Daily Devotions

Glow

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:40:00 +0000

We all have it. Maybe we don’t realize it. Sounds kinda mystical. It’s the stuff fairytales are made of. Some call it an aura. Some call it presence. Some may refer to it as a glow. Whatever you call it and exactly what it is I’m not sure but I am sure everybody has it. They exude it.

We can’t help but be who we are. We are able to spot it so much more quickly in others than we do in ourselves. It’s that quality that some possess that makes you want to be around them. It’s also that same quality that makes people want to not be around them. You know what I’m talking about.

It’s that intangible, invisible, yet very real presence that emanates from within. Here’s the crazy part. We will exude that aura depending on what and where we are emotionally and spiritually. To be fair we aren’t always a party to be around like when we’re “hangry.” Other times we are a joy to be with.

When we encounter Jesus and he becomes a vital part of our lives more often than not we will exude joy, peace, and calm. It just becomes part of our nature. He becomes our aura. You really don’t have to tell a light to shine, it just does it. It does what it was originally designed for. That is it’s purpose. That is it’s destiny. To glow or not to glow. That is the question.

And action!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 15:14:00 +0000

We all know it’s true, actions speak louder than words. Knowing it and doing it are two completely different things. We all love a good speech filled with flowery words that paint a beautiful picture. We all have our favorite speakers and orators but ultimately it comes down to actions.

We can easily say what others want to hear and frankly, there are some silver tongues devils who can talk themselves out of almost anything and sometimes even into everything! Words definitely have the power to persuade. Actions, however, will always trump words.

We can be guilty of what we condemn others of, all talk and no action. What is most assuredly needed today in America is a lot less talk and way more action. There is a way that we can truly demonstrate our love for others and that is through concrete action.

Our verse for today encourages us to do just that. Don’t love in words only but back it up with some real action. You tell your wife you love her but it would be better to buy her flowers, surprise her with a date night, get her a gift for no reason.

This works with everyone we know. Someone fall on hard times? Take them dinner. Neighbor laid up sick? Mow their yard. Friend discouraged? Cheer them up by taking them to lunch. It’s well past time we lessened all the talking and ramped up more doing. One more thing. Let’s do it all without posting about it on social media.

Good day to pray.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 14:48:00 +0000

Today is a good day for prayer! In fact everyday is a good day for prayer. We are reminded in scripture that we should pray in all situations. That means big or small, things of global and national importance and things that matter to my child. Finances a mess? Pray. Marriage a little rocky? Pray. Feeling down or depressed? Pray. Having a great day? Offer a prayer of thanksgiving.

There are so many different ways to pray. We seem to think that it always involves kneeling for an hour in deep prayer although that would be ok too! Pray while you’re driving to work. Pray while you are working out. Pray while jogging. Pray in the shower. Pray for your food. Pray over you spouse. Pray for you family. Pray for your enemies. Pray for our state and national leaders.

Big prayers, little prayers, short ones and long ones. Prayer is simply talking to God about everything and anything. He stands ready to listen and even speak into our hearts and minds. Read prayers, say prayers, sing prayers, think prayers, weep prayers. Even when we are sobbing and don’t even have the words to say what we are feeling God understands the language of tears and groaning.

With everything going on in today’s world how should we respond? What should we do? Feeling hopeful? Feeling hopeless? The answer is the same. Talk to God about it all. PRAY!

Persecuted?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 15:57:00 +0000

So many in America today are asking , “Now what?” Where do we go from here? What will become of us? Big tech is censoring conservative voices, the left wing liberals are going to begin persecuting those that disagree with them, our rights will all be under attack or even stripped away! This is all very concerning and well as it should be.

But God has a plan and he is working it as he sees fit without even asking my input or permission! What I see is God purifying his church. He will have his bride and she will be spotless and glorious!

It’s nothing new for darkness to not understand the light. Darkness is frightened by the light so it works tirelessly to extinguish it. Darkness knows it has a limited time so it will do everything it can it a short amount of time.

Our hold on this world is a temporary one. We are just passing through. This world is not my permanent home. I seek a home not made by hands. I belong to a kingdom that cannot be overturned. I serve a King without equal.

Too many are clutching to rights offered by a document a few hundred years ago as if somehow it surpasses the eternal word of God. Many will be shocked to discover that some of those rights we cling to so tightly in this country will have no place in his kingdom. Think about it.

