bodies of all who have died or will die will be raised to immortal bodies. Thank You Lord Father. And since all things are possible with You; that You are all powerful, all knowing and all wise and always LOVE, we bring each soul whose name appears here and we are looking to You to see the dead raised; to see hearts and minds and bodies revived and whatever else You want to do for these.
Lawson Family. Mrs. Dobbs. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. DeLois. Terri. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Katelyn (B). Janie B. Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Anita. 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 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. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family. Tiffany & Makayla. Andrew.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
And for our IDOK Troops we are again praying for their protection of mind, body and spirit; we ask You to encourage them today and at the time appointed bring them home to us safe and sound. We pray for the Peace of Israel, for the Repentance of America, for the Election of Your Choice for President – move people to vote according to Your Choice Lord, and we pray for Your Church – revive us Lord for Jesus sake. Amen and amen.
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.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee. George.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.

As I post this it is 44°F and overcast in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 3:49 PM AST – on January 10, 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?