I say again, God is purifying his church. Let him take off of you what you are clinging to so tightly and instead let’s hold on to him alone who can redeem, save, and transform us.

Hide-n-seek

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 16:11:00 +0000

As a kid it was always fun playing hide-n-seek. Not sure which was more fun, the hiding or the finding! Of course there were times when someone hid so well you just couldn’t find them. Then the times when a kid would hide in plain sight.

We have this idea that God is hiding from us all the time. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact he has revealed himself over and over and over again. The real issue is that we get so easily distracted by all the shiny stuff of life.

We are told in his word that in the past he spoke through so many different people and avenues. He finally decided to come and speak to us directly through his Son, Jesus Christ. Through him he basically showed us who he really is and just how much he really loves us.

In our current environment of constant entertainment, and a video screen in our hands we are easily distracted. So many things competing for our attention. It turns out God is “hiding” in plain sight. He is there right in the middle of our chaos waiting to be “discovered” and “found.”

When you finally get tired of searching for everything else and not finding satisfaction or real life then stop for a moment. Take a deep breath. See God waiting with open arms of love, acceptance, and forgiveness. He’s not too hard to find if your are looking.

He leads

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 15:02:00 +0000

God rules and reigns in the affairs of men. He sets up and brings low kings and kingdoms at his pleasure. He is at work in our beloved America whether we see it or not. Being confident of this truth means that after I have done my part in the process of selecting government officials I then leave the rest to him.

In the same way but on a much smaller scale I know that I can trust him with the plans for my life. To him it is just as important because of how much he loves us. Too many today are bent all out of shape with everything going on at the White House but don’t give the same attention to what’s happening in their own house.

There is a tension, a balance between my planning and God’s will and leading. He gave us the intelligence and creativity at creation to work, plan, and be about the tasks set before us long before the fall in the garden. So in a practical sense when we plan and work hard to provide for our families and help our neighbors we are in his will already.

We must remember that it is the Lord we are working for and our attitude and excellence in our work reflects our love and devotion to the Lord. Ultimately it is the Lord who can step in any time and gently guide me into a new area of work or ministry. It’s a beautiful picture of working together with the Lord to accomplish his perfect will in our lives while planning, working, and enjoying the beautiful life he has given us to the fullest.

If I can trust him to lead and guide our nation through perilous times then I can trust him with my life completely. He directs my steps.

Drama Queens

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 15:01:00 +0000

So much drama. Watching the political parties in America today is like watching a soap-opera. So many drama queens it’s ridiculous. Some people just seem to create histrionics wherever they go. It follows them like a cloud that permeates everything they say and do.

Usually when that person comes into a room you can almost hear the sighs rise up because you know what’s coming. You want to pull out your violin and start tuning because a sob story is about to begin and you want to be ready with the whiny, cry in your beer, music.

Truly it’s exhausting. We are bombarded from every angle about why this or that isn’t fair. We explain that they will get their due. Our thoughts are taken captive by all the theatrics and melodramas. Anxiety rules the day and your peace of mind is gone!

In today’s verse we are encouraged with good news! You have to read the previous verse to understand it fully. “Don’t worry about anything instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

There it is! The secret to staying peaceful and calm in the midst of all the cliffhangers around us. Pray, tell him what you need and be thankful! Verse 8 completes the thought. “So keep your thoughts on what is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. Fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.”

Let’s close the curtain today on all the spectacles and stage shows going on. Guard your mind, guard your peace.

Good suffering

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Wed, 13 Jan 2021 23:00:00 +0000

Parenting is hard work. It takes a lot of perseverance, dedication, and yes, blood, sweat and tears. As parents we use rewards and punishment in an effort to shape and mold children’s behavior that will serve our children well as adults.

The prefer method is to use rewards because it’s fun all the way around. We like to bless our kids with good things when they do what is required of them. As a father of five very different children the methods change for each individual child but the goals and main methods remain the same.

What will motivate one to good behavior will not motivate another. What will discourage one from bad behavior may have little to no effect on another. It’s a daunting task to say the least. Once in a while even parents get it wrong.

The harsh reality is that we sometimes get punished for doing right in this world. Jesus understood this and let’s us know that our good deeds will not go unnoticed by our Heavenly Father. He will take care of blessing us at the right time.

However let us be careful that we are not being punished for doing wrong. In that case we brought it on ourselves. Lesson learned, take note of it, make the appropriate adjustments and move on.

God’s goal is to shape and mold our characters in order for us to be a blessing to ourselves and others around us. He disciplines the children he loves.

Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 15:47:00 +0000

We take it for granted that people have a certain level of common sense but when you see what gets posted on social media you quickly realize that’s not true. People even go to the extreme and do really dumb stuff because somebody somewhere said it was a challenge so for some unknown reason they take it very personally and actually record themselves on video doing crazy stuff on purpose.

It’s really amazing just how many people will believe whatever is sad. There are also people who think they’re smarter than everyone else and that they have some sort of secret insight into what is going on in our world right now because they saw this video that someone they trust sent to them so it must be true. Just stick the word “prophet” and all of a sudden you’ve got a ton of followers in the religious community.

The word of God tells us that in the last days people will have itching ears and they will heap on to themselves teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. Basically people want someone who will tickle their ears.

What we need is a return to the Word of God. In today’s verse we are told that if anyone lacks wisdom all they have to do is ask their heavenly father and he will grant it. If God is not speaking to you maybe it’s because you’ve got your Bible closed. Open up your Bible and read it again for the first time and let the Holy Spirit guide you and give you the wisdom that only comes from above.

Encouragement

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 15:44:00 +0000

More than ever we need to practice this word daily. Too many are doing the opposite and stoking fear, repeating conspiracy theories, instigating insurrection, and seemingly pushing each other to the brink of a civil war.

Others are running around like Chicken Little screaming, “the sky is falling!” Commercials for ready to eat meals that will stay good for 25 years are everywhere. Some people of faith have even been fooled and are now shopping for new social media apps and running scared from platform to platform.

I wish someone would go back and re-read their bibles! This is not the day for men’s hearts to fail them for fear. At least not the heart of Christian men and women. All this scurrying about comes from putting all your eggs in the political and news baskets. Listen, this peace I have, the world didn’t give it to me and the world can’t take it away! Regardless of who the resident of the White House is my peace is secure.

The biggest issue is the feeling of loss of control. Today’s verse tells us there is something you can control. You can motivate others to good works and acts of love. That would be going about our Father’s business. Stop with the fear-mongering already. Go encourage someone around you who is fearful and let them see your peace and tell them who you get it from. His name is Jesus. That’s my King!

In the flesh.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 15:28:00 +0000

Lord of the Rings is probably one of my all time favorite series of movies ever! It’s absolutely spectacular in the scenery, the characters, the battles scenes, the struggle between light and dark forces. We watch them several times each year. So many great quotes too!

This story line was written many years ago and became classics. The work that had to be done to bring the stories to life from book to movies was a tremendous undertaking. The film had to be true to the books at least in being able to convey the truths without losing any of its power.

In today’s verse we see that the “Word became flesh and lived among us.” We had for millennia the written Word of God in an assortment of scrolls. Our bibles are a collection of books written over a span of 1400 years by over 40 different authors from every walk of life. Farmers and kings, prophets and priests, princes and fishermen, and more all penned at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit some of the most beautiful works of literature ever written.

One event however topped them all! The Son of God came down in the flesh and lived, worked, played, prayed, laughed, cried, died and rose from the dead. In doing so he brought the written words of God to life! He is the living Word of God. No more guessing, no more imagining, no more doubt or confusion about what God was like.

Jesus showed us. He was full of grace and mercy, love and truth, acceptance and forgiveness. He was kind and gentle. He had a sense of humor and liked to laugh. He loved healing sick people. He loved children and would bless them. He despised religious hypocrites. He didn’t back down from his critics or change his position according to the whim of the people. Steadfast and sure in his convictions.

If you want to know what God is really like simply read the New Testament and see Jesus.

Satisfaction guaranteed..

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 14:23:00 +0000

Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back! There are tons of products out there that boast satisfaction. Oftentimes they can satisfy your need for a very specific item. Those times when they don’t can leave you feeling frustrated and misunderstood.

There is in us a craving, a desire for more. No matter how much we have we seem to always want more, better, bigger, newer. It is an endless cycle of temporary satisfaction and a craving for more. We eat the most delicious meal ever and ooh and ahh about how excellent it is and go on and on about it to others only to find ourselves hungry again within a few short hours. The belly is never fully satisfied.

It’s not just food. It can be affection, love, money, power, influence, or a plethora of other needs and wants. We are creatures of craving. If we are not careful we will find ourselves miserable with unsatisfied cravings.

Jesus knew this about human nature. He understands us better than we understand ourselves. He gives us words of wisdom. We cannot live on bread alone. Those things that our bodies crave are only temporary. Our spirits crave something more substantial and more fulfilling.

Jesus said that we would live by the Word of God. The Bible is God’s life giving word to us. By it we will live a truly meaningful and satisfying life. One that dampens the continual cravings of the flesh. It will put our world into its proper perspective. Feed your soul by digging deep into God’s Word. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Fruity.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 15:08:00 +0000

There is just something special about walking up to a fruit tree and picking off some delicious ripened fruit. There’s no feeling like that. We had a fig tree, a grapefruit tree, and a pecan tree in our own backyard growing up. We enjoyed being able to eat fruit right off our own trees. At just the right season I can take a walk around our church neighborhood and there is a huge fig tree with branches hanging way out into the sidewalk full of figs. Yes, I take a few and enjoy them on my walk. It’s so refreshing and energizing.

People are like fruit trees. We are either barren, bearing good fruit, or bearing bad fruit. When we stay close to the Lord in our journey of faith we are able to produce good fruit. Peace, love, joy, kindness, gentleness, patience, self-control, forgiveness, and more! In fact we can sometimes produce so much fruit that it naturally overflows to others who are blessed as well.

Likewise we can bear bad fruit. Hate, selfishness, meanness, criticism, lust, envy, strife, war, indifference, and much more. Just like the good fruit our bad fruit will also overflow and affect others near us especially those we love the most. When we disconnect or are never connected in the first place to the Lord Jesus Christ we will bear bad fruit or we will remain barren.

Barrenness comes when we don’t stay connected to Jesus long enough to draw spiritual nutrients in order to bear good fruit. We are intermittent in our relationship with him. Jesus promised his disciples that if we remain in him we will bear fruit, much fruit, and fruit that will remain! Apart from Jesus we can do nothing. Let’s plan to stay connected in 2021. Now let’s go be fruity!

Be strong!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 15:14:00 +0000

There are different levels of strength and courage. In leadership books and seminars we are often told to set scary goals. We’ve heard it said that if it doesn’t scare you then it’s not from God. We’ve been told that we should believe for the impossible. While there are some things we can take from all of this I beg to differ with this kind of “go big or go home” mentality to Christian living.

We are told if you are not living constantly at the precipice of failure or greatness you are somehow doing it wrong. Nothing could be further from the truth. I suspect that much of that kind of thinking is more about personal satisfaction, ego, pride, and human greatness. Somehow we think we are greater spiritual giants than others because we bought into this idea.

Often being strong and courageous is found in daily living. Small acts of love, sacrifice, and service. You may never go into battle against overwhelming odds and come out the celebrated, conquering hero but you serve quietly, faithfully, humbly. You are dependable and faithful where you are.

Sometimes courage is found in fighting through difficulties in your marriage in order to save it. Courage can be found in raising a special needs child and learning to adjust your own life to meet their needs. Certainly strength and courage has been exhibited daily across our land as frontline health care workers have held strong in caring for Covid patients.

The list is exhaustive. You may not see it at first but it’s there in the daily grind of working, raising a family, faithfully loving and serving others, holding on to your faith in God in the midst of chaos. You may not see huge crowds applauding your seemingly insignificant efforts but rest assured that there is one who sees and he will reward you in due time. Stop worrying about trying to go big and simply go by trusting God each day.

Cookies!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 17:39:00 +0000

I made some chocolate chip cookies the other day and they were all flat and horrible. I’ve made chocolate chip cookies before many times so why the catastrophic failure this time? I thought I knew how to do it so I didn’t read the directions and just winged it. I had all the right ingredients in all the right proportions and even baked them at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes until golden brown. It turns out I missed a step in the preparations and ended up with my chocolate chip cookie craving unsatisfied.

Directions. We sometimes don’t like to follow directions because we think we know better or maybe we think we can make it better by adding or omitting a few steps in the process. Like when we put something together from IKEA and we have a few spare parts leftover. Or we throw out the packaging and then go dig it out of the trash several times because we forgot something in the instructions.

Life is too precious to leave it to chance. Especially since we have a life instruction manual readily available. Even better is that we have the author of the guide willing to aid us in all the pesky little details we like to skip over so much.

You see I am a “fly by the seat of my pants “ kinda guy. I am also a great planner. A few times we got in the car and just drove until we found something interesting. Other times we’ve planned each stop along the way.

2020 has been a wild ride in more ways than one. I’ve had to take each day asking for directions. I am so thankful that His mercies are new every morning. I’ve tried to stop worrying so much if my good planning didn’t turn out like I thought it would. I’m also thankful for all the good surprises I’ve enjoyed this year. So whether I end up winging it or waiting patiently for direction I know he will see me through 2021. I know I can trust Him with my future because of His unfailing love for me.

I think I’m ready to try making some chocolate chip cookies again! I think I’m ready for a new adventure!

Run to him!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 15:01:00 +0000

As a child I was very close to mom especially since I was the youngest. I recall one day being at home. Mom was still in bed and I had gotten up and was playing in my room when I heard a very loud explosion they shook our house. I ran as fast as my little feet could carry me and jumped into the waiting arms of my loving mother. She wrapped me up in her arms and I knew I was safe.

Now when something comes along to shake my world I can’t go running to momma anymore and it would be weird if I did! I run to the loving arms of my Heavenly Father where I find renewed strength for whatever lies ahead. I am safe in his arms.

Whatever struggle or turmoil you are facing right now take comfort in knowing that he hears your cries. He sees your hot tears running down your cheeks at night as you lay on your pillow wondering how you’re gonna make it another day. He not only sees but he is ready to respond.

First he comforts us with his presence and his love holds us tight. Next he reminds us how precious and loved we are to him. Finally he soothes our hurts, our sorrows, and makes our fears subside. He frees us from all our worries and anxieties. Call upon him right now and watch your fears begin to melt away.

Peace

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 15:15:00 +0000

Peace through superior firepower. That’s a great military motto but doesn’t serve us very well when we aren’t facing a military enemy. When anxiety and worries crowd out our worship we need something more powerful than guns and ammo. The stark reality is our enemy is the one looking back in the mirror. That character is usually guilty of a lot of mischief.

There is so much going on in our world right now that the idea of having a peaceful Christmas season seems totally incomprehensible. Some have lost loved ones, others have lost jobs, we are still in a pandemic, we’re unsure of the vaccine, we don’t know what tomorrow may bring, and the list of real concerns goes on.

There is one who just seems to exude peace. In fact the closer you get to him it just seems like all our cares and worries begin to melt off of us. He has an aura about him that makes you feel safe, loved, and accepted. There is no condemnation in his eyes. His love is so great it acts like a strong fortress around us.

The more we focus on Jesus and his indescribable gift of peace the safer we feel. He calls us to come to him when we are weary, tired, broken, and heavy hearted and he will give us rest. If you are feeling overwhelmed take a moment to call on him. Let his soothing fragrance and aroma of love surround you. Let his peace wash over your spirit and make you whole. He is, after all, the Prince of Peace. Peace is in his name and in his nature.

He came!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:03:00 +0000

Christmas is almost here. Most of the shopping has been done. The meal planning is starting. The cookies have been baked, decorated, shared, and enjoyed. The gifts are wrapped. The tree is trimmed. Everything is just about ready for a big celebration!

What exactly are we celebrating? That God chose to come near. That he decided to disrobe himself of heavenly glory and wrap himself in frail human flesh. Why? So he could walk alongside us. He could feel our hurts and pains. So he could know our broken-hearted lives and share in our sorrows.

He also came to bring us hope where there seemed to be none. Hope of a new beginning. A fresh start. He came to freely offer forgiveness for any who would repent and draw near to God. He came to seek and to save the lost.

Most importantly he came to demonstrate how much he truly loves us. Men yearned to know what God was really like so he came to show us in person. He healed the sick, wept with those in grief, welcomed little children, ate with tax collectors and sinners, even raised some from the dead. Ultimately he gave his life as a ransom to deliver us from our sins.

This is definitely worth celebrating!

Ants.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 15:56:00 +0000

A few years ago I was at a church picnic. It was at first a very beautiful day. On the horizon dark clouds started to gather and before long we could see a storm was gathering. My eye was captured by some ants. The large kind found in west Texas and they were, as ants usually are, scurrying about doing whatever it is that ants do.

A thought came to me as I began to think about the impending deluge and how the ants just kept busy doing ant work. In a few moments they would be swept away by the downpour. They seemed unconcerned or maybe just indifferent. I thought about how I could somehow warn them of the danger just ahead. I realized then that the only way to be effective was to become an ant myself and then tell them to get up to higher ground quickly.

Of course this was simply an impossibility for me. As much as I wish I could transform myself into an ant there was still no guarantee that they would even listen to me. In fact they may even turn against me and completely reject my warnings.

Christmas is about God coming to us as a human being in the person of his son, Jesus Christ. He came to warn us from impending doom. On the most part we turned against him, rejected his message, and crucified him. Three days later God raised him from the dead!

Why did he do that? Why did he have to come down? Why did he have to suffer? Love. He did it because of his great love. He came to show us how to live on higher ground above the danger and beyond the grasp of despair. When I think of everything he did for me there is no other way I can fully respond but to be full of joy! To know how much I am loved and valued. To understand that I am not invisible to him. My heart bursts with joy at the thought. Love came down and rescued me. This is the reason for my joy.

Trust Him.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 15:02:00 +0000

We tend to put our trust in a lot of things. I trusted my gps to get me to my destination. Once without realizing it I drove right past my destination, drove a about a mile down the road, turned into a subdivision, drove around in a huge circle, came back out at the entrance, turned back down the highway where I just came from and then to the place I had passed 20 minutes ago! Needless to say I have lost faith in my gps as amazing as it is.

We’ve trusted people who have failed us miserably and now we are skeptical as well as we should be. Many people and things are simply unreliable. So it makes today’s verse more insightful.

We can trust the Lord to save us. His ways are better than mine. His thoughts are so much higher. His love is so much stronger. His victory is overwhelming.

One of my favorite worship songs is by Cory Asbury, Your Love is Strong. The words of the chorus are powerful.

“Your love, vanquished all my enemies,

Broke the cage that silenced me, and set this songbird free.

I sing for all the love you’ve given me, rejoice because you’ve chosen me and called this orphan home.”

All fear subsides because I can trust the Lord to bring deliverance! He has become my strength and my song. He has become my salvation.

Choices!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 14:55:00 +0000

Choices. We make thousands every single day from the time we wake to the time we fall into our beds at night. What will I wear? Which pair of shoes looks best? Shave? Bathe? Casual or pjs? What’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and more importantly dessert? The list is endless and exhausting.

Even on holidays or vacations there are so many decisions to be made. What gifts should I buy or should I make it? How many gifts do we need to get? Who’s making the holiday feast? Who is bringing what, where, and when? We make our lists and check them twice!

In today’s verse there are three things on the list: rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances! They have one thing in common. They are all choices. Great! Just what we needed in our jam-packed schedules and lists. More choices to make.

You see, these things don’t happen automatically. You don’t wake up one day and all of a sudden you are doing these things. Each day along with a million other choices you have to decide that you are going to joyful, pray, and give thanks.

We all have what are known as pre-determined responses. In the military the idea is to already have a plan in place regardless of what actions your enemy takes. In other words some decisions were made well in advance of the battle. One idea is that when you respond you do so in such a manner that it is overwhelming to the enemy and they are then unable to respond.

Today you can make a firm decision on how you will respond to whatever happens today. A pre-determined response. Today I’m going to choose to be joyful. I’m going to choose to pray. I’m going to choose to give thanks for everything I already have and am blessed with. I choose joy. I choose prayer. I choose to give thanks.

Love out loud!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 15:00:00 +0000

It’s always a delightful surprise when you find out someone has been thinking about you or saying good things about you to others. Most of the time it is between two people who are in love but it also happens with family or friends. Something you did or said made an impact and at some random point in their day it was brought to their minds and they started thinking about you and it brought a smile to their face.

It becomes even more astonishing when they see you again and they tell you that they were thinking about you. For some unexplained reason we have within us an innate desire to express praise, gratitude, or love. It turns out that expressing it completes the action. In other words love is incomplete unless it is expressed. In some fashion or another, be it through words or deeds love must find an outlet.

This whole thing makes God’s love for us unbelievably amazing and it beggars description. Words fail us in any tongue, language, or dialect of men or of angels to adequately express it. Not only are we completely unable to explain his love for us we are also in dire poverty of words or expressions in responding sufficiently to his love.

In today’s verse we read King David’s words in trying to understand how, after looking at the whole of creation, God could possibly take any notice of us at all. It is astounding to contemplate. What could possibly be our only appropriate response to his love? Even if we had a thousand lifetimes to give in honor and sacrifice to him it would not be enough. The songwriter penned the words, “Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing my great redeemers praise.”

The only response is to surrender my life completely over to him and to live every day as an act of worship. To present my body to him as a living sacrifice is the only reasonable answer. To do any less is to diminish his worthiness of our wholehearted praise and worship. Love is incomplete unless it is expressed. We would burst if we didn’t live our love for him out loud!

Need a light?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Sun, 13 Dec 2020 14:42:00 +0000

We are going through a dark season in our world. Life is not what we would consider normal. Everything has changed, been cancelled or even radically altered. There are moments when we simply don’t even recognize our own lives. It’s haunting.

While many are simply going through a season of darkness there are those who have a permanent residence there. Their lives are broken, hurting, and desolate. Hope left a long time ago well before Covid came along. They’ve given up on a normal life and have been living in poverty. Shame, regret, and loneliness are their only companions.

There is good news! Regardless if you are walking through darkness or have taken up permanent residence there in the midst of it all is a light. It waits to be revealed. Only those with eyes of faith are able to see it and bask in its glow.

Sometimes all it takes is someone to come along with a smile and some aid to start a spark of hope within. We are light bearers. We carry the spark of the divine within us. We are called to carry that light especially to dark places and let it shine. The light shines in the darkness but sometimes the darkness does not comprehend it. This Christmas season keep shining your light so others can find their way out of the darkness. Christmas was a rescue mission.

He’s coming!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 13:15:00 +0000

As a young boy we often went to visit our grandparents every summer in Mexico. It was always an exciting time. Then one year we were told that they were coming to visit us! I couldn’t hardly wait. They didn’t own a car so they were coming on the bus. We lived only one block away from the bus station. The way our house was positioned we could look out our front bay window on the second floor and actually see people getting off the buses as they arrived.

It was nearly impossible to contain my excitement. In the day of their arrival I borrowed my dads binoculars and sat impatiently at the window watching every bus as they pulled in to see who would get off. I can still feel the anticipation as I recall this sweet memory. A bus would pull in and I would grab my binoculars and scan every passenger getting off. I wanted to be the first to announce their arrival.

Finally after waiting what seemed like hours I saw an elderly couple get off the bus. Still I wasn’t sure it was them until they unloaded their baggage. That old large faded blue luggage with a rope tied around it and that bulging mesh looking bag I knew so well sent chills and shrieks of joy and shouts rang out, “They’re here! They’re here!” I ran to tell everyone and then ran as fast as I could to the bus station to hug and kiss and welcome my grandparents! I loved them so much and it was such a memorable time while they were with us in our home!

One day my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will return as he promised. I can’t hardly wait. I see signs of his coming all around me. I’m getting out my spiritual binoculars and looking for his appearing. He is coming soon and the anticipation is growing each day because it’s one day closer. I can only imagine the reunion! Squeals of unbounded joy and delight will surely fill the skies when he comes. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. We’ve made such a mess of things and we need you so badly. So many hurting people. We’re doing our very best to love and minister in your name while we wait with great expectation. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Heavy lifting.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Dan) — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 14:44:00 +0000

My moving days are over. I don’t mean I’m not going to move again but rather that the days of me physically, personally lugging furniture and heavy boxes is done. We’ve moved around a lot and the last couple of times I realized that it was well worth it to hire someone else to do all the heavy lifting thereby saving my back from aches and pains.

As a Pastor and Hospice Chaplain I’ve carried many burdens over the years. I’ve discovered however that I don’t have to carry them alone. My Heavenly Father comes along beside me and carries the weight of the burden. In doing so he has made my burden light.

In today’s verse we are called to carry one another’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ. But what exactly is this law of Christ? It is the law of love. It is his love that compels us to be a burden bearer for others. Often people feel that they are alone in their struggles. They will tell themselves that no one cares. They convince themselves that no one else understands what they are going through.

This year has been an emotionally difficult one for so many and by the look of things more of the same is to be expected for the next 6 months of the new year no matter how badly we wish that were not the case. What can we do? We can see that others are experiencing the very same difficulties and take comfort in knowing that we aren’t the only ones going through this.

Our own struggles give us the strength to help others by sharing our burdens and our coping mechanisms. By doing so we make each other’s burdens lighter and easier to carry. Maybe you can’t fix their problem but you can be a compassionate listener. Maybe you have some really good advice that can make a huge difference. Maybe even just a prayer, a hug, a coffee time together can be enough to make the weight seem much lighter. Love does that. Love someone today and help carry the burden